ADW_SPROTECT
Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
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 arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages.
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.
It arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages.
Other System Modifications
This adware adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
SProtector\_26678fc9\eae10f9d
340d3099 = "///%" - Only in Windows XP and lower OS versions
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SP Global
3f76698f = "{Malware path and filename}.dll" - Only in Windows XP and lower OS versions
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SProtector\
_26678fc9\eae10f9d
340d3099 = "///%" - Only in Windows XP and lower OS versions
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
LoadAppInit_DLLs = "1" - Only in Windows XP and lower OS versions
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VirtualStore\MACHINE\
SOFTWARE\SP Global
3f76698f = "{Malware path and filename}.dll" - Only in Windows Vista and Windows 7
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\
SP Global
3f76698f = "{Malware path and filename}.dll" - Only in Windows Vista and Windows 7
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\
SProtector\_26678fc9\eae10f9d
340d3099 = "///%" - Only in Windows Vista and Windows 7
It adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow - Only in Windows XP and lower OS versions
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
SProtector - Only in Windows XP and lower OS versions
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
SProtector\_26678fc9 - Only in Windows XP and lower OS versions
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
SProtector\_26678fc9\eae10f9d - Only in Windows XP and lower OS versions
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SP Global - Only in Windows XP and lower OS versions
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SProtector - Only in Windows XP and lower OS versions
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SProtector\
_26678fc9 - Only in Windows XP and lower OS versions
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VirtualStore\MACHINE\
SOFTWARE\SP Global - Only in Windows Vista and Windows 7
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VirtualStore\MACHINE\
SOFTWARE\SProtector - Only in Windows Vista and Windows 7
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\
SP Global - Only in Windows Vista and Windows 7
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\
SProtector - Only in Windows Vista and Windows 7
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\
SProtector\_26678fc9 - Only in Windows Vista and Windows 7
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\
SProtector\_26678fc9\eae10f9d - Only in Windows Vista and Windows 7
Other Details
This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}rapp.info/get/?data=cay0J2RGvhiMrQ3ZTV4SYHBAN7RkyBE48GPIDk7SsMWDNOASBbtqGhqA9S%2BdpVHw3T%2BB4WlCkVayKlv9ctOerlh745QgdbEysmrNHvor6CMNSTge042fjXc/5a5qZTrlaOce7KQnmm5HI6cC8kg06c4SojeOiZPpecyqHwmFhcJhJpbJYVwTse4WEek2p7O0EMCLwKwynd850yuoQWSjlgy1SOOchcBXFZkdQbp1c5vyoAF8eV9jofv20eIPz9/5L1PsAYiz5YfvAgYBi7mUKHilvasO8ANuT4AFjmqjWnQIS7wmEUYZP9YfKJZ8H4TeaBRZlvEhP42MwnfLtuanoS3NdEqkQqoe%2B&version=2
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
Identifying the Grayware Files
Download the latest spyware pattern file and scan your computer. Note the path and file name of all files detected as ADW_SPROTECT.
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_CURRENT_USER\Software
- AppDataLow - Only in Windows XP and lower OS versions
- AppDataLow - Only in Windows XP and lower OS versions
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- SP Global - Only in Windows XP and lower OS versions
- SP Global - Only in Windows XP and lower OS versions
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- SProtector - Only in Windows XP and lower OS versions
- SProtector - Only in Windows XP and lower OS versions
- In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- SP Global - Only in Windows Vista and Windows 7
- SP Global - Only in Windows Vista and Windows 7
- In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- SProtector - Only in Windows Vista and Windows 7
- SProtector - Only in Windows Vista and Windows 7
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- SP Global - Only in Windows Vista and Windows 7
- SP Global - Only in Windows Vista and Windows 7
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- SProtector - Only in Windows Vista and Windows 7
- SProtector - Only in Windows Vista and Windows 7
Step 5
Search and delete the files detected as ADW_SPROTECT
*Note: Some component files may be 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.
To stop the malware/grayware from running when certain files are opened:
For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search....
- In the File name* input box, type the name of the file that was detected earlier.
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).
For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 (R2):
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen,then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type the name of the file that was detected earlier.
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as ADW_SPROTECT. 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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