Analysis by: Michael Cabel
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • 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: 934,752 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 24 Mar 2012

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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Program Files%\Common Files\Spigot\Search Settings\SearchSettings.exe

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Search Settings
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\Spigot\Search Settings

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Search Settings

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Search Settings

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Search Settings

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Dealio

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Dealio

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Dealio

Other Details

This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • www.{BLOCKED}serbar.com
  • www.{BLOCKED}lio.com

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
SSAPI PATTERN File: 1.274.07
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 24 Mar 2012

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Terminate this process

[ Learn More ]

  1. For Windows 98 and ME users, the 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.
  2. 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.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.
%Program Files%\Common Files\Spigot\Search Settings\SearchSettings.exe

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. 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\Software
    • Dealio
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\Software
    • Search Settings
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • Dealio
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • Search Settings
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • Dealio
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • Search Settings

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 Profile%\Application Data\Search Settings
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\Spigot\Search Settings

Step 5

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