SpywareStrike

Posted: May 30, 2006

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:	9/10
Infected PCs:	7

First Seen:	July 24, 2009
Last Seen:	September 6, 2019
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

SpywareStrike is a fake anti-spyware program from a family that was noted for widespread distribution in 2007 through dedicated scamware sites and typo-based Google clones. Like SpySheriff and related types of rogue anti-spyware scanners, SpywareStrike isn't able to detect real spyware or spyware-related issues, but creates fake alerts in hopes of beguiling you into giving SpywareStrike's fraudulent company your money. Beyond the above issues, SpywareStrike may also block System Restore, web-browsing activities and force your PC to crash whenever you try to remove SpywareStrike by normal methods (such as Control Panel). The latter attack, in particular, causes SpySpywareRemove.com malware experts to recommend that you delete SpywareStrike by using an appropriate anti-malware application to scan your computer for both SpywareStrike and any other related PC threats that may also be installed.

SpywareStrike – the Power Behind a Strike That Leaves Your PC Nigh-Defenseless

SpywareStrike and similar types of rogue anti-spyware applications – including the likes of SpySheriff, Brave Sentry, SpywareNo, Pest Trap and SpyTrooper – don't have any ability to find or remove real spyware from your PC, including keyloggers and banking Trojans. However, SpywareStrike will go to extreme lengths to convince you that this isn't the case, and will start automatically with Windows to launch simulated scans of your hard drive, fake error pop-ups and warnings that replace your desktop image. Examples of SpywareStrike's fraudulent warnings are noted below for reference:

"SPYWARE INFECTION!
Your system is infected with spyware.
Windows recommends that you use a spyware removal tool to prevent loss of data.
Using this PC before having it cleaned of spyware threats is highly discouraged."

"SYSTEM STOPPED
System has been stopped due to a serious malfunction.
Spyware activity has been detected.
It is recommended to use spyware removal tool to prevent data loss.
Do not use the computer before all spyware removed."

Your computer is infected with Spyware.
Your Security and Privacy are in DANGER.
Spyware programs can steal your credit card numbers and bank information details. The computer can be used for sending spam and you may get pop-ups with adult or any other unwanted content.

Other attacks that SpySpywareRemove.com malware experts have often found to be caused by SpywareStrike or PC threats that are installed alongside SpywareStrike include:

Disabled system restore points that disallow any usage of the System Restore feature.
Blocked Internet access that's achieved by alterations to your Windows Registry settings.
Spontaneous system crashes; these crashes are likely to trigger if you try to delete SpywareStrike by using normal program removal techniques.

Fending Off SpywareStrike's Four-Tap Blows to Your PC

SpywareStrike and related PC threats were propagated primarily in 2007 by way of sites like spysheriff.com, spywarestrike.com and Goggle.com. However, although some of these sites have been since shut down, recent reports indicate that others, such as spywarestrike.com, remain active. SpySpywareRemove.com malware researchers further note that SpywareStrike is able to attack most types of Windows computers successfully, although SpywareStrike isn't designed to be able to function in non-Windows environments.

Since SpywareStrike will try to disable functions that are crucial for the safe functioning of your PC, you should remove SpywareStrike with a suitable anti-malware application as soon as you have the opportunity to do so. Any persistent problems after SpywareStrike's removal may be caused by remaining changes to your Windows Registry that can be undone with the Registry Editor or by additional scans from suitably competent anti-malware software. You should never spend money on SpywareStrike, even to ease its removal, since this will expose your finances and related information to additional abuse by SpywareStrike's criminal partners.

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:

spywarestrike.exe

File name: spywarestrike.exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

mssearchnet.exe

File name: mssearchnet.exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

hp[X].tmp

File name: hp[X].tmp
File type: Temporary File
Mime Type: unknown/tmp
Group: Malware file

netwrap.dll

File name: netwrap.dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file

nvctrl.exe

File name: nvctrl.exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

replmap.dll

File name: replmap.dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file

ss_setup.exe

File name: ss_setup.exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

wiatwain.dll

File name: wiatwain.dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

File name without pathSpywareStrike 2.5 Website.lnkSpywareStrike 2.5.lnkUninstall SpywareStrike 2.5.lnk

SpywareStriker