Adware:W32/Gibmedia

Classification

Category :

Spyware

Type :

Adware

Aliases :

Adware:W32/Gibmedia, Adware.win32.gibmedia, Adware:W32/medgib

Summary

This program delivers advertising content to the user. It is usually annoying but harmless, unless it is combined with spyware or trackware.

Removal

Based on the settings of your F-Secure security product, it may block the file from running, move it to the quarantine where it cannot spread or cause harm, or ask you to select an action.

A False Positive is when a file is incorrectly detected as harmful, usually because its code or behavior resembles known harmful programs. A False Positive will usually be fixed in a subsequent database update without any action needed on your part. If you wish, you may also:

  • Check for the latest database updates

    First check if your F-Secure security program is using the latest updates, then try scanning the file again.

  • Submit a sample

    After checking, if you still believe the file is incorrectly detected, you can submit a sample of it for re-analysis.

    Note: If the file was moved to quarantine, you need to collect the file from quarantine before you can submit it.

  • Exclude a file from further scanning

    If you are certain that the file is safe and want to continue using it, you can exclude it from further scanning by the F-Secure security product.

    Note: You need administrative rights to change the settings.

Technical Details

Adware:W32/Gibmedia attempts to connect to remote websites, presumably to download advertising content. It also alters the search provider used by the Internet Explorer (IE) web browser.

Installation

When first executed, Gibmedia creates the following files:

  • C:\Program Files\Winsudate
  • C:\Program Files\Winsudate\gibcom.dll
  • C:\Program Files\Winsudate\gibidl.dll
  • C:\Program Files\Winsudate\gibsvc.exe
  • C:\Program Files\Winsudate\gibupt.exe
  • C:\Program Files\Winsudate\gibusr.exe

It then creates launch points for these files in the Windows Registry:

  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Data = "C:\Program Files\Winsudate\gibusr.exe"
  • HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1390067357-1275210071-839522115-500\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Data = "C:\Program Files\Winsudate\gibusr.exe"

Activity

When run, Gibmedia will try to connect to the following websites:

  • https://www.infotravail.com/[...].php
  • https://www.renseignements-[...].fr/install

Adware:W32/Gibmedia will also connect to the following sites without the notice of the users:

  • https://gibupdate.hook-network.com/settings/....bin
  • https://gibupdate.hook-network.com/gib.ashxc=...

At the time of writing, the first page Gibmedia connects to returns a 404 server error, while the second page shows a link to the file http://gibupdate.hook-network.com/_bin/[...].exe, which is believed to be a Gibmedia component. These connections may be made without the user's knowledge and/or authorization.

Gibmedia also modifies the search provider used in by IE by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes

Display Name = YouGoo

URL = http://www.yougoo.fr/francesearch q={searchTerms}

or

Display Name = Wibeez

URL = http://www.wibeez.com/meteosearch q={searchTerms}