How to remove smss32.exe, winlogon32.exe, helper32.dll (Fake Worm.Win32.Netsky Spyware Alert)

Smss32.exe, winlogon32.exe, helper32.dll are components of trojan FakeAlert. Once installed, the trojan will configure itself to run automatically when Windows starts. When the trojan is started, it will display a screen that stats that Worm.Win32.Netsky detected on your computer as an attempt to make you think your computer in danger. The alert is fake and you can safety ignore it.

What is more, the “smss32.exe, winlogon32.exe, helper32.dll” trojan may display a lot of popups, disable Windows Task Manager, change a desktop background, block the ability to run any applications including antivirus and antispyware programs. The trojan will also download and install Internet Security 2010 onto computer automatically without your permission. Internet Security 2010 is a rogue antispyware program, that reports false infections and shows fake security alerts as method to to trick you into purchase so-called “full” version of the software.

Use the removal guide below to remove smss32.exe, winlogon32.exe, helper32.dll and any associated malware from your computer for free.

Symptoms in a HijackThis Log

F2 – REG:system.ini: UserInit=C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon32.exe
O4 – HKLM\..\Run: [smss32.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\smss32.exe
O10 – Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\helper32.dll
O10 – Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\helper32.dll

Use the following instructions to remove remove smss32.exe, winlogon32.exe, helper32.dll (Remove Worm.Win32.Netsky Spyware Alert)

Step 1.

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:

F2 – REG:system.ini: UserInit=C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon32.exe
O4 – HKLM\..\Run: [smss32.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\smss32.exe

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.

Step 2.

Download LSPFix from here and unzip it to your Desktop.

Run LSPFix. Place a tick in the “I know what i`m doing”.

In the KEEP box select helper32.dll and press “>>” button.

Press Finish>> button. When LSPFix is done removing the LSP you will see a summary box. Press OK.

Step 3.

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 remove smss32.exe, winlogon32.exe, helper32.dll. 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 THREATNAME. MalwareBytes Anti-malware will now remove all of associated remove smss32.exe, winlogon32.exe, helper32.dll 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.

Smss32.exe, winlogon32.exe, helper32.dll creates the following files and folders

C:\WINDOWS\system32\helper32.dll
C:\WINDOWS\system32\smss32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\41.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\warning.html

Smss32.exe, winlogon32.exe, helper32.dll creates the following registry keys and values

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\ActiveDesktop | NoChangingWallpaper = 1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer | NoSetActiveDesktop = 1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer | NoActiveDesktopChanges = 1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run | smss32.exe = “C:\WINDOWS\system32\smss32.exe”
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software | 8636065b-fef0-4255-b14f-54639f7900a4 = “8636065b-fef0-4255-b14f-54639f7900a4”
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\General | Wallpaper = “C:\WINDOWS\system32\warning.html”
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer | NoSetActiveDesktop = 1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer | NoActiveDesktopChanges = 1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop | NoChangingWallpaper = 1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System | DisableTaskMgr = 1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon | Userinit = “C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon32.exe”