Security Guard 2012

Posted: October 4, 2011

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:	8/10
Infected PCs:	14

First Seen:	October 4, 2011
Last Seen:	June 1, 2023
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Security Guard 2012 is a fake anti-virus program from the family of many other types of confirmed rogue security products. SpywareRemove.com malware research team has found that Security Guard 2012 shows the standard signs of a scamware product by creating fake error messages and requesting money in return for deleting nonexistent PC threats. Security Guard 2012 infections may also be responsible for more serious attacks than the above issues, such as browser hijacks or malfunctioning security software. Because Security Guard 2012 infections often contain rootkit-like properties, it's strongly suggested that you use an appropriate anti-malware program to delete Security Guard 2012, instead of taking the risk of removing Security Guard 2012 without any assistance.

The Start of Security Guard 2012's Crying Wolf Scam

Security Guard 2012 usually gains access to a computer by installing itself via drive-by-download scripts. These scripts may be completely hidden on a malicious site, or they may be embedded in a fake system scan pop-up. Although Security Guard 2012 markets itself in the form of a security program and looks like Security Guard 2012 has anti-virus features, Security Guard 2012, in reality, can neither find nor delete any kind of infection or other system problem. Security Guard 2012 will launch itself without your permission and create fake alerts frequently, even if your PC is completely healthy, save for the presence of Security Guard 2012 itself. Security Guard 2012 belongs to the FakeScanti family of rogue security programs that has, among its members Security Guard, Sysinternals Antivirus, WireShark Antivirus, Milestone Antivirus, BlueFlare Antivirus, Wolfram Antivirus, OpenCloud Antivirus, OpenCloud Security, Data Restore, OpenCloud AV, AV Guard Online, Cloud Protection, AV Protection Online, System Protection 2012, AV Security 2012, Sphere Security 2012, AV Protection 2011 and Super AV 2013.

Common Security Guard 2012 errors that SpywareRemove.com malware experts have analyzed include:

svchost.exe
svchost.exe was replaced with unauthorized program.
It has encountered a problem and needs to close.
If you were in the middle of something, the information you were working on might be lost.
Please tell Microsoft about this problem.
We have created an error report that you can send to us. We will treat this report as confidential and anonymous.

Windows Security Alert
To help protect your computer, Windows Firewall has blocked some features of this program.
Do you want to keep blocking this program?
Name: Zeus Trojan
Publisher: Unauthorized

Warning! Infection found
Unauthorized sending E-MAIL with subject "RE:" to was CANCELLED.

Warning! Infection found
Unwanted software (malware) or tracking cookies have been found during last scan. It is highly recommended to remove it from your computer.
Keylogger Zeus was detected and put in quarantine.
Keylogger Zeus is a very dangerous software used by criminals to steal personal data such as credit card information, access to banking accounts, passwords to social networks and e-mails.

Security Warning
Your computer continues to be infected with harmful viruses. In order to prevent permanent loss of your information and credit card data theft please activate your antivirus software. Click here to enable protection.

Security Warning
Malicious programs that may steal your private information and prevent your system from working properly are detected on your computer.
Click here to clean your PC immediately.

Security Warning
There are critical system files on your computer that were modified by malicious software.
It may cause permanent data loss.
Click here to remove malicious software.

Warning: Infection is Detected
Windows has found spyware infection on your computer!
Click here to update your Windows antivirus software

Warning: Spyware Detected
Windows has found spy programs running on your computer!
Click here to update your Windows antivirus software

Windows Security Center
Serious security vulnerabilities were detected on this computer. Your privacy and personal data may be unsafe. Do you want to protect your PC?

"Security Warning The file "taskmgr.exe" is infected. Running of application is impossible."

You should ignore all of Security Guard 2012's pop-up alerts and warnings, since these messages have nothing to do with your computer or the well-being of any applications. In fact, they only serve in the form of advertisements for Security Guard 2012's fake threat-removal services – which are available for a high fee.

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:

%Windows%\[random_digits].exe

File name: %Windows%\[random_digits].exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

%Documents and Settings%\[UserName]\Local Settings\Temp\[random].tmp

File name: %Documents and Settings%\[UserName]\Local Settings\Temp\[random].tmp
File type: Temporary File
Mime Type: unknown/tmp
Group: Malware file

%Documents and Settings%\[UserName]\Desktop\Security Guard 2012.lnk

File name: %Documents and Settings%\[UserName]\Desktop\Security Guard 2012.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

HKEY..\..\..\..{Subkeys}HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\featurecontrol\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION "svchost.exe"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce "Security Guard 2012"

One Comment

avi dabach says:

October 7, 2011 at 8:01 am

help help my pc canot functin right becuse some a h 'a infected my pc security gurd 2012 keep popping up and asking for money i don't have or alse and now i am in there hands can i be helped? plz advise cuse i allready paid to a company called ''spotzilla'' the $30 they ask for and then when i called them they ask for another $120 wich i don't have what is going on and who to trust i have no clue please '''help

me