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Adware:W32/GigaSearch

Name : Adware:W32/GigaSearch
Detection Names : Adware.Win32.Giga
Category:Spyware
Type:Adware
Platform:W32
Author:GagaBar Module
Website:http://gigasearch.biz

Summary

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

Details


Registry Modifications
Creates these keys:

  • [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{C1EA1782-8E6E-4EA4-9800-B68DE41F1A26}]
  • [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{1F080480-802D-468F-AF65-D031EDCBFD4A}]
  • [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{79837A1F-9D73-4242-A3C1-9F2312EB8EF2}]
  • [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\GigaBar.ToolBandObj]
  • [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\GigaBar.ToolBandObj]
  • [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar]
     "{C1EA1782-8E6E-4EA4-9800-B68DE41F1A26}"="Giga Search"
  • [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\CLSID\{C1EA1782-8E6E-4EA4-9800-B68DE41F1A26}]
  • [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\Interface\{1F080480-802D-468F-AF65-D031EDCBFD4A}]
  • [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\TypeLib\{79837A1F-9D73-4242-A3C1-9F2312EB8EF2}]
  • [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MenuExt\&GigaBar Serach]
  • [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\{C1EA1782-8E6E-4EA4-9800-B68DE41F1A26}]


Additional Details

GigaSearch is an adware program that also includes functionality to perform browser hijacking.

It is able to modify the web browser's settings to hijack the browser's main pages and install toolbars, browser plug-ins and  browser helper objects (BHO).


Installation

Upon execution, it adds a list of URLs to the Favorites folder and Desktop. Some of which may contain adult contents:

  • %favorites%\Computers and Privacy
  • %favorites%\Real Estate
  • %favorites%\Finance
  • %favorites%\Sport
  • %favorites%\Travel
  • %favorites%\Pharmacy
  • %favorites%\Gambling
  • %favorites%\Dating
  • %favorites%\Shopping


Activity


When the adware is executed, it performs the following actions:

  • Changes the Internet Explorer startpage to gigasearch.biz
  • Hijacks the home page and search page
  • Displays pop-up advertisements
  • Installs unwanted advertisement shorcuts
  • Installs the Giga Search toolbar


Registry

During installation, the program modifies the following registry subkeys to change Internet Explorer's default settings:

  • [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
     "Start Page"="http://gigasearch.bin/?206"
  • [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
     "Search Page"="http://gigasearch.bin/?206"
  • [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar\ShellBrowser]
     "ITBarLayout"=
  • [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar\WebBrowser]
     "ITBarLayout"=

It also adds various registry subkeys (see above).