XP Smart Defender Pro

Posted: March 4, 2013

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:	82

First Seen:	March 4, 2013
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

XP Smart Defender Pro is a fake anti-malware program that displays intentionally-inaccurate system information to trick victims into buying a registered version of its software. Even though XP Smart Defender Pro can't detect, block, delete or otherwise thwart any type of PC threat, XP Smart Defender Pro can generate pop-up alerts and system-scanning results that look like XP Smart Defender Pro is performing useful PC security functions. SpywareRemove.com malware researchers recommend dealing with XP Smart Defender Pro the same way you'd deal with any other member of the WinPC Defender, which is XP Smart Defender Pro's scamware family: by deleting XP Smart Defender Pro with an appropriately powerful anti-malware as soon as you see its attacks against your computer.

Why XP Smart Defender Pro's Defense is More Aggressive Than is Wonted

XP Smart Defender Pro markets itself as a supposedly Windows XP-specific anti-malware scanner and security utility, but XP Smart Defender Pro actually is cloned from very similar scamware products that are compatible with most versions of Windows. Some of XP Smart Defender Pro's most obvious kin include Ultimate Defender, SystemDefender, IE Defender, Advanced XP Defender, XP Defender, WinDefender2008, PCTotalDefender, PC Defender 2008, Personal Defender 2009, WinDefender 2009, Perfect Defender 2009, Total Defender, Malware Defender 2009, WinPC Defender, PC Privacy Defender, Smart Defender Pro, Rogue.UltimateDefender, FraudTool.LastDefender.b and Security Defender Pro 2015.

XP Smart Defender Pro and fake anti-malware programs related to XP Smart Defender Pro can't detect malware infections or other system problems, but are capable of creating misleading pop-ups to make it appear as though they're finding large quantities of attacks against your computer. Firewall alerts, Registry alterations, attempted identity theft and similar high-level threats to your PC can be included in XP Smart Defender Pro's pop-ups.

Like most rogue anti-malware products, XP Smart Defender Pro also includes a fake system scanner. This scanner actually doesn't scan your files or folders, and is designed to generate lists of fake malware infections automatically. SpywareRemove.com malware analysts, for their part, recommend that you never try to use XP Smart Defender Pro to remove any type of PC threat, since the only thing this will accomplish is to redirect you to XP Smart Defender Pro's registration key-purchasing form.

Being Brighter Than a Clever PC Hoax

While there aren't any advantages to buying XP Smart Defender Pro, there are numerous disadvantages to allowing XP Smart Defender Pro to stay on your computer. SpywareRemove.com malware research team especially cautions against the possibility of:

XP Smart Defender Pro blocking programs without your consent – especially security-related applications like the Windows Task Manager.
Changes to your web-browsing settings that block various websites or redirect you to XP Smart Defender Pro-promoting sites.

Since XP Smart Defender Pro may block the very anti-malware applications that are best suited to removing XP Smart Defender Pro, SpywareRemove.com malware experts encourage you to disable XP Smart Defender Pro, if possible, before anything else. Once XP Smart Defender Pro is disabled, you can choose to remove XP Smart Defender Pro with whatever legitimate brand of anti-malware product you prefer.

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:

%Temp%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]

File name: %Temp%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]
Group: Malware file

%AppData%\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]

File name: %AppData%\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]
Group: Malware file

%AppData%\Local\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]

File name: %AppData%\Local\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]
Group: Malware file

%AppData%\Local\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe

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

%AllUsersProfile%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]

File name: %AllUsersProfile%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]
Group: Malware file

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

HKEY..\..\{Value}HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile "(Default)" = 'Application'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile "Content Type" = 'application/x-msdownload'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile\DefaultIcon "(Default)" = '%1'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile\shell\open\command "(Default)" = '"%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe" /START "%1" %*'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile\shell\open\command "IsolatedCommand" = '"%1" %*'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile\shell\runas\command "(Default)" = '"%1" %*'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile\shell\runas\command "IsolatedCommand" – '"%1" %*'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\open\command "(Default)" = '"%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe" /START "%1" %*'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\open\command "IsolatedCommand" = '"%1" %*'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\runas\command "(Default)" = '"%1" %*'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\runas\command "IsolatedCommand" = '"%1" %*'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command "(Default)" = '"%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe" /START "%1" %*'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe "(Default)" = 'exefile'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe "Content Type" = 'application/x-msdownload'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\DefaultIcon “(Default)” = '%1' = '"%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe" /START "%1" %*'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\IEXPLORE.EXE\shell\open\command "(Default)" = '"%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe" /START "%Program Files%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe"'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\open\command "(Default)" = '"%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe" /START "%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\safemode\command "(Default)" = '"%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe" /START "%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode'

Additional Information

The following messages's were detected:

#	Message
1	Attention: Danger! Alert! System scan for spyware, adware, Trojans and viruses is complete. XP Smart Defender Pro detected 31 critical system objects. These security breaches may be exploited and lead to the following: Your system becomes a target for spam and bulky, intruding ads; Browser crashes frequently and web access speed decreases; Your personal files, photos, document and passwords get stolen; Your computer is used for criminal activity behind your back; Bank details and credit card information gets disclosed.

Message

Attention: Danger! Alert!
System scan for spyware, adware, Trojans and viruses is complete.
XP Smart Defender Pro detected 31 critical system objects. These security breaches may be exploited and lead to the following:
Your system becomes a target for spam and bulky, intruding ads;
Browser crashes frequently and web access speed decreases;
Your personal files, photos, document and passwords get stolen;
Your computer is used for criminal activity behind your back;
Bank details and credit card information gets disclosed.