Dealling with ActMon Computer Monitoring an Spyware

Type: Spyware
Name: ActMon Computer Monitoring
Version: 5.20
Publisher: ActMon Software
Risk Impact: High
Systems Affected: Windows 98, Windows 95,  Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP

The following instructions pertain to all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.

• Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP).

• Update the virus definitions.

• Run a full system scan.

• Delete any values added to the registry.

For specific details on each of these steps, read the following instructions.

1. To disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP)

If you are running Windows Me or Windows XP, we recommend that you temporarily turn off System Restore. Windows Me/XP uses this feature, which is enabled by default, to restore the files on your computer in case they become damaged. If a virus, worm, or Trojan infects a computer, System Restore may back up the virus, worm, or Trojan on the computer.

Windows prevents outside programs, including antivirus programs, from modifying System Restore. Therefore, antivirus programs or tools cannot remove threats in the System Restore folder. As a result, System Restore has the potential of restoring an infected file on your computer, even after you have cleaned the infected files from all the other locations.

Also, a virus scan may detect a threat in the System Restore folder even though you have removed the threat.

For instructions on how to turn off System Restore, read your Windows documentation, or one of the following articles:

How to disable or enable Windows Me System Restore?
How to turn off or turn on Windows XP System Restore?

Note: When you are completely finished with the removal procedure and are satisfied that the threat has been removed, reenable System Restore by following the instructions in the aforementioned documents.

2. To update the virus definitions

Update your Antivirus Program and  Virus Definitions ASAP.

Running LiveUpdate, which is the easiest way to obtain virus definitions.
Downloading the definitions using the Intelligent Updater: The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are posted daily. You should download the definitions from the Symantec Security Response Web site and manually install them. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by the Intelligent Updater, refer to Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater).

3. To run a full system scan

Run a full system scan.
If any files are detected, follow the instructions displayed by your antivirus program.
Important: If you are unable to start your Symantec antivirus product or the product reports that it cannot delete a detected file, you may need to stop the risk from running in order to remove it. To do this, run the scan in Safe mode. For instructions, read the document, How to start the computer in Safe Mode. Once you have restarted in Safe mode, run the scan again.

After the files are deleted, restart the computer in Normal mode and proceed with the next section.

Warning messages may be displayed when the computer is restarted, since the threat may not be fully removed at this point. You can ignore these messages and click OK. These messages will not appear when the computer is restarted after the removal instructions have been fully completed. The messages displayed may be similar to the following:

Title: [FILE PATH]
Message body: Windows cannot find [FILE NAME]. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.

4. To delete the value from the registry

Important: Back up the registry before making any changes to it. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify the specified subkeys only. For instructions refer to the document: How to make a backup of the Windows registry?.

Click Start > Run.
Type regedit
Click OK.

Note: If the registry editor fails to open the threat may have modified the registry to prevent access to the registry editor. Security Response has developed a tool to resolve this problem. Download and run this tool, and then continue with the removal.


Navigate to and delete the following entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run\"srvprc" = ""%System%\srvprc.exe" -at"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run\"wskrnl" = ""%System%\wskrnl.exe" -at"

Navigate to and delete the following registry subkeys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\srvprc
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\wskrnl
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\wskrnlc
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wskrnlc

Restore the following registry entries to their original values, if required:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4D36E96B-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\"UpperFilters" = "kbdclass[EXTENDED ASCII CHARACTER 191]wskrnlc"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96B-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\"UpperFilters" = "kbdclass[EXTENDED ASCII CHARACTER 191]wskrnlc"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\ACPI\PNP0303\4&5289e18&0\Control\"ActiveService" = "wskrnlc"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\ACPI\PNP0303\4&5289e18&0\Control\"ActiveService" = "wskrnlc"

Exit the Registry Editor.

Voila, there you are safe of the ActMon. This article has been prepeared by the ActMon removed file report from Symantec's Antivirus Program. For more on removing viruses, refer to the following links or search the GeekLog.

• Dealing and removing dxdlg.exe (Trojan/Backdoor)
• Reinvesting in Security? THINK ONCE AGAIN!
• The easiest way to remove viruses/malwares without installing any antivirus software
• Viruses are a big no-no today, and many a posts at geeklog are here.
• If you have any suspicious files on your system, you can check them for viruses by using the file scanner.
• Symantec's Norton Antivirus