How to remove settdebugx.exe trojan (Fake Security Center Alert)

settdebugx.exe is a core component of trojan FakeAlert. When the trojan is installed, it will display a Security Center Alert that stats that “Windows Firewall has blocked some features of this program” (Trojan-Downloader.JS.Multi.ca, Net-Worm.Win32.Mytob.t, Net-Worm.Win32.DipNet.d, Rootkit.Win32.Agent.pp) as an attempt to make you think your computer has a security problem. Of course, all of these alerts are fake and should be ignored!

What is more, the trojan will also download and install Malware Defense automatically without your permission. Malware Defense is a rogue antispyware programs, that reports false infections and shows fake security alerts as method to to trick you into purchase so-called “full” version of the software.

If your computer is infected, then use these removal instructions below, which will remove settdebugx.exe trojan and other components of trojan FakeAlert for free.

Symptoms in a HijackThis Log

O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [settdebugx.exe] C:\DOCUME~1\user\LOCALS~1\Temp\settdebugx.exe

Use the following instructions to remove settdebugx.exe trojan (Fake Security Center Alert)

Download HijackThis from here and save it to your Desktop. If you cannot run HijackThis, then re-download it, but before saving HijackThis.exe, rename it first to explorer.exe and click Save button to save it to desktop.

Run HijackThis. Click “Do a system scan only” button. Now select the following entries by placing a tick in the left hand check box, if present:

O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [settdebugx.exe] C:\DOCUME~1\user\LOCALS~1\Temp\settdebugx.exe
O4 – HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [settdebugx.exe] C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\settdebugx.exe (User ‘SYSTEM’)
O4 – HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [settdebugx.exe] C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\settdebugx.exe (User ‘Default user’)
O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [Malware Defense] “C:\Program Files\Malware Defense\mdefense.exe” -noscan

Place a checkmark against each of them. Once you have selected all entries, close all running programs then click once on the “fix checked” button. Close HijackThis.

Download MalwareBytes Anti-malware (MBAM). Once downloaded, close all programs and windows on your computer.

Double-click on the icon on your desktop named mbam-setup.exe. This will start the installation of MalwareBytes Anti-malware onto your computer. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation process. Do not make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure a checkmark is placed next to “Update Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware” and Launch “Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware”. Then click Finish.

MalwareBytes Anti-malware will now automatically start and you will see a message stating that you should update the program before performing a scan. If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.

As MalwareBytes Anti-malware will automatically update itself after the install, you can press the OK button to close that box and you will now be at the main menu. You will see window similar to the one below.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Window

Make sure the “Perform quick scan” option is selected and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer for settdebugx.exe trojan infection. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient.

When the scan is finished a message box will appear that it has completed scanning successfully. Click OK. Now click “Show Results”. You will see a list of infected items similar as shown below.
Note: list of infected items may be different than what is shown in the image below.

Malwarebytes Anti-malware, list of infected items

Make sure all entries have a checkmark at their far left and click “Remove Selected” button to remove settdebugx.exe trojan. MalwareBytes Anti-malware will now remove all of associated settdebugx.exe trojan files and registry keys and add them to the programs’ quarantine. When MalwareBytes Anti-malware has finished removing the infection, a log will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart.

Note: if you need help with the instructions, then post your questions in our Spyware Removal forum.

settdebugx.exe trojan creates the following files and folders

%Temp%\settdebugx.exe
%Temp%\wscsvc32.exe

settdebugx.exe trojan creates the following registry keys and values

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\settdebugx.exe