ContraVirus is a
rogue
A rogue is a person or entity that flouts accepted norms of behavior.
Rogue or rogues may also refer to:
Companies
* Rogue Ales, a microbrewery in Newport, Oregon
* Rogue Arts, a film production company
* Rogue Entertainment, a software com ...
spyware
Spyware (a portmanteau for spying software) is software with malicious behaviour that aims to gather information about a person or organization and send it to another entity in a way that harms the user—for example, by violating their privac ...
application that poses as a legitimate anti-spyware program. The application uses a false scanner to force computer users to pay for the removal of non-existent spyware items. It may also be known as ExpertAntivirus.
Methods of infection
ContraVirus may be downloaded as a
trojan horse
The Trojan Horse was a wooden horse said to have been used by the Greeks during the Trojan War to enter the city of Troy and win the war. The Trojan Horse is not mentioned in Homer's ''Iliad'', with the poem ending before the war is concluded, ...
, along with possible other software. Typically, it may be installed by the
SmitFraud trojan.
Symptoms of infection
ContraVirus has been known to display fake messages stating that a user's computer is infected with spyware. It may also install the file wincom27.dll, located in C:\WINDOWS\ and ext32inc.dll located in C:\WINDOWS\system\, in order to persuade a user to purchase the software.
Traditionally, a user will see Contravirus running a "scan" of their computer at which time a user will be prompted to purchase the Contravirus software in order to remove the threat. It may also hijack the user's browser and install a toolbar.
,
98,
Me,
NT,
XP,
Server 2000,
2000
File:2000 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Protests against Bush v. Gore after the 2000 United States presidential election; Heads of state meet for the Millennium Summit; The International Space Station in its infant form as seen from ...
,
Server 2003
Server may refer to:
Computing
*Server (computing), a computer program or a device that provides functionality for other programs or devices, called clients
Role
* Waiting staff, those who work at a restaurant or a bar attending customers and su ...
,
Vista
Vista usually refers to a distant view.
Vista may also refer to:
Software
*Windows Vista, the line of Microsoft Windows client operating systems released in 2006 and 2007
*VistA, (Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture) ...
,
Server 2008
Windows Server 2008 is the fourth release of the Windows Server operating system produced by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of the operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on February 4, 2008, and generally to retail on Fe ...
,
7 and
Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2008 R2 is the fifth version of the Windows Server operating system produced by Microsoft and released as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009, and became generally ...
are operating systems capable of becoming infected.
Removal
The removal of Contravirus is difficult and may require assistance from qualified IT Support Personnel. However, users have had success removing the program using the SmitFraudFix.zip program, as well as known programs such as
Kaspersky Anti-Virus
Kaspersky Anti-Virus (russian: Антивирус Касперского (''Antivirus Kasperskogo''); formerly known as ''AntiViral Toolkit Pro''; often referred to as KAV) is a proprietary antivirus program developed by Kaspersky Lab. It is des ...
,
Spybot Search & Destroy, and the
Norton Norton may refer to:
Places
Norton, meaning 'north settlement' in Old English, is a common place name. Places named Norton include: Canada
*Rural Municipality of Norton No. 69, Saskatchewan
*Norton Parish, New Brunswick
**Norton, New Brunswick, a ...
Family of Security products.
See also
*
Malware
Malware (a portmanteau for ''malicious software'') is any software intentionally designed to cause disruption to a computer, server, client, or computer network, leak private information, gain unauthorized access to information or systems, depri ...
References
{{reflist
External links
Symantec SecurityF-securewww.frsirt.comwww.xp-vista.com
Spyware
Rogue software
Computer network security