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PUA_INTERNETSPEEDTRACKER.GB

April 20, 2017
 Analysis by: Byron Jon Gelera
 ALIASES:

Win32/Toolbar.MyWebSearch.BA potentially unwanted (ESET-NOD32); PUP.Optional.MindSpark (Malwarebytes)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Potenitally Unwanted Application

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


This Potenitally 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

385,992 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

13 Apr 2017

Arrival Details

This Potenitally 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 Potenitally Unwanted Application adds the following folders:

  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp

(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.)

It drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\nsDialogs.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\System.dll
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\Isolated_Install_{random}.bmp
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\cancel_blue_japanese_{random}.bmp
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\japanese_install_{random}.bmp
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\Isolated_Install-progress_{random}.bmp
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\installerParams
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\secondary_bg.png
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\secondary_accept.png
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp\secondary_decline.png
  • %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.)

Other System Modifications

This Potenitally Unwanted Application adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Internet Speed Tracker

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Internet Speed TrackerTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Internet Speed Tracker
Start Page = http://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/internetspeedtracker/{value}/index.html?n={value}&p2={value}&ptb={value}&coid={value}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Start Page = http://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/internetspeedtracker/{value}/index.html?n={value}&p2={value}&ptb={value}&coid={value}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Internet Speed TrackerTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
DisplayName = Internet Speed Tracker Internet Explorer Homepage and New Tab

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Internet Speed TrackerTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
UninstallString = Rundll32.exe "%AppDataLocal%\Internet Speed TrackerTooltab\TooltabExtension.dll" U uninstall:Internet Speed Tracker

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Internet Speed TrackerTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
Publisher = Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Internet Speed TrackerTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
HelpLink = {help URL}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Internet Speed TrackerTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
URLInfoAbout = {URL}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Internet Speed Tracker
UnInstallSurveyUrl = {URL}

Other Details

This Potenitally Unwanted Application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://anx.{BLOCKED}ark.com/anx.gif?anxa=CAPDownloadProcess&anxe=Error&errorCode={value}&errorType=nsisError&errorDetails=&platform=vicinio&anxv={value}&anxd={value}&coid=&refPartner={value}&refSub=&anxl=en-US&anxr={value}&refCobrand=BBQ&refCampaign={value}&refTrack={value}&refCountry=
  • http://anx.{BLOCKED}ark.com/anx.gif?anxa=CAPDownloadProcess&anxe=Error&errorCode={value}&errorType=nsisError&errorDetails={value}&platform=vicinio&anxv={value}&anxd={value}&coid={value}&refPartner={value}&refSub=&anxl=en-US&anxr=-{value}&refCobrand=BBQ&refCampaign={value}&refTrack={value}&refCountry=
  • http://anx.{BLOCKED}ark.com/anx.gif?anxa=CAPDownloadProcess&anxe=InstallerInvoked&platform=vicinio&anxv={value}&anxd={value}&coid={value}&refPartner={value}&refSub=&anxl=en-US&anxr={value}&refCobrand=BBQ&refCampaign={value}&refTrack={value}&refCountry=
  • http://anx.{BLOCKED}ark.com/anx.gif?anxa=CAPDownloadProcess&anxe=Error&errorCode={value}&errorType=nsisError&errorDetails=EmptyPartnerId&platform=vicinio&anxv={value}&anxd={value}&coid={value}&refPartner={value}&refSub=&anxl=en-US&anxr={value}&refCobrand=BBQ&refCampaign={value}&refTrack={value}&refCountry=
  • http://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/internetspeedtracker/{value}/index.html?n={value}&p2={value}&ptb={value}&coid={value}
  • http://anx.{BLOCKED}ark.com/anx.gif?anxa=CAPDownloadProcess&anxe=InstallerFinished&tbUID={value}&tbVer=&platform=vicinio&anxv={value}&anxd={value}&coid={value}&refPartner={value}&refSub=&anxl=en-US&anxr={value}&refCobrand=BBQ&refCampaign={value}&refTrack={value}&refCountry=
  • http://akz.{BLOCKED}m.com/images/vicinio/chrome/spent/images/logos/BBQ.png
  • http://akz.{BLOCKED}m.com/images/webtooltab/search/google.png
  • http://hp.{BLOCKED}y.com/internetspeedtracker/{value}/assets/b07fac2f24e32499d27b/app.js

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

SSAPI PATTERN File:

1.831.00

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

27 Apr 2017

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_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • Internet Speed Tracker
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • Internet Speed TrackerTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • Start Page = http://hp.myway.com/internetspeedtracker/{value}/index.html?n={value}&p2={value}&ptb={value}&coid={value}

Step 5

Search and delete this folder

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %User Temp%\ns{random}.tmp

Step 6

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.
  • %AppDataLocal%\Internet Speed TrackerTooltab\TooltabExtension.dll

Step 7

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