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ADW_INSTACORE.GB

February 23, 2015
 Analysis by: Sammy Chua
 ALIASES:

Riskware/InstallCore (Fortinet); Adware/InstallCo.bem (Avira); Win32.Application.InstallCore.CZ (GData)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware


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.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

Varies

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

08 Feb 2015

Payload:

Downloads files, Connects to URLs/IPs

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 a copy of itself in the following folders using different file names:

  • %User Temp%\ICReinstall_{grayware file name}.exe -deleted afterwards

(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.)

It drops the following component file(s):

  • %Desktop%\Continue File Opener Installation.lnk - shortcut pointing to the adware, deleted during installation

(Note: %Desktop% is the desktop folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Desktop in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop in 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.)

Download Routine

This adware accesses the following websites to download files:

  • http://{BLOCKED}nx9zb32s.cloudfront.net/exe/FileOpenerSetupG_V3.exe

Adware Routine

This adware connects to the following URL(s) to display ads on the affected system:

  • http://{BLOCKED}pener.org/file-opener/welcome/oc/?iv=0

Other Details

This adware connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://{BLOCKED}p.coolvideoconverter.com/?pcrc={random number}&v={version}
  • http://{BLOCKED}s.soft-opener.org/CM_DS/?v={version}&c={random number}

  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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as ADW_INSTACORE.GB

Step 4

Search and delete these files

[ 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%\ICReinstall_{adware filename}.exe
  • %Desktop%\Continue File Opener Installation.lnk

Step 5

Search and delete the files detected as ADW_INSTACORE.GB

*Note: Some component files may be 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.

To stop the malware/grayware from running when certain files are opened:

For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:

  1. Right-click Start then click Search....
  2. In the File name* input box, type the name of the file that was detected earlier.
  3. In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
  4. Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
    *Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).

For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 (R2):

  1. Open a Windows Explorer window.
    • For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
    • For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen,then click File Explorer.
  2. In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type the name of the file that was detected earlier.
  3. Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
    *Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.

Step 6

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