Adware.IESearch

SUMMARY

Behavior

Adware.IESearch is a Browser Helper Object that modifies the Internet Explorer Start and Search pages. It will also monitor all network traffic to and from the compromised computer.

Symptoms

One or more files detected as Adware.IESearch.

Transmission

This risk must be manually installed.

Protection

• Initial Rapid Release version February 23, 2006
• Latest Rapid Release version June 14, 2008 revision 017
• Initial Daily Certified version February 23, 2006
• Latest Daily Certified version June 14, 2008 revision 016
• Initial Weekly Certified release date March 1, 2006

Click here for a more detailed description of Rapid Release and Daily Certified virus definitions.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Once Adware.IESearch is installed, it performs the following actions:

1. Creates the following files:
   
   
   • %ProgramFiles%\IESearch\IEBHO.DLL
   • %ProgramFiles%\IESearch\IELSP.DLL
   • %ProgramFiles%\IESearch\IESearchSilent.log
   • %ProgramFiles%\IESearch\VERSIONCHECKER.EXE
   • %ProgramFiles%\IESearch\config.xml
   • %ProgramFiles%\IESearch\uninstall.exe
     
     Note: %ProgramFiles% is a variable that refers to the program files folder. By default, this is C:\Program Files.
     
     
2. Creates the following registry subkeys:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{901C2C91-AFE7-416D-9FC1-34F87A264AC8}
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\IEBHO.DLL
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{2E97A338-5092-4B14-B5E7-50994E09EA35}
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{901C2C91-AFE7-416D-9FC1-34F87A264AC8}
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IEBHOProject.IEBHO
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IEBHOProject.IEBHO.1
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{E128D984-2F06-41D0-B55C-0EAAE5913436}
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{2E97A338-5092-4B14-B5E7-50994E09EA35}
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IEsearch
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{901C2C91-AFE7-416D-9FC1-34F87A264AC8}
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\IESearch
   
   
3. Modifies the value:
   
   "Search Bar" = "[http://]minisearch.startnow.com"
   
   in the registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
   
   in order to change the Internet Explorer Search page.
   
   
4. Adds the value:
   
   "Start Page Backup" = "[PREVIOUS VALUE]"
   
   to the registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
   
   in order to create a backup copy of the previous value of the registry entry it will subsequently modify.
   
   
5. Modifies the value:
   
   "Start Page" = "[http://]www.startnow.com"
   
   in the registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
   
   in order to change the Internet Explorer Start page.
   
   
6. Modifies the value:
   
   "AutoSearch" = "5"
   
   in the registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
   
   
7. Adds the value:
   
   "SearchAssistant Backup" = "[PREVIOUS VALUE]"
   
   to the registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search
   
   in order to create a backup copy of the previous value of the registry entry it will subsequently modify.
   
   
8. Modifies the value:
   
   "SearchAssistant" = "[http://]minisearch.startnow.com"
   
   in the registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search
   
   
9. Creates a service with the following characteristics:
   
   Service Name: WS2IFSL
   Display Name: Windows Socket 2.0 Non-IFS Service Provider Support Environment
   Path to executable: %System%\drivers\ws2ifsl.sys
   Startup type: Manual
   
   Note: This is a legitimate service, and is used by Layered Service Providers (LSPs), which do not use Installable File System (IFS) supported sockets.
   
   
10. Installs an LSP to monitor all network traffic to and from the compromised computer, and redirects any HTML error pages to the following domain:
    
    startnow.com

REMOVAL

The following instructions pertain to all Symantec antivirus products that support security risk detection.

1. Uninstall the security risk.
2. Update the definitions.
3. Run a full system scan.
4. Delete any values added to the registry.
   

1. To uninstall the security risk
This security risk includes an uninstallation applet. In order to uninstall this security risk, complete the following instructions:

1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel or Start > Control Panel (this varies with the operating system).
   
   
2. In the Control Panel window, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
   
   Windows Me only: If you do not see the Add/Remove Programs icon, click ...view all Control Panel options.
   
   
3. Click IESearch.
   
   Note: You may need to use the scroll bar to view the whole list.
   
   
4. Click Add/Remove, Change/Remove, or Remove (this varies with the operating system). Follow the prompts.
   
   Note: After running the Add/Remove programs applet, all the files may have been removed. You will want to run a full system scan to ensure that this is the case. However, it is possible that no files will be detected after using Add/Remove programs.

2. To update the definitions
To obtain the most recent definitions, start your Symantec program and run LiveUpdate.


3. To run the scan

1. Start your Symantec antivirus program, and then run a full system scan.
   
2. If any files are detected, and depending on which software version you are using, you may see one or more of the following options:
   
   Note: This applies only to versions of Norton AntiVirus that support security risk detection. If you are running a version of Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition that supports security risk detection, and security risk detection has been enabled, you will only see a message box that gives the results of the scan. If you have questions in this situation, contact your network administrator.
   
   • Exclude (Not recommended): If you click this button, it will set the risk so that it is no longer detectable. That is, the antivirus program will keep the security risk on your computer and will no longer detect it to remove from your computer.
     
     
   • Ignore or Skip: This option tells the scanner to ignore the risk for this scan only. It will be detected again the next time that you run a scan.
     
     
   • Cancel: This option is new to Norton Antivirus 2005. It is used when Norton Antivirus 2005 has determined that it cannot delete a security risk. This Cancel option tells the scanner to ignore the risk for this scan only, and thus, the risk will be detected again the next time that you run a scan.
     
     To actually delete the security risk:
     • Click its file name (under the Filename column).
     • In the Item Information box that displays, write down the full path and file name.
     • Then use Windows Explorer to locate and delete the file.
       
       
   • Delete: This option will attempt to delete the detected files. In some cases, the scanner will not be able to do this.
     • If you see a message, "Delete Failed" (or similar message), manually delete the file.
     • Click the file name of the risk that is under the Filename column.
     • In the Item Information box that displays, write down the full path and file name.
     • Then use Windows Explorer to locate and delete the file.
       
       

Important: If you are unable to start your Symantec antivirus product or the product reports that it cannot delete a detected file, you may need to stop the risk from running in order to remove it. To do this, run the scan in Safe mode. For instructions, read the document, How to start the computer in Safe Mode. Once you have restarted in Safe mode, run the scan again.

After the files are deleted, restart the computer in Normal mode and proceed with the next section.

Warning messages may be displayed when the computer is restarted, since the risk may not be fully removed at this point. You can ignore these messages and click OK. These messages will not appear when the computer is restarted after the removal instructions have been fully completed. The messages displayed may be similar to the following:

Title: [FILE PATH]
Message body: Windows cannot find [FILE NAME]. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.

4. To delete the value from the registry
Important: Symantec strongly recommends that you back up the registry before making any changes to it. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify the specified subkeys only. Read the document: How to make a backup of the Windows registry.

1. Click Start > Run.
2. Type regedit
   
   Then click OK.
   
   Note: If the registry editor fails to open the risk may have modified the registry to prevent access to the registry editor. Security Response has developed a tool to resolve this problem. Download and run this tool, and then continue with the removal.
   
   
3. Navigate to the subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
   
   
4. In the right pane, reset the value, if required:
   
   "Search Bar" = "[http://]minisearch.startnow.com"
   
   
5. Navigate to the subkey:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
   
   
6. In the right pane, delete the values:
   
   "Search Bar" = "[http://]minisearch.startnow.com"
   "Start Page Backup" = "[PREVIOUS VALUE]"
   
   
7. Navigate to the subkey:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
   
   
8. In the right pane, reset the value, if required:
   
   "Start Page" = "[http://]www.startnow.com"
   
   
9. Navigate to the subkey:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
   
   
10. In the right pane, reset the value, if required:
    
    "AutoSearch" = "5"
    
    
11. Navigate to the subkey:
    
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search
    
    
12. In the right pane, delete the value:
    
    "SearchAssistant Backup" = "[PREVIOUS VALUE]"
    
    
13. Navigate to the subkey:
    
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search
    
    
14. In the right pane, reset the value, if required:
    
    "SearchAssistant" = "[http://]minisearch.startnow.com"
    
    
15. Exit the Registry Editor.