ADW_DEALIO
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
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
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 copies of itself into the affected system:
- %Program Files%\Common Files\Spigot\Search Settings\SearchSettings.exe
(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)
It creates the following folders:
- %User Profile%\Application Data\Search Settings
- %Program Files%\Common Files\Spigot\Search Settings
(Note: %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.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)
Other System Modifications
This adware adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Search Settings
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Search Settings
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Search Settings
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Dealio
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Dealio
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Dealio
Other Details
This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- www.{BLOCKED}serbar.com
- www.{BLOCKED}lio.com
SOLUTION
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
Terminate this process
- For Windows 98 and ME users, the 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.
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. 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\Software
- Dealio
- Dealio
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\Software
- Search Settings
- Search Settings
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
- Dealio
- Dealio
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
- Search Settings
- Search Settings
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- Dealio
- Dealio
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- Search Settings
- Search Settings
Step 4
Search and delete these folders
- %User Profile%\Application Data\Search Settings
- %Program Files%\Common Files\Spigot\Search Settings
Step 5
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ADW_DEALIO. 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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