ADW_SWEETIM

 Analysis by: Michelle Morales

 ALIASES:

Win32/AdWare.1ClickDownload.AT application (ESET)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • 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

File Size:

302,720 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

27 Nov 2014

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%\ns{random letter}20.tmp\dAg
  • %User Temp%\ns{random letter}20.tmp\locate.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random character}20.tmp\nsProcess.dll
  • %Desktop%\FTDownloader.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\FTDownloader.com\FTDownloader.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\FTDownloader.com\Uninstall.lnk
  • %Program Files%\FTDownloader.com\uninst.exe

It creates the following folders:

  • %User Temp%\ns{random letter}20.tmp

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\1ClickDownload

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
1ClickDownload

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\
FTDownloader

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\
FTDownloader\DefaultIcon

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\
FTDownloader\DefaultIcon\shell

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\
FTDownloader\DefaultIcon\shell\
open

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\
FTDownloader\DefaultIcon\shell\
open\command

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\1ClickDownload
LastInstall0 = 30413513

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\1ClickDownload
LastInstall3 = 30413513

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\1ClickDownload
UID = 296451073

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
1ClickDownload
Publisher = FTDOwnloader.com

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
1ClickDownload
DisplayName = FTDownloader

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
1ClickDownload
UninstallString = %Program Files%\FTDownloader.com\uninst.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
1ClickDownload
DisplayVersion = 2.1 Build 26473

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\
FTDownloader
URL Protocol =

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\
FTDownloader
(Default) = FTDownloader URI

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\
FTDownloader
Content Type = application/x-FTDownloader

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\
FTDownloader\DefaultIcon
(Default) = %Program Files%\FTDownloader.com\FTDownloader.exe,0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\
FTDownloader\DefaultIcon\shell
(Default) = open

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\
FTDownloader\DefaultIcon\shell\
open\command
(Default) = "%Program Files%\FTDownloader.com\FTDownloader.exe" /u="%1"

Download Routine

This adware saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %Program Files%\FTDownloader.com\FTDownloader.exe
  • %Program Files%\FTDownloader.com\FLTextsetup.exe

Other Details

This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • www1.{BLOCKED}sfiles.com/FTDownloader.exe
  • www1.{BLOCKED}sfiles.com/ft3extsetup10.exe
  • data.{BLOCKED}v.net/country.asp?st={data}
  • data.{BLOCKED}v.net/ping2.asp?uid={data}

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

SSAPI PATTERN File:

1.572.03

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

03 Dec 2014

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.

  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\1ClickDownload
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\FTDownloader
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\1ClickDownload

Step 4

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.
  • %User Temp%\ns{random letter}20.tmp
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\FTDownloader.com
  • %Program Files%\FTDownloader.com

Step 5

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.
  • %Desktop%\\FTDownloader.lnk

Step 6

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