Abstract: A method and system for detecting obfuscatory pestware in a computer memory is described. One illustrative embodiment identifies, within an executable object, a reference to a known procedure, the known procedure having a fixed address in the computer memory; and searches for a predetermined check value at a known offset relative to an address, in the computer memory, of the reference to the known procedure.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting dependent pestware objects on a computer is described. One illustrative embodiment detects a primary pestware process in an executable memory of the computer, the primary pestware process including an associated check value by which the primary pestware process can be identified; locates, at a predetermined offset in the executable memory relative to the check value, a pointer to a string, the string comprising an address of a secondary pestware object stored on the computer; and follows the pointer to the string to ascertain the address of the secondary pestware object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing pestware processes on a protected computer are described. In one implementation, a reference point in the executable memory that is associated with a process running in the executable memory is located. A first and second sets of information from corresponding first and second portions of the executable memory are then retrieved. The first and second portions of the executable memory are separated by a defined offset, and each of the first and second portions of the executable memory are offset from the reference point. The process is identifiable as a particular type of pestware when the first and second sets of information each include information previously found to be separated by the defined offset in other processes that are of the particular type of pestware. In some variations, the reference point is a starting address and/or an API implementation in the process.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting a keylogger on a computer is described. One illustrative embodiment creates, in a memory of the computer, a hidden window; generates a unique, unpredictable data pattern; inputs, to the hidden window, the unique, unpredictable data pattern in a manner that mimics keyboard input from a user; scans running processes in the memory other than a keylogger detection process for the unique, unpredictable data pattern; and performs a secondary scan of a suspect process, the suspect process having an associated buffer that contains the unique, unpredictable data pattern.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing pestware processes on a protected computer are described. In one implementation, a reference point in the executable memory that is associated with a process running in the executable memory is located. A first and second sets of information from corresponding first and second portions of the executable memory are then retrieved. The first and second portions of the executable memory are separated by a defined offset, and each of the first and second portions of the executable memory are offset from the reference point. The process is identifiable as a particular type of pestware when the first and second sets of information each include information previously found to be separated by the defined offset in other processes that are of the particular type of pestware. In some variations, the reference point is a starting address and/or an API implementation in the process.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing pestware processes on a protected computer are described. In one implementation, a reference point in the executable memory that is associated with a process running in the executable memory is located. A first and second sets of information from corresponding first and second portions of the executable memory are then retrieved. The first and second portions of the executable memory are separated by a defined offset, and each of the first and second portions of the executable memory are offset from the reference point. The process is identifiable as a particular type of pestware when the first and second sets of information each include information previously found to be separated by the defined offset in other processes that are of the particular type of pestware. In some variations, the reference point is a starting address and/or an API implementation in the process.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing multiple related pestware processes on a protected computer are described. One embodiment is configured to identify a location of each of a plurality of files in at least one file storage device of the protected computer and store a list of the location of each of the plurality of files. The list of the plurality of files is then sorted so as to generate a sorted list. Each of the plurality of files is then sequentially accessed as listed in the sorted list so as to retrieve information from each of the plurality of files. Information from the plurality of files is then analyzed to determine whether any of the plurality of files are potential pestware files. In variations, the files in the file storage device are enumerated, and information from the files is accessed, by circumventing the operating system of the protected computer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing multiple related pestware processes on a protected computer are described. In one implementation, a plurality of files in a file storage device of a protected computer are scanned and obfuscated files are identified from among the plurality of files. To identify whether the obfuscated file is a pestware file, one or more potential pestware processes are identified as being associated with the obfuscated file, and the one or more associated process are scanned so as to determine whether the processes, and hence, the obfuscated file, are pestware. In variations, the obfuscated file is analyzed to identify the start address of the associated one or more processes, and the start address is utilized as a reference point from which information located at one or more offsets from the start address is analyzed so as to determine whether the one or more processes are known pestware.