The Infamous Trojan "FakeRean"

This fake antivirus "program" seems to be one of the most common ones in existence. We can't tell you how many people get it by accident. If you have it, you need to call us IMMEDIATELY, and DO NOT PAY FOR THE "ANTIVIRUS ACTIVATION" that it's trying to sell you.

This horrid pest is notorious for annoying users to death and making their computers unusuable. If you try to run anything at all while this program is running, it will immediately close the program you tried to run and declare that "Application cannot be executed! The file iexplore.exe is infected. Please activate your anti-virus software." You may also have your wallpaper changed to a scary message such as "Warning! you're in danger! You are infected with spyware! Secure yourself now, remove all spyware from your PC!" and you may even have annoying pop-up balloons in the corner of the screen that read "Warning: Your computer is infected. Windows has detected spyware infection! Click this message to install the latest windows security software."

Luckily, we can remove this beast from your machine, and because it doesn't do harm to other files on the system in general, the cost may be as little as $25. The "activation" that the virus is demanding of you would cost you anywhere from $30 to $70, and would leave the virus on the machine.

Names That "FakeRean" Uses

This is not an exhaustive list of names used by the FakeRean trojan, but it covers the majority of them. Note that it uses a randomly chosen name each time you are infected, so it may appear to be a different program even though it's actually exactly the same thing.

 AKM Antivirus 2010 Pro
 ANG Antivirus 
 AV Antivirus Suite
 AV Security Suite
 Advanced Cleaner
 AlfaCleaner
 Alpha AntiVirus
 Anti Virus 2010
 AntiMalware
 AntiMalware Go
 AntiSpyCheck 2.1
 AntiSpyStorm
 AntiSpyware 2008
 AntiSpyware 2009
 AntiSpyware 2011
 AntiSpyware Bot
 AntiSpyware Shield
 AntiSpyware Soft
 AntiSpywareExpert
 AntiSpywareMaster
 AntiSpywareSuite
 AntiVirus Gold
 AntivirusGT
 Antimalware Doctor
 Antispyware 2010
 Antivermins
 Antivir Solution Pro
 Antivira AV
 Antivirus 2008
 Antivirus 2009
 Antivirus 2010 
 Antivirus 360
 Antivirus 7
 Antivirus5
 Antivirus 8
 Antivirus Action
 Antivirus IS
 Antivirus Live
 Antivirus Master
 Antivirus Monitor
 Antivirus Pro 2009
 Antivirus Pro 2010
 Antivirus Scan
 Antivirus Soft
 Antivirus Studio 2010
 Antivirus Suite
 Antivirus System PRO
 Antivirus XP 2008
 Antivirus XP 2010
 Avatod Antispyware 8.0
 Awola
 BestsellerAntivirus
 Browser Defender
 ByteDefender
 ByteDefender Security 2010 
 CleanThis
 Cleanator
 ContraVirus
 Control Center
 Core Security
 Cyber Security
 Data Protection
 Defense Center
 Desktop Security 2010
 Digital Security
 Disk Defrag
 Disk Doctor
 Doctor Antivirus 2008
 Dr Guard
 DriveCleaner
 EasyFix Tools
 EasySpywareCleaner
 Error Expert
 ErrorFix
 ErrorSmart
 Errorsafe
 Flu Shot 4
 Green Antivirus 2009
 HDD Plus
 HDD Rescue
 HDD Scan
 Hard Drive Diagnostic
 IE Antivirus 
 IEDefender
 InfeStop
 InstallShield 
 Internet Antivirus
 Internet Antivirus 2011
 Internet Defender 2011
 Internet Security 2010
 Internet Security Essentials
 KVMSecure
 Live PC Care
 Live Security Suite
 MS AntiSpyware 2009 
 MS Antivirus Microsoft Anti Malware 
 MS Removal Tool
 MacSweeper
 Malware Bell 
 Malware Defender 
 Malware Defense
 MalwareAlarm
 MalwareCore
 MalwareCrush
 MaxAntiSpy
 MxOne Antivirus
 My Security Engine
 My Security Shield
 My Security Wall
 Navashield
 Netcom3 Cleaner
 Norton 360
 PAL Spyware Remover
 PC AntiSpyWare 2010
 PC Antispy
 PC Antispyware
 PC Clean Pro
 PC Defender Antivirus
 PC Privacy Cleaner
 PC Scan and Sweep
 PC-Doctor
 PCPrivacy Tools
 PCSecureSystem
 PSGuard
 Paladin Antivirus
 Perfect Defender 2009
 Perfect Optimizer
 PerfectCleaner
 Personal Antivirus
 Personal Security
 PersonalAntiSpy Free
 Privacy Center
 Protection Center
 Quick Defragmenter
 Rapid AntiVirus
 Real AntiVirus
 Reg tool
 RegAlilve
 Reggenie Antivirus
 Registry Defender
 Registry Great
 Registry Patrol
 Registry Winner
 Remove AVG Antivirus 2011
 Remove Antivirus .NET
 Remove Disk Doctor
 Remove HDD Fix
 Remove HDD Plus
 Remove Hard Drive Diagnostic
 Remove MS Removal Tool
 Remove Memory Fixer
 Remove Palladium Pro
 Remove Personal Internet Security 2011
 Remove System Tool 2011
 Remove Win Defrag
 Remove Win HDD
 Remove Windows Passport Utility
 Remove Windows Power Expansion
 Remove Windows Repair
 Remove Windows Scan
 Remove Windows Shield Center
 Remove Windows Stability Center
 Remove Windows Utility Tool
 Safety Alerter 2006
 Safety Center
 Security Center
 SafetyKeeper
 SaliarAR
 ScanAngryAgainAntivirus
 SecureFighter
 SecurePCCleaner
 SecureVeteran
 Security Essentials 2010 
 Security Master AV
 Security Scan 2009
 Security Suite Platinum
 Security Tool
 Security Toolbar 7.1
 SiteAdware
 Smart Antivirus 2009
 Smart Engine
 Smart HDD
 Soft Soldier
 Spy Away
 Spy Tool
 SpyAxe
 SpyCrush
 SpyEraser
 SpyGuarder
 SpyHeal 
 SpyMarshal
 SpyRid
 SpySheriff 
 SpySpotter
 SpyWiper
 Spydawn
 Spylocked
 Spyware Cleaner
 Spyware Blaster
 Spyware Protect 2009
 Spyware Stormer
 Spyware Striker Pro
 Spyware X-terminator
 SpywareBot 
 SpywareGuard 2008 
 SpywareQuake
 SpywareSheriff 
 SpywareStrike
 SysGuard
 Sysinternals Antivirus
 System Antivirus 2008
 System Defender
 System Defragmenter
 System Live Protect
 System Security 
 System Tool 2011
 System Tools
 SystemArmor
 SystemDoctor
 Spyware Doctor
 TheSpyBot 
 ThinkPoint
 Total Secure 2009
 Total Win 7 Security
 Total Win Vista Security
 Total Win XP Security
 TrustedAntivirus
 UltimateCleaner
 Ultra Defragger
 Virus Locker
 Virus Response Lab 2009
 VirusHeat
 VirusIsolator
 VirusMelt
 VirusProtectPro 
 VirusRanger
 VirusRemover2008
 VirusRemover2009
 VirusTrigger
 Vista Antimalware 2011
 Vista Antispyware 2010
 Vista Antivirus 2008
 Vista Internet Security 2010
 Vista Security 2011
 Vista Smart Security 2010
 Volcano Security Suite
 Win 7 Antivirus 2010
 Win Antispyware Center
 Win HDD
 Win7 Antispyware 2011
 WinAntiVirus Pro 2006
 WinDefender 
 WinFixer
 WinHound
 WinSpywareProtect
 WinWeb Security 2008
 Windows Efficiency Magnifier
 Windows Emergency System
 Windows Police Pro
 Windows Privacy Agent
 Windows Processes Organizer
 Windows Protection Suite
 Windows Remedy
 Windows Support System
 Windows Threats Removing
 Windows Tool
 Windows Wise Protection
 Winpc Antivirus
 Winpc Defender
 Wireshark Antivirus
 WorldAntiSpy
 XJR Antivirus
 XP AntiMalware
 XP AntiMalware 2010
 XP AntiSpyware 2009
 XP AntiSpyware 2010
 XP Antivirus 2010
 XP Antivirus Pro 2010
 XP Defender Pro
 XP Guardian
 XP Home Security 2011
 XP Internet Security 2010
 XP Security Tool
 XP-Shield
 Your Protection
 Zinaps AntiSpyware 2008
 eco AntiVirus

av.exe
ave.exe
Antispyware Vista
Antispyware Win 7
Antispyware XP
AntiSpyware XP 2009
Antivirus Pro 2010
Antivirus Vista
Antivirus Vista 2010
Antivirus Win 7
Antivirus Win 7 2010
Antivirus XP
Antivirus XP 2010
Desktop Defender 2010
Desktop Security 2010
Home Antivirus 2010
PC Antispyware 2010
PC Security 2009
Security Central
Total PC Defender
Total PC Defender 2010
Total Vista Security
Total Win 7 Security
Total XP Security
Vista AntiMalware
Vista AntiMalware 2010
Vista Antispyware 2010
Vista Antivirus
Vista Antivirus 2010
Vista Antivirus Pro
Vista Antivirus Pro 2010
Vista Defender
Vista Defender 2010
Vista Defender Pro
Vista Guardian
Vista Guardian 2010
Vista Internet Security
Vista Internet Security 2010
Vista Security
Vista Security Tool
Vista Security Tool 2010
Vista Smart Security
Vista Smart Security 2010
Win 7 AntiMalware
Win 7 AntiMalware 2010
Win 7 Antispyware 2010
Win 7 Antivirus
Win 7 Antivirus 2010
Win 7 Antivirus Pro
Win 7 Antivirus Pro 2010
Win 7 Defender
Win 7 Defender 2010
Win 7 Defender Pro
Win 7 Guardian
Win 7 Guardian 2010
Win 7 Internet Security
Win 7 Internet Security 2010
Win 7 Security
Win 7 Security Tool
Win 7 Security Tool 2010
Win 7 Smart Security
Win 7 Smart Security 2010
XP AntiMalware
XP AntiMalware 2010
XP AntiSpyware 2009
Antivirus Vista
XP Antispyware 2010
XP Antivirus 2010
XP Antivirus Pro
XP Antivirus Pro 2010
XP Defender
XP Defender 2010
XP Defender Pro
XP Guardian
XP Guardian 2010
XP Internet Security
XP Internet Security 2010
XP Police Antivirus
XP Security
XP Security Center
XP Security Tool
XP Security Tool 2010
XP Security Tool 2010
XP Smart Security
XP Smart Security 2010 
Security Tool 2011
Internet Defender

Another interesting note: FakeRean and its predecessors is why whe launched a Remove Antivirus 2010 page to educate more people about this nasty beast.

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