ADW_GATOR
AdWare.Win32.Gator (Ikarus), AdWare.Win32.Gator.3102 (Kaspersky), Adware/Gator (Panda), AdWare.Gator (Sunbelt)
Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: Adware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This adware arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages. It may be manually installed by a user.
It does not have any propagation routine.
It does not have any backdoor routine.
It does not have any information-stealing capability.
This file contains a URL where it connects to possibly download other files. However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This adware arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages.
It may be manually installed by a user.
Installation
This adware drops and executes the following files:
- {User's Selected Installation Path}\DivX Pro Codec\gain_trickler_{random number}.exe - also detected as ADW_GATOR
It creates the following folders:
- %User Temp%\fsg_tmp
- %User Temp%\fsg_tmp\accum
- %User Temp%\fsg_tmp\accum\Trickler
(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.)
Autostart Technique
This adware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Gator.com\
Trickler
AppPath = "{User's Selected Installation Path}\DivX Pro Codec\gain_trickler_{random number}.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Trickler = "{User's Selected Installation Path}\DivX Pro Codec\gain_trickler_{random number}.exe"
Other System Modifications
This adware adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Gator.com
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{CLSID}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Gator.com\
Gator
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Gator.com\
Trickler
Propagation
This adware does not have any propagation routine.
Backdoor Routine
This adware does not have any backdoor routine.
Information Theft
This adware does not have any information-stealing capability.
Other Details
This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}r.com/machine.asp
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}r.com/Cmd/client_log_event
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}r.com/rs.dll?trk3
- http://{BLOCKED}e.{BLOCKOED}r.com/download/trickler3.inf?{CLSID}
This file contains a URL where it connects to possibly download other files. As of this writing, this file contains the following URLs:
- http://trickle.{BLOCKED}r.com/download
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
SOLUTION
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_GATOR
- 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.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- Gator.com
- Gator.com
- In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID
- {CLSID}
- {CLSID}
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\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- Trickler = "{User's Selected Installation Path}\DivX Pro Codec\gain_trickler_{random number}.exe"
- Trickler = "{User's Selected Installation Path}\DivX Pro Codec\gain_trickler_{random number}.exe"
Step 5
Search and delete these folders
- %User Temp%\fsg_tmp
- %User Temp%\fsg_tmp\accum
- %User Temp%\fsg_tmp\accum\Trickler
Step 6
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ADW_GATOR. 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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