PUA_INTERNETSPEEDTRACKER.GC
Windows
Threat Type: Potentially Unwanted Application
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
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. It may be manually installed by a user.
It modifies the user's Internet Explorer home page into a certain website. This action allows the malware to point to a website which may contain malware, putting the affected computer at greater risk of malware infection.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
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.
It may be manually installed by a user.
Installation
This Potentially Unwanted Application drops the following files:
- %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\nsDialogs.dll
- %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\System.dll
- %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\installerParams
- %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\MIP-ist-03_1458242004959.bmp
- %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\reporting
- %AppDataLocal%\Internet Speed TrackerTooltab\TooltabExtension.dll
(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.. %AppDataLocal% is the Application Data folder found in Local Settings, where it is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local 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.)
It creates the following folders:
- %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp
- %AppDataLocal%\Internet Speed TrackerTooltab
(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.. %AppDataLocal% is the Application Data folder found in Local Settings, where it is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local 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.)
Other System Modifications
This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Internet Speed Tracker
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Internet Speed Tracker
Start Page = http://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/internetspeedtracker/ttab02/index.html?n=C074956&p2=^BBQ^mni000^TTAB02&ptb=340DB200-4CC6-4240-81CE-BC1B39FCEEDC
Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification
This Potentially Unwanted Application modifies the user's Internet Explorer home page to the following websites:
- http://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/internetspeedtracker/ttab02/index.html?n=C074956&p2=^BBQ^mni000^TTAB02&ptb=340DB200-4CC6-4240-81CE-BC1B39FCEEDC
Other Details
This Potentially Unwanted Application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://dp.tb.{BLOCKED}k.com:443
- http://anx.{BLOCKED}ark.com/anx.gif?anxa=CAPDownloadProcess&anxe=Error&errorCode=-11&errorType=nsisError&errorDetails=Server+Error+%28502%29&platform=vicinio&anxv=2.0.1.2&anxd=2016-03-31&coid=0166b9a4dae740638db5fef24b1b9a0e&refPartner=^BBQ^mni000^TTAB02&refSub=&anxl=en-US&anxr=-2147229422&refCobrand=BBQ&refCampaign=mni000&refTrack=TTAB02&refCountry=
- http://anx.{BLOCKED}ark.com/anx.gif?anxa=CAPDownloadProcess&anxe=InstallerInvoked&platform=vicinio&anxv=2.0.1.2&anxd=2016-03-31&coid=0166b9a4dae740638db5fef24b1b9a0e&refPartner=^BBQ^mni000^TTAB02&refSub=&anxl=en-US&anxr=-2064479644&refCobrand=BBQ&refCampaign=mni000&refTrack=TTAB02&refCountry=
- http://anx.{BLOCKED}ark.com/anx.gif?anxa=CAPDownloadProcess&anxe=InstallerFinished&tbUID=340DB200-4CC6-4240-81CE-BC1B39FCEEDC&tbVer=&platform=vicinio&anxv=2.0.1.2&anxd=2016-03-31&coid=0166b9a4dae740638db5fef24b1b9a0e&refPartner=^BBQ^mni000^TTAB02&refSub=&anxl=en-US&anxr=-2030944654&refCobrand=BBQ&refCampaign=mni000&refTrack=TTAB02&refCountry=
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
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.
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
- Internet Speed Tracker
- Internet Speed Tracker
Step 4
Search and delete this file
- %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\nsDialogs.dll
- %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\System.dll
- %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\installerParams
- %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\MIP-ist-03_1458242004959.bmp
- %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\reporting
- %AppDataLocal%\Internet Speed TrackerTooltab\TooltabExtension.dll
Step 5
Search and delete these folders
- %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp
- %AppDataLocal%\Internet Speed TrackerTooltab
Step 6
Reset the Internet Explorer Home and Search pages
Step 7
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA_INTERNETSPEEDTRACKER.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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:
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