Storm
Aliases of Storm (AKA):
| [Kaspersky] | DDoS.Win32.StormAttack.12, Backdoor.Icebrak, warning: Backdoor.Icebrak |
| [McAfee] | DDoS-Storm, New BackDoor1 |
| [F-Prot] | destructive program, security risk or a "backdoor" program |
| [Panda] | DDos Program, DoS Program, Trojan Horse |
| [CA] | Win32/StormAttack.11.12!DDoS |
How to Remove Storm from Your Computer^
To completely purge Storm from your computer, you need to delete the files, folders, Windows registry keys and registry values associated with Storm. These files, folders and registry elements are respectively listed in the Files, Folders, Registry Keys and Registry Values sections on this page.
For instructions on deleting the Storm registry keys and registry values,
see How to Remove Storm from the Windows Registry.
For instructions on deleting the Storm files and folders,
see How to Delete Storm Files (.exe, .dll, etc.)
How to Delete Storm Files (.exe, .dll, etc.)^
The files and folders associated with Storm are listed in the Files and Folders sections on this page.
To delete the Storm files and folders:
- Using your file explorer, browse to each file and folder listed in the Folders and Files sections.
- Select the file or folder and press SHIFT+Delete on the keyboard.
- Click Yes in the confirm deletion dialog box.
How to Remove Storm from the Windows Registry^
The Windows registry stores important system information such as system preferences, user settings and installed programs details as well as the information about the applications that are automatically run at start-up. Because of this, spyware, malware and adware often store references to their own files in your Windows registry so that they can automatically launch every time you start up your computer.
To effectively remove Storm from your Windows registry, you must delete all the registry keys and values associated with Storm, which are listed in the Registry Keys and Registry Values sections on this page.
To remove the Storm registry keys and values:
- On the Windows Start menu, click Run.
- In the Open box, type regedit and click OK.
The Registry Editor window opens. This window consists of two panes. The left pane displays folders that represent the registry keys arranged in hierarchical order. The right one lists the registry values of the currently selected registry key. - To delete each registry key listed in the Registry Keys section, do the following:
- Locate the key in the left pane of the Registry Editor window by sequentially expanding the folders according to the path indicated in the Registry Keys section. For example, if the path of a registry key is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\FolderA\FolderB\KeyName1sequentially expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, software, FolderA and FolderB folders.
- Select the key name indicated at the end of the path (KeyName1 in the example above).
- Right-click the key name and select Delete on the menu.
- Click Yes in the Confirm Key Delete dialog box.
- Locate the key in the left pane of the Registry Editor window by sequentially expanding the folders according to the path indicated in the Registry Keys section. For example, if the path of a registry key is
- To delete each registry value listed in the Registry Values section, do the following:
- Display the value in the right pane of the Registry Editor window by sequentially expanding the folders in the left pane according to the path indicated in the Registry Values section and selecting the specified key name. For example, if the path of a registry value is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\FolderA\FolderB\KeyName2,valueC=sequentially expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, software, FolderA and FolderB folders and select the KeyName2 key to display the valueC value in the right pane.
- In the right pane, select the value name indicated after a comma at the end of the path (valueC in the example above).
- Right-click the value name and select Delete on the menu.
- Click Yes in the Confirm Value Delete dialog box.
- Display the value in the right pane of the Registry Editor window by sequentially expanding the folders in the left pane according to the path indicated in the Registry Values section and selecting the specified key name. For example, if the path of a registry value is
Registry ValuesStorm Categorized as:^
Trojan
A trojan is a program that is disguised as legitimate software but is designed to carry out some harmful actions on the infected computer.
Unlike viruses and worms, trojans don’t replicate but they can be just as destructive.
These days trojans are very common. Trojans are divided into a number different categories based on their function or type of damage.
Be Aware of the Following Trojan Threats:
Backdoor
Of all trojans, backdoor trojans pose the greatest danger to users’ PCs because they give their authors remote control over infected computers. They are downloaded, installed, and run silently, without the user’s consent or knowledge. Upon installation, backdoor trojans can be instructed to send, receive, execute and delete files, gather and transfer confidential data from the computer, log all activity on the computer, and perform other harmful activities.
Be Aware of the Following Backdoor Threats:
Bad.Boy, Backdoor.IRC.Smev, Backdoor.Slackbot, JScript.Seeker.B!Trojan, IROffer.303e.
RAT
Remote Access Tool. A program that enables a hacker to remotely access and control other people’s computers. A RAT can serve a variety of malicious purposes, including hijacking and transferring private information, downloading files, running programs, and tampering with system settings.
Be Aware of the Following RAT Threats:
Hacker Tool
Hacker tools are utilities designed to help hackers gain control of remote computers in order to use them as zombies (in DoS attacks, for example), download other malicious programs into those computers, or use them for other malicious purposes.
Be Aware of the Following Hacker Tool Threats:
DoS
A DoS (Denial of Service) attack is designed to disrupt or stop the normal running of a Web site, server, or other network resource. Hackers or malware writers resort to various ways to achieve this. A DoS attack can commonly result in a server being flooded with more network traffic than it is capable of processing. This hinders or prevents the server’s normal operation and sometimes causes its complete failure.
Unlike a DoS attack, a DDoS attack employs multiple PCs. The hacker or malware writer normally uses one infected computer - “master” - to centrally coordinate the attack across other, so-called “zombie”, computers. Typically, the malware writer gains control of both master and zombie computers by exploiting a weakness in an application or the operating system on those computers, in order to install a trojan or other malicious code.
Be Aware of the Following DoS Threats:
F**ker, MtE, Froot.Fly, Network.User.Address.Attacker, Simple.Minded.
How Did My PC Get Infected with Storm?^
The following are the most likely reasons why your computer got infected with Storm:
- Your operating system and Web browser's security settings are too lax.
- You are not following safe Internet surfing and PC practices.
Downloading and Installing Freeware or Shareware
Small-charge or free software applications may come bundled with spyware, adware, or programs like Storm. Sometimes adware is attached to free software to enable the developers to cover the overhead involved in created the software. Spyware frequently piggybacks on free software into your computer to damage it and steal valuable private information.
Using Peer-to-Peer Software
The use of peer-to-peer (P2P) programs or other applications using a shared network exposes your system to the risk of unwittingly downloading infected files, including malicious programs like Storm.
Visiting Questionable Web Sites
When you visit sites with dubious or objectionable content, trojans-including Storm, spyware and adware, may well be automatically downloaded and installed onto your computer.
Detecting Storm^
The following symptoms signal that your computer is very likely to be infected with Storm:
PC is working very slowly
Storm can seriously slow down your computer. If your PC takes a lot longer than normal to restart or your Internet connection is extremely slow, your computer may well be infected with Storm.
New desktop shortcuts have appeared or the home page has changed
Storm can tamper with your Internet settings or redirect your default home page to unwanted web sites. Storm may even add new shortcuts to your PC desktop.
Annoying popups keep appearing on your PC
Storm may swamp your computer with pestering popup ads, even when you're not connected to the Internet, while secretly tracking your browsing habits and gathering your personal information.
E-mails that you didn't write are being sent from your mailbox
Storm may gain complete control of your mailbox to generate and send e-mail with virus attachments, e-mail hoaxes, spam and other types of unsolicited e-mail to other people.
Just want to say that apparently your Exterminate It has worked like a charm. I was infected with a most troublesome Malware Trojan that kept replicating every time McAfee found, blocked and removed it... most annoying for several days... until Mr. Google led me to your door. What a God send!
With thanks,