Modified by: RonJay Kristoffer Caragay
ALIASES:

Adware-Dealply. (McAfee); Adware.DealPly (Symantec); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 355,328 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 07 Aug 2014

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.

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\PriceMeter

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PriceMeter
firstW = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PriceMeter
pmwt = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PriceMeter
pmwc = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PriceMeter
pmt = "{varies value}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PriceMeter
pmc = "{varies value}"

Dropping Routine

This adware drops the following files:

  • %Windows%\Tasks\pricemetertask.job
  • %Windows%\Tasks\pricemeterwatcher.job

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)

Other Details

This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • {BLOCKED}212.170
  • {BLOCKED}202.85

NOTES:

Note that the data "{varies value}" of HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PriceMeter\pmc and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PriceMeter\pmt changes periodically.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.700
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 1.520.43
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 24 Jun 2014
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 1.521.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 24 Jun 2014

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

Delete this registry key

[ 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_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE
    • PriceMeter

Step 3

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
  • %Windows%\Tasks\pricemetertask.job
  • %Windows%\Tasks\pricemeterwatcher.job

Step 4

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