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PUA_ASKTOOLBAR.GF

March 20, 2018
 ALIASES:

a variant of Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Ask (ESET-NOD32)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Potentially Unwanted Application

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Potentially Unwanted Application 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

18,741,360 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

19 Mar 2018

Arrival Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application 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 Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro
  • %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\FileViewPro

(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.. %ProgramData% is the Program Data folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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.)

It drops the following files:

  • %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.lnk
  • %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\FileViewPro\Uninstall FileViewPro.lnk
  • %System Root%\Users\Public\Desktop\FileViewPro.lnk
  • %User Temp%\ah_setup.log
  • %User Temp%\ah_install.log
  • %User Temp%\ah_setupwatcher1.log
  • %User Temp%\ah_installui.log
  • %User Temp%\ah_download.log
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\unins000.exe
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.exe
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.pdb
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\PluginInstaller.exe
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Interop.WIA.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Microsoft.Ink.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.Strings.3.resources
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Word.Resources.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Code\Extended\Patch-Mode.xshd
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Code\Extended\Python-Mode.xshd
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Code\Extended\SQL-Mode.xshd
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.Localization.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.exe.config
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.Views.dll.config
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\EULA_FileViewPro.rtf
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\new_icon.ico
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\EULA_FileViewPro.rtf
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\ar.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\cs.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\da.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\de.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\el.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\en.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\es.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\fi.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\fr.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\hi.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\hu.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\it.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\ja.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\ko.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\nl.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\no.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\pl.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\pt-br.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\pt-pt.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\ro.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\ru.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\sv.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\tr.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\zh-cn.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Langs\zh-tw.xml
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Cursors\PanToolCursor.cur
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\O2S.Components.PDFRender4NET.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\O2S.Components.PDFView4NET.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\SevenZipSharp.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\7z\7z.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.Data.v11.1.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.Utils.v11.1.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.XtraEditors.v11.1.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.XtraBars.v11.1.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.Printing.v11.1.Core.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.XtraGrid.v11.1.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.XtraPrinting.v11.1.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.XtraRichEdit.v11.1.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.RichEdit.v11.1.Core.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\DevExpress.XtraRichEdit.v11.1.Extensions.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Raw\dcraw.exe
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Redist\DotNetFx35ClientSetup.exe
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Wps\wps2html.exe
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\QlmLicenseLib.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\QlmControls.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\IsLicense50.dll
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro\Plugins.xml
  • %User Temp%\AskSLib.dll
  • %User Temp%\AskSLib.exe

(Note: %ProgramData% is the Program Data folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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.. %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %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.. %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.)

Other System Modifications

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
apn_dbr = ie_8.0.7601.17514

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
cbid = ^ADI

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
client = ic

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
clientv = 9.9.9.9

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
cr = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
cr-homepageurl = {URL}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
cr-o = APN10610cr

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
crif = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
crumb = 2018.03.19+05.44.46-dubprdapntlfe17-PH-TWFuaWxhLFBoaWxpcHBpbmVz

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
crx-path = {URL}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
dbr = 132

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
dot = 6

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
dt = 400

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
dtid = ^YYYYYY^YY^PH

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
ff-max-version = 13.*

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
fflu = -2

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
fv = 3.5.7 (en-US)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
guid = ec2bebe8-704f-4d0c-a8ac-f0d47c36e485

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
harch = 32

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
hloc = en-US

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
homepageurl = {URL}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
hos = 6.1.1.sp1.x86

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
iedis = 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
ielu = -2

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
iev = 8.0.7601.17514

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
inst = 200

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
iv = 8.0.7601.17514

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
l = dis

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
locale = en_US

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
location = {address}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
make-offer = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
nthp = 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
o = APN10610

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
oi = nop

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
qsrc = 2871

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
repurl = {URL}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
saguid = 5ed2532b-745a-402a-83f9-ecb5901b53ec

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
same-partner = 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
slwo = 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
tb = SLS

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
tb-installer-path = {URL}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
tb-version = 5.15.29.0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
to = ""

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
General
wft = remote

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
cr-homepageurl = {URL}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
crif = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
ff-max-version = 13.*

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
guid = ec2bebe8-704f-4d0c-a8ac-f0d47c36e485

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
homepageurl = {URL}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
make-offer = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
nthp = 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
oi = nop

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Installer
repurl = {URL}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
cbid = ^ADI

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
cr-o = APN10610cr

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
crumb = 2018.03.19+05.44.46-dubprdapntlfe17-PH-TWFuaWxhLFBoaWxpcHBpbmVz

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
dtid = ^YYYYYY^YY^PH

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
l = dis

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
locale = en_US

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
location = {address}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
o = APN10610

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
qsrc = 2871

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
slwo = 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Ask.com.tmp\
Macro
to = ""

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
StartPage\NewShortcuts
%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.lnk = 1

Other Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://apnmedia.{BLOCKED}k.com/media/toolbar/stub/1.0.0.0/ApnIC.dll?tb={value}&version={value}
  • http://websearch.{BLOCKED}k.com/installed?client={value}&tb={value}&dtid={value}&id={value}&ipid={value}&iev={value}&iedis={value}&ielu={value}&fflu={value}&iv={value}&nv={value}&clientv={value}&said={value}&browser-lang={value}&apn_dbr={value}&cr={value}
  • http://img.{BLOCKED}lytics.com/images/nocache/apn/tr.gif?ev={value}&p2={value}&encb={value}&chk={value}&ts={value}&guid={value}&dt={value}&wft={value}&inst={value}&tb={value}&hos={value}&harch={value}&hloc={value}&iv={value}&fv={value}&dbr={value}&vb={value}&msi={value}&dot={value}
  • http://apnmedia.{BLOCKED}k.com/media/toolbar/supertoolbar/profile-ask/wrapper/2.3.0/EverestWrapper.exe
  • http://phn.{BLOCKED}lytics.com/tr.gif?anxa={value}&anxv={value}&anxe={value}&anxr={value}&reason={value}&tpid={value}&trgb={value}&result={value}&ft={value}&udbr={value}
  • http://anx.{BLOCKED}lytics.com/tr.gif?anxa={value}&anxe={value}&tpid={value}&defaultSearchChoice={value}&homepageChoice={value}&status={value}&newpid={value}
  • http://{BLOCKED}i.search.{BLOCKED}k.com/v7/installed?pid={value}&dtid={value}&cbid={value}&pf={value}&pids={value}&dbr={value}&user_lid={value}&client={value}
  • http://apnmedia.{BLOCKED}k.com/media/toolbar/everest/partners/SLS-RG/YY/Setup.ini
  • http://phn.{BLOCKED}lytics.com/tr.gif?anxa={value}&anxv={value}&anxe={value}&anxr={value}&ieVersionInstalled={value}&defaultSearchChoice={value}&ffVersionInstalled={value}&osArchitecture={value}&installApiAttempts={value}&osDetail={value}&msiErrorCode={value}&errorCondition={value}&tpid={value}&installApiTime={value}&crVersionInstalled={value}&msiVersion={value}&msiExitCode={value}&installationResult={value}&setupTime={value}&homepageChoice={value}

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

SSAPI PATTERN File:

1.931.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

22 Mar 2018

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

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.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • Ask.com.tmp

Step 4

Delete this 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartPage\NewShortcuts
    • %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\FileViewPro\FileViewPro.lnk = "1"

Step 5

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.  
  • %Program Files%\FileViewPro
  • %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\FileViewPro

Step 6

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.
  • %System Root%\Users\Public\Desktop\FileViewPro.lnk
  • %User Temp%\ah_setup.log
  • %User Temp%\ah_install.log
  • %User Temp%\ah_setupwatcher1.log
  • %User Temp%\ah_installui.log
  • %User Temp%\ah_download.log
  • %User Temp%\AskSLib.dll
  • %User Temp%\AskSLib.exe

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA_ASKTOOLBAR.GF. 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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:


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