ADW_VIEWPOINT
Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
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.
It displays pop-up advertisements.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Varies
DLL
No
25 Jul 2008
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.
Autostart Technique
This adware registers itself as a BHO to ensure its automatic execution every time Internet Explorer is used by adding the following registry keys:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ViewBar.ViewBar
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ViewBar.ViewBar.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{F8AD5AA5-D966-4667-9DAF-2561D68B2012}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{E060D9D9-E979-4C2F-A840-BE5150F84AC5}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\MenuExt\&Viewpoint Search
It registers itself as a BHO to ensure its automatic execution every time Internet Explorer is used by adding the following registry entries:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ViewBar.ViewBar
(Default) = "Viewpoint Toolbar"
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ViewBar.ViewBar\CLSID
(Default) = "{F8AD5AA5-D966-4667-9DAF-2561D68B2012}"
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ViewBar.ViewBar\CurVer
(Default) = "ViewBar.ViewBar.1"
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ViewBar.ViewBar.1\CLSID
(Default) = "{F8AD5AA5-D966-4667-9DAF-2561D68B2012}"
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{F8AD5AA5-D966-4667-9DAF-2561D68B2012}\
InProcServer32
(Default) = "{malware path and file name}"
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{F8AD5AA5-D966-4667-9DAF-2561D68B2012}\
TypeLib
(Default) = "{E060D9D9-E979-4C2F-A840-BE5150F84AC5}"
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{E060D9D9-E979-4C2F-A840-BE5150F84AC5}\
1.0\0\win32
(Default) = "{malware path and file name}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\MenuExt\&Viewpoint Search
(Default) = "res://{malware path and file name}/CXTSEARCH.HTML"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Toolbar
{F8AD5AA5-D966-4667-9DAF-2561D68B2012} = {random values}
Adware Routine
This adware displays pop-up advertisements.
SOLUTION
8.900
0.678.10
15 Aug 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
Close all opened browser windows
Step 3
Delete this registry key
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_CLASSES_ROOT
- ViewBar.ViewBar
- ViewBar.ViewBar
- In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
- ViewBar.ViewBar.1
- ViewBar.ViewBar.1
- In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID
- {F8AD5AA5-D966-4667-9DAF-2561D68B2012}
- {F8AD5AA5-D966-4667-9DAF-2561D68B2012}
- In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib
- {E060D9D9-E979-4C2F-A840-BE5150F84AC5}
- {E060D9D9-E979-4C2F-A840-BE5150F84AC5}
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MenuExt
- &Viewpoint Search
- &Viewpoint Search
Step 4
Delete this registry value
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\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar
- {F8AD5AA5-D966-4667-9DAF-2561D68B2012}={random values}
- {F8AD5AA5-D966-4667-9DAF-2561D68B2012}={random values}
Step 5
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ADW_VIEWPOINT. 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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