ADW_APROPOS.L
TrojanDropper:Win32/Apropos.A (Microsoft), Spyware.Apropos (Symantec), Trojan.Win32.Apropo (fs) (Sunbelt), Adware/Apropo (Fortinet),
Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

Threat Type: Adware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
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.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
1,755,800 bytes
EXE
Yes
07 Apr 2011
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.
Installation
This adware drops the following files:
- %User Temp%\~compoundinst0\auto_update_loader.exe
- %Program Files%\CxtPls\ace.dll
- %Program Files%\CxtPls\AI_12-02-2013.log
- %Program Files%\CxtPls\atl.dll
- %Program Files%\CxtPls\CxtPls.dll
- %Program Files%\CxtPls\CxtPls.exe
- %Program Files%\CxtPls\data.bin
- %Program Files%\CxtPls\libexpat.dll
- %Program Files%\CxtPls\ProxyStub.dll
- %Program Files%\CxtPls\uninstaller.exe
- %Program Files%\CxtPls\WinGenerics.dll
- %system%\ipcir.exe
- %system%\ippdec.exe
(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.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)
It creates the following folders:
- %User Temp%\~compoundinst0
- %Program Files%\CxtPls
(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.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)
Other System Modifications
This adware adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Apropos
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Apropos\
Client
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\AutoLoader
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\AutoLoader\
EnvoloAutoUpdater
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Envolo
Download Routine
This adware connects to the following website(s) to download and execute a malicious file:
- http://{BLOCKED}ad.contextplus.net/shared/AutoUpdaterInstaller.exe
It saves the files it downloads using the following names:
- %User Temp%\auf0.exe
(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.)
SOLUTION
9.300
1.164.28
07 Apr 2011
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
Identify and terminate files detected as ADW_APROPOS.L
- Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
- If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
- If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.
Step 3
Delete this registry key
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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- Apropos
- Apropos
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- AutoLoader
- AutoLoader
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- Envolo
- Envolo
Step 4
Search and delete these folders
Step 5
Search and delete this file
Step 6
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ADW_APROPOS.L. 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.
Did this description help? Tell us how we did.