PUA_SEARCHSUITE.COMPONENT
SearchSuite (PUA) (Sophos), not-a-virus:WebToolbar.Win64.SearchSuite.e (Karspersky), PUP.Optional.SystemK (Malwarebytes)
Windows
Threat Type: Potentially Unwanted Application
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet
This potentially unwanted application may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component. It 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.
It does not have any propagation routine.
It does not have any backdoor routine.
It requires its main component to successfully perform its intended routine.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
2,157,072 bytes
DLL
No
26 Dec 2016
Arrival Details
This potentially unwanted application may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component.
It 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.
Other System Modifications
This potentially unwanted application adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\systemk\
General
Propagation
This potentially unwanted application does not have any propagation routine.
Backdoor Routine
This potentially unwanted application does not have any backdoor routine.
Other Details
This potentially unwanted application requires its main component to successfully perform its intended routine.
It does the following:
- Initialize/Install itself
- Register/Unregister itself as a service
- Unload/Uninstall itself
- BHO checking (if it exists already)
SOLUTION
9.800
1.791.00
29 Dec 2016
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
Identify and terminate files detected as PUA_SEARCHSUITE.COMPONENT
- 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.
- 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.
- If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.
Step 4
Delete this registry key
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
- systemk
- systemk
Step 5
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA_SEARCHSUITE.COMPONENT. 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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