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Microsoft Security Intelligence
Published May 06, 2009 | Updated Sep 15, 2017

Trojan:Win32/Pernefed

Detected by Microsoft Defender Antivirus

Aliases: Perfect Defender 2009 (other) Win32/FakeAV.ZH (CA) Win32/Adware.PerfectDefender.D (ESET) W32/AntiVirus2008.CVC (Norman) PerfectDefender2009 (Symantec)

Summary

Trojan:Win32/Pernefed is a family of programs that claims to scan for malware and displays fake warnings of “malicious programs and viruses”. They then inform the user that they need to pay money in order to remove these non-existent threats.
Special Note:
Reports of Rogue Antivirus programs have been more prevalent as of late.  These are programs that generate misleading alerts and false detections in order to convince users to purchase illegitimate security software.  Some of these programs, such as Trojan:Win32/Antivirusxp and Program:Win32/FakeRednefed may display product names or logos in an apparently unlawful attempt to impersonate Microsoft products.  These products may represent themselves as “Antivirus XP”, “AntivirusXP 2008”, “WinDefender 2008”, “XP Antivirus”, or similar.
 
Use Microsoft Windows Defender, the Microsoft Safety Scanner (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=212742), or another up-to-date scanning and removal tool to detect and remove these threats and other unwanted software from your computer. For more information on Microsoft security products, see http://www.microsoft.com/protect/products/computer/default.mspx.
Use Microsoft Windows Defender, the Microsoft Safety Scanner (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=212742), or another up-to-date scanning and removal tool to detect and remove these threats and other unwanted software from your computer. For more information on Microsoft security products, see http://www.microsoft.com/protect/products/computer/default.mspx.
 
For information on additional support options worldwide, see http://www.microsoft.com/protect/support/default.mspx.
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