Security Risk

SUMMARY

The files that NAV detects as "Security Risk" are programs that are not intentionally malicious, but may pose a security risk if they are installed on a system, as they may be misused or have effects that would be detrimental to the security of the system. This category includes programs that may be used as Backdoor Trojans or may help attackers to compromise a system.

The "Sysreg.exe" program, which NAV formerly detected as "Trojan Horse" and is now detected as "Security Risk," appears to be a component of an adware application. This program periodically checks a Web site (http://tp.searchseekfind.com) for the location of new updates, and then attempts to download the updates over an insecure HTTP connection and launch them. The updates may come from any Web server on any IP address, and a check is not made to verify their integrity prior to execution.


Removal of Sysreg.exe

The following instructions pertain to all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.

1. Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP).
2. Update the virus definitions.
3. Restart the computer in Safe mode.
4. Run a full system scan and delete the file, Sysreg.exe, detected as "Security Risk."
5. Delete the value that was added to the registry.
   

For specific details on each of these steps, read the following instructions.

1. Disabling System Restore (Windows Me/XP)
If you are running Windows Me or Windows XP, we recommend that you temporarily turn off System Restore. Windows Me/XP uses this feature, which is enabled by default, to restore the files on your computer in case they become damaged. If a virus, worm, or Trojan infects a computer, System Restore may back up the virus, worm, or Trojan on the computer.

Windows prevents outside programs, including antivirus programs, from modifying System Restore. Therefore, antivirus programs or tools cannot remove threats in the System Restore folder. As a result, System Restore has the potential of restoring an infected file on your computer, even after you have cleaned the infected files from all the other locations.

Also, a virus scan may detect a threat in the System Restore folder even though you have removed the threat.

For instructions on how to turn off System Restore, read your Windows documentation, or one of the following articles:

• "How to disable or enable Windows Me System Restore"
• "How to disable or enable Windows XP System Restore"

For additional information, and an alternative to disabling Windows Me System Restore, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, "Anti-Virus Tools Cannot Clean Infected Files in the _Restore Folder," Article ID: Q263455.

2. Updating the virus definitions
Symantec Security Response fully tests all the virus definitions for quality assurance before they are posted to our servers. There are two ways to obtain the most recent virus definitions:

• Running LiveUpdate, which is the easiest way to obtain virus definitions: These virus definitions are posted to the LiveUpdate servers once each week (usually on Wednesdays), unless there is a major virus outbreak. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by LiveUpdate, refer to the Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate).
• Downloading the definitions using the Intelligent Updater: The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are posted on U.S. business days (Monday through Friday). You should download the definitions from the Symantec Security Response Web site and manually install them. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by the Intelligent Updater, refer to the Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater).
  
  The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are available: Read "How to update virus definition files using the Intelligent Updater" for detailed instructions.

3. Restarting the computer in Safe mode
Restart the computer in Safe mode. All the Windows 32-bit operating systems, except for Windows NT, can be restarted in Safe mode. For instructions on how to do this, read the document, "How to start the computer in Safe Mode."

4. Scanning for and deleting the infected files

1. Start your Symantec antivirus program and make sure that it is configured to scan all the files.
   • For Norton AntiVirus consumer products: Read the document, "How to configure Norton AntiVirus to scan all files."
   • For Symantec AntiVirus Enterprise products: Read the document, "How to verify that a Symantec Corporate antivirus product is set to scan All Files."
2. Run a full system scan.
3. If the file Sysreg.exe is detected as "Security Risk," click Delete.

5. Deleting the value from the registry

CAUTION: Symantec strongly recommends that you back up the registry before making any changes to it. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify the specified keys only. Read the document, "How to make a backup of the Windows registry," for instructions.

1. Click Start, and then click Run. (The Run dialog box appears.)
2. Type regedit
   
   Then click OK. (The Registry Editor opens.)
   
   
3. Navigate to the key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
   
4. In the right pane, delete the value:
   
   SysReg
   
   
5. Navigate to the key:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareIExplore
   
   
6. In the right pane, delete the values:
   
   ID
   AID
   
   
7. Exit the Registry Editor.

Additional information

The Sysreg.exe program downloads the updates and saves them under the name, "Update.exe," before launching them. Since Update.exe may contain anything downloaded from the Internet, NAV cannot detect this file. However, if a suspicious file named Update.exe exists on the system, Sysreg.exe may have created it and may need to be deleted.

NOTE: The Sysreg.exe program can create other values under HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareIExplore.