ADW_INSTALLIQ.GA
InstallIQ Installer (fs) (Sunbelt)
Windows

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
2,032,664 bytes
EXE
No
05 Dec 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 creates the following folders:
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\dialogs
(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_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\InstallIQ
hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\
esent\process\{malware file name}
hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\
esent\process\{malware file name}\
debug
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\InstallIQ
test = "1"
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
EventMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
CategoryMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
CategoryCount = "1"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 10.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
TypesSupported = "7"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 7.)
Dropping Routine
This adware drops the following files:
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\config.xml
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\expertpdf7.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\wecarecleanwater.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\geniusbox.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\pcoptimizerpro_offer.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\pcspeedup.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\registryhelper.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\driverscanner.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\fulldiskfighter.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\smartpccleaner.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\financealert.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\weatherbug.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\nortonsecurityscan.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\vebasearch.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\chocolatebar.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\maxthon.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\winferno.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\uninstallhelper.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\driverfighter.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\kaspersky.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\slowpcfighter.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\genieo.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\lavasoftwebcompanion.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\nortoninternetsecurity.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\defaulttab.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\webbar.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\yahoosuite.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\arcadeparlor.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\blasteroids.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\stormwatch.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\nortonantivirus.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\savepathdeals.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\yahoo_hpds_defaultsearch.test.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\resultsbay.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\spyhunter.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\mypcbackup.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\jenkatgamesarcadeplus.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\optimizerpro.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\contentexplorer.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\gamehug.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\smartdriverupdater.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\smartweb.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\websearches.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\yahoo_hpds_startpage.test.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\rockettab.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\yahoo_keepmysettingsx.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\desktoptemperaturemonitor.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\converterfreeonline.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\yebogo.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\yahoo_hpds_defaultsearch.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\yahoo_hpds_startpage.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\darkux_3step_r2_v5.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\expertpdf7_1159.txt
- %User Temp%\SymCCIS2.zip
- %User Temp%\SymCCIS.dll
- %User Temp%\SymCCISDll.txt
(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 Details
This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}taller.com
- http://interact.{BLOCKED}ck.co
- {BLOCKED}0.1
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
SOLUTION
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
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.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software
- InstallIQ
- In hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\esent\process
- {malware file name}
- In hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\esent\process\{malware file name}
- debug
Step 3
Delete this registry value
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\InstallIQ
- test = "1"
Step 4
Restore these modified registry values
Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
- From: EventMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
To: EventMessageFile = ""{random values}""
- From: EventMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
- From: CategoryMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
To: CategoryMessageFile = ""{random values}""
- From: CategoryMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
- From: CategoryCount = "1"
To: CategoryCount = ""10""
- From: CategoryCount = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
- From: TypesSupported = "7"
To: TypesSupported = ""7""
- From: TypesSupported = "7"
Step 5
Search and delete these components
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\config.xml
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\expertpdf7.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\wecarecleanwater.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\geniusbox.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\pcoptimizerpro_offer.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\pcspeedup.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\registryhelper.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\driverscanner.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\fulldiskfighter.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\smartpccleaner.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\financealert.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\weatherbug.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\nortonsecurityscan.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\vebasearch.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\chocolatebar.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\maxthon.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\winferno.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\uninstallhelper.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\driverfighter.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\kaspersky.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\slowpcfighter.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\genieo.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\lavasoftwebcompanion.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\nortoninternetsecurity.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\defaulttab.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\webbar.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\yahoosuite.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\arcadeparlor.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\blasteroids.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\stormwatch.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\nortonantivirus.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\savepathdeals.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\yahoo_hpds_defaultsearch.test.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\resultsbay.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\spyhunter.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\mypcbackup.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\jenkatgamesarcadeplus.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\optimizerpro.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\contentexplorer.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\gamehug.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\smartdriverupdater.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\smartweb.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\websearches.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\yahoo_hpds_startpage.test.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\rockettab.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\yahoo_keepmysettingsx.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\desktoptemperaturemonitor.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\converterfreeonline.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\yebogo.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\yahoo_hpds_defaultsearch.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\yahoo_hpds_startpage.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\darkux_3step_r2_v5.vi.zip
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\expertpdf7_1159.txt
- %User Temp%\SymCCIS2.zip
- %User Temp%\SymCCIS.dll
- %User Temp%\SymCCISDll.txt
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590
- %User Temp%\qs_16c13590\dialogs
Step 7
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ADW_INSTALLIQ.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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