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ADW_EZSEARCH

January 29, 2014
 Analysis by: Jennifer Gumban
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

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

  • 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.

It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

660,480 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

09 Oct 2013

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:

  • %COMMONPROGRAMFILES%\EZ-Plus

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Windows ez-Plus V.1.1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Windows ez-Plus V.1.1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
EzPlus.ezPlusbho

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\InternetRegistry\REGISTRY\
USER
sid = "{SID}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{Random GUID}
"(Default Value)" = "EzPlus.ezPlusbho.1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
TypeLib\{Random GUID}\1.0
"(Default Value)" = "%COMMONPROGRAMFILES%\EZ-Plus\ez-Plus.dll"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Browser Helper Objects\{Random GUID}
NoExplorer = "1"

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This adware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Other Details

This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}s.kr
  • http://{BLOCKED}v.{BLOCKED}s.kr
  • http://{BLOCKED}v.{BLOCKED}s.kr/fis/license.txt

It drops the following file(s)/component(s):

  • %COMMONPROGRAMFILES%\EZ-Plus\Uninstall.exe
  • %COMMONPROGRAMFILES%\EZ-Plus\ez-Plus.dll
  • %COMMONPROGRAMFILES%\EZ-Plus\ez-PlusDUDF.exe
  • %COMMONPROGRAMFILES%\EZ-Plus\ez-PlusP.dll
  • %COMMONPROGRAMFILES%\EZ-Plus\ez-PlusSC.exe
  • %COMMONPROGRAMFILES%\EZ-Plus\ez-PlusSCH.exe
  • %COMMONPROGRAMFILES%\EZ-Plus\ez-PlusUDF.exe

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

SSAPI PATTERN File:

1.470.33

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

09 Oct 2013

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

Remove ADW_EZSEARCH by using its own Uninstall option

[ Learn More ]
To uninstall the grayware processDATA_GENERIC
  • Click on Change/Remove.
  • Follow the instructions on the dialog box that appears.
  • Close the Add/Remove Programs window, and the Control Panel window.

    • Step 3

    Search and delete this folder

    [ 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.  
    • %COMMONPROGRAMFILES%\EZ-Plus

    Step 4

    Reset Internet security settings

    [ Learn More ]

    Step 5

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