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Spyware & Virus Directory
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
W32.Gaobot.DX
Risk Level 2: Low
Discovered: May 26, 2004
Updated: July 7, 2004 02:08:23 PM PDT
Also Known As: Backdoor.Agobot.be [Kaspersky], W32/Agobot.CG [Frisk], W32/Gaobot.worm.dk [McAfee], WORM_AGOBOT.BK [Trend Micro], W32/Agobot-BQ [Sophos], Win32.Agobot.gen [Computer Associates]
Type: Worm
Infection Length: 72,192 bytes
Systems Affected: Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows XP
SUMMARY
W32.Gaobot.DX is a variant of W32.HLLW.Gaobot.DK that attempts to spread to network shares and allows access to an infected computer through an IRC channel.
The worm uses multiple vulnerabilities to spread, including:
- The DCOM RPC vulnerability (described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-026), using TCP port 135
- The RPC locator vulnerability (described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-001), using TCP port 445
W32.Gaobot.DX is compressed with UPX.
Note: Virus definitions released on December 3, 2003 detect this threat as W32.HLLW.Gaobot.gen.
Protection
- Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) May 28, 2004
- Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) May 27, 2004
Threat Assessment
Wild
- Wild Level: Low
- Number of Infections: More than 1000
- Number of Sites: More than 10
- Geographical Distribution: Low
- Threat Containment: Easy
- Removal: Moderate
Damage
- Damage Level: Medium
- Releases Confidential Info: Allows unautorized remote access. Steals the CD keys of several popular computer games.
- Degrades Performance: The worm running under service mode takes up much of the system resources.
- Compromises Security Settings: Ends several processes belonging to antivirus and firewall software.
Distribution
- Distribution Level: Medium
- Ports: TCP ports 135 and 445
- Shared Drives: Attempts to copy itself to network shares with weak passwords.
- Target of Infection: Accounts with weak passwords; systems not patched against the DCOM RPC vulnerability or the RPC locator vulnerability.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
When W32.Gaobot.DX is executed, it performs the following actions:
- Copies itself as %System%svchos1.exe.
Note: %System% is a variable. The worm locates the System folder and copies itself to that location. By default, this is C:WindowsSystem (Windows 95/98/Me), C:WinntSystem32 (Windows NT/2000), or C:WindowsSystem32 (Windows XP).
- If the originally executed file is not %System%svchos1.exe, it will close the file, execute %System%svchos1.exe, and then delete the original file.
- Opens a randomly selected TCP port to connect to the hacker.
- Adds the value:
"Configuration Loading"="svchos1.exe"
to the registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
RunServices
so that the worm runs when you start Windows.
Note: Symantec Security Response has received reports that, in some circumstances, the file name that was created may be filename.exe, and the registry key value may be "Win Init"="filename.exe."
- Registers itself as a service with the following attributes:
- Service Name: Configuration Loading
- Display Name: Configuration Loading
- Path to executable: "C:\%System%svchos1.exe" -service
- Startup Type: Automatic
- First Failure: Restart the Service
- Second Failure: Restart the Service
- Subsequent Failure: Restart the Service
- Reset Fail Count After: 49710 days
- Restart Service After: 0 minutes
- Connects to a predefined IRC server, using its own IRC client, and then listens for commands to do any of the following:
- Download and execute files
- Steal system information
- Send the worm to other IRC users
- Add new accounts
- Perform Denial of Service (DoS) attacks
- Send spam to the email addresses from lists, which the worm downloads
- Remotely schedules a task to run the worm on a newly infected computer.
- Creates a random IP address and performs a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack against it.
- Acts as a proxy server to direct attacks against another machine.
- Sends data to TCP port 135, which exploits the DCOM RPC vulnerability, or sends data to TCP port 445 to exploit the RPC locator vulnerability.
- Probes the following shares:
- admin$
- c$
- d$
- e$
- print$
using the following user names and passwords, as well as any user names found using NetUserEnum():
User names: - Admin
- student
- teacher
- database
- mysql
- OWNER
- computer
- admins
- mary
- owner
- wwwadmin
- root
- OEM
- qwer
- asdf
- win
- temp
- home
- Dell
- xyz
- abc
- aaa
- Inviter
- Gast
- Guest
- Test
- server
- user
- Owner
- administrador
- Administrat
- User
- Standard
- mgmt
- Convidado
- Default
- administrator
- admin
- kanri-sha
- kanri
- Ospite
- Verwalter
- Administrador
- Coordinatore
- Administrateur
- Administrator
- netbios
- default
Passwords: - <empty>
- mypass
- mypc
- love
- pwd
- poiuytrewq
- zxcvbnm
- admin123
- qwerty
- red123
- password123
- abc123
- qwertyuiop
- secrets
- homework
- porn
- baby
- werty
- box
- mybox
- school
- work
- metal
- leet
- pussy
- vagina
- mybaby
- asdfghjkl
- xxyyzz
- private
- test123
- changeme
- penis
- kids
- supersecret
- superman
- Login
- xxx
- zxcv
- yxcv
- secret
- foobar
- god
- sex
- pat
- patrick
- alpha
- 007
- 123abc
- 1234qwer
- 123123
- 121212
- 111111
- 110
- 2600
- 2002
- enable
- godblessyou
- ihavenopass
- 123asd
- super
- Internet
- 123qwe
- sybase
- oracle
- abcd
- passwd
- pass
- 88888888
- 11111111
- 00000000
- 000000
- 111
- 54321
- 654321
- 123456789
- 12345678
- 1234567
- 123456
- 12345
- 1234
- 123
- Password
- password
- Copies itself to any systems that it compromised using the previously mentioned exploits.
- Steals the CD keys of the following games:
- Hidden and Dangerous 2
- Chrome
- Soldier of Fortune II - Double Helix
- Neverwinter Nights
- NOX
- Tiberian Sun
- Red Alert 2
- Red Alert
- Project IGI 2
- Command & Conquer Generals
- Battlefield 1942 Secret Weapons of WWII
- Battlefield 1942 The Road to Rome
- Battlefield 1942
- Nascar Racing 2003
- Nascar Racing 2002
- NHL 2003
- NHL 2002
- FIFA 2003
- FIFA 2002
- Need For Speed Hot Pursuit 2
- The Gladiators
- Unreal Tournament 2003
- Legend of Might and Magic
- Counter-Strike
- Half-Life
- Inventories the active processes, and if the name of the firewall and antivirus process is one of the following, the worm will attempt to terminate it:
- zonealarm.EXE
- zapro.EXE
- vsmon.EXE
- vshwin32.EXE
- vbcmserv.EXE
- sbserv.EXE
- rtvscan.EXE
- rapapp.EXE
- pcscan.EXE
- pccwin97.EXE
- pccntmon.EXE
- pavproxy.EXE
- nvsvc32.EXE
- ntrtscan.EXE
- npscheck.EXE
- notstart.EXE
- lockdown2000.EXE
- iamserv.EXE
- iamapp.EXE
- gbpoll.EXE
- gbmenu.EXE
- fsmb32.EXE
- fsma32.EXE
- fsm32.EXE
- fsgk32.EXE
- fsav32.EXE
- fsaa.EXE
- fnrb32.EXE
- fih32.EXE
- fch32.EXE
- fameh32.EXE
- f-stopw.EXE
- defscangui.EXE
- defalert.EXE
- cpd.EXE
- cleaner3.EXE
- cleaner.EXE
- ccPxySvc.EXE
- ccEvtMgr.EXE
- ccApp.EXE
- blackd.EXE
- avpm.EXE
- avkwctl9.EXE
- avkservice.EXE
- avkpop.EXE
- apvxdwin.EXE
- agentw.EXE
- _AVPM.EXE
- _AVPCC.EXE
- _AVP32.EXE
- ZONEALARM.EXE
- ZONALM2601.EXE
- ZAUINST.EXE
- ZATUTOR.EXE
- ZAPSETUP3001.EXE
- ZAPRO.EXE
- XPF202EN.EXE
- WrCtrl.EXE
- WrAdmin.EXE
- WYVERNWORKSFIREWALL.EXE
- WSBGATE.EXE
- WRCTRL.EXE
- WRADMIN.EXE
- WNT.EXE
- WINRECON.EXE
- WIMMUN32.EXE
- WHOSWATCHINGME.EXE
- WGFE95.EXE
- WFINDV32.EXE
- WEBTRAP.EXE
- WEBSCANX.EXE
- WATCHDOG.EXE
- W9X.EXE
- W32DSM89.EXE
- VetTray.EXE
- Vet95.EXE
- VbCons.EXE
- VSWINPERSE.EXE
- VSWINNTSE.EXE
- VSWIN9XE.EXE
- VSSTAT.EXE
- VSMON.EXE
- VSMAIN.EXE
- VSISETUP.EXE
- VSECOMR.EXE
- VSCHED.EXE
- VSCENU6.02D30.EXE
- VSCAN40.EXE
- VPTRAY.EXE
- VPFW30S.EXE
- VPC42.EXE
- VPC32.EXE
- VNPC3000.EXE
- VNLAN300.EXE
- VIRUSMDPERSONALFIREWALL.EXE
- VIR-HELP.EXE
- VFSETUP.EXE
- VETTRAY.EXE
- VET95.EXE
- VET32.EXE
- VCSETUP.EXE
- VBWINNTW.EXE
- VBWIN9X.EXE
- VBUST.EXE
- VBCONS.EXE
- VBCMSERV.EXE
- UPDATE.EXE
- UNDOBOOT.EXE
- TROJANTRAP3.EXE
- TRJSETUP.EXE
- TRJSCAN.EXE
- TRACERT.EXE
- TITANINXP.EXE
- TITANIN.EXE
- TGBOB.EXE
- TFAK5.EXE
- TFAK.EXE
- TDS2-NT.EXE
- TDS2-98.EXE
- TDS-3.EXE
- TCM.EXE
- TCA.EXE
- TC.EXE
- TBSCAN.EXE
- TAUMON.EXE
- TASKMON.EXE
- SymProxySvc.EXE
- SweepNet.SWEEPSRV.SYS.SWNETSUP.EXE
- Sphinx.EXE
- SYSEDIT.EXE
- SYMTRAY.EXE
- SYMPROXYSVC.EXE
- SWEEP95.EXE
- SUPPORTER5.EXE
- SUPFTRL.EXE
- ST2.EXE
- SS3EDIT.EXE
- SPYXX.EXE
- SPHINX.EXE
- SPF.EXE
- SOFI.EXE
- SMC.EXE
- SHN.EXE
- SHELLSPYINSTALL.EXE
- SH.EXE
- SGSSFW32.EXE
- SFC.EXE
- SETUP_FLOWPROTECTOR_US.EXE
- SETUPVAMEEVAL.EXE
- SERV95.EXE
- SD.EXE
- SCRSCAN.EXE
- SCANPM.EXE
- SCAN95.EXE
- SCAN32.EXE
- SBSERV.EXE
- SAFEWEB.EXE
- RULAUNCH.EXE
- RTVSCN95.EXE
- RSHELL.EXE
- RRGUARD.EXE
- RESCUE32.EXE
- RESCUE.EXE
- REGEDT32.EXE
- REGEDIT.EXE
- REALMON.EXE
- RAV8WIN32ENG.EXE
- RAV7WIN.EXE
- RAV7.EXE
- QSERVER.EXE
- QCONSOLE.EXE
- PVIEW95.EXE
- PURGE.EXE
- PSPF.EXE
- PROTECTX.EXE
- PROPORT.EXE
- PROGRAMAUDITOR.EXE
- PROCEXPLORERV1.0.EXE
- PROCESSMONITOR.EXE
- PPVSTOP.EXE
- PPTBC.EXE
- PPINUPDT.EXE
- PORTMONITOR.EXE
- PORTDETECTIVE.EXE
- POPSCAN.EXE
- POPROXY.EXE
- POP3TRAP.EXE
- PLATIN.EXE
- PINGSCAN.EXE
- PFWADMIN.EXE
- PF2.EXE
- PERSWF.EXE
- PERSFW.EXE
- PERISCOPE.EXE
- PDSETUP.EXE
- PCIP10117_0.EXE
- PCFWALLICON.EXE
- PCDSETUP.EXE
- PCCWIN98.EXE
- PCCIOMON.EXE
- PCC2K_76_1436.EXE
- PCC2002S902.EXE
- PAVW.EXE
- PAVSCHED.EXE
- PAVPROXY.EXE
- PAVCL.EXE
- PANIXK.EXE
- PADMIN.EXE
- OUTPOSTPROINSTALL.EXE
- OUTPOSTINSTALL.EXE
- OUTPOST.EXE
- OSTRONET.EXE
- Nupgrade.EXE
- Nui.EXE
- NeoWatchLog.EXE
- Navw32.EXE
- NWTOOL16.EXE
- NWService.EXE
- NWINST4.EXE
- NVC95.EXE
- NVARCH16.EXE
- NTXconfig.EXE
- NTVDM.EXE
- NSCHED32.EXE
- NPSSVC.EXE
- NPROTECT.EXE
- NPFMESSENGER.EXE
- NPF40_TW_98_NT_ME_2K.EXE
- NORTON_INTERNET_SECU_3.0_407.EXE
- NORMIST.EXE
- NOD32.EXE
- NMAIN.EXE
- NISUM.EXE
- NISSERV.EXE
- NETUTILS.EXE
- NETSTAT.EXE
- NETSPYHUNTER-1.2.EXE
- NETSCANPRO.EXE
- NETMON.EXE
- NETINFO.EXE
- NETARMOR.EXE
- NEOMONITOR.EXE
- NDD32.EXE
- NCINST4.EXE
- NC2000.EXE
- NAVWNT.EXE
- NAVW32.EXE
- NAVSTUB.EXE
- NAVNT.EXE
- NAVLU32.EXE
- NAVENGNAVEX15.NAVLU32.EXE
- NAVDX.EXE
- NAVAPW32.EXE
- NAVAPSVC.EXE
- NAVAP.navapsvc.EXE
- NAV Auto-Protect.NAV80TRY.EXE
- N32SCANW.EXE
- Monitor.EXE
- Mcshield.EXE
- MWATCH.EXE
- MU0311AD.EXE
- MSSMMC32.EXE
- MSINFO32.EXE
- MSCONFIG.EXE
- MRFLUX.EXE
- MPFTRAY.EXE
- MPFSERVICE.EXE
- MPFAGENT.EXE
- MOOLIVE.EXE
- MONITOR.EXE
- MINILOG.EXE
- MGUI.EXE
- MGHTML.EXE
- MGAVRTE.EXE
- MGAVRTCL.EXE
- MFWENG3.02D30.EXE
- MFW2EN.EXE
- MCVSSHLD.EXE
- MCVSRTE.EXE
- MCUPDATE.EXE
- MCTOOL.EXE
- MCMNHDLR.EXE
- MCAGENT.EXE
- LUSPT.EXE
- LUINIT.EXE
- LUCOMSERVER.EXE
- LUAU.EXE
- LUALL.EXE
- LSETUP.EXE
- LOOKOUT.EXE
- LOCKDOWN2000.EXE
- LOCKDOWN.EXE
- LOCALNET.EXE
- LDSCAN.EXE
- LDPROMENU.EXE
- LDPRO.EXE
- LDNETMON.EXE
- KILLPROCESSSETUP161.EXE
- KERIO-WRP-421-EN-WIN.EXE
- KERIO-WRL-421-EN-WIN.EXE
- KERIO-PF-213-EN-WIN.EXE
- KAVPF.EXE
- KAVPERS40ENG.EXE
- KAVLITE40ENG.EXE
- JEDI.EXE
- JAMMER.EXE
- ISRV95.EXE
- IRIS.EXE
- IPARMOR.EXE
- IOMON98.EXE
- IFW2000.EXE
- IFACE.EXE
- ICSUPPNT.EXE
- ICSUPP95.EXE
- ICMON.EXE
- ICLOADNT.EXE
- ICLOAD95.EXE
- IBMAVSP.EXE
- IBMASN.EXE
- IAMSTATS.EXE
- IAMSERV.EXE
- IAMAPP.EXE
- HWPE.EXE
- HTLOG.EXE
- HACKTRACERSETUP.EXE
- GUARDDOG.EXE
- GUARD.EXE
- GENERICS.EXE
- GBPOLL.EXE
- GBMENU.EXE
- FSAV95.EXE
- FSAV530WTBYB.EXE
- FSAV530STBYB.EXE
- FSAV.EXE
- FRW.EXE
- FPROT.EXE
- FP-WIN_TRIAL.EXE
- FP-WIN.EXE
- FLOWPROTECTOR.EXE
- FIREWALL.EXE
- FINDVIRU.EXE
- FAST.EXE
- F-STOPW.EXE
- F-PROT95.EXE
- F-PROT.EXE
- F-AGNT95.EXE
- EXPERT.EXE
- EXE.AVXW.EXE
- EXANTIVIRUS-CNET.EXE
- EVPN.EXE
- ETRUSTCIPE.EXE
- ESPWATCH.EXE
- ESCANV95.EXE
- ESCANHNT.EXE
- ESCANH95.EXE
- ESAFE.EXE
- ENT.EXE
- EFPEADM.EXE
- ECENGINE.EXE
- DVP95_0.EXE
- DVP95.EXE
- DRWEB32.EXE
- DRWATSON.EXE
- DPFSETUP.EXE
- DPF.EXE
- DOORS.EXE
- DEPUTY.EXE
- DEFWATCH.EXE
- Claw95cf.EXE
- Claw95.EXE
- CWNTDWMO.EXE
- CWNB181.EXE
- CV.EXE
- CTRL.EXE
- CPFNT206.EXE
- CPF9X206.EXE
- CPD.EXE
- CONNECTIONMONITOR.EXE
- CMON016.EXE
- CMGRDIAN.EXE
- CLEANPC.EXE
- CLEANER3.EXE
- CLEANER.EXE
- CLEAN.EXE
- CLAW95CF.EXE
- CFINET32.EXE
- CFINET.EXE
- CFIAUDIT.EXE
- CFIADMIN.EXE
- CFGWIZ.EXE
- CDP.EXE
- BlackICE.EXE
- BS120.EXE
- BORG2.EXE
- BOOTWARN.EXE
- BLACKICE.EXE
- BLACKD.EXE
- BISP.EXE
- BIPCPEVALSETUP.EXE
- BIPCP.EXE
- BIDSERVER.EXE
- BIDEF.EXE
- BD_PROFESSIONAL.EXE
- Avsched32.EXE
- AvkServ.EXE
- Avgctrl.EXE
- AvgServ.EXE
- AvSynMgr.AVSYNMGR.EXE
- AutoTrace.EXE
- AckWin32.EXE
- AVXQUAR.EXE
- AVXMONITORNT.EXE
- AVXMONITOR9X.EXE
- AVWUPSRV.EXE
- AVWUPD32.EXE
- AVWINNT.EXE
- AVWIN95.EXE
- AVPUPD.EXE
- AVPTC32.EXE
- AVPM.EXE
- AVPDOS32.EXE
- AVPCC.EXE
- AVP32.EXE
- AVP.EXE
- AVNT.EXE
- AVGW.EXE
- AVGUARD.EXE
- AVGSERV9.EXE
- AVGSERV.EXE
- AVGNT.EXE
- AVGCTRL.EXE
- AVGCC32.EXE
- AVE32.EXE
- AVCONSOL.EXE
- AUTOUPDATE.EXE
- AUTODOWN.EXE
- AUPDATE.EXE
- ATWATCH.EXE
- ATUPDATER.EXE
- ATRO55EN.EXE
- ATGUARD.EXE
- ATCON.EXE
- APVXDWIN.EXE
- APLICA32.EXE
- APIMONITOR.EXE
- ANTS.EXE
- ANTIVIRUS.EXE
- ANTI-TROJAN.EXE
- AMON9X.EXE
- ALOGSERV.EXE
- ALERTSVC.EXE
- AGENTSVR.EXE
- ADVXDWIN.EXE
- ACKWIN32.EXE
- Attempts to end the following running processes that other worms have dropped:
- winhlpp32.exe
- tftpd.exe
- dllhost.exe
- winppr32.exe
- mspatch.exe
- penis32.exe
- msblast.exe
Recommendations
Symantec Security Response encourages all users and administrators to adhere to the following basic security "best practices":
- Turn off and remove unneeded services. By default, many operating systems install auxiliary services that are not critical, such as an FTP server, telnet, and a Web server. These services are avenues of attack. If they are removed, blended threats have less avenues of attack and you have fewer services to maintain through patch updates.
- If a blended threat exploits one or more network services, disable, or block access to, those services until a patch is applied.
- Always keep your patch levels up-to-date, especially on computers that host public services and are accessible through the firewall, such as HTTP, FTP, mail, and DNS services (for example, all Windows-based computers should have the current Service Pack installed.). Additionally, please apply any security updates that are mentioned in this writeup, in trusted Security Bulletins, or on vendor Web sites.
- Enforce a password policy. Complex passwords make it difficult to crack password files on compromised computers. This helps to prevent or limit damage when a computer is compromised.
- Configure your email server to block or remove email that contains file attachments that are commonly used to spread viruses, such as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files.
- Isolate infected computers quickly to prevent further compromising your organization. Perform a forensic analysis and restore the computers using trusted media.
- Train employees not to open attachments unless they are expecting them. Also, do not execute software that is downloaded from the Internet unless it has been scanned for viruses. Simply visiting a compromised Web site can cause infection if certain browser vulnerabilities are not patched.
REMOVAL
The following instructions pertain to all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.
- Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP).
- Update the virus definitions.
- Restart the computer in Safe mode or VGA mode.
- Delete the value that was added to the registry.
- Find and disable the service.
- Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as W32.Gaobot.DX.
1. To disable 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 turn off or turn on Windows XP System Restore"
Note: When you are completely finished with the removal procedure and are satisfied that the threat has been removed, re-enable System Restore by following the instructions in the aforementioned documents.
For additional information, and an alternative to disabling Windows Me System Restore, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, "Antivirus Tools Cannot Clean Infected Files in the _Restore Folder," Article ID: Q263455.
2. To update 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. To restart the computer in Safe mode or VGA mode
Shut down the computer and turn off the power. Wait for at least 30 seconds, and then restart the computer in Safe mode or VGA mode.
- For Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, or XP users, restart the computer in Safe mode. For instructions, read the document, "How to start the computer in Safe Mode."
- For Windows NT 4 users, restart the computer in VGA mode.
Important: 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.
- Click Start > Run.
- Type regedit
Then click OK.
- Navigate to the key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
- In the right pane, delete the value:
"Configuration Loading"="svchos1.exe"
- Navigate to the key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
RunServices
- In the right pane, delete the value:
"Configuration Loading"="svchos1.exe"
- Exit the Registry Editor.
5. To find and disable the service
- Click Start > Run.
- Type services.msc, and then click OK.
- Locate and select the service named Configuration Loading.
- Click Action > Properties.
- Click Stop.
- Change Startup Type to Disabled.
- Click the Recovery tab.
- Change First failure, Second failure, and Subsequent failure to Take No Action.
- Click OK and close the Services window.
- Restart the computer.
6. To scan for and delete the infected files
- 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."
- Run a full system scan.
- If any files are detected as infected with W32.Gaobot.DX, click Delete.
Spy Sweeper 5.2 stops spyware in its tracks while offering home computer users the ability to configure the program to suit their specific needs, such as:
Choose a Quick, Full or Custom Sweep: With Spy Sweeper 5.2, you can easily choose to perform a quick, full or customized sweep. If you're looking for an immediate diagnosis, choose a quick sweep. For a pinpointed search, customize your sweep to have Spy Sweeper skip files by folder or file extension. For a deep cleaning, opt for a full sweep.
Exclude Files from a Sweep: Spy Sweeper allows you to save time during a sweep by skipping specific files or different sections of your PC. You can select specific file extension, such as .xls or .mpg to exclude.
Additional Highlights
As soon as it's installed, Spy Sweeper gives 360 degrees of protection against spyware, including:
Simple Sweeps: Detecting spyware and removing unwanted programs found on your computer in three effortless steps
Easy Management: Quickly and simply configure program, sweep and upgrade options
Fast Home: Use the home screen to access the most commonly used functions of Spy Sweeper
Shields Summary: A redesigned shields summary page makes it simple to see at a glance which shields are on or off
Action Alerts: Receive clear, easy-to-understand notifications when new spyware threats are detected
"Spy Sweeper remains a favorite for protection from spyware."
"This program's dominance is apparent as soon as you install it."
