ADW_HAOCOM
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:
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 comes with an uninstall package that completely removes the files it dropped and the registries it created.
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 creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\baidu
- %Application Data%\baidu\hao123-jp
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)
Autostart Technique
This adware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
hao123Setting = "%User Temp%\bdg18.exe http://jp.hao123.com/?tn=incore_pay_hp_01_hao123_jp"
Other System Modifications
This adware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
hao123desk-jp
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
Desktop = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
StartMenu = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
QuickLaunch = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
UseInstaller = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
ToyPath = "%Application Data%\baidu\hao123-jp\hao123.1.0.0.1111.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
BaiduTn = "tn=incore_pay_sc_01_hao123_jp"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
LaunchCount = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
GUID = "{GUID}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Baidu\
Hao123-jp\hao123desk
NewBaiduTn = "tn=incore_pay_sc_01_hao123_"
Dropping Routine
This adware drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\baidu\hao123-jp\hao123.1.0.0.1111.exe
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Hao123.lnk
- %Cookies%\{OS}@baidu[1].txt
- %Cookies%\{OS}@hao123[1].txt
- %Desktop%\Hao123.lnk
- %User Temp%\bdg18.exe
- %User Temp%\hao123Config.xml
- %User Temp%\setup.exe
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.. %Cookies% is the Internet Explorer browser cookies folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Cookies on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies on Windows Vista and 7.. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista and 7.. %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.)
Other Details
This adware adds the following registry entries to add an uninstall option to the Control Panel:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
hao123desk-jp
DisplayIcon = ""%Application Data%\baidu\hao123-jp\hao123.1.0.0.1111.exe""
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
hao123desk-jp
DisplayName = "??hao123???????"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
hao123desk-jp
DisplayVersion = "1.0.0.1111"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
hao123desk-jp
HelpLink = "http://www.hao123.com/desk.html"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
hao123desk-jp
Publisher = "hao123"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
hao123desk-jp
UninstallString = ""%Application Data%\baidu\hao123-jp\hao123.1.0.0.1111.exe" -uninstall "
It connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://dl.client.{BLOCKED}u.com/hao123/desk/jp/update-jp?{random characters}
- http://stat.client.ghk.{BLOCKED}3.com/img/gut.gif?{random characters}
It comes with an uninstall package that completely removes the files it dropped and the registries it added.
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
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 3
Remove ADW_HAOCOM by using its own Uninstall option
Step 4
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_CURRENT_USER\Software
- Baidu
- Baidu
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
- hao123desk-jp
- hao123desk-jp
Step 5
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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- hao123Setting = "%User Temp%\bdg18.exe http://jp.hao123.com/?tn=incore_pay_hp_01_hao123_jp"
- hao123Setting = "%User Temp%\bdg18.exe http://jp.hao123.com/?tn=incore_pay_hp_01_hao123_jp"
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
- %Application Data%\baidu
Step 7
Search and delete this file
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Hao123.lnk
- %Cookies%\{OS}@baidu[1].txt
- %Cookies%\{OS}@hao123[1].txt
- %Desktop%\Hao123.lnk
- %User Temp%\bdg18.exe
- %User Temp%\hao123Config.xml
- %User Temp%\setup.exe
Step 8
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as ADW_HAOCOM. 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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