Prevx Research Division
VHOSTS.EXE
Information StealerFree PC Cleanup from Webroot
Use Webroot SecureAnywhere to remove VHOSTS.EXE.
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Associated Malware Groups
The filename is associated with the malware groups:
- Information Stealer
- Fraudulent Security Program
- Cloaked Malware
- Malware Dropper
- Malicious Software
File Behavior
VHOSTS.EXE has been seen to perform the following behavior:
- Executes a Process
- This process creates other processes on disk
- This Process Deletes Other Processes From Disk
- Executes Processes stored in Temporary Folders
- Uses rootkit techniques to conceal its presence, interrogation or removal
- Writes to another Process's Virtual Memory (Process Hijacking)
- Found on infected systems and resists interrogation by security products
- Hooks the WININET.DLL function allowing it to read or copy Http and Https web page content and session information
- Injects code into the operating system function SERVICES.EXE
- Injects code into the operating system function SVCHOST.EXE
- Injects code into the operating system function LSASS.EXE
- Copies files
- Injects code into other processes
- Performs DNS look ups to resolve URL IP addresses
- The Process is packed and/or encrypted using a software packing process
- Looks at the contents of the autoexec.bat file
- Includes file creation code which could be used to test for interception by security products
- Adds a Registry Key (RUN) to auto start Programs on system start up
VHOSTS.EXE has been the subject of the following behavior:
- Executed by Internet Explorer
- Executed as a Process
- Created as a process on disk
- Deleted as a process from disk
- Executed from Temporary Folders
- Has code inserted into its Virtual Memory space by other programs
- Created as a new Background Service on the machine
- Copied to multiple locations on the system
- Added as a Registry auto start to load Program on Boot up
Country Of Origin
The filename VHOSTS.EXE was first seen on Jul 5 2007 in the following geographical regions of the Webroot community:
- on Jul 5 2007
- Europe on Jul 5 2007
- The United States on Apr 12 2008
- Spain on Apr 12 2008
- Romania on Dec 16 2008
- France on Mar 31 2009
- Germany on Jan 6 2010
- The United Kingdom on Jan 6 2010
- Canada on Jul 4 2010
- Russian Federation on Oct 8 2011
File Name Aliases
VHOSTS.EXE can also use the following file names:
- OQWFUH0E.EXE
- DEX1D0ZK.EXE
- QEL.EXE
- NHPQL.EXE
- SHMZ6YG1.EXE
- ZVI.EXE
- OXIJWJ.EXE
- XAJTA.EXE
- MKG.EXE
- MVRW.EXE
- BFFQ.EXE
- MUMQVR.EXE
- ZOBIM.EXE
- DW2PQ2JU.EXE
- KXQLTQO.EXE
- X8Z5SP01.EXE
- E6AU3NJ9.EXE
- HKBJ.EXE
- VGTLBIU.EXE
- UCQ.EXE
- COUNTER[1].PHP
- S15NOB8Y.EXE
- BPTSP.EXE
- RLHAG.EXE
- SEP.EXE
- JYABJO.EXE
- UPI.EXE
- TAK.EXE
- ELRORY.EXE
- E2RFFIEG.EXE
- RD52Z8GC.EXE
- PNCS.EXE
- FSN.EXE
- AEZ.EXE
- NRAI.EXE
- SXTZK.EXE
- MJEFF.EXE
- UQ0FI7M5.EXE
- LKFNS.EXE
- HWRN.EXE
- JNGWAX7C.EXE
- DPHMESR.EXE
- MMY.EXE
- CEPQPQ.EXE
- NVLMOFC.EXE
- FJV.EXE
- MVHMPFQ.EXE
- BJJEFF66.EXE
- FVFSDYP.EXE
- SAKTTXO.EXE
- MLOILID.EXE
- NITOIW.EXE
- SLOBE4LZ.EXE
- SNFSABL.EXE
- YMRMNEZ.EXE
- RBE.EXE
- UJXPAG.EXE
- B2A38NYE.EXE
- LYT.EXE
- FENEYA.EXE
- ZLQ.EXE
- SR6W5ZSA.EXE
- TKDLVBU.EXE
- YGZDKL.EXE
- L3L7ZH76.EXE
- LWOPXH.EXE
- AODQA.EXE
- TKXJP343.EXE
- WWRCY.EXE
- TWGZWJT.EXE
- AZEDH.EXE
- YFOWJ.EXE
- LIH.EXE
- KTDTI.EXE
- ENC.EXE
- WCIWI.EXE
- CXZDTNK.EXE
- FMQSC.EXE
- MRKB.EXE
- TEAEGUI.EXE
- MPE.EXE
- EIXWWLB.EXE
- R7NOZ58W.EXE
- XOCTKFV.EXE
- T2G5FRM4.EXE
- VOIDBML.EXE
- TYHNDY.EXE
- GTHVTTZ.EXE
- EHA.EXE
- GSPC.EXE
- S5W01WY8.EXE
- DD8IOE7H.EXE
- DIDQ.EXE
- YPS.EXE
- YQQOAI.EXE
- KFMKVV.EXE
- XVY.EXE
- GTH.EXE
- UCFPIF.EXE
- C7V7CC05.EXE
- QJOCVI.EXE
- S9QISI5E.EXE
- QKWEIPA.EXE
- KXK.EXE
- USUFE.EXE
- OTSFB.EXE
- XQZYCOT.EXE
- TEMYRRG.EXE
- HJH.EXE
- BGOC.EXE
- IBCRPF.EXE
- DHRYKH.EXE
- HDXD.EXE
- PUUDU.EXE
- QNF.EXE
- VORT.EXE
- S2SIE5I3.EXE
- FJD.EXE
- SDD.EXE
- VHOSTS.EXE.ORI
- LOADER[1].EXE
- BIT4E67.TMP
- LC707.TMP.EXE
- LOADER.EXE
- BRITNEY_SPEARS_HOT.PIF
- FUBAR_FANTASY_FINAL.EXE
- GOOGLE.COM
- GAMMA3346.EXE
- GAMMA2343.EXE
- GAMMA3345.EXE
- TEMPDRIV.EXE
- DRVTMP.EXE
- PSYYYYYY.EXE
- THINKLABS-UPDATE[1].EXE
- E682EC_0[n].EXE
- GAMMA[n].EXE
- AUTORUN.EXE
- S[1].EXE
- ~.EXE
- 15D.TMP
- 60325CAHP25CAC.EXE
- 9V59T215.EXE
- 99CHAN_SCREENSAVER.SCR
- 1312.TMP
- GTHVTTZ.EX
- VHOSTS.EXE__
Filesizes
The following file size has been seen:
- 11,045 bytes
- 69,632 bytes
- 11,041 bytes
- 18,432 bytes
- 24,064 bytes
- 53,248 bytes
- 42,041 bytes
File Type
The filename VHOSTS.EXE refers to many versions of an executable program.
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