Windows Home Patron

Posted: July 18, 2012

Threat Metric

The Threat Meter is a malware assessment that SpywareRemove.com's research team is able to give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of specific malware threats to value their severity, reach and volume. The Threat Meter is able to give you a numerical breakdown of each threat's initial Threat Level, Detection Count, Volume Count, Trend Path and Percentage Impact. The overall ranking of each threat in the Threat Meter is a basic breakdown of how all threats are ranked within our own extensive malware database. The scoring for each specific malware threat can be easily compared to other emerging threats to draw a contrast in its particular severity. The Threat Meter is a useful tool in the endeavor of seeking a solution to remove a threat or pursue additional analytical research for all types of computer users.

The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Threat Level:	2/10
Infected PCs:	5

First Seen:	July 18, 2012
Last Seen:	March 8, 2022
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Windows Home Patron serves as an example of one of the latest in scamware from Win32/FakeVimes, an ever-growing classification of fake anti-malware programs that also claim to offer additional security features, such as protection against phishing websites. Windows Home Patron is often acquired through mislabeled downloads (such as updates for codecs or media players) that include Trojan downloaders like Zlob that install Windows Home Patron and other members of the FakeVimes family. As a rogue anti-malware product, Windows Home Patron will display erroneous system information via pop-ups and scans to encourage you to spend money on its registration key. SpywareRemove.com malware experts strongly discourage over deleting Windows Home Patron for free with a reputable brand of anti-malware scanner.

Windows Home Patron: the Patronage That Leaves Your PC Topsy-Turvy

As a fraudulent anti-malware program, Windows Home Patron is unable to provide any of the security functions that Windows Home Patron appears to possess, but any Windows Home Patron infection will always include Windows Home Patron's attempts at faking the same with inaccurate system information. Windows Home Patron's anti-malware pretenses can include both fake system scans and several variants of pop-ups that alert you to keyloggers, Trojans, damaged Windows components and live attacks against your PC's confidential information. Under all circumstances, SpywareRemove.com malware analysts encourage you to ignore security information that's provided by Windows Home Patron or related PC threats. However, this information is never accurate and may lead you to damage uninfected files if you attempt to follow Windows Home Patron's advice.

Windows Home Patron also is derived from the FakeVimes family of fake anti-malware applications which includes Privacy Guard Pro, PrivacyGuard Pro 2.0, Extra Antivirus, Fast Antivirus 2009, Presto TuneUp, Windows Security Suite, Smart Virus Eliminator, Packed.Generic.245, Volcano Security Suite, Windows Enterprise Suite, Enterprise Suite, Additional Guard, Live PC Care, PC Live Guard, Live Enterprise Suite, Security Antivirus, My Security Wall, CleanUp Antivirus and Smart Security. Windows Home Patron may have other features that do function, albeit to the detriment of your computer. Some frequent side effects of infection by Windows Home Patron and other FakeVimes-based PC threats include:

Altered browser settings. Default protection against malicious files or online content may be disabled, and your online searches may be redirected to unusual sites.
Blocked security tools, including Windows programs like Task Manager or Registry Editor along with popular brands of anti-virus scanners and firewall utilities.
A corrupted Windows Registry. If your anti-malware software is unable to repair your Registry, SpywareRemove.com malware researchers recommend repairing your OS with the factory CD or DVD.

Setting Your PC in Order Minus Windows Home Patron's Inconvenient 'Help'

Deleting Windows Home Patron without also removing all related PC threats beforehand runs a high risk of suffering through Windows Home Patron's reinstallation as soon as you reboot your computer. SpywareRemove.com malware research team recommends scanning your PC with suitable anti-malware programs that can detect all likely PC threats (in addition to Windows Home Patron) to ensure that Windows Home Patron remains banished from your hard drive in the long term.

After removing Windows Home Patron, you should also be certain that all system changes have been restored to their original values. Many of the attacks noted previously will transform your PC in an open gate to other PC threats, particularly web browser-based attacks. Failing to resolve these issues along with Windows Home Patron can result in other infections by any of various vectors.

Technical Details

File System Modifications

Tutorials: If you wish to learn how to remove malware components manually, you can read the tutorials on how to find malware, kill unwanted processes, remove malicious DLLs and delete other harmful files. Always be sure to back up your PC before making any changes.

The following files were created in the system:

%AppData%\Protector-[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe

File name: %AppData%\Protector-[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

HKEY..\..\{Value}HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableRegistryTools" = 0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableTaskMgr" = 0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings "WarnOnHTTPSToHTTPRedirect" = 0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableRegedit" = 0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings "net" = "2012-2-17_2"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings "UID" = "rudbxijemb"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings "ID" = 0HKEY..\..\..\..{Subkeys}HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "Inspector"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_ERROR_PAGE_BYPASS_ZONE_CHECK_FOR_HTTPS_KB954312HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\_avp32.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\divx.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\mostat.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\platin.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\tapinstall.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\_avpcc.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\ashDisp.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\zapsetup3001.exe

Additional Information

The following URL's were detected:

news-fitogu.cc

The following messages's were detected:

#	Message
1	Firewall has blocked a program from accessing the Internet Internet Explorer C:program filesinternet exploreriexpolre.exe C:program filesinternet exploreriexpolre.exe is suspected to have infected your PC. This type of virus intercepts entered data and transmits them to a remote server. Recommended: Please click "Prevent attack" button to prevent all attacks and protect your PC
2	Warning! Virus Detected Threat Detected: Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Agent Security Risk: Infected File: regedit.exe Description: Programs classified as Trojan download and install new versions of malicious programs, including Trojans and AdWare, on victim computers. Recommended: Please click “remove All” button to erase all infected files and protect your PC