![]() ![]() Since this problem started, Avast has not worked properly. My computer has continued to operate erratically since - being slow to start up, occasionally locking up and requiring a restart, but most often just abruptly stopping before continuing after a few seconds. After running Avast, CCleaner operated normally, and showed normal reports. Even after running the repair, it seemed to operate in spurts - stalling, then jumping forward in large percentages as if it had skipped blocks of testing. I had to repair Avast before it would operate. I then reconnected to WiFi and ran Avast. I downloaded KVRT to a CD from another computer and ran it on this computer with no hits. CCleaner identified that something was wrong but it would clean up what it could. Neither would operate in Safe Mode without network connectivity only CCLeaner would run in Safe Mode with Internet. I immediately disconnected my computer from WiFi and tried to run Avast virus scan and CCleaner in Safe Mode. When it did close after numerous attempts, my Facebook page reset and I no longer had comments available on any of the entries within my Facebook account. I had to repeatedly request to end the script before the window would close. Since the computer identified it as a lengthy script, I tried to close the window. ![]() In the interest of secure computing, we encourage all readers to regularly apply software and OS security updates, and follow safe computing practices.While trying to open a friend's story page on Facebook on 28 April, my computer started to run a script. With reports like these, it is becoming a challenge to predict what hackers will target next. We will be sure to keep you posted as soon as Piriform publishes the results of its ongoing investigation. The rate at which these users update to newer versions of the program is highly variable and the malware could still lurk around even though the rogue server in question has been disbanded. However, the fact that nearly 2.3 million users were affected is still a serious concern. The company is urging all users to upgrade to version 5.34, which contains the correct clean code. The action of the second-stage payload is not yet detected.Īt this stage, Piriform is cautious not to speculate too much into how its binaries were compromised and is apparently taking actions to prevent it from happening again. All this information was encrypted and transmitted to a remote address (.x), which then sent a second-stage payload containing further encrypted information. It collected a host of information about the infected system including its name, software installed, MAC addresses etc. Piriform says that the suspicious code stored certain information in the registry key, HKLM_Software_Piriform_Agomo that also included the IP address of the Command and Control (CnC) server. The highly obfuscated illegal code created a 16KB DLL that executed in a separate thread and continued to run in the background while the actual program was being run. Of particular importance is the fact that the original binary had a valid digital certificate, which could imply that Piriform's certification process itself was compromised. Hackers inserted a two-stage backdoor that could remotely execute code and transmit back user info in an encrypted form. In a technical blog post, Paul Yung, VP, Products from Piriform, detailed about the illegal code modification that affected nearly 2.27 million users of the product. This led to the conclusion that the program's binary was illegally modified to transmit user info to the hacker. On September 12, certain 32-bit versions of CCleaner () and CCleaner Cloud () were found to transmit data to an unknown IP address, prompting Piriform to start an investigation in collaboration with Avast Threat Labs. The malware is a backdoor that disguised itself within the app's runtime and therefore, went largely unnoticed until Piriform noticed something suspicious. CCleaner, the popular PC cleaning app from Piriform (now part of Avast), has been found to be infected with malware that can potentially sniff out user data in the background without the user even knowing it. ![]()
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