Analysis by: Clive Fuentebella

ALIASES:

AdWare.Win32.SaveNow.bg (KASPERSKY)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Potentially Unwanted Application

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

This Potentially Unwanted Application 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: 112,128 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 12 May 2020
Payload: Modifies system registry

Arrival Details

This Potentially Unwanted Application arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

Installation

This Potentially Unwanted Application drops the following files:

  • %Program Files%\SaveNow\ReadMe.txt
  • %Program Files%\SaveNow\savenow.htm
  • %Program Files%\SaveNow\Uninst.exe
  • %User Temp%\SaveNow.cab
  • %User Temp%\SaveNow.inf
  • %Program Files%\SaveNow\SaveNow.exe (detected as Adware.Win32.SaveNow.VLC)

Autostart Technique

This Potentially Unwanted Application modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
SaveNow = %Program Files%\SaveNow\SaveNow.exe

Other System Modifications

This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
SaveNow
DisplayName = SaveNow

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
SaveNow
DisplayVersion = 1.4

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
SaveNow
HelpLink = www.{BLOCKED}u.com

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
SaveNow
Publisher = {BLOCKED}U.com, Inc.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
SaveNow
UninstallString = %Program Files%\SaveNow\Uninst.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
SaveNow
DisplayIcon = %Program Files%\SaveNow\SaveNow.exe,-0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
SaveNow
UrlInfoAbout = www.{BLOCKED}u.com

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenU\
SaveNow
db_local_update = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenU\
SaveNow
db_script_update = {Random number}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenU\
SaveNow
InstallDir = %Program Files%\SaveNow

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenU\
SaveNow
pats_url = http://a1964.g.{BLOCKED}i.net/f/1964/2730/1h/app.{BLOCKED}u.com/OffersData

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenU\
SaveNow
script_url =

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenU\
SaveNow
update_url = http://a1964.g.{BLOCKED}i.net/f/1964/2730/1d/web.{BLOCKED}u.com/savenowupdate.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenU\
SaveNow
update_url = http://a1964.g.{BLOCKED}i.net/f/1964/2730/1d/web.{BLOCKED}u.com/savenowupdate.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenU\
SaveNow
Version = 1.4

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
SSAPI PATTERN File: 2.287.00
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 14 May 2020

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 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

[ Learn More ]

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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • SaveNow = %Program Files%\SaveNow\SaveNow.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\SaveNow
    • DisplayIcon = %Program Files%\SaveNow\SaveNow.exe,-0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\SaveNow
    • DisplayName = SaveNow
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\SaveNow
    • DisplayVersion = 1.4
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\SaveNow
    • HelpLink = www.{BLOCKED}u.com
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\SaveNow
    • Publisher = {BLOCKED}U.com, Inc.
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\SaveNow
    • UninstallString = %Program Files%\SaveNow\Uninst.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\SaveNow
    • UrlInfoAbout = www.{BLOCKED}u.com
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenU\SaveNow
    • db_local_update = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenU\SaveNow
    • db_script_update = {Random number}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenU\SaveNow
    • InstallDir = %Program Files%\SaveNow
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenU\SaveNow
    • pats_url = http://a1964.g.{BLOCKED}i.net/f/1964/2730/1h/app.whenu.com/OffersData
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenU\SaveNow
    • script_url = http://a1964.g.{BLOCKED}i.net/f/1964/2730/1h/web.whenu.com/offscript2.html
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenU\SaveNow
    • update_url = http://a1964.g.{BOCKED}i.net/f/1964/2730/1d/web.whenu.com/savenowupdate.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WhenU\SaveNow
    • Version = 1.4

Step 5

Search and delete this file

[ 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.
  • %Program Files%\SaveNow\ReadMe.txt
  • %Program Files%\SaveNow\SaveNow.exe
  • %Program Files%\SaveNow\savenow.htm
  • %Program Files%\SaveNow\Uninst.exe
  • %User Temp%\SaveNow.cab
  • %User Temp%\SaveNow.inf

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as PUA.Win32.SaveNow.FNTBL. 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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