{
  "family": "diskscanfa",
  "sample_count": 1,
  "category": "advanced_threat",
  "description": "<h3>Executive Summary</h3>\nDiskScanFA is a classification for a specific family of Rogue Security Software, commonly referred to as \"FakeAV\" or \"Scareware.\" It masquerades as a legitimate Windows disk scanning or antivirus utility. Its sole purpose is financial extortion: it deliberately displays fake system errors, non-existent virus infections, and fictitious hard drive failures to frighten the victim into purchasing a worthless \"premium\" license to fix the fabricated issues.\n\n<h3>Infection Vector and Technical Capabilities</h3>\nDiskScanFA is primarily distributed via drive-by downloads, malvertising (malicious ads that redirect to fake scanner pages), or bundled heavily with pirated software. The infection often begins with a web page that looks like a \"My Computer\" window, falsely scanning the user's hard drive.\n\nOnce installed on the endpoint, DiskScanFA employs aggressive extortion tactics:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>UI Subversion and Harassment:</strong> The malware launches a highly convincing, albeit fake, graphical interface resembling a Microsoft security product. It continuously bombards the user with high-priority alerts claiming the hard drive is failing, RAM is corrupted, or severe rootkits have been detected.</li>\n<li><strong>System Lockdown:</strong> To force payment, DiskScanFA often blocks legitimate applications from launching. It intercepts executable launches (`.exe`) and displays a fake alert claiming the application is infected and must be blocked until the \"premium\" version is purchased.</li>\n<li><strong>Security Disablement:</strong> The malware modifies the Windows Registry to disable the Task Manager, Registry Editor, and legitimate antivirus software to prevent the user from manually terminating the rogue process.</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h3>Threat Assessment</h3>\nWhile the primary goal is financial fraud (stealing credit card details during the fake purchase process), the presence of DiskScanFA severely disrupts business operations by locking down the workstation. Furthermore, the payload is often distributed by pay-per-install botnets, meaning the endpoint is highly likely infected with secondary, silent threats like Info-Stealers.\n\n<h3>Incident Response and Remediation</h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Safe Mode Triage:</strong> Because the rogue software blocks application execution, incident responders must boot the infected machine into Windows \"Safe Mode with Networking\" to bypass the malware's autostart mechanisms.</li>\n<li><strong>Registry and File Eradication:</strong> In Safe Mode, utilize a reputable, enterprise-grade anti-malware scanner to locate and delete the hidden executables (often in `%AppData%`) and revert the malicious registry modifications (specifically `HKCU\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run`).</li>\n<li><strong>Credit Card Monitoring:</strong> If the user entered their credit card information into the fake software portal, they must immediately contact their bank, cancel the card, and monitor for fraudulent transactions.</li>\n</ul>",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [
    "Rogue.DiskScanFA",
    "FakeAV.DiskScan",
    "Win32/FakeAV"
  ],
  "enrichment_level": "insufficient_information",
  "faq": [],
  "faq_count": 0,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1489",
    "T1112",
    "T1562.001",
    "T1490"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-07-01T17:48:19Z",
  "type": "FakeAV / Rogue Security Software",
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ]
}