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 drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\gd.txt
- %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\msvcp100.dll
- %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\msvcr100.dll
- %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\PirritDesktop.exe
- %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\PirritService.exe
- %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\QtCore4.dll
- %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\QtNetwork4.dll
- %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\unins000.dat
- %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\unins000.exe
- %Program Files%\WinRST\msvcp100.dll
- %Program Files%\WinRST\msvcr100.dll
- %Program Files%\WinRST\QtCore4.dll
- %Program Files%\WinRST\QtNetwork4.dll
- %Program Files%\WinRST\WinRST.exe
- %Windows%\wauctla.exe
- %Windows%\wauctla.exe.config
- %Windows%\wauctla.InstallLog
- %Windows%\Temp\RSTUpdater.exe
(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming 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.. %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.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)
It creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\HelperApp
- %Application Data%\PirritSuggestor
- %Program Files%\WinRST
(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming 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.. %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.)
Other System Modifications
This adware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\P1-App
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RST
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Upt
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WinUpd
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\PirritDesktop
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\wauctla
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\WinRST
Other Details
This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}tor.{BLOCKED}t.com/generator/create.php
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
Identify and terminate files detected as ADW_PIRRIT
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- Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
- If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
- If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.
To terminate the malware/grayware/spyware process:
- Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and take note of the name of the malware/grayware/spyware detected.
- 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 a malware/grayware/spyware file detected earlier.
- Select the detected files, then press either the End Task or the End Process button, depending on the version of Windows you are using.
- Do the same for the remaining detected malware/grayware/spyware files in the list of running programs.
- To check if the malware/grayware/spyware process has been terminated, close Task Manager, and then open it again.
- Close Task Manager.
Step 3
Delete this registry key
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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
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
To delete registry keys this malware/grayware created:
- Open Registry Editor. To do this:
» For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter.
» For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
» For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE - Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
P1-App - Again Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
RST - Again Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
Upt - Again Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
WinUpd - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SYSTEM>CurrentControlSet>Services - Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
PirritDesktop - Again Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
wauctla - Again Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
WinRST - Close Registry Editor.
Step 4
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.
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\gd.txt
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\msvcp100.dll
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\msvcr100.dll
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\PirritDesktop.exe
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\PirritService.exe
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\QtCore4.dll
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\QtNetwork4.dll
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\unins000.dat
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\unins000.exe
%Program Files%\WinRST\msvcp100.dll
%Program Files%\WinRST\msvcr100.dll
%Program Files%\WinRST\QtCore4.dll
%Program Files%\WinRST\QtNetwork4.dll
%Program Files%\WinRST\WinRST.exe
%Windows%\wauctla.exe
%Windows%\wauctla.exe.config
%Windows%\wauctla.InstallLog
%Windows%\Temp\RSTUpdater.exe
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:
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\gd.txt
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\msvcp100.dll
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\msvcr100.dll
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\PirritDesktop.exe
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\PirritService.exe
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\QtCore4.dll
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\QtNetwork4.dll
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\unins000.dat
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\unins000.exe
%Program Files%\WinRST\msvcp100.dll
%Program Files%\WinRST\msvcr100.dll
%Program Files%\WinRST\QtCore4.dll
%Program Files%\WinRST\QtNetwork4.dll
%Program Files%\WinRST\WinRST.exe
%Windows%\wauctla.exe
%Windows%\wauctla.exe.config
%Windows%\wauctla.InstallLog
%Windows%\Temp\RSTUpdater.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.
*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:
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\gd.txt
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\msvcp100.dll
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\msvcr100.dll
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\PirritDesktop.exe
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\PirritService.exe
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\QtCore4.dll
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\QtNetwork4.dll
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\unins000.dat
%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor\unins000.exe
%Program Files%\WinRST\msvcp100.dll
%Program Files%\WinRST\msvcr100.dll
%Program Files%\WinRST\QtCore4.dll
%Program Files%\WinRST\QtNetwork4.dll
%Program Files%\WinRST\WinRST.exe
%Windows%\wauctla.exe
%Windows%\wauctla.exe.config
%Windows%\wauctla.InstallLog
%Windows%\Temp\RSTUpdater.exe
- 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 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.
%Application Data%\HelperApp%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor
%Program Files%\WinRST
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:
%Application Data%\HelperApp%Application Data%\PirritSuggestor
%Program Files%\WinRST
- 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
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ADW_PIRRIT. 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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