ADW_BPROTECT.GA

August 26, 2014
 Analysis by: RonJay Kristoffer Caragay
 ALIASES:

Adware-BProtect (McAfee); AdWare.Bprotector (Ikarus); TR/BProtector.Gen2 (AntiVir); Win32:BProtect-J [Trj] (Avast); BProtector (Sophos)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This adware may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component. It arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It requires its main component to successfully perform its intended routine. It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

4,124,160 bytes

File Type:

DLL

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

18 Aug 2014

Arrival Details

This adware may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component.

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

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_{random key 1}
data.0 = "{random data}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_{random key 1}
date = "{random data}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_{random key 1}
data.1 = "{random data}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_{random key 1}
usr.0 = "{random data}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_{random key 1}
usr.1 = "{random data}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_{random key 1}
uuid = "{random data}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_{random key 1}
lrts = "{random data}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_{random key 1}
mode = "{random data}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_{random key 1}
iiid = "{random data}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}\_{random key 1}\{random keys}
{random values} = "{random datas}"

Dropping Routine

This adware drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\__tmp_{random}

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.)

Other Details

This adware connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:

  • time.nist.gov
  • edition.cnn.com
  • www.bbc.com

It requires its main component to successfully perform its intended routine.

It deletes itself after execution.

NOTES:

Note that the URLs it connects to are non-malicious.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 2

Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.

Step 3

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.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow
    • {5F189DF5-2D05-472B-9091-84D9848AE48B}

Step 4

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some 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 Temp%\__tmp_{random}

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ADW_BPROTECT.GA. 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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