Dlsecure

Category: ransomware · Aliases: Rogue.Dlsecure, FakeAV.Dlsecure, Scareware.Win32 · Sample count (EMBER 2018): 1 · Enrichment: insufficient_information · Updated: 2026-07-01T17:29:35Z

Category: RansomwareActor: Unknown / CybercriminalIndustry: Global / OpportunisticMotivation: Opportunistic

Overview

Executive Summary

Dlsecure is a prominent example of "Rogue AV" or "Scareware." It is a deceptive, malicious application designed to aggressively mimic the graphical user interface of a legitimate Windows security program. Its sole objective is financial extortion; it bombards the user with fake security alerts claiming the system is severely infected, demanding the user pay for a "premium" license of Dlsecure to remove the fabricated threats.

Infection Vector and Technical Capabilities

Dlsecure is most commonly distributed via aggressive "malvertising" campaigns. Users clicking on dubious links or visiting compromised websites are redirected to landing pages that simulate a "Windows Security Scan" in the browser, ultimately tricking the user into downloading the fake antivirus installer. Upon execution, Dlsecure operates entirely on psychological manipulation and system lock-down:

Deceptive GUI: The malware launches a highly convincing interface complete with fake scan progress bars, spinning icons, and long lists of terrifying-sounding (but entirely non-existent) malware infections.
System Disruption: To force the user to pay, Dlsecure actively disables the operating system. It routinely terminates legitimate executable files (like `taskmgr.exe` or `explorer.exe`), blocks access to real antivirus websites, and constantly displays full-screen warnings that "system damage is imminent."
Extortion: The program persistently directs the user to a payment gateway (often requesting credit card details) to purchase the "full version" to "clean" the system.

Threat Assessment

While Dlsecure is incredibly disruptive and renders the computer practically unusable, it generally does not encrypt files (like ransomware) or silently steal data in the background. The primary threat is financial fraud (the extortion payment) and the denial of access to the workstation. However, the presence of Scareware indicates a failure of perimeter web filtering.

Incident Response and Remediation

Safe Mode Boot: The most effective way to bypass the Scareware's lock-down mechanisms is to reboot the infected machine into Windows "Safe Mode with Networking." This prevents the Dlsecure executable from loading on startup.
Rogue AV Removal: Once in Safe Mode, utilize a reputable, dedicated anti-malware scanner to detect and remove the Dlsecure executables and repair the registry keys the malware altered to hijack `.exe` file associations.
Financial Remediation: If the user actually submitted their credit card details to the fake payment portal, they must immediately contact their bank to cancel the card and dispute the fraudulent charges.

Known aliases

Threat reports may refer to this family under multiple names:

MITRE ATT&CK Techniques

This family has been observed using the following ATT&CK techniques: T1489 T1491.001 T1562.001

Generated Detections (Boilerplate)

These YARA and Sigma rules are auto-generated based on the family name and aliases. They must be heavily tuned before deployment in a production environment.

YARA Rule

rule MALWARE_WIN_DLSECURE {
    meta:
        description = "Detects Dlsecure (ransomware)"
        author = "SystemHelpdesk Boilerplate Generator"
        date = "2026-07-06"
    strings:
        $s1 = "dlsecure" ascii wide nocase
        $s2 = "rogue.dlsecure" ascii wide nocase
        $s3 = "fakeav.dlsecure" ascii wide nocase
        $s4 = "scareware.win32" ascii wide nocase
    condition:
        uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and any of them
}

Sigma Rule

title: Suspicious Dlsecure Activity
id: de75b1949ee336578febdd6542f03248
status: experimental
description: Detects generic indicators of the dlsecure malware family.
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith:
            - '\cmd.exe'
            - '\powershell.exe'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - "*dlsecure*"
            - "*rogue.dlsecure*"
            - "*fakeav.dlsecure*"
            - "*scareware.win32*"
    condition: selection
level: medium

References & External Analysis

Search "dlsecure" on VirusTotal (External Analysis)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I remove the Dlsecure Ransomware from Windows?

Manual removal of Dlsecure is highly discouraged as it may leave persistence mechanisms intact. We recommend disconnecting the device from the internet and utilizing a professional incident response service or enterprise-grade EDR software to conduct a full forensic sweep.

Is Dlsecure a virus or a Ransomware?

Dlsecure is classified as a Ransomware. Unlike traditional viruses that infect files, modern malware like Dlsecure typically operates as a standalone payload designed to compromise systems, steal data, or deploy secondary stage implants.

What are the main symptoms of a Dlsecure infection?

Symptoms of Dlsecure can include unexpected system slowness, unauthorized outbound network traffic to unknown IP addresses, disabled security software, and suspicious background processes running from AppData or Temp directories.

Related Families (Category: ransomware)

Explore other malware families in the same category:

Protect Your Network Against Ransomwares

Want to prevent Dlsecure and similar threats from compromising your organization? Read our comprehensive defensive guide: Ransomware Protection Guide.

Need help with an active incident? Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.

Machine-readable

Get this profile as JSON: https://jordanricky1604-ship-it.github.io/malware-families-catalog/api/dlsecure.json

Ecosystem & Interactive Environments

This profile is part of the Malware Families Catalog, a public dataset of 2,899 malware families. The catalog is also published across our ecosystem: Hugging Face, Kaggle, Zenodo, Replit, StackBlitz, CodeSandbox, and CodePen.