W32/Forbot-EP

Please follow the instructions for removing worms.

You will also need to edit the following registry entries, if they are present. Please read the warning about editing the registry.

At the taskbar, click Start|Run. Type 'Regedit' and press Return. The registry editor opens.

Before you edit the registry, you should make a backup. On the 'Registry' menu, click 'Export Registry File'. In the 'Export range' panel, click 'All', then save your registry as Backup.

Locate the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE entries:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices\

and remove any reference to any file you deleted.

Each user has a registry area named HKEY_USERS\[code number indicating user]\. For each user locate the entries:

HKU\[code number]\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Run\

HKU\[code number]\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\RunOnce\

and remove any reference to any file you deleted.

Close the registry editor.

W32/Forbot-EP is a worm which attempts to spread to remote network shares and computers vulnerable to common exploits. W32/Forbot-EP also contains backdoor Trojan functionality, allowing unauthorised remote access to the infected computer via the IRC network, while running in the background as a service process.

W32/Forbot-EP connects to a preconfigured IRC channel and awaits commands from a remote intruder. These include commands to steal information, delete network shares, reduce system security, start a proxy server, participate in DDoS attacks, exploit vulnerabilities, steal registration keys for computer games and harvest email addresses from the Windows address book and Instant Messenger configuration files. W32/Forbot-EP is a worm which attempts to spread to remote network shares and computers vulnerable to common exploits. W32/Forbot-EP also contains backdoor Trojan functionality, allowing unauthorised remote access to the infected computer via the IRC network, while running in the background as a service process.

W32/Forbot-EP connects to a preconfigured IRC channel and awaits commands from a remote intruder. These include commands to steal information, delete network shares, reduce system security, start a proxy server, participate in DDoS attacks, exploit vulnerabilities, steal registration keys for computer games and harvest email addresses from the Windows address book and Instant Messenger configuration files.

W32/Forbot-EP copies itself to the Windows system folder and creates the following registry entries to run itself automatically on log-on:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\
Windows Domain Name Drivers =
windns.exe

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\
Windows Domain Name Drivers =
windns.exe

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices\
Windows Domain Name Drivers =
windns.exe

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\
Windows Domain Name Drivers =
windns.exe

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\
Windows Domain Name Drivers =
windns.exe

On NT based versions of Windows (XP,2000,NT) windns.exe is run as a new service named "IEXPLORER-Drivers" with a display name of "Windows Domain Name Drivers".

New registry entries are created under:

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\IEXPLORER-Drivers