Analysis by: Sammy Chua
ALIASES:

SoftPulse (Sophos); PUA/SoftPulse.aonb (Avira); PUP.Optional.SoftPulse.gen (Malwarebytes); SoftPulse (McAfee);

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

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 may be manually installed by a user.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 1,319,952 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 04 Feb 2015
Payload: Displays windows

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.

It may be manually installed by a user.

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MaxPower

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MaxPower
(Default) = "{random values}"

Download Routine

This adware connects to the following website(s) to download and execute a malicious file:

  • http://{random}.{BLOCKED}1.com/7d/MagnoPlayerSetup.exe
  • http://aff-software.{BLOCKED}east-1.amazonaws.com/7f1df2ad776e148c4007facb815b9b4a/Cloud_Backup_Setup.exe
  • http://dl.{BLOCKED}genserv.com/braapplus2/shopp0/montz/setup.exe
  • http://dl.{BLOCKED}genserv.com/catchv2plus/allmpv0/setup.exe
  • http://dl.{BLOCKED}rmacrocephalus.com/download/dwn/sfv7812/asia/ra/setup_gmsd_ra.exe
  • http://download.{BLOCKED}e.com/cm/softlate/speedupmypc/option1/setup/speedupmypc.exe
  • http://files.{BLOCKED}e.com/cm/softlate/speedupmypc/option1/setup/speedupmypc.exe
  • http://gp387a.{BLOCKED}p.com/mw/201101/Setup.exe
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}uxiaowei.com/home/lly_omiga-plus.exe
  • http://track.{BLOCKED}up.com/f45153ff//MyPCBackup_Setup.exe

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %User Temp%\{random UID}\magnoplayersetup.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random UID}\cloud_backup_setup.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random UID}\setup_gmsd_ra.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random UID}\speedupmypc.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random UID}\setup.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random UID}\vopackage.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random UID}\lly_omiga-plus.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random UID}\setup.exe

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

Adware Routine

This adware connects to the following URL(s) to display ads on the affected system:

  • http://revive.{BLOCKED}atesrv.com/adserver/www/delivery/ajs.php?zoneid=29&uid=1422924050144cuyQj5Y2Kk&cb=16798144935&charset=utf-8&loc=http%3A//www.magnoplayer.com/MainBanner.html%3Fuid%3D1422924050144cuyQj5Y2Kk
  • http://adserver-master.{BLOCKED}t.com/adserver/www/delivery/lg.php?bannerid=42&campaignid=17&zoneid=29&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.magnoplayer.com%2FMainBanner.html%3Fuid%3D1422924050144cuyQj5Y2Kk&cb=f4da1f6f94
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}s8.com/BesH3gE9/pop-up/
  • http://revive.{BLOCKED}atesrv.com/adserver/www/delivery/ajs.php?zoneid=28&uid=1422924050144cuyQj5Y2Kk&cb=3854368957&charset=utf-8&loc=http%3A//www.{BLOCKED}layer.com/banner.html%3Fuid%3D1422924050144cuyQj5Y2Kk
  • http://revive.{BLOCKED}atesrv.com/adserver/www/delivery/lg.php?bannerid=43&campaignid=17&zoneid=28&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.{BLOCKED}layer.com%2Fbanner.html%3Fuid%3D1422924050144cuyQj5Y2Kk&cb=a22b5b88ee
  • http://adserver-master.{BLOCKED}t.com/adserver/www/images/07401bc03f4a0f25296aa299df99d8dd.jpg
  • http://revive.{BLOCKED}atesrv.com/adserver/www/images/6aaaef8db9501f0baa8fbe9d090dcaac.jpg

Other Details

This adware connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://{random}.hb5r6jq1.com/__dmp__/
  • http://{random}.hb5r6jq1.com/__maxpower__/render_screen/2014/11/{UID 1}/screen_variation=g-link-v3
  • http://{random}.hb5r6jq1.com/__maxpower__/render_screen/2014/11/{UID 1}/screen_variation=I_link
  • http://{random}.hb5r6jq1.com/__maxpower__/render_template/2014/11/{UID 1}/template_variation=v2?language_code=en
  • http://{random}.hb5r6jq1.com/{random values}
  • http://{random}.hb5r6jq1.com/maxpower-static/apps/a2/68782/css/style.css
  • http://{random}.hb5r6jq1.com/maxpower-static/templates/2014/11/{UID 1}/v2/css/style.css
  • http://{random}.hb5r6jq1.com/maxpower-static/templates/2014/11/{UID 1}/v2/css/images/i-download.png
  • http://{random}.hb5r6jq1.com/maxpower-static/templates/2014/11/{UID 1}/v2/css/images/bullet-short.gif
  • http://{random}.hb5r6jq1.com/maxpower-static/templates/2014/11/{UID 1}/v2/css/images/progress-bar.png
  • http://{random}.hb5r6jq1.com/maxpower-static/templates/2014/11/{UID 1}/v2/css/images/progress-level.png
  • http://{random}.hb5r6jq1.com/maxpower-static/templates/2014/11/{UID 1}/v2/css/images/loading-install.gif

NOTES:

This adware downloads and install applications. It is an installer package for the software MagnoPlayer.

It offers user if it would like to install the following additional applications:

  • SpeedUpMyPc
  • MyPcBackup
  • Media Player Enhance
  • Vuupc
  • Omiga-plus
  • Browser app
  • Movie Wizard
  • Games Desktop
  • Driver Assist
  • Wajam
  • Optimizer Pro
  • Mystartsearch
  • Check Me Up
  • Price Fountain
  • Browser app
  • PCMechanic

It displays installation options and EULAs of the software:

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.700

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

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • MaxPower

Step 4

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some files 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.
  • %User Temp%\{random UID}\magnoplayersetup.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random UID}\cloud_backup_setup.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random UID}\setup_gmsd_ra.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random UID}\speedupmypc.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random UID}\setup.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random UID}\vopackage.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random UID}\lly_omiga-plus.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random UID}\setup.exe

Step 5

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