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How do you remove Win 7 Security 2012?

There is a new form of ransomware also called crapware or scareware that is now infecting computer systems.  This particular variant appears to be aimed at Microsoft Windows 7 systems.  The infection exploits a weakness in Sun Java.  As of this writing, this particular variant is not detected by all antivirus applications possibly because the infection is a simple registry hijack.

Win 7 Security 2012 performs the following:

  • Disables and corrupts existing antivirus application.
  • Installs fake antivirus application.
  • Prompts for credit card number.
  • Takes control of Windows GUI. 
  • Prevents execution of any application ending in EXE.
  • Prevents System Restore.

Removal of Win 7 Security 2012 is actually quite simple.  Following are the steps:
  1. Reboot.

  2. Hit F8 repeatedly.

  3. Select Safe Mode and hit Enter.

  4. Hit CTRL-ALT-DEL and End Task on any three-letter application.  Example: tpq.exe

  5. Quickly browse to C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Local.

  6. Delete any three-letter applications in this directory.  Example: tpq.exe.  You must act quickly in order to delete the three-letter application as the system will attempt to re-open the application which prevents its deletion.  If you have not moved quickly enough, simply perform End Task again and then immediately delete the application.

  7. Install Ccleaner.  Run Ccleaner.

  8. Install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.

  9. Browse to C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. 

  10. Copy mbam.exe.  Paste mbam.exe.

  11. Rename Copy of mbam.exe to Copy of mbam.com.

  12. Run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.  Remove all found instances of malware.

  13. When prompted, click Yes to restart computer.

  14. Create a new file entitled: fix.reg

  15. Copy and paste the following text into fix.reg:

    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe]
    @="exefile"
    "Content Type"="application/x-msdownload"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\PersistentHandler]
    @="{098f2470-bae0-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile]
    @="Application"
    "EditFlags"=hex:38,07,00,00
    "FriendlyTypeName"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,\
      00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,\
      32,00,5c,00,73,00,68,00,65,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,\
      00,2c,00,2d,00,31,00,30,00,31,00,35,00,36,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\DefaultIcon]
    @="%1"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open]
    "EditFlags"=hex:00,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]
    @="\"%1\" %*"
    "IsolatedCommand"="\"%1\" %*"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runas]
    "HasLUAShield"=""

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runas\command]
    @="\"%1\" %*"
    "IsolatedCommand"="\"%1\" %*"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runasuser]
    @="@shell32.dll,-50944"
    "Extended"=""
    "SuppressionPolicyEx"="{F211AA05-D4DF-4370-A2A0-9F19C09756A7}"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runasuser\command]
    "DelegateExecute"="{ea72d00e-4960-42fa-ba92-7792a7944c1d}"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers]
    @="Compatibility"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Compatibility]
    @="{1d27f844-3a1f-4410-85ac-14651078412d}"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\DropHandler]
    @="{86C86720-42A0-1069-A2E8-08002B30309D}"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\PifProps]
    @="{86F19A00-42A0-1069-A2E9-08002B30309D}"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\ShimLayer Property Page]
    @="{513D916F-2A8E-4F51-AEAB-0CBC76FB1AF8}"

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\open\command]
    @="C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\safemode\command]
    @="C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\IEXPLORE.EXE\shell\open\command]
    @="C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe"

    [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.exe\UserChoice]
    [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe]
    [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\pezfile]
    [-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\open\command]

  16. Double-click fix.reg

  17. Reboot.

  18. Using Programs and Features, uninstall your antivirus application.

  19. Reinstall your antivirus application.
This issue has now been resolved.  To prevent the infection, upgrade Sun Java to the latest version.

http://www.smartnetadmin.com
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