Prevx Research Division
WINHLP32.EXE
Fraudulent Security ProgramFree PC Cleanup from Webroot
Use Webroot SecureAnywhere to remove WINHLP32.EXE.
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Associated Malware Groups
The unsafe files using this name are associated with the malware groups:
- Fraudulent Security Program
- Cloaked Malware
File Behavior
WINHLP32.EXE has been seen to perform the following behavior:
- Hooks the WININET.DLL function allowing it to read or copy Http and Https web page content and session information
- Executes a Process
- Registers a Dynamic Link Library File
- This process creates other processes on disk
- This Process Deletes Other Processes From Disk
- Creates new folders on the system
- Disables safe mode on your PC
- Injects code into other processes
- Performs DNS look ups to resolve URL IP addresses
- Changes the Windows Security Center to stop Antivirus status alerts from being displayed
- Changes the Windows Security Center to stop Firewall status alerts from being displayed
- Changes the Windows Security Center to stop Firewall override alerts from being displayed
- Changes the Windows Security Center to stop warnings from being displayed if automatic Windows Updates are not enabled
- Creates a new Background Service on the machine
- The Process is packed and/or encrypted using a software packing process
- Opens browser pop ups
- Found on infected systems and resists interrogation by security products
- Uses low level functions to hide itself from the user and from system/security processes
WINHLP32.EXE has been the subject of the following behavior:
- Created as a process on disk
- Deleted as a process from disk
- Executed as a Process
- Copied to multiple locations on the system
- Created by processes which appear to be checking for interception by security products
- Added as a Registry auto start to load Program on Boot up
Country Of Origin
The filename WINHLP32.EXE was first seen on May 20 2007 in the following geographical regions of the Webroot community:
- Germany on May 20 2007
- France on May 20 2007
- The United States on Mar 16 2008
- Italy on Jun 30 2008
- Yemen on Mar 8 2010
- The United Kingdom on Dec 18 2010
File Name Aliases
WINHLP32.EXE can also use the following file names:
- W3LVGATX.VXE
- HXDEF.EXE
- IEXPLORE.EXE
- KERNEL66.DLL
- RAVMOND.EXE
- COMMAND.EXE
- SYSTRA.EXE
- WINRAR.EXE
- WINDOWSUPDATE.PIF
- CAIN.PIF
- MSDN.ZIP.PIF
- FINDPASS.EXE
- MMC.EXE
- DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS.TXT.EXE
- MICROSOFT OFFICE.EXE
- AUTOEXEC.BAT
- WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER.ZIP.EXE
- SUPPORT TOOLS.EXE
- CLIENT.EXE
- INTERNET EXPLORER.BAT
- XCOPY.EXE
- NETMANAGER.EXE
- DATA.HTM (n).SCR
- TEXT.HTM.EXE
- DATA.HTM (1).SCR
- LIMEWIRE PRO 4.8.0.EXE
- DATA.HTM.SCR
- DOCUMENT.DOC.EXE
- WORK.EXE
- FILE.PIF
- I386.EXE
Filesizes
The following file size has been seen:
- 19,456 bytes
- 7,168 bytes
- 312,832 bytes
- 353,280 bytes
- 8,704 bytes
- 283,648 bytes
- 128,000 bytes
- 293,888 bytes
File Type
The filename WINHLP32.EXE refers to many versions of an executable program.
File Activity
One or more files with the name WINHLP32.EXE creates, deletes, copies or moves the following files and folders:
- Creates c:\windows\system32\ODBC16.dll
- Creates c:\windows\system32\NetMeeting.exe
- Creates c:\WORK.ZIP
- Creates d:\WORK.RAR
- Creates c:\windows\system32\msjdbc11.dll
- Creates e:\letter.ZIP
- Creates c:\windows\system32\MSSIGN30.DLL
- Creates f:\setup.RAR
- Creates g:\WORK.RAR
- Creates h:\setup.ZIP
- Creates i:\WORK.RAR
- Creates j:\WORK.RAR
- Creates k:\bak.RAR
- Creates l:\WORK.RAR
- Creates m:\bak.RAR
- Creates n:\bak.RAR
- Creates o:\bak.ZIP
- Creates p:\bak.ZIP
- Creates q:\install.ZIP
- Creates r:\letter.ZIP
- Creates s:\letter.RAR
- Creates t:\WORK.RAR
- Creates u:\setup.ZIP
- Creates v:\pass.RAR
- Creates w:\pass.RAR
- Creates x:\bak.ZIP
- Creates y:\WORK.RAR
- Creates z:\install.ZIP
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