W32.Koobface.A
W32.Koobface.A is a computer worm that propagates via social networking web sites. It utilizes an infected computer to create a botnet that spreads on peer-to-peer connection. An infected computer will communicate to other compromised machine and receive malicious commands. The main objective of W32.Koobface.A is to drop rogue software on victim’s computer and manipulate search queries to exhibit unexpected advertisements.
Alias: Net-Worm.Win32.Koobface.b, W32/Koobface.worm, Boface.A, WORM_KOOBFACE.V, W32/Koobface-AS, W32/Koobface-AL, Koobface.GQ, W32/Koobface-N, WORM_KOOBFACE.JG, WORM_KOOBFACE.EY, WORM_KOOBFACE.BX, W32/Koobface.CZ, Win32/Koobface.AC, Kbface, Troj/Mdrop-CMW
Damage Level: Medium
Systems Affected: Windows 9x, 2000, XP, Windows Vista
Characteristics
When executed on the computer, W32.Koobface.A may perform malicious actions including the following:
- Steals sensitive information like user name and password
- Use victim’s social networking account to spread a copy of the worm
- Inject malicious codes on Internet browser that will cause it to display excessive advertisements
- Redirect Internet browser to unsolicited web sites.
- Block access to certain web address
- Utilize the infected computer as command and control server for other similar infections
- Download more threats and update itself
- Modify Windows hosts file to re-router other requested Internet traffic to a local host
Distribution
W32.Koobface.A primarily propagates via social networking sites as a shared video link. The link will point visitors to a web site that immediately prompts for a download of codec (player) in order to watch the requested video. Unknown to many, it is a copy of the worm that is being installed and the whole situation was created to attract users from being involve in this fraudulent act.
How to Remove W32.Koobface.A
1. Temporarily Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP). [how to]
2. To identify even the most recent variant of W32.Koobface.A, open your antivirus application and update the virus definitions.
3. Start Windows in Safe Mode with Networking.
- From a power-off state, turn on the computer and press F8 repeatedly.
- Your computer will display Windows Advanced Boot Options menu. Select Safe Mode with Networking.
- System will boot Windows loading only necessary drivers and system files.
4. Open your antivirus program and run a full system scan. After the scan, delete all infected items. If unable to delete, better place them in quarantine. Once the scan is complete please proceed with the next step.
Scan with Norton Power Eraser:
Additional virus removal tool like Norton Power Eraser provides deep scanning technology to eliminate other threats not detected by a normal virus scan. Use this tool with extra caution.
5. Go to Norton Power Eraser web page and download the tool.
6. Once the download completes, double click on the file NPE.exe to run the program.
7. It will prompt for End User License Agreement, click on Accept to continue.
8. On NPE main window, click on Scan. Then select Exclude Rootkit Scan. Click on Continue to proceed.
9. Virus scanning may take some time. After running the scan, NPE will display the scan result.
Important! If there are any detected threats under Suspicious, remove the check mark. Only threats in Detected category are necessary to remove at this point. Make sure that you mark the Create System Restore Point before proceeding with the fix.
10. Now click on Fix to start removing the threats including W32.Koobface.A remnants if there are any.
11. When done, Norton Power Eraser will restart the computer. Then after a reboot, it will initialize and display the eliminated threats.
12. You may now close Norton Power Eraser.