If you use Spybot Search and Destroy to protect your computer against spyware, it is time again to run your manual updates. Malware writers are constantly modifying their programs to evade detection, so anti-malware vendors have to issue regular updates to keep up with the bad guys. New definitions and false positive fixes for Spybot Search and Destroy are usually released every Wednesday. This week's updates were released on schedule on May 6, 2009, as listed below.
In case you are new to Spybot S&D, there are two ways to update the program and malware definitions. The preferred method (For Windows PCs) is to go to Start > (All) Programs > Spybot - Search & Destroy > Update Spybot - S&D. The independent update box will open. Leave the default options as is, unless you need all languages or want beta definitions, and click on "Search." Another box will open with "mirror" locations around the world where you can download updates. Select a location nearest to you from the list and click on "Continue." Make sure all updates are checked, then click on "Download." If all definitions are verified as being correct the check marks will disappear from the check boxes and be replaced with green arrow graphics. However, sometimes one or more mirror locations have not updated all of the definitions and you will get a red X for those definitions. Click on Go Back, select a different mirror, and try again. I have consistent success using Giganet or the Safer-Networking servers.
When all updates have succeeded, click on "Exit." With the program updated it is time to open the main program interface, using either the Start Menu link, or a desktop icon, to launch Spybot Search and Destroy. The next item to take care of is to apply Immunization. Click on the Immunize button in the left sidebar, select everything you want, or uncheck things like cookies, or Hosts, or Domains, as you see fit, then click on Immunize button over the right panel, that has a green cross. Sometimes, Spybot immunizes against cookies and domains that you may actually want to visit. If you suddenly find you cannot login, or cookies are missing, you can undo the most recent Immunizations, then uncheck the desired items and re-immunize. Websites added to your Windows HOSTS file during immunization will be blocked completely, so you may need to edit that file in Notepad, saving as HOSTS, without any extension, or uncheck it from immunization if your preferred websites are blocked by Spybot S&D.
Download links and more instructions about using Spybot Search and Destroy are in my extended comments, along with the description of the latest definition updates and false positive fixes.
Extended Comments
After immunizing against unwanted items you should click on the Search & Destroy icon, on the left, then click "Check for problems," on the right side. It will take several minutes, or longer to scan all your files for known threats, and possible threats, using heuristics, unless you disable heuristics in the program's main Advanced Mode > Settings. When the scan completes anything listed in the definition databases will be listed in the results window, with check boxes in front of each main item group. If you find the program has listed some cookies or other programs you use and trust, uncheck them, click on the item name and the right click and select "Exclude this product from further searches." Finally, click on "Fix (selected) Problems."
Spybot Search and Destroy 1.6.2 was released on January 26, 2009. This is probably going to be the last "maintenance release" before version 2.0 is released. It scans for threats about 4 times faster than previous versions and has an redesigned spyware removal engine. Upgrade now to Spybot S&D 1.6.2. The newest Virtumonde and Zlob threats require the anti malware engine in Spybot 1.6+ to effectively remove them.
Also, the TeaTimer module was recently updated to version 1.6.6. If you use the Spybot Tea Timer you may want install this update (as an administrator) (Or maybe not! See notes below concerning false positives in TeaTimer.).
Additions made on May 6, 2009:
Malware (Includes rogue or fake anti-virus and anti-spyware programs and fake registry cleaners and fake security alerts, plus other nasty programs)
++ Fraud.AntiVirus360Remover
++ Fraud.AVAntiSpyware
++ Fraud.SpybotSearch
++ Fraud.UltraAntivir2009
++ Fraud.WinCleaner
+ Win32.BHO.je
++ Win32.Inject.mby
++ Win32.Virut.ce
+ WinWebSecurity
PUPS (Possibly UnPopular Software or Potentially Unwanted Program)
++ PerfectUninstaller
Trojans (Trojans come to you disguised as something useful, or as a missing codec required to view a spammed video, but, like the Trojan Horse of antiquity, they hold dangerous contents that cause great harm! Many of these Trojans are Botnet infections, backdoors and Rootkits.)
+ Vanbot
+ Win32.Agent.boym
+ Win32.Agent.bt
++ Win32.Agent.ext
+ Win32.Seneka.rtk
+ Win32.TDSS.cl
+ Win32.TDSS.gen
+ Win32.TDSS.qa
+ Win32.TDSS.rtk
+ Win32.VB.aqt
Total: 1409006 fingerprints in 481516 rules for 4641 products.
False positive detections reported or fixed this week:
One user has reported that all of his Firefox bookmarks were flagged with gold stars as being a "problem." I'd say there is a problem, but not with the bookmarks. These are false positives!
Spybot's TeaTimer is still misbehaving. A user reported that it doesn't like the Comodo Firewall's latest security update. TeaTimer terminated \Program Files\Comodo\COMODO Internet Security\cmdagent.exe. This is a confirmed false positive.
Many users are reporting false positives of "EBlaster" in the Spybot heuristic scanner for .mht files, various image files, zip files and some saved web pages. These false positives were fixed with this week's updates.
Another False positive: Fraud.Antivirus 2008 was detected in a registry entry for a video editing color correction plugin named AavcolorLabPP. It was fixed with this week's updates.
A false positive was confirmed and fixed for Top Producer Online msjavx86.exe.
A false positive detection of Fraud.VirusDoctor in C:\Program Files\SecondLife\SLVoice.exe was fixed this week.
There was a confirmed False Positive in Sun Java of "Perfect Keylogger" and it has been fixed.
I recommend NOT installing the TeaTimer module at this time, unless you are an advanced user! There are just too many false positives since the updated version was released. If you are unsure about the validity of a TeaTimer pop-up alert regarding a process having been terminated, do not select the option to delete the file. Also beware of Spybot heuristic scan malware reports and always save any deleted files in case it is a false positive and they need to be restored. If you can't recover deleted registry entries and programs stop wortking, try running System Restore to just before the last Spybot updates.
You should send feedback about TeaTimer false positives to Team Spybot, after registering with the Safer-Networiking forum.
If you have purchased McAfee, Symantec, or Trend Micro security suites (which are very good products) and they ask you to uninstall Spybot, or do so without your option to refuse, simply reinstall Spybot afterward. But, I recommend not activating the TeaTimer module in Spybot S&D, as this will cause a struggle over which program monitors the system for realtime changes.
Various reports from the Internet and from Safer-Networking's own testing seem to indicate that there is a problem between Internet Explorer 8 and the immunization feature of Spybot - Search & Destroy, causing a slow startup of IE 8. It is caused by the large number of websites added to the browser's Restricted Sites Zone. This is being worked on by Team Spybot.
Team Spybot has changed the name of the Spybot S&D setup file. The installer file that is downloaded to the desktop during a main update (to allow you to see the file and store it elsewhere if you want) is now named setup-spybotsd162.exe instead of spybotsd162.exe to avoid confusion with the regular Spybot... start link. The new naming convention should continue with future releases.
If you arrived here by searching for the name of some malware that may be on your computer and you are not currently using Spybot Search and Destroy, you can download the latest version from the Spybot Search and Destroy Multi-Lingual Landing Page. Choose your language, then use the link in the left sidebar to go to the downloads page. Download the program from your closest mirror server, install it, update it (Updates button), then follow the instructions below to detect and remove any malware that is on your PC. If Spybot is unable to remove an active threat it will ask for permission to run before Windows starts during the next reboot. Spybot will then run a complete scan before your Windows desktop loads, removing malware that has not yet loaded into memory.
If you see a program listed in the new detections, by its name, you should assume that is is malware (with the possible exception of the PUP group, which is up to user discretion). All of the programs listed with a single + sign are updated detections, while a double ++ in front of it's name indicates a brand new detection. A number in parenthesis, following a malware name, indicates the number of variants included in that detection. These programs are dangerous to your computer, and/or personal security or privacy.
Older versions of Spybot are no longer being updated or supported. If you are using any version older than 1.62 please upgrade to the current version of Spybot S&D, which is now 1.6.2, as soon as possible. New definitions for malware like the Virtumonde family of Trojans need the newer processing technologies introduced in version 1.6.0. Also, the number of malware definitions has more than doubled between July and December, 2008.
Of continued concern to people who operate as Limited or Power Users for their daily browsing and email, Spybot Search and Destroy is still corrupting your less privileged accounts after you update it, immunize and scan from an Administrator level account. If, after doing these things, you log off the Administrator account and try to log into your Limited/Power User account, it may be corrupted and a generic desktop and start menu may appear. Don't panic! Your account and desktop can be restored by simply rebooting the computer. When you login after the reboot your previous settings will reappear. I don't know why this happens, but, stuff happens! It may be related to the relatively new rootkit detection added last year.
If you want to get direct assistance from Team Spybot, or their talented volunteers, visit the Spybot support forums, sign up for a user account and post your request for assistance. Be sure to read the rules before posting a question or reply.
If your computer is infected and you need help removing the threats, go to the Malware Removal Forums, at Safer Networking/Spybot.info. Again, read the rules before posting your request or logs! Do NOT inject your problem into somebody else's thread! Start a new topic.
If Spybot flags a file on your computer that you believe is a false positive detection, use caution and check with the Spybot False Positives Forum before allowing it to be deleted. You can submit a report to the Spybot False Positives forum, after signing up for an account and reading about how to report false positives before submitting your report and request for analysis.
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