Windows Protection Master

Posted: February 12, 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:	10/10
Infected PCs:	40

First Seen:	February 12, 2012
Last Seen:	January 8, 2020
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Windows Protection Master holds membership in a broad group of fake anti-malware and debugging scanners that imitate Microsoft Security Essentials by providing fraudulent error reports. These reports are delivered as a way to scam victims into spending money on Windows Protection Master's complete version to fix nonexistent issues and should always be disregarded as irrelevant and deceptive in nature. Because rogue debuggers from Windows Protection Master's family have been noted for their ability to disable many types of security and system analysis applications, SpywareRemove.com malware research team recommends that you treat Windows Protection Master as a severe threat to your computer's security until you've removed all of Windows Protection Master's components, ideally with a competent anti-malware scanner.

Windows Protection Master: Scamware That's Protective Only for Itself

Windows Protection Master was first noted by many PC security companies in February of 2012, although Windows Protection Master's family has been in existence since early 2011. Some of the many clones from the same family as Windows Protection Master include 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. These applications use a combination of fake percentile-based ratings of your computer's safety and a feature set that imitates the appearance of the look of Microsoft Security Essentials to make you think that nonexistent attacks against your PC are occurring on an ongoing basis.

However, SpywareRemove.com malware analysts stress that Windows Protection Master, like other products from the FakeVimes group, isn't able to detect or eliminate real problems with your PC. Hence, if you see warning messages that resemble the following samples, you should ignore them as fraudulent examples of Windows Protection Master's scam:

System Security Warning
Attempt to modify register key entries is detected. Register entries analysis is recommended.

Warning!
Location: [Application file path]
Viruses: Backdoor.Win32.Rbot

Warning!
Name: [Application file name]
Name: [Application file path]
Application that seems to be a key-logger is detected. System information security is at risk. It is recommended to enable the security mode and run total System scanning.

Warning! Database update failed!
Database update failed!
Outdated viruses databases are not effective and can't [sic] guarantee adequate protection and security for your PC!
Click here to get the full version of the product and update the database!

Mastering a Defense Against Windows Protection Master's Attacks

Windows Protection Master and similar PC threats have also received attention for their ability to detect and close processes that they deem to be undesirable; in most cases, such processes are noted to be related to system security, analysis or the removal of malicious software like Windows Protection Master. SpywareRemove.com malware research team has found that some of the programs that Windows Protection Master may close include:

Windows monitoring tools like Task Manager that could detect or close malicious processes like Windows Protection Master's own memory process
Registry tools like the Registry Editor that could be used to remove Windows Protection Master's automatic startup entries.
Torrent and other types of mass-downloading applications.
Webcam utilities.
Photoshop-related applications and other types of Adobe programs.
Certain types of e-mail clients, including Outlook.
Some web browsers (such as Opera).
Popular brands of instant messaging clients.
Script packages such as Flash and Java.
Google-brand products.
iTunes.

Because Windows Protection Master may enumerate your memory processes on a constant basis, Windows Protection Master may also use up excessive system resources and cause performance issues. Nonetheless, although Windows Protection Master and its clones are able to attack a wide range of applications, SpywareRemove.com malware researchers also note that Windows Protection Master hasn't been found to attack most types of anti-malware scanners. Thus, a competent anti-malware program should be able to delete Windows Protection Master without encountering issues.

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%\Inspector-svo.exe

File name: Inspector-svo.exe
Size: 1.98 MB (1985024 bytes)
MD5: 456d83a75d1e96a3787c0d92f10622c3
Detection count: 93
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %APPDATA%
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: February 14, 2012

%APPDATA%\Inspector-cux.exe

File name: Inspector-cux.exe
Size: 1.98 MB (1985024 bytes)
MD5: de46e3c96422246c44304996eb4d80ed
Detection count: 73
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %APPDATA%
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: February 14, 2012

%APPDATA%\Inspector-lbe.exe

File name: Inspector-lbe.exe
Size: 1.98 MB (1988096 bytes)
MD5: 4941fcc45213c87accaddb8303d66d0f
Detection count: 59
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %APPDATA%
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: February 14, 2012

%APPDATA%\Inspector-trb.exe

File name: Inspector-trb.exe
Size: 1.98 MB (1989632 bytes)
MD5: 65126d03bfb1e03822330f5178ccafc3
Detection count: 11
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %APPDATA%
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: February 14, 2012

%APPDATA%\Inspector-mhk.exe

File name: Inspector-mhk.exe
Size: 1.98 MB (1989632 bytes)
MD5: 3a72fd214b076f343167b45633347061
Detection count: 5
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %APPDATA%
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: January 8, 2020

[RANDOM].exe

File name: [RANDOM].exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Protection Master\Windows Protection Master.lnk

File name: %AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Protection Master\Windows Protection Master.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file

%AppData%\Inspector-[random three characters].exe

File name: %AppData%\Inspector-[random three characters].exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

%AppData%\NPSWF32.dl

File name: %AppData%\NPSWF32.dl
Mime Type: unknown/dl
Group: Malware file

%AppData%\result.db

File name: %AppData%\result.db
Mime Type: unknown/db
Group: Malware file

%UserProfile%\Desktop\Windows Protection Master.lnk

File name: %UserProfile%\Desktop\Windows Protection Master.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file

%StartMenu%\Programs\Windows Protection Master.lnk

File name: %StartMenu%\Programs\Windows Protection Master.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

HKEY..\..\..\..{Subkeys}HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Windows Protection MasterHKEY_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\Policies\System "DisableRegistryTools" = 0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableTaskMgr" = 0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "Inspector"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\adaware.exe "Debugger"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\belt.exe "Debugger"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\deputy.exe "Debugger"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\[APPLICATION]\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall..{Uninstaller}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\[RANDOM]_is1