ADW_MONTIERA.GB
PUA.Win32.Montiera.AE (Baidu-International); PUP.Optional.OptiAds.A (Malwarebytes); Adware-KeepMS (McAfee); a variant of Win32/Toolbar.Montiera.AE (ESET-NOD32); PUA/Montiera.Gen7 (Avira)
Windows
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: Adware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
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 arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages. It may be manually installed by a user.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
1,220,512 bytes
EXE
18 Aug 2015
Connects to URLs/IPs
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.
It may be manually installed by a user.
Installation
This adware drops the following files:
- %Program Files%\safeads\safeads\1.3.28.0\safeads.exe
- %Program Files%\safeads\safeads\1.3.28.0\safeup.exe
- %Program Files%\safeads\safeads\1.3.28.0\hlpr64.exe
- %Program Files%\safeads\safeads\1.3.28.0\cpfl0NXm.dll
- %Program Files%\safeads\safeads\1.3.28.0\pikcjkfb.dll
- %Program Files%\safeads\safeads\1.3.28.0\pockocow.dll
- %Program Files%\safeads\safeads\1.3.28.0\res.dll
- %Program Files%\safeads\safeads\1.3.28.0\app.ini
- %Program Files%\safeads\safeads\updt.js
(Note: %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.)
It creates the following folders:
- %Program Files%\safeads
- %Program Files%\safeads\safeads
- %Program Files%\safeads\safeads\1.3.28.0
(Note: %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.)
Autostart Technique
This adware creates the following registry entries to enable automatic execution of dropped component at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Safe-Ads = "%Program Files%\safeads\safeads\1.3.28.0\safeads.exe"
Other System Modifications
This adware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\uninstl
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\
FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Safe-Ads
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Safe-Ads
DisplayName = "Safe-Ads"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Safe-Ads
UninstallString = ""%Program Files%\safeads\safeads\1.3.28.0\safeup.exe" /uninstl"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Safe-Ads
DisplayIcon = ""%Program Files%\safeads\safeads\1.3.28.0\safeup.exe""
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Safe-Ads
Publisher = "safeads"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Safe-Ads
NoModify = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Safe-Ads
NoRepair = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\
FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION
safeup.exe = "19000"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\
FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION
safeads.exe = "19000"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
chrome-st = "{data}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
ffx-st = "{data}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
ie-st = "{data}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
APPORDR = "{data}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
country = "{data}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
lng = "{data}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
prm1 = "{data}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
prm2 = "{data}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
prm3 = "{data}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
prm4 = "{data}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\instl\data
prm5 = "{data}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
keepmysearch\uninstl
safeads = "%Program Files%\safeads\safeads\1.3.28.0\safeup.exe"
Other Details
This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}ices.{BLOCKED}ntiera.com
- http://{BLOCKED}vices.{BLOCKED}pservices.com
- http://cdn.{BLOCKED}services.com
- http://pref.{BLOCKED}pservices.com
SOLUTION
9.750
1.650.52
19 Aug 2015
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
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.
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes
- keepmysearch
- keepmysearch
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
- Safe-Ads
- Safe-Ads
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl
- FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION
- FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION
Step 5
Delete this registry value
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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- Safe-Ads = "%Program Files%\safeads\safeads\1.3.28.0\safeads.exe"
- Safe-Ads = "%Program Files%\safeads\safeads\1.3.28.0\safeads.exe"
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
- %Program Files%\safeads
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as ADW_MONTIERA.GB. 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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