ADW_SEEKMO

October 09, 2012
 Modified by: Michael Cabel
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

402,664 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

28 Oct 2010

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:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SeekappSrch
  • %Program Files%\SeekappSrch
  • %Program Files%\QuestScan
  • %Program Files%\Seekmo
  • %Program Files%\ShoppingReport2
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Seekmo
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\QuestScan
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Seekmo
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SeekmoSA
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Seekmo
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\ShoppingReport2

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.. %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows NT and C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

Autostart Technique

This adware registers itself as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SeekappSrch
ImagePath = "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SeekappSrch\seekapp139.exe" "%Program Files%\SeekappSrch\seekapp.dll" Service

It adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
SeekmoSA = "%Program Files%\Seekmo\bin\15.0.8.0\SeekmoSA.exe"

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SeekappSrch

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
SeekappSrch

Dropping Routine

This adware drops the following files:

  • C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SeekappSrch\seeka[[139.exe - non-malicious file
  • %Program Files%\SeekappSrch\seekapp.dll - detected as TROJ_FAM_0001ae3.TOMA
  • %Program Files%\SeekappSrch\seekapp.exe - non-malicious file
  • %Program Files%\SeekappSrch\readme.html - non-malicious file
  • %Program Files%\SeekappSrch\uninstall.exe - non-malicious file

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

SSAPI PATTERN File:

0.638.04

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

29 Apr 2008

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Remove malware files dropped/downloaded by ADW_SEEKMO

    • TROJ_FAM_0001ae3.TOMA

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • SeekappSrch
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • SeekappSrch
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • SeekappSrch

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.
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SeekappSrch
  • %Program Files%\SeekappSrch

Step 6

Remove ADW_SEEKMO by using its own Uninstall option

[ Learn More ]
To uninstall the grayware process

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as ADW_SEEKMO. 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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