Analysis by: Rhena Inocencio
 Modified by: Mark Joseph Manahan
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Dropped by other malware

This adware arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages. It may be manually installed by a user.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 777,148 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 22 Aug 2012

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 the following files:

  • %Program Files%\Minibar\Minibar.dll
  • %Application Data%\Minibar\chrome\minibar\minibar.js
  • %Program Files%\Minibar\minibar\minibar.js
  • %Application Data%\Minibar\firefox\chrome\content\minibar\minibar.js
  • %Application Data%\Minibar\chrome\MinibarPlugin.dll
  • %Application Data%\Minibar\firefox\plugins\npMinibarPlugin.dll
  • %Application Data%\Minibar\SettingsHelper.exe
  • %Application Data%\Minibar\Uninstall.exe
  • %Application Data%\Minibar\minibar.crx
  • %Application Data%\Minibar\minibar.xpi

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\Minibar
  • %Program Files%\Minibar

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

Autostart Technique

This adware adds the following registry entries to install itself as a Browser Helper Object (BHO):

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Minibar
(Default) = "%Application Data%\Minibar"

NOTES:

This adware also installs itself in the browser toolbar using the following icon:

It may execute another file when a browser is opened or its toolbar is clicked which may be used to load advertisement/pop-ups.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
SSAPI PATTERN File: 1.319.00
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 22 Aug 2012

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

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.  
  • %Application Data%\Minibar
  • %Program Files%\Minibar

Step 4

Delete this registry value

[ 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.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Minibar
    • (Default) = "%Application Data%\Minibar"

Step 5

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