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ADW_PLUGIN
Malware type: Adware
Destructive: No
Platform: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes

Overview


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

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 may be dropped by other malware.

It presents itself as a plugin/add-on/extension for certain applications.

Technical Details


File size: 57,856 bytes
File type: EXE
Memory resident: Yes
Initial samples received date: 01 Jun 2012

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 may be dropped by the following malware:

  • SPYW_FAKEHACK

Installation

This adware drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar\1.0.0.0\chrome\background.html
  • %Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar\1.0.0.0\chrome\google.html
  • %Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar\1.0.0.0\chrome\manifest.json
  • %Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar\1.0.0.0\chrome.crx
  • %Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar\1.0.0.0\chrome.manifest
  • %Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar\1.0.0.0\chrome.pem
  • %Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar\1.0.0.0\content
  • %Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar\1.0.0.0\content\googlebar.js
  • %Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar\1.0.0.0\content\googlebar.xul
  • %Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar\1.0.0.0\install.rdf
  • %Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar\1.0.0.0\MyGoogle.html
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\1o2kn33k.default\.autoreg
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\1o2kn33k.default\downloads.sqlite
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\1o2kn33k.default\bookmarkbackups\bookmarks-2012-06-05.json

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\Google_Toolbar
  • %Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar
  • %Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar\1.0.0.0
  • %Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar\1.0.0.0\chrome

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

Autostart Technique

This adware adds the following registry entries to install itself as a Browser Helper Object (BHO):

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla\
Firefox\Extensions
googlebar@google.com = "%Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar\1.0.0.0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Wow6432Node\
Mozilla\Firefox\Extensions
googlebar@google.com = "%Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar\1.0.0.0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Google\Chrome\Extensions\
fldnjidbmhkdbjmojbopclcjbjonnanb
path = "%Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar\1.0.0.0\chrome.crx"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Google\Chrome\Extensions\
fldnjidbmhkdbjmojbopclcjbjonnanb
version = "1.0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\
Chrome\Extensions\fldnjidbmhkdbjmojbopclcjbjonnanb
path = "%Application Data%\Google_Toolbar\Google_Toolbar\1.0.0.0\chrome.crx"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\
Chrome\Extensions\fldnjidbmhkdbjmojbopclcjbjonnanb
version = "1.0"

Other System Modifications

This adware adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla\
Firefox

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla\
Firefox\Extensions

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Wow6432Node

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Wow6432Node\
Mozilla

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Wow6432Node\
Mozilla\Firefox

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Wow6432Node\
Mozilla\Firefox\Extensions

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Google

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Google\Chrome

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Google\Chrome\Extensions

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Google\Chrome\Extensions\
fldnjidbmhkdbjmojbopclcjbjonnanb

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\
Chrome

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\
Chrome\Extensions

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\
Chrome\Extensions\fldnjidbmhkdbjmojbopclcjbjonnanb

Other Details

This adware presents itself as a plugin/add-on/extension for the following applications:

  • Facebook Hacker Pro

Solution


Minimum scan engine: 9.200
SSAPI Pattern File: 1.294.03
SSAPI Pattern Release Date: 01 Jun 2012

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Remove the malware/grayware file that dropped/downloaded ADW_PLUGIN

Step 3

Close all opened browser windows

Step 4

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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • Mozilla
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • Wow6432Node
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • Wow6432Node
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google
    • Chrome

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.
  • %Application Data%\Google_Toolbar

Step 6

Search and delete these files

[ Learn more ]
There may be some component 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.
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\1o2kn33k.default\.autoreg
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\1o2kn33k.default\downloads.sqlite
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\1o2kn33k.default\bookmarkbackups\bookmarks-2012-06-05.json

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ADW_PLUGIN. 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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Analysis By: Sabrina Lei Sioting

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