Scareware uses Fake Windows 7 Action Center

Privacy Center, Privacy Components and Safety Center are some of the aliases used by this family of scareware that hide under the guise of a fake Windows 7 Action Center.

The scareware installer uses the filename win_protection_update.exe and once installed, this scareware displays fake scan results in an attempt to convince unsuspecting users into buying the fake software.

A lifetime license for this fake app amounts to a hefty $79.95 plus $19.95 for “Premium Support”.

Here are some domains related to distributing this attack:

software-scaner-online.com
scaner-online-malware.biz

PC Tools Spyware Doctor with Antivirus detects this scareware as RogueAntiSpyware.PrivacyCenter.AJ.

MaCatte scareware fools users by masquerading as McAfee

MaCatte Antivirus is a rogue av that attempts to impersonate McAfee scanners in order to scam users, which PC Tools Spyware Doctor with Antivirus aptly detects as RogueAntiSpyware.MaCatte

This scareware has been seen to be using a bogus My Computer online scan similar to ones we’ve seen here, here and here.

The online scan can be seen on this url:

hxxp://proscan5.info/25/26-088wLzQzL1EzL==

The downloader being served from this url is time-sensitive and will not work after a period of time. A session ID of some sort is embedded on the binary executable itself. After such time has elapsed, the downloader tells the user to contact MaCatte Antivirus support people. This prevents reverse-engineers from replicating the infection and gathering samples for analysis.

Presence of these files / folders would signal infection from this scareware:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\msca
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\msca\MaCatte.ico
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\msca\mcull.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\msca\msc.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\msca\Viruses.dat
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Media\WPtect.dll
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\MaCatte.lnk
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\MaCatte
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\MaCatte\MaCatte.lnk

Unsuspecting users are set back from their hard-earned money by a hefty $99.

Stay away from these rogue apps.