Arrival Details
This adware 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 adware creates the following folders:
- %Desktop%\skin
- %Desktop%\skin\image
(Note: %Desktop% is the desktop folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Desktop in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop 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.)
Dropping Routine
This adware drops the following files:
- %Desktop%\skin\bk_shadow.png
- %Desktop%\skin\btn.png
- %Desktop%\skin\close.png
- %Desktop%\skin\image\ck_box.png
- %Desktop%\skin\image\ck_check.png
- %Desktop%\skin\main.xml
- %Desktop%\Loader32.exe
- %Desktop%\Loader64.exe
(Note: %Desktop% is the desktop folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Desktop in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop 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.)
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
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as ADW_SUBTAP
Step 4
Terminate a process file/s detected as ADW_SUBTAP
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*Note: If the detected file/s is/are not displayed in theWindows Task Manager, continue doing the next steps.
To terminate the malware/grayware process:
- Open Windows Task Manager. To do this, press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.
- View the list of all running programs. To do this:
• For Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click the Processes tab.
• For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, click the Details tab. - In the list of running programs*, locate the malware/grayware file/s detected earlier.
- Select one of the detected files then press the End Process button.
- Do the same for all detected malware/grayware files in the list of running processes.
- To check if the malware/grayware process/es has/have been terminated, close Windows Task Manager then open it again.
- Close Windows Task Manager.
Step 5
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.
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:
- 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: *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:
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the folder.
- Repeat steps 2-3 for the remaining folders: *Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 6
Search and delete these files
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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.
- %Desktop%\Loader32.exe
- %Desktop%\Loader64.exe
To delete malware/grayware files:
For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search....
- In the File name* input box, type
- %Desktop%\Loader32.exe
- %Desktop%\Loader64.exe
- 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.
- Repeat the said steps for all files listed.
*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:
- %Desktop%\Loader32.exe
- %Desktop%\Loader64.exe
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
- Repeat the said steps for all files listed.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 7
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ADW_SUBTAP. 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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