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 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.
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 files:
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu\Hao123\JP\Hao123.ico
- %Desktop%\Hao123.ico
(Note: %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, 7, and 8.. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)
It creates the following folders:
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu\Hao123
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu\Hao123\JP
(Note: %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, 7, and 8.)
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://jp.{BLOCKED}3.com/?tn=ime_inner_hp_13_{BLOCKED}ss_platform&
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
Search and delete this file
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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%\Documents\Baidu\Hao123\JP\Hao123.ico
- %Desktop%\Hao123.ico
To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:
• For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search....
- In the File name* input box, type the following:
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu\Hao123\JP\Hao123.ico
- %Desktop%\Hao123.ico
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu\Hao123\JP\Hao123.ico
- %Desktop%\Hao123.ico
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 4
Search and delete these folders
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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.
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu\Hao123
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu\Hao123\JP
To delete malware/grayware/spyware folders:
For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running.
- In the File name* input box, type:
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu\Hao123
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu\Hao123\JP
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer, then press Enter.
- Once located, select the folder then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the folder.
- Repeat steps 2 to 4 for the remaining folders:
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu\Hao123
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu\Hao123\JP
*Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).
For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu\Hao123
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu\Hao123\JP
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the folder.
- Repeat steps 2-3 for the remaining folders:
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu\Hao123
- %User Profile%\Documents\Baidu\Hao123\JP
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 5
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA.WIN32.STARTPAGE.AB. 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:
Step 6
Reset the Internet Explorer Home and Search pages
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To reset your Internet Explorer Home and Search Pages:
- Close all Internet Explorer windows.
- Open Control Panel. To do this:
• For Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, click Start>Settings>Control Panel
• For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 , click Start>Control Panel, then click Network and Internet • For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Control Panel, then click Network and Internet - Double-click the Internet Options icon.
- In the Internet Properties window, click the Programs tab.
(Note: If you are running Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) or later, click the Advanced tab.) - Click the Reset Web Settings... button.
(Note: On IE7 to IE10, click the Reset… button. Note that by doing this, you are resetting IE back to its default settings.) - Select Also reset my home page. Click Yes.
- Click OK.
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