KB225571.exe Threat Level:

KB225571.exe is a Trojan attached to a scam email that pretends to be a security update from Microsoft.

This KB225571.exe email reads:

From: securityassurance@microsoft.com
Subject: Security Update for OS Microsoft Windows

Dear Microsoft Customer,

Please notice that Microsoft company has recently issued a Security Update for OS Microsoft Windows. The update applies to the following OS versions: Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows Millenium, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista.
Please notice, that present update applies to high-priority updates category. In order to help protect your computer against security threats and performance problems, we strongly recommend you to install this update.
Since public distribution of this Update through the official website http://www.microsoft.com would have result in efficient creation of a malicious software, we made a decision to issue an experimental private version of an update for all Microsoft Windows OS users.
As your computer is set to receive notifications when new updates are available, you have received this notice.
In order to start the update, please follow the step-by-step instruction:
1. Run the file, that you have received along with this message.
2. Carefully follow all the instructions you see on the screen.
If nothing changes after you have run the file, probably in the settings of your OS you have an indication to run all the updates at a background routine. In that case, at this point the upgrade of your OS will be finished.
We apologize for any inconvenience this back order may be causing you.
Thank you,
Steve Lipner
Director of Security Assurance
Microsoft Corp.

—–BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE—–
Version: PGP 7.1

2C14FEWOPIXHKE2TKW0Y67PT24VGEJQXDW7OG32QN8O9RQFM8NZJCJ3IHU4RNMH68
K5XVCU4DSR4U1O02I6P359WMXY57YN7EOS92HP45DJ3OUS6PNT39UAD096VJFHS1D
G8OUTM7IJRX488C2FVQCGW24FA4FCS87GS40TPRSA7JH2EQVOKGQZ88E4VIFOM24T
L6PYLW6IQ8U8M1J2OPGRLWMJ0PGPT6QJXB15MSY3AIHB1CB1NM5I2MT2A5W6Q97K5
IT66JLNH0Q31V57215G6FOWWIOGW8WHNC78==
—–END PGP SIGNATURE—–

Attachment: KB225571.exe

If you open this KB225571.exe attachment, you’ll probably launch a Trojan that’ll give a hacker control over your computer.

I’m sure identity theft sounds like a fun weekend, but if you’d rather spend your weekend otherwise — church? Family? Strip club? — I can show you how to get rid of KB225571.exe for free.

Next time you get an email about a software update, type the software’s website into your browser and download the application directly from that trusted site. Opening email attachments you aren’t expecting is almost always a bad idea.

Do I Have KB225571.exe?

You can search your computer manually, but it might take hours to find KB225571.exe’s hidden files. To save time, I recommend you automatically scan your PC for KB225571.exe and other spyware. Why not? It’s free.

Free KB225571.exe Scan, with SpyHunter

You can easily detect KB225571.exe with SpyHunter’s FREE spyware scanner. And if you’re really infected with KB225571.exe, you can buy the full version of SpyHunter to remove KB225571.exe and other spyware. Or you can use my instructions below and remove KB225571.exe for free.

I’m a big fan of SpyHunter. Here’s why: SpyHunter offers live support on the phone, and if SpyHunter doesn’t automatically remove KB225571.exe, you can get a custom fix for your computer.

Get Rid of KB225571.exe Manually

Manual removal of any spyware can be difficult. When you manually remove KB225571.exe, you have to fiddle with your registry and risk destroying your PC. It’s highly recommended you use an automatic spyware scanner to make sure you’re infected with KB225571.exe. Also, I recommend you backup your system any time before editing your registry.

To remove KB225571.exe manually, you need to delete KB225571.exe files. Not sure how to delete KB225571.exe files? Click here, and I’ll tell you. Otherwise, go ahead and…

Stop KB225571.exe processes:

Note: In any files I mention above, “%System%” is a variable referring to your PC’s System folder. Maybe you renamed it, but by default your System folder is “C:\Windows\System32″ on Windows XP, “C:\Winnt\System32″ on Windows NT/2000,” or “C:\Windows\System” on Windows 95/98/Me.

“%Program_Files%”, “%ProgramFiles%”, or “%Profile%” is a variable referring to a folder in your PC where applications that aren’t a part of your PC’s operating system are installed by default. You may have changed this folder’s name or moved it, but if you didn’t touch it, find the folder as “C:\Program Files”. If you’re having trouble finding this folder, you can locate it by looking up registry value “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ProgramFilesDir”.

Also, “%UserProfile%” is a variable referring to your current user’s profile folder. If you’re using Windows NT/2000/XP, by default this is “C:\Documents and Settings\[CURRENT USER]” (e.g., “C:\Documents and Settings\JoeSmith”).

KB225571.exe changed your homepage?

Click Windows Start menu > Control Panel > Internet Options. Next, under Home Page, select the General > Use Default. Type in the URL you want as your home page (e.g., “http://www.homepage.com”). Then select Apply > OK. You’ll want to open a fresh web page and make sure that your new default home page pops up.

Recommendation:

To save time and avoid risking destroying your computer, I highly recommend you use a spyware scanner, such as SpyHunter, to detect KB225571.exe and other spyware, adware, trojans, viruses, keyloggers, and more that can be hidden in your PC. It’s also recommended before you manually remove KB225571.exe you backup your system.

Free KB225571.exe Scan, with SpyHunter

Automatically detect KB225571.exe and other spyware on your PC with SpyHunter’s FREE spyware scan.

How to delete KB225571.exe files in Windows XP and Vista:

1. Click your Windows Start menu, and from “Search,” click “For Files and Folders…“
2. A speech bubble will pop up asking you, “What do you want to search for?” Click “All files and folders.”
3. Type any file name in the search box, and select “Local Hard Drives.”
4. Click “Search.” Once the file is found, delete it.

How to stop KB225571.exe processes:

1. Click the Start menu, select Run.
2. Type taskmgr.exe into the the Run command box, and click “OK.” You can also launch the Task Manager by pressing keys ALT + CTRL + DELETE or CTRL + Shift + ESC.
3. Click Processes tab, and find KB225571.exe processes.
4. Once you’ve found the KB225571.exe processes, right-click them and select “End Process” to kill KB225571.exe.

How to remove KB225571.exe registry keys:

Your Windows registry is the core of your Windows operating system, storing information about user settings, system preferences, and software, including which applications automatically launch at start up. Because of this, spyware, malware, and adware will often bury their own files into your Windows registry so that they automatically launch every time your start up your PC.

Because your registry is such a key piece of your Windows system, you should always backup your registry before you make any changes to it. Editing your registry can be intimidating if you’re not a computer expert, and when you change or a delete a critical registry key or registry value, there’s a chance you may need to reinstall your entire Windows operating system. Make sure your backup your registry before editing it.

1. Select your Windows menu “Start,” and click “Run.” An “Open” field will appear. Type “regedit” and click “OK” to open up your Registry Editor.
2. Registry Editor will open as a window with two panes. The left side Registry Editor’s window lets you select various registry keys, and the right side displays the registry values of the registry key you select.
3. To find a registry key, such as any KB225571.exe registry keys, select “Edit,” then select “Find,” and in the search bar type any of KB225571.exe’s registry keys.
4. As soon as KB225571.exe registry key appears, you can delete the KB225571.exe registry key by right-clicking it and selecting “Modify,” then clicking “Delete.”

Computer acting funny after you’ve edited your registry and deleted KB225571.exe registry keys? Just restore your registry with your backup.

How to remove KB225571.exe DLL files:

Like most any software, spyware, adware, and malware may also use DLL files. DLL is short for “dynamically linked library,” and KB225571.exe DLL files, like other DLLs, carryout predetermined tasks. To manually delete KB225571.exe DLL files, you’ll use Regsver32, a Windows tool designed to help you remove DLL and other files.

1. First you’ll locate KB225571.exe DLL files you want to delete. Open your Windows Start menu, then click “Run.” Type “cmd” in Run, and click “OK.”
2. To change your current directory, type “cd” in the command box, press your “Space” key, and enter the full directory where the KB225571.exe DLL file is located. If you’re not sure if the KB225571.exe DLL file is located in a particular directory, enter “dir” in the command box to display a directory’s contents. To go one directory back, enter “cd ..” in the command box and press “Enter.”
3. When you’ve located the KB225571.exe DLL file you want to remove, type “regsvr32 /u SampleDLLName.dll” (e.g., “regsvr32 /u jl27script.dll”) and press your “Enter” key.

That’s it. If you want to restore KB225571.exe DLL file you removed, enter “regsvr32 DLLJustDeleted.dll” (e.g., “regsvr32 jl27script.dll”) into your command box, and press your “Enter” key.

Freeware or Shareware:
Did you download and install shareware or freeware? These low-cost or free software applications may come bundled with spyware, adware, or programs like KB225571.exe. Sometimes adware is attached to the free software to “pay” developers for the cost of creating the software, and more often spyware is secretly and maliciously attached to free software to harm your computer and steal your personal and financial information.

Peer-to-Peer Software:
Do you use a peer-to-peer (P2P) program or other application with a shared network? When you use these applications, you put your system at risk for unknowingly downloading an infected file, including applications like KB225571.exe.

Questionable Websites: Did you visit a website that’s of questionable nature? When you visit malicious sites that are fishy and phishy, Trojans, spyware, and adware may be automatically downloaded and installed onto your computer, sometimes including applications like KB225571.exe.

It’s important to practice safer online habits to prevent being infected with KB225571.exe . You may want to scan your computer for the latest version of KB225571.exe and other security threats.

Slow computer performance: It only takes one or two spyware parasites like KB225571.exe to cause your computer to slow dramatically. If your PC takes longer than usual to reboot or if your Internet connection is unusually slow, your computer may be infected with malware.

New desktop shortcuts or switched homepage: Malware like KB225571.exe may change your Internet settings or redirect your default homepage to another web site. Malware may even add new desktop shortcuts on your PC.

Annoying popups on your PC: Malware may bombard your computer with popup ads, even when you’re not online. Malware may stop your regular Internet activity and track your surfing habits and gather personal information about you, putting your financial and personal information at risk.

Some Trojans may also fall under the category of spyware. Spyware is any software or malware (”malicious software”) used to spy or track your computer activity. While some spyware is legitimately and intentionally installed by parents or employers to monitor Internet activity on a computer, spyware may be installed maliciously. Often spyware may come bundled with downloads of free software or come in the form of a cookie via a website, and this spyware may track your Internet activity or may steal secret account usernames and passwords, credit card numbers, and other personal and financial information.

Methods of KB225571.exe and Other Trojans Infection

Most trojans infect your computer by tricking you into running an infected application. This infected application could disguised as a small file, such as a jpeg or other email attachment, or it might be downloaded via a website or FTP.

» Email: Your PC may be infected with a trojan when you download infected email attachments, or sometimes even when you simply open an email. Many trojans exploit security holes in Microsoft Outlook. You may be able to reduce your chances of getting infected by a Trojan by using a spam-blocking software.

» Websites: Your PC may be infected with a trojan when you visit a rogue site. Many trojans exploit security holes in Internet Explorer web browser so that by simply visiting a website you may unknowingly download a Trojan.

» Open ports: If your computer runs programs that provide file-sharing functions - such as AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), MSN Messenger, and more - you may open your computer up to vulnerabilities. Using file sharing through these applications may create a network that gives attackers the opportunity to remotely access your computer.

KB225571.exe may have infected your PC by through one of those methods. Trojans are some of the most sophisticated and dangerous type of malware, capable of controlling your system. Because of this, it may be best if KB225571.exe and Trojans are removed from your computer immediately.

"KB225571.exe" keywords: Backdoors, Trojans

"KB225571.exe" was posted on Friday, October 10th, 2008 at 10:54 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.