Analysis by: Kathleen Notario
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This adware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites. It may be manually installed by a user.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 2,703,493 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 08 Dec 2011
Payload: Drops files

Arrival Details

This adware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It may be manually installed by a user.

Installation

This adware drops the following files:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Spyware Cease 2011\Spyware Cease 2011 on the Web.lnk
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Spyware Cease 2011\Spyware Cease 2011.lnk
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Spyware Cease 2011\Uninstall Spyware Cease 2011.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Spyware Cease 2011.lnk
  • %Desktop%\Spyware Cease 2011.lnk
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\hrdb.hrl
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\md5.dll
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\mtools.dll
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\networkdll.dll
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\opfile.dll
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\QAreaDLL.dll
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\RkHitApi.dll
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\SCHelper.exe
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\sctdll.dll
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\spkdll.dll
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\SpywareCease.url
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\SpywareCease2011.exe
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\udefend.dll
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\unins000.dat
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\unins000.exe
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\Update\update.xml
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\Update.exe
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\ussafe.dll
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\zlib1.dll
  • %System%\drivers\RKHit.sys
  • %Windows%\Tasks\{date of installation}_{number}.job

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Desktop on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Desktop on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.. %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows or C:\WINNT.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Spyware Cease 2011
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\Update

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

Autostart Technique

This adware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
SpywareCease2011.exe = "%Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\SpywareCease2011.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
SCHelper.exe = "%Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\SCHelper.exe -0"

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Spyware Cease 2011

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Spyware Cease 2011_is1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\RkHit

NOTES:

It installs the application Spyware Cease 2011.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
SSAPI PATTERN File: 1.243.00
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 10 Dec 2011

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Terminate a malware/grayware process

[ Learn More ]

*Note: If the detected process is not displayed in theWindows Task Manager, continue doing the next steps.

    • SpywareCease2011.exe

Step 3

Delete this registry value

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • SpywareCease2011.exe = "%Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\SpywareCease2011.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • SCHelper.exe = "%Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011\SCHelper.exe -0"

Step 4

Delete this registry key

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • Spyware Cease 2011
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • Spyware Cease 2011_is1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • RkHit

Step 5

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.  
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Spyware Cease 2011
  • %Program Files%\Spyware Cease 2011

Step 6

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Spyware Cease 2011.lnk
  • %Desktop%\Spyware Cease 2011.lnk
  • %System%\drivers\RKHit.sys
  • %Windows%\Tasks\{date of installation}_{number}.job

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ADW_SCANNER. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.


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