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ADW_REGUS

January 18, 2013
 Analysis by: Nikko Tamana
 ALIASES:

a variant of Win32/Adware.RegRevive (NOD32), RegWork (Sophos),

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Adware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This adware arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages.

It requires its main component to successfully perform its intended routine.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

375,976 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

09 Jan 2013

Arrival Details

This adware arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages.

Installation

This adware drops the following file(s)/component(s):

  • %All Users' Profile%\Application Data\RegUse\ignorelist.xml
  • %All Users' Profile%\Application Data\RegUse\settings.xml
  • %Windows%\Tasks\RegUse.job
  • {Malware Path}\Logs\CancelTrack2.log
  • {Malware Path}\Logs\CThreadManager.log
  • {Malware Path}\Logs\Logger.log

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %All Users' Profile%\Application Data\RegUse
  • %All Users' Profile%\Application Data\RegUse\Backups
  • {Malware Path}\Logs

Autostart Technique

This adware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
RegUse = "{Malware Path and File Name}"

Other Details

This adware requires its main component to successfully perform its intended routine.

NOTES:

{Malware Path} is the path where the malware is executed.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

SSAPI PATTERN File:

1.363.01

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

09 Jan 2013

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

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
    • RegUse = "{Malware Path and File Name}"

Step 3

Search and delete these files

[ 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.
  • %All Users' Profile%\Application Data\RegUse\ignorelist.xml
  • %All Users' Profile%\Application Data\RegUse\settings.xml
  • %Windows%\Tasks\RegUse.job
  • {Malware Path}\Logs\CancelTrack2.log
  • {Malware Path}\Logs\CThreadManager.log
  • {Malware Path}\Logs\Logger.log

Step 4

Search and delete these folders

[ 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.
  • %All Users' Profile%\Application Data\RegUse
  • %All Users' Profile%\Application Data\RegUse\Backups
  • {Malware Path}\Logs

Step 5

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