Windows Web Commander

Posted: July 4, 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:	14

First Seen:	July 4, 2012
Last Seen:	January 8, 2020
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Windows Web Commander is a modest retooling of older variants of FakeVimes-based PC threats, a widespread classification of rogue anti-malware programs. While Windows Web Commander distracts you with inaccurate system scans and pop-up warnings without any basis in reality, other attacks will also be occurring that can redirect your web browser to malicious sites, reduce your security settings or even block unrelated applications. SpywareRemove.com malware researchers recommend deleting Windows Web Commander as a matter of course, although removing Windows Web Commander by any means other than using anti-malware software can allow related PC threats to remain on your hard drive.

Windows Web Commander: Leading the Charge in Fake PC Security

Members of FakeVimes have been in distribution for long before now, but its rotating series of brand names appears to have cycled onto Windows Web Commander as of this month. Infection by Windows Web Commander can occur as a result of visiting scamware-promoting sites that install Windows Web Commander automatically or installing software from fake online scanners. In some cases, related PC threats, such as Zlob and similar Trojans with downloaded capabilities, should be disabled (if possible) prior to attempting to remove Windows Web Commander. Trojans linked to Windows Web Commander have also been recognized to cause a loss of Internet connectivity with their system changes.

Windows Web Commander is marketed as a security program and presents itself as such, but all of Windows Web Commander's security features are hoaxes that are designed to make you believe that an innumerable swarm of PC threats is directly attacking your computer. The long term goal for Windows Web Commander is to bamboozle you into spending money on a software registration key, which SpywareRemove.com malware experts discourage as an utter waste of your money. However, you may want to fake registering Windows Web Commander by using the free key '0W000-000B0-00T00-E0020,' as an optional step in Windows Web Commander's removal.

Refusing Windows Web Commander's Order to Empty Your Wallet

Fake security features are the hallmarks of Windows Web Commander and identical FakeVimes-based scamware like 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. Nonetheless, these aren't Windows Web Commander's only capabilities or even its most dangerous ones, and SpywareRemove.com malware researchers also recommend that you guard your PC against:

Web browser hijacks that redirect you to scamware-promoting sites or other forms of hostile sites. Search engine redirects are especially probable, and you may also be exposed to drive-by-downloads for other PC threats.
Changes to your Windows security settings, such as Registry values that enable Windows to warn you when you download files with improper signature-based IDs.
Security-related software that's blocked or disabled by Windows Web Commander, including the Task Manager, the Windows UAC and popular AV products.

In spite of these issues, SpywareRemove.com malware analysts have experienced success in removing Windows Web Commander and other clones from the Win32/FakeVimes family by disabling them (via Safe Mode, removable media system boots, etc) and running a standard anti-malware scan.

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-ixmf.exe

File name: Protector-ixmf.exe
Size: 1.81 MB (1811456 bytes)
MD5: dd1db077adec6ae6de3c9639efc03b7e
Detection count: 51
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %APPDATA%
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: January 8, 2020

%AppData%\Windows Web Commander\Instructions.ini

File name: %AppData%\Windows Web Commander\Instructions.ini
Mime Type: unknown/ini
Group: Malware file

%AppData%\Windows Web Commander\ScanDisk_.exe

File name: %AppData%\Windows Web Commander\ScanDisk_.exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Windows Web Commander.lnk

File name: %AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Windows Web Commander.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file

%Programs%\Windows Web Commander.lnk

File name: %Programs%\Windows Web Commander.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file

%StartMenu%\Windows Web Commander.lnk

File name: %StartMenu%\Windows Web Commander.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file

%Desktop%\Windows Web Commander.lnk

File name: %Desktop%\Windows Web Commander.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file

%CommonAppData%\58ef5\SPT.ico

File name: %CommonAppData%\58ef5\SPT.ico
Mime Type: unknown/ico
Group: Malware file

%CommonAppData%\58ef5\SP98c.exe

File name: %CommonAppData%\58ef5\SP98c.exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

%CommonAppData%\SPUPCZPDET\SPABOIJT.cfg

File name: %CommonAppData%\SPUPCZPDET\SPABOIJT.cfg
Mime Type: unknown/cfg
Group: Malware file

%AppData%\NPSWF32.dll

File name: %AppData%\NPSWF32.dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file

%AppData%\result.db

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

%AppData%\1st$0l3th1s.cnf

File name: %AppData%\1st$0l3th1s.cnf
Mime Type: unknown/cnf
Group: Malware file

Protector-[RANDOM 3 CHARACTERS].exe

File name: Protector-[RANDOM 3 CHARACTERS].exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

Protector-[RANDOM 4 CHARACTERS].exe

File name: Protector-[RANDOM 4 CHARACTERS].exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

HKEY..\..\{CLSID Path}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}\LocalServer32HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Dumped_.DocHostUIHandler\ClsidHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Dumped_.DocHostUIHandler\Clsid\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}HKEY..\..\{Value}HKEY_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\Settings "net" = "2012-7-3_8"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings "UID" = "hycdnkxijp"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AAWTray.exe\"Debugger" = "svchost.exe"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\About.exe\"Debugger" = "svchost.exe"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\Ad-Aware.exe\"Debugger" = "svchost.exe"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AdwarePrj.exe\"Debugger" = "svchost.exe"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AlphaAV.exe\"Debugger" = "svchost.exe"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AlphaAV\"Debugger" = "svchost.exe"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AluSchedulerSvc.exe\"Debugger" = "svchost.exe"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AVCare.exe\"Debugger" = "svchost.exe"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AVENGINE.EXE\"Debugger" = "svchost.exe"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AVWEBGRD.EXE\"Debugger" = "svchost.exe"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system "ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin" = 0HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system "ConsentPromptBehaviorUser" = 0HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system "EnableLUA" = 0HKEY..\..\..\..{Subkeys}HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ASProtectHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}\Implements DocHostUIHandlerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}\LocalServer32\[UNKNOWN DIRECTORY]\[UNKNOWN FILE NAME].exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}\ProgIDHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}\ProgID\[UNKNOWN FILE NAME].DocHostUIHandlerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Dumped_.DocHostUIHandlerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Dumped_.DocHostUIHandler\Implements DocHostUIHandlerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\FWCFGHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\FWCFG\ConsoleTracingMask -65536HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\FWCFG\EnableConsoleTracing 0HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\FWCFG\EnableFileTracing 0HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\FWCFG\FileDirectory %windir%\tracingHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\FWCFG\FileTracingMask -65536HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\FWCFG\MaxFileSize 1048576HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AAWTray.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\About.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\Ad-Aware.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AdwarePrj.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AlphaAVHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AluSchedulerSvc.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AVCare.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AVENGINE.EXEHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AVWEBGRD.EXEHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\avxmonitornt.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\iamserv.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\navnt.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\rapapp.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\vbwinntw.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\zapsetup3001.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\~2.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\..{RunKeys}HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "Inspector"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Windows Web Commander "%CommonAppData%\58ef5\SP98c.exe" /s /dHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\[APPLICATION]\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall..{Uninstaller}HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Windows Web CommanderHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Windows Web Commander\DisplayIcon = [UNKNOWN DIRECTORY]\[UNKNOWN FILE NAME].exe,0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Windows Web Commander\DisplayName = Windows Malware FirewallHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Windows Web Commander\DisplayVersion = 1.1.0.1010HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Windows Web Commander\InstallLocation = [UNKNOWN DIRECTORY]HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Windows Web Commander\UninstallString = "[UNKNOWN DIRECTORY]\[UNKNOWN FILE NAME].exe" /del

Additional Information

The following messages's were detected:

#	Message
1	Error Attempt to modify Registry key entries detected. Registry entry analysis recommended.
2	Error Trojan activity detected. System data security is at risk. It is recommended to activate protection and run a full system scan.
3	Warning Firewall has blocked a program from accessing the Internet C:\program files\internet explorer\iexplore.exe is suspected to have infected your PC. This type of virus intercepts entered data and transmits them to a remote server.