Analysis by: Sabrina Lei Sioting
 Modified by: Cris Nowell Pantanilla
 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Adware may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component. It may be manually installed by a user.

It acts as a Browser Helper Object (BHO) that monitors a user's Internet-browsing habits.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 1,601,024 bytes
File Type: DLL
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 16 Jul 2012
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Steals information

Arrival Details

This Adware may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component.

It may be manually installed by a user.

Installation

This Adware drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Program Files%\SegmentAugmenter\SegmentAugmenter.dll

(Note: %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\SegmentAugmenter

(Note: %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.)

Autostart Technique

This Adware acts as a Browser Helper Object (BHO) that monitors a user's Internet-browsing habits.

It registers as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\3f412c52
"%System32%\rundll32.exe" = "%Program Files%\SegmentAugmenter\SegmentAugmenter.dll",serv

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\3f412c52
DisplayName = "SegmentAugmenter"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\3f412c52
ObjectName = "LocalSystem"

Other System Modifications

This Adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\63909fcf-137a-c2ce-ad6f-1f5845710580

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{12A61307-94CD-4F8E-94BC-918E511FAA81}
3f412c52 = "%Program Files%\SegmentAugmenter\SegmentAugmenter.dll"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}\
_3f412c52
dlpath = "%Program Files%\segmen~1\segmen~1.dll"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}\
_3f412c52
svpath = "%Program Files%\SegmentAugmenter\SegmentAugmenter.dll"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}\
_3f412c52
Install_Dir = "%Program Files%\SegmentAugmenter"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{3A7D3E19-1B79-4E4E-BD96-5467DA2C4EF0}

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
LoadAppInit_DLLs = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is " ".)

Information Theft

This Adware injects itself into the following web browsers to monitor searches made by the user on the following search engines:

  • iexplore.exe
  • chrome.exe
  • firefox.exe
  • dragon.exe
  • torch.exe
  • new_chrome.exe

Other Details

This Adware adds the following registry entries to add an uninstall option to the Control Panel:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}{3f412c52}
UninstallString = ""%SYSTEM32%\RUNDLL32.EXE" "%Program Files%\SEGMEN~1\SEGMEN~1.DLL",_uninstall /un"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}{3f412c52}
QuietUninstallString = ""%SYSTEM32%\RUNDLL32.EXE" "%Program Files%\SEGMEN~1\SEGMEN~1.DLL",_uninstall /un /uq"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}{3f412c52}
DisplayName = "SegmentAugmenter"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}{3f412c52}
Publisher = "Software Publisher"

It connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://{BLOCKED}ran.org/uninstall/
  • http://{BLOCKED}e.org/uninstall/
  • http://{BLOCKED}ee.org/uninstall/
  • http://{BLOCKED}rysafe.org/uninstall/
  • http://{BLOCKED}rygood.com/uninstall/
  • http://{BLOCKED}rygood.org/uninstall/
  • http://{BLOCKED}mithsky.com/uninstall/
  • http://{BLOCKED}mithsky.org/uninstall/
  • http://{BLOCKED}usuksky.com/uninstall/
  • http://{BLOCKED}umall.net/uninstall/
  • http://{BLOCKED}s.org/get/
  • http://{BLOCKED}ne.info/get/
  • http://{BLOCKED}rygood.net
  • {BLOCKED}ingbox.info
  • {BLOCKED}rysafe.net
  • {BLOCKED}usuksky.net
  • {BLOCKED}otoptic.com
  • {BLOCKED}i.net
  • {BLOCKED}ero.net
  • {BLOCKED}led.net
  • {BLOCKED}be.net
  • {BLOCKED}uar.com
  • {BLOCKED}ery.net
  • {BLOCKED}ta.net
  • {BLOCKED}est.org

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

NOTES:
It monitors searches made from the following search engines:

  • adoresearch.com
  • anchorfree.net
  • ask.com
  • avg.name
  • babylon.com
  • basicscan.com
  • bearshare.net
  • beesq.net
  • blekko.com
  • certified-toolbar.com
  • chatvibes.com
  • communitytoolbars.com
  • conduit.com
  • ddlstart.com
  • delta-search.com
  • facemoods.com
  • forumtoolbar.com
  • funmoods.com
  • greattoolbars.com
  • helperbar.com
  • icq.com
  • ilivid.com
  • imesh.com
  • imesh.net
  • iminent.com
  • inbox.com
  • incredibar.com
  • incredimail.com
  • installgenius.com
  • linkury.com
  • loyaltytoolbar.com
  • mail.ru
  • media-toolbar.com
  • metacrawler.com
  • myblogtoolbar.com
  • mybrowserbar.com
  • mycitytoolbar.com
  • mycollegetoolbar.com
  • myfamilytoolbar.com
  • myforumtoolbar.com
  • mylibrarytoolbar.com
  • myradiotoolbar.com
  • mysearch.com
  • mysearchresults.com
  • mystoretoolbar.com
  • myteamtoolbar.com
  • mytowntoolbar.com
  • myuniversitytoolbar.com
  • mywebsearch.com
  • myxangatoolbar.com
  • onewebsearch.com
  • openmediasoft.com
  • ourbusinesstoolbar.com
  • ourchurchtoolbar.com
  • ourorganizationtoolbar.com
  • ourtoolbar.com
  • plusnetwork.com
  • seacrhab.com
  • search-results.com
  • searchamong.com
  • searchcore.net
  • searchfunmoods.com
  • searchnu.com
  • searchonme.com
  • searchplusnetwork.com
  • searchqu.com
  • searchsafer.com
  • searchya.com
  • shareazaweb.net
  • shark-search.com
  • snap.do
  • softonic.com
  • starburnsoftware.com
  • startnow.com
  • startpins.com
  • startsearcher.com
  • sweetim.com
  • toolbar.fm
  • v9.com
  • whitesmoke.com
  • yourbestsearch.net

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.750
SSAPI PATTERN File: 1.314.32
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 16 Jul 2012

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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
    • {12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • 63909fcf-137a-c2ce-ad6f-1f5845710580
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • {12A61307-94CD-4F8E-94BC-918E511FAA81}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • {3A7D3E19-1B79-4E4E-BD96-5467DA2C4EF0}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • {12DA0E6F-5543-440C-BAA2-28BF01070AFA}{3f412c52}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • 3f412c52

Step 4

Restore this modified registry value

[ 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.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
    • From: LoadAppInit_DLLs = "1"
      To: ""

Step 5

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. %Program Files%\SegmentAugmenter

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as ADW_MULTIPLUG. 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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