Analysis by: Cris Nowell Pantanilla
ALIASES:

not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.BetterInternet.geb (Kaspersky)

 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 be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites. It may be manually installed by a user.

It executes the downloaded files. As a result, malicious routines of the downloaded files are exhibited on the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 162,136 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 02 Mar 2015

Arrival Details

This adware may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

It may be manually installed by a user.

Installation

This adware drops and executes the following files:

  • %User Temp%\biclient.exe

(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.)

Download Routine

This adware accesses the following websites to download files:

  • http://{BLOCKED}i.{BLOCKED}v.com/awjpvlcmediaplayer940/vlcmediaplayertcmt/b3eb2bf1d6d93c45851e33d0b95896d6?v=2.0&muid=DEA60683637528A4DC995364B1C426C2
  • http://{BLOCKED}t890anma.cloudfront.net/mirror/anysend/default/setup.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}t890anma.{BLOCKED}ront.net/mirror/iminent/default/setup.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}t890anma.cloudfront.net/mirror/nerocrossrider/appshat_generic.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}t890anma.{BLOCKED}ront.net/mirror/pdfconverter/default/setup.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}t890anma.cloudfront.net/mirror/wordproser/default/setup.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}be9jd4nl.cloudfront.net/mirror/filesfrog/UpdateCheckerSetup.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}be9jd4nl.{BLOCKED}ront.net/mirror/web2mob/v1_1_0_6/ClientToMobilePlatform.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}ad.{BLOCKED}frog.com/software_files/vlc/2_0_2/vlc-2.0.2-win32.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}ad.{BLOCKED}o.com/partner/gim394750002/release/live/InstallGenieo.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}l.{BLOCKED}rservices.com/kms/startpoint_1.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}lercdn.{BLOCKED}lldog.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}t890anma.{BLOCKED}ront.net/mirror/iminent/default/setup.exe

It then executes the downloaded files. As a result, malicious routines of the downloaded files are exhibited on the affected system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.750
SSAPI PATTERN File: 1.602.26
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 02 Mar 2015

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

Identify and terminate files detected as ADW_TOMOS.SMN

[ Learn More ]
  1. 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.

Step 3

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.  %User Temp%\biclient.exe

Step 4

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