Common name VirusHeat Family SmitFraud | Technical name VirusHeat Type Microsoft Windows | |
Aliases Virus Heat, VirusHeat 3.9, VirusHeat 4.3, VirusHeat 4.4 Classification Rogue security software | ||
VirusHeat is a rogue anti-spyware program that is part of the Smitfraud family. VirusHeat tricks users into buying the full version of the program through repeated false alerts and popups, purporting to alert the user that there is a system error or they are infected, and must buy the full version to remove. It was launched on February 8, 2008.
Contents
Infection
VirusHeat is usually downloaded through a trojan, usually the Zlob trojan, that is bundled in fake Video codecs. It may also be downloaded from the malware's website. Once installed, VirusHeat will run a scan and report exaggerated results that the user's computer is infected. When the scan is complete, a warning message will pop up linking to VirusHeat's homepage where the user is prompted to buy the software.
Symptoms
VirusHeat displays false warning messages (e.g. intimating that you had downloaded e.g. an XXX video) followed by a realistic Virus removal pop up which launches to their web-site whether you select "Yes" or "No" button: Then uses exaggerated scan reports to mislead the user. VirusHeat repeatedly annoys the user with pop up warnings that prompt the user to purchase a full version of the program. VirusHeat may attempt to change the user's IE homepage to go to VirusHeat's homepage. VirusHeat may automatically launch on startup.
VirusHeat installs the following: Processes
DLLs
Directories
Registry Keys
Known variants
VirusHeat behaves similar to other known rogue security software. SpywareQuake, VirusBurst, AntiVirGear, VirusProtect, VirusProtectPro are variants of VirusHeat.
Removal
Various anti-spyware removal tools are known to remove VirusHeat. The latest definition file must be utilized in most anti-spyware programs to completely remove VirusHeat and any associated files.