PUA_OPTIMIZERPRO

 Modified by: Cris Nowell Pantanilla

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Potentially Unwanted Application

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • 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.

It uses the Windows Task Scheduler to add a scheduled task that executes the copies it drops.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

6,467,272 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

20 Apr 2016

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

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{7fe42a9c-4840-2b63-7fe4-42a9c484aa71}\hqghumeaylnlf.dat
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{7fe42a9c-4840-2b63-7fe4-42a9c484aa71}\hqghumeaylnlf.exe
  • %All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Optimizer Pro v3.2\Check updates.lnk
  • %All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Optimizer Pro v3.2\Help.lnk
  • %All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Optimizer Pro v3.2\Optimizer Pro on the Web.lnk
  • %All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Optimizer Pro v3.2\Optimizer Pro.lnk
  • %All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Optimizer Pro v3.2\Uninstall Optimizer Pro.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Desktop\Optimizer Pro.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Local Settings\Temp\optprosetup.exe
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\bg_new3.bmp
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\bg_new4.bmp
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\cancel.bmp
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\CookiesException.txt
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\English.ini
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\file_id.diz
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\HomePage.url
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\itdownload.dll
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\OptimizerPro.chm
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\OptimizerPro.exe
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\OptProCashier.exe
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\OptProGuard.exe
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\OptProHelper.dll
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\OptProLauncher.exe
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\OptProMon.dll
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\OptProReminder.exe
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\OptProSchedule.exe
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\OptProSmartScan.exe
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\OptProStart.exe
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\OptProUninstaller.exe
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\scan.gif
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\sqlite3.dll
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\StartupList.txt
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\unins000.dat
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\unins000.exe
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\unins000.msg

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.. %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 uses the Windows Task Scheduler to add a scheduled task that executes the copies it drops.

It creates the following folders:

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{7fe42a9c-4840-2b63-7fe4-42a9c484aa71}
  • %All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Optimizer Pro v3.2
  • %Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData 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.)

Autostart Technique

This potentially unwanted application adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Optimizer Pro = "%Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\OptProLauncher.exe"

Other System Modifications

This potentially unwanted application adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
{1146AC44-2F03-4431-B4FD-889BC837521F}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Optimizer Pro

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
af4ef2cda8d65a1a

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{1146AC44-2F03-4431-B4FD-889BC837521F}

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{6791A2F3-FC80-475C-A002-C014AF797E9C}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Optimizer Pro_is1

It adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

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

Other Details

This potentially unwanted application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}zepro.biz/inst?hid=f5f1d1e81992132a7c53d0eb468640e164a98be1&sid=EA0A2569-D122-426D-B495-E017CA7A846C&tr=111001042-JP-119&a=NA&adm=1&os=5.1&x64=0&sil=0&st=201507032&e=200
  • http://{BLOCKED}zepro.biz/inst?sid=EA0A2569-D122-426D-B495-E017CA7A846C&st=0&e=210
  • http://{BLOCKED}i.{BLOCKED}e-download.net/t/op?sid=111001042-JP-119&dt=1467199384&gid=EA0A2569-D122-426D-B495-E017CA7A846C&tz=8&ln=1&lc=0&bis=0&bief=0&biefx=0&bif=0&os=&f=3818322402
  • http://{BLOCKED}zepro.biz/inst?sid=EA0A2569-D122-426D-B495-E017CA7A846C&st=0&du=481281&e=400

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

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 PUA_OPTIMIZERPRO

[ 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

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\AppDataLow
    • {1146AC44-2F03-4431-B4FD-889BC837521F}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • Optimizer Pro
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • af4ef2cda8d65a1a
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • 63909fcf-137a-c2ce-ad6f-1f5845710580
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • {1146AC44-2F03-4431-B4FD-889BC837521F}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • {3A7D3E19-1B79-4E4E-BD96-5467DA2C4EF0}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • {6791A2F3-FC80-475C-A002-C014AF797E9C}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • Optimizer Pro_is1

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\Run
    • Optimizer Pro = "%Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99\OptProLauncher.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
    • LoadAppInit_DLLs = 1

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.
%All Users Profile%\Application Data\{7fe42a9c-4840-2b63-7fe4-42a9c484aa71}
%All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Optimizer Pro v3.2
%Program Files%\Optimizer Pro 3.99

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.
%User Profile%\Desktop\Optimizer Pro.lnk
%User Profile%\Local Settings\Temp\optprosetup.exe

Step 7

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