![]() This particular malware variant buried itself inside Windows as services, so there was no need for it to add programs to the startup list or to create a folder for iteself in C:\Program Files (x86). C:\windows, including any subsidiary folder containing executables, DLLs, or drivers.That’s because the malware’s files cannot be deleted while it is running in effect, inability to delete is the detection method used by this approach. More importantly, files deleted during this process are extremely unlikely to be part of the malware. Why all the cleanup effort? For one thing, eliminating all these files reduces the time and effort required by your everyday virus- and malware-scanning apps. Finally, I emptied the Windows recycle bin of all this junk. Once the Supremo processes were terminated, it was possible to go back to C:\windows\temp and delete the folder SupremoRemoteDesktop and its contents, the programs responsible for the services. There were no programs running with that name, but the processes Supremo, Supremo Helper, and Supremo Service needed to be terminated. The seemingly random proxy information serves no additional purpose beyond blocking Internet access, a move clearly designed to cause more panic on the part of the user - assuming he or she ever gets this far.Īfter resetting the laptop’s proxy, I downloaded the latest free CCleaner program and used it to clean up files and the Windows registry.Īfter the cleanup, it was time to see what Task Manager showed about Supremo. Check Do this for all current items and then click Skip. Once again, Windows will be unable to delete files in use by apps that are currently running, and it will present a dialog box asking what you want to do. These values are nonsense, too, so clear both the address and the port, then set Use a proxy server to Off. The radio button Use a proxy server was set to On with an address of using Port 80. Clear the Script address field and change Use setup script to Off. The proxy settings on this laptop were definitely unusual, with Use setup script set to On and a Script address of nbgvjgjgdjfjf, which makes no sense at all. To do this, click Settings (for Windows, not Chrome), then Network and Internet, and, finally, Proxy. Chrome complained that it could not access the Internet and suggested fixing the laptop’s proxy settings. The next step was to use the Chrome browser to find out more about this scam. Supremo may have an honest and legitimate purpose, but its association with this malware is an enormous red flag. Beware! You can find very positive reviews of Supremo via a Google search, as well as possibly bogus or obsolete instructions for its removal. Like those programs, Supremo allows the scammer to gain remote access to your computer, after which your passwords and personal financial information are at serious risk of theft. ![]() ![]() The scammer on the phone would hope to take your credit-card information and run up some charges.Īt the heart of this scam is software called Supremo, claimed to be remote-access software similar to RDP, AnyDesk, TeamViewer, UltraVNC, LogMeIn, and others. But it hoped to scare owners into calling the area-code 704 number at the bottom of the screen, a cellular number in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. ![]() A very scary-looking malware message, taken by a hand-held cameraĪnd, NO! The malware did not do as it claimed. Along the way, you will see where malware is often hidden.įigure 1. Here is a step-by-step process to remove it, expecting that the antivirus software installed in the computer cannot do its job. This variety of malware is all too popular. ![]() Recently, a client gave me his laptop, which displayed a frightening message as soon he logged in (see Figure 1). What might appear to be a devastating, PC-destroying piece of malware can sometimes be a spoof. ![]()
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