IGuardPc

12 December 2009 1 Comment

IGuardPc comes from a variation of a rogue security application that started with the Wini family of fake software. IGuardPc virus arrives on computer via fake security web sites that when visited will run a script to download and execute the unregistered program. If successfully installed, IGuardPc will attempt to automatically load itself simultaneous with Windows by adding its own value on the registry. Trojan associated with IGuardPc also drops malicious files on to the computer that will disable antivirus application. The malware may also block Internet access to avoid downloading of security programs that can remove IGuardPc virus.

If it continues to reside on the system, excessive security warnings and alerts will occupy the desktop. During start-up, an IGuardPc virus scan will commence and detects fake threats in real-time. This falsified detection attempts to encourage computer user to purchased the registered version of the program.

As you can observe, presence of this rogue program intends to scare users with simulated virus detection. It recognizes virus that does not exist. This is a very clear indication that IGuardPc is a fake program that needs to eliminate quickly.

Other Programs on The Same Group Are:

  • AntiAdd
  • RE Anti
  • SiteAdware
  • TheDefend
  • AntiTroy
  • ProtectPcs
  • GuardPcs
  • SysDefence
  • SysDefenders
  • PcsProtector
  • APcDefender
  • InSysSecure
  • SysProtector

Screen Shot Image:

 IGuardPc

Technical Details and Additional Information:

Damage Level: Medium

Systems Affected: Windows 9x, 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7

Characteristics (Analysis)
IGuardPc is a fraud security program. Dropping the malware on computers without user’s knowledge is certainly achievable with the use of rootkit Trojan. Both rogue program and Trojan do not replicate on the compromised system. It will not infect neighboring computers as well. The only purpose of this malware is to generate profits for the attackers behind it.

Added Registry Entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "(random characters).exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "IGuardPc.exe" 
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\IGuardPc
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IGuardPc
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\IGuardPc
Associated Files and Folders:
C:\Program Files\IGuardPc Software
C:\Program Files\IGuardPc Software\IGuardPc
C:\Program Files\IGuardPc Software\IGuardPc\IGuardPc.exe
C:\Program Files\IGuardPc Software\IGuardPc\uninstall.exe
C:\WINDOWS\211df4qsf2147.cpl
C:\WINDOWS\10279db2v1x3.exe
C:\WINDOWS\32178worz387.ocx
C:\WINDOWS\system32\178cthief4214.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\531z3wo5m236.ocx
C:\WINDOWS\system32\23147virz545e.bin
C:\WINDOWS\system32\(random characters).exe
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\IGuardPc.lnk
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\IGuardPc
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\IGuardPc\1 IGuardPc.lnk
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\IGuardPc\2 Homepage.lnk
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\IGuardPc\3 Uninstall.lnk
%Temp%\(random characters).exe

How to Remove IGuardPc

Note: This procedure is also effective in removing variants namely AntiAdd, RE Anti, SiteAdware, TheDefend, AntiTroy, ProtectPcs, GuardPcs, SysDefence, SysDefenders, PcsProtector, APcDefender, InSysSecure, SysProtector.

1. Temporarily Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP). [how to]
2. Open your antivirus application and update the virus definition file. This method ensures that your antivirus program can detect even newer variants of IGuardPc

3. Start Windows in Safe Mode with Networking.
- From a power-off state, turn on the computer and press F8 on your keyboard repeatedly.
- Your computer will display Windows Advanced Boot Options menu. Please select Safe Mode with Networking.
- The system will now boot Windows and loads only necessary drivers and files.

4. Open your antivirus program and run a full system scan. After the scan, delete all infected items. If unable, better place them in quarantine. Once the scan is complete, please proceed with the next step.

Online Virus Scanner:

Another way to remove IGuardPc without the need to install additional antivirus application is to perform a thorough scan with free online virus scanner that can be found on websites of legitimate anti-virus and security provider.

5. Go to Online Virus Scanner list and run a virus scan. This may require plug-ins, add-on or Activex object, please install if you want to proceed with scan.
6. After completing the necessary download, your system is now ready for online virus scanning.
7. Select an option in which you can thoroughly scan the computer to make sure that it will find and delete entirely all infections not detected on previous scan.
8. Remove or delete all detected items.
9. When scanning is finished you may now restart the computer in normal mode.

Automatic Removal of IGuardPc

In order to completely remove the threat, it is best to download and run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. Sometimes, Trojans will block the downloading and installation of MBAM. If this happens, download it from a clean computer and rename the executable file before executing on the infected machine.