ADW_TIMESINK

 Analysis by: Kathleen Notario

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 7

 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:

Varies

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

06 Nov 2012

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:

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\ReGet.lnk
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\Button.bmp
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\Button1.bmp
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\Button1.url
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\Button2.bmp
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\Button2.url
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\license.txt
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\ReGet.bmp
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\ReGet.chm
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\ReGet.dll
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\ReGet.exe
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\ReGet.inf
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\ReGetAd.bmp
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\ReGetAd.url
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\rg_all.htm
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\rg_link.htm
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\rg_list.htm
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\TSUninst.exe
  • %Program Files%\ReGet\update.dll
  • %Program Files%\TimeSink\AdGateway\tsadbot.exe
  • %Windows%\tsad.dll

(Note: %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista and 7.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).. %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\ReGet
  • %Program Files%\TimeSink
  • %Program Files%\TimeSink\AdGateway

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.key

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.WRG

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ReGet.App

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ReGet.App.1

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ReGet.Command

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ReGet.Command.1

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ReGet.Document

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ReGet.MSIEHelperInterface

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ReGet.MSIEHelperInterface.1

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ReGet.NetscapeInterface

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ReGet.NetscapeInterface.1

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ReGet.ReGetApi

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ReGet.ReGetApi.1

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{38AAF322-C5B4-11D1-B75E-000000000000}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{38AAF321-C5B4-11D1-B75E-100000000000}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{38AAF321-C5B4-11D1-B75E-200000000000}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{38AAF321-C5B4-11D1-B75E-400000000000}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{38AAF321-C5B4-11D1-B75E-700000000000}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{38AAF321-C5B4-11D1-B75E-800000000000}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Component Categories\{38AAF313-C5B4-11D1-B75E-000000000000}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{38AAF320-C5B4-11D1-B75E-100000000000}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{38AAF320-C5B4-11D1-B75E-100000000002}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{38AAF320-C5B4-11D1-B75E-200000000000}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{38AAF320-C5B4-11D1-B75E-700000000000}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{38AAF313-C5B4-11D1-B75E-000000000000}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{38AAF313-C5B4-11D1-B75E-000000000001}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels\
ReGetCompleted

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels\
ReGetDlClipAdd

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels\
ReGetDlEnd

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels\
ReGetDlError

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels\
ReGetDlFatalError

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels\
ReGetDlPause

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels\
ReGetDlStart

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels\
ReGetExit

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels\
ReGetStart

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\
Apps\ReGet

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ReGet Software

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TimeSink, Inc.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Vladimir Romanov

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Extensions\{38AAF320-C5B4-11D1-B75E-111111111111}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\MenuExt\ReGet—p‚ɃŠƒ“ƒN‚ðˆê——(&L)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\MenuExt\ReGet‚Ń_ƒEƒ“ƒ[ƒh(&D)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\MenuExt\ReGet‚Å‘S‚Ä‚ðƒ_ƒEƒ“ƒ[ƒh(&G)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\TimeSink, Inc.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Vladimir Romanov

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
ReGet

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

SSAPI PATTERN File:

1.342.39

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

06 Nov 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

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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • .key
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • .WRG
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • ReGet.App
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • ReGet.App.1
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • ReGet.Command
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • ReGet.Command.1
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • ReGet.Document
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • ReGet.MSIEHelperInterface
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • ReGet.MSIEHelperInterface.1
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • ReGet.NetscapeInterface
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • ReGet.NetscapeInterface.1
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • ReGet.ReGetApi
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • ReGet.ReGetApi.1
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID
    • {38AAF322-C5B4-11D1-B75E-000000000000}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID
    • {38AAF321-C5B4-11D1-B75E-100000000000}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID
    • {38AAF321-C5B4-11D1-B75E-200000000000}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID
    • {38AAF321-C5B4-11D1-B75E-400000000000}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID
    • {38AAF321-C5B4-11D1-B75E-700000000000}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID
    • {38AAF321-C5B4-11D1-B75E-800000000000}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Component Categories
    • {38AAF313-C5B4-11D1-B75E-000000000000}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface
    • {38AAF320-C5B4-11D1-B75E-100000000000}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface
    • {38AAF320-C5B4-11D1-B75E-100000000002}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface
    • {38AAF320-C5B4-11D1-B75E-200000000000}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface
    • {38AAF320-C5B4-11D1-B75E-700000000000}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib
    • {38AAF313-C5B4-11D1-B75E-000000000000}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib
    • {38AAF313-C5B4-11D1-B75E-000000000001}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels
    • ReGetCompleted
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels
    • ReGetDlClipAdd
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels
    • ReGetDlEnd
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels
    • ReGetDlError
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels
    • ReGetDlFatalError
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels
    • ReGetDlPause
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels
    • ReGetDlStart
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels
    • ReGetExit
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\EventLabels
    • ReGetStart
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps
    • ReGet
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • ReGet Software
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • TimeSink, Inc.
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • Vladimir Romanov
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions
    • {38AAF320-C5B4-11D1-B75E-111111111111}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MenuExt
    • ReGet—p‚ɃŠƒ“ƒN‚ðˆê——(&L)
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MenuExt
    • ReGet‚Ń_ƒEƒ“ƒ[ƒh(&D)
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MenuExt
    • ReGet‚Å‘S‚Ä‚ðƒ_ƒEƒ“ƒ[ƒh(&G)
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • TimeSink, Inc.
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • Vladimir Romanov
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • ReGet

Step 3

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.  
  • %Program Files%\ReGet
  • %Program Files%\TimeSink

Step 4

Search and delete these files

[ 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.
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\ReGet.lnk
  • %Windows%\tsad.dll

Step 5

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