ADW_MULTIPLUG.GG
PUP.Optional.MultiPlug (Malwarebytes); PUP/Win32.MultiPlug (AhnLab-V3); W32/MultiPlug.O.gen!Eldorado (Cyren); not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Esprot.bbjf (Kaspersky); BProtector PUA (Sophos)
Windows
Threat Type: Adware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This adware may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component. It arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites. It may be manually installed by a user.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This adware may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component.
It arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
It may be manually installed by a user.
Installation
This adware drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %Program Files%\IncrementGeneration\IncrementGeneration.dll
(Note: %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.)
It creates the following folders:
- %Program Files%\IncrementGeneration
(Note: %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.)
Autostart Technique
This adware registers as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{random numbers 1}
Type = "16"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{random numbers 1}
Start = "2"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{random numbers 1}
ImagePath = "%System%\rundll32.exe" "%Program Files%\IncrementGeneration\IncrementGeneration.dll",serv
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{random numbers 1}
DisplayName = "IncrementGeneration"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{random numbers 1}
ObjectName = "LocalSystem"
Other System Modifications
This adware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{UID 1}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{UID 2}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{UID 3}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{UID 3}\
_{random numbers 1}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{UID 4}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{UID 4}\
{random numbers 2}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{random numbers 1}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{UID 3}{random numbers 1}
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{UID 1}
n = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{UID 1}
{random numbers 1} = "%Program Files%\IncrementGeneration\IncrementGeneration.dll"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{UID 3}\
_{random numbers 1}
dlpath = "%progra~1\increm~1\increm~1.dll"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{UID 3}\
_{random numbers 1}
svpath = "%Program Files%\IncrementGeneration\IncrementGeneration.dll"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{UID 3}\
_{random numbers 1}
svn = "IncrementGeneration"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{UID 3}\
_{random numbers 1}
Install_Dir = "%Program Files%\IncrementGeneration"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{UID 4}\
{random numbers 2}
svn = "IncrementGeneration"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{UID 3}{random numbers 1}
UninstallString = "%System%\RUNDLL32.EXE" "%PROGRA~1\INCREM~1\INCREM~1.DLL",_uninstall /un
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{UID 3}{random numbers 1}
QuietUninstallString = "%System%\RUNDLL32.EXE" "%PROGRA~1\INCREM~1\INCREM~1.DLL",_uninstall /un /uq
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{UID 3}{random numbers 1}
NoModify = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{UID 3}{random numbers 1}
NoRepair = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{UID 3}{random numbers 1}
Publisher = "Software Publisher"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{UID 3}{random numbers 1}
InstallDate = "{date}"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{UID 3}{random numbers 1}
CategoryName = ""
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{UID 3}{random numbers 1}
DisplayName = "IncrementGeneration"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{UID 3}{random numbers 1}
Cache = "{numbers}"
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
LoadAppInit_DLLs = "1"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "0".)
Other Details
This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}itive.info/get/?data={data}&version={number}
- http://{BLOCKED}itive.xyz/get/?data={data}&version={number}
- http://{BLOCKED}positive.info/get/?data={data}&version={number}
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
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
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. 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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- {UID 1}
- {UID 1}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- {UID 2}
- {UID 2}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- {UID 3}
- {UID 3}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- {UID 3}
- {UID 3}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- {UID 4}
- {UID 4}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
- {random numbers 1}
- {random numbers 1}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
- {UID 3}{random numbers 1}
- {UID 3}{random numbers 1}
Step 5
Restore this modified 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 NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
- From: LoadAppInit_DLLs = "1"
To: LoadAppInit_DLLs = "0"
- From: LoadAppInit_DLLs = "1"
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as ADW_MULTIPLUG.GG. 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.
Did this description help? Tell us how we did.