Analysis by: Jaime Benigno Reyes
ALIASES:

SearchProtect (Symantec)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This adware arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages. It may be manually installed by a user.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 177,432 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 14 Oct 2014

Arrival Details

This adware arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages.

It may be manually installed by a user.

Installation

This adware adds the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\ORBTR
  • %Program Files%\SearchProtect
  • %System Root%\Program Files\ORBTR (Windows Vista and higher versions)
  • %System Root%\Program Files\SearchProtect (Windows Vista and higher versions)
  • %User Temp%\{random}.tmp

(Note: %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.. %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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.)

It drops the following files:

  • %Program Files%\ORBTR\orbiter.dll
  • %Program Files%\ORBTR\Orbt.ext
  • %Program Files%\ORBTR\uninstall.exe
  • %System Root%\Program Files\ORBTR\orbiter.dll
  • %System Root%\Program Files\ORBTR\Orbt.ext
  • %System Root%\Program Files\ORBTR\uninstall.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random}.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random}.tmp

(Note: %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.. %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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.)

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ORBTR

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Enum\Root\LEGACY_ORBITER

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Orbiter

Other Details

This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}s.digicert.com/DigiCertAssuredIDRootCA.crt
  • http://{BLOCKED}s.digicert.com/DigiCertHighAssuranceEVRootCA.crt
  • http://{BLOCKED}r-alive-msg.databssint.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}r-installer.databssint.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}shacker.sourceforge.net/update.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}load.spccint.com/download/CarrierId/DEFAULT/CarrierVersion/DEFAULT/CarrierType/DEFAULT/Brand/SP
  • http://{BLOCKED}taller.databssint.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}wnload.spccint.com/download/CarrierId/DEFAULT/CarrierVersion/DEFAULT/CarrierType/DEFAULT/Brand/SP
  • http://{BLOCKED}orage.spccint.com/Detection/SPDetector.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}orage.spccint.com/Installer/1.0.1.4/OrbiterInstaller.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}ings.spccint.com/spinstallersettings/2.17.26.7/test/ABTEST_SETTINGS_ID/carrierId/CARRIER_ID
  • http://{BLOCKED}age.spccinta.com/Installer/2.17.26.7/SPSetup.exe
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}ad.windowsupdate.com/msdownload/update/v3/static/trustedr/en/4EB6D578499B1CCF5F581EAD56BE3D9B6744A5E5.crt
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}ad.windowsupdate.com/msdownload/update/v3/static/trustedr/en/authrootseq.txt
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}ad.windowsupdate.com/msdownload/update/v3/static/trustedr/en/authrootstl.cab

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.700

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

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • ORBTR
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root
    • LEGACY_ORBITER
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • Orbiter

Step 4

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.  
  • %Program Files%\ORBTR
  • %Program Files%\SearchProtect
  • %System Root%\Program Files\ORBTR (Windows Vista and higher versions)
  • %System Root%\Program Files\SearchProtect (Windows Vista and higher versions)
  • %User Temp%\{random}.tmp

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.
  • %User Temp%\{random}.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random}.tmp

Step 6

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