PUA.Win32.MyWebSearch.MANGCABQ

 Analysis by: Mc Justine De Guzman

 ALIASES:

Win32/Toolbar.MyWebSearch.BA potentially unwanted application (NOD32); HEUR:WebToolbar.Win32.Agent.gen (Kaspersky)

 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

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet


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 modifies the user's Internet Explorer home page into a certain website. This action allows the malware to point to a website which may contain malware, putting the affected computer at greater risk of malware infection.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

379,464 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

11 Nov 2020

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Displays windows

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.

Installation

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following folders:

  • %AppDataLocal%\MyTransitGuideTooltab

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It drops the following files:

  • %AppDataLocal%\MyTransitGuideTooltab\TooltabExtension.dll

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Other System Modifications

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Start Page = http://hp.m{BLOCKED}y.com/mytransitguide/ttab02/index.html?n=78860F83&p2=^BNH^mni000^TTAB02&ptb={GUID}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MyTransitGuide
Start Page = http://hp.m{BLOCKED}y.com/mytransitguide/ttab02/index.html?n=78860F83&p2=^BNH^mni000^TTAB02&ptb={GUID}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing
NewTabPageShow = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
MyTransitGuideTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
DisplayName = MyTransitGuide Internet Explorer Homepage and New Tab

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
MyTransitGuideTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
UninstallString = Rundll32.exe "%AppDataLocal%\MyTransitGuideTooltab\TooltabExtension.dll" U uninstall:MyTransitGuide

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
MyTransitGuideTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
Publisher = Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
MyTransitGuideTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
HelpLink = http://support.{BLOCKED}ark.com/

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
MyTransitGuideTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
URLInfoAbout = http://support.{BLOCKED}ark.com/

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This Potentially Unwanted Application modifies the user's Internet Explorer home page to the following websites:

  • http://hp.m{BLOCKED}y.com/mytransitguide/ttab02/index.html?n=78860F83&p2=^BNH^mni000^TTAB02&ptb={GUID}

Other Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MyTransitGuide

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
MyTransitGuideTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer

It connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://anx.mi{BLOCKED}rk.com/anx.gif?anxa=CAPDownloadProcess&anxe=Error&errorCode=-16&errorType=nsisError&errorDetails=&platform=vicinio&anxv=2.0.1.8&anxd=2016-04-21&coid=&refPartner=^BNH^mni000^TTAB02&refSub=&anxl=en-US&anxr=-2090203950&refCobrand=BNH&refCampaign=mni000&refTrack=TTAB02&refCountry=
  • http://free.my{BLOCKED}ide.com/successRedirect.jhtml?source=msni&successUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fhp%2Emyway%2Ecom%2Fmytransitguide%2Fttab02%2Findex%2Ehtml%3Fn%3D78860F83%26p2%3D%5EBNH%5Emni000%5ETTAB02%26ptb%3D4394D5B6-2236-4246-89B1-293AD9705EE7&pixelUrl=&coId=ebf2b13ee02c4979939715bf28d1a082

It does the following:

  • Redirects to the following when browser does not support the installed software:
    • http://hp.m{BLOCKED}ay.com/mytransitguide/ttab02/index.html?n=78860F83&p2=^BNH^mni000^TTAB02&ptb={GUID}
  • It displays the following upon execution:

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

SSAPI PATTERN File:

2.513.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

06 May 2022

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 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 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\Internet Explorer\Main
    • Start Page = http://hp.m{BLOCKED}y.com/mytransitguide/ttab02/index.html?n=78860F83&p2=^BNH^mni000^TTAB02&ptb={GUID}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MyTransitGuide
    • Start Page = http://hp.m{BLOCKED}y.com/mytransitguide/ttab02/index.html?n=78860F83&p2=^BNH^mni000^TTAB02&ptb={GUID}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing
    • NewTabPageShow = 1
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\MyTransitGuideTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
    • DisplayName = MyTransitGuide Internet Explorer Homepage and New Tab
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\MyTransitGuideTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
    • UninstallString = Rundll32.exe "%AppDataLocal%\MyTransitGuideTooltab\TooltabExtension.dll" U uninstall:MyTransitGuide
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\MyTransitGuideTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
    • Publisher = Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc.
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\MyTransitGuideTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
    • HelpLink = http://support.{BLOCKED}ark.com/
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\MyTransitGuideTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
    • URLInfoAbout = http://support.{BLOCKED}ark.com/

Step 4

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\MyTransitGuide
    • "" = ""
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\MyTransitGuideTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
    • "" = ""

Step 5

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.
  • %AppDataLocal%\MyTransitGuide\TooltabExtension.dll

Step 6

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.
  • %AppDataLocal%\MyTransitGuide

Step 7

Reset the Internet Explorer Home and Search pages

[ Learn More ]

Step 8

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA.Win32.MyWebSearch.MANGCABQ. 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:


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.