Adware:W32/WebHancer

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Classification

Category:

Spyware

Type:

Adware

Platform:

W32

Aliases:

Summary

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

Removal

Automatic action

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.

Suspect a file is incorrectly detected (a False Positive)?

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 detection database 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.

Find out more

Knowledge Base

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User Guide

See the user guide for your product on the Help Center.

Contact Support

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Submit a sample

Submit a file or URL for further analysis.

Technical Details

This is the family description of the Adware:W32/WebHancer adware family, which contains multiple variants.

The WebHancer adware& uses the Microsoft Winsock 2 SPI API to insert itself into the TCP/IP stack in order to monitor all web traffic on the host. This information is then relayed to the WebHancer server(s). Monitored traffic details include visited websites, browser type and other statistics.

Installation

The software has no visible installation routine, but when executed will install itself to:

%programfiles%\webHancer\Programs
%programfiles%\wbinstall\

The program may also be installed bundled together with other software installations.

Example connection attempts:

https://prime.webhancer.com
https://secondary.webhancer.

Removal

It may be uninstalled from the Windows Add/Remove Programs interface.

Improper manual removal may corrupt the Winsock registry keys and break the TCP/IP stack. This may result in disabling Internet access.

File System Changes

Modified these files:

%programfiles%\whInstall\license.txt

%programfiles%\whInstall\readme.txt

%programfiles%\whInstall\whAgent.ini

%programfiles%\whInstall\whInstaller.ini

%programfiles%\whInstall\whAgent.inf

%programfiles%\whInstall\whAgent.exe

%programfiles%\whInstall\whInstaller.exe

%programfiles%\whInstall\whSurvey.exe

%programfiles%\whInstall\Sporder.dll

%programfiles%\whInstall\webhdll.dll

%programfiles%\whInstall\whiehlpr.dll

%windir%\LastGood\TMP1.tmp

%windir%\LastGood\TMP2.tmp

%programfiles%\webHancer\Programs\SET3.tmp

%programfiles%\webHancer\Programs\SET4.tmp

%programfiles%\webHancer\Programs\SET5.tmp

%programfiles%\webHancer\Programs\SET6.tmp

%programfiles%\webHancer\Programs\SET7.tmp

%programfiles%\webHancer\Programs\SET8.tmp

%programfiles%\webHancer\Programs\SET9.tmp

%windir%\SETA.tmp

%windir%\SETB.tmp

%windir%\SETC.tmp

%windir%\whInstaller.ini

Uses these temporary files:

%windir%\inf\oem0.inf
%programfiles%\webHancer\Programs\SET3.tmp
%programfiles%\webHancer\Programs\SET4.tmp
%programfiles%\webHancer\Programs\SET5.tmp
%programfiles%\webHancer\Programs\SET6.tmp
%programfiles%\webHancer\Programs\SET7.tmp
%programfiles%\webHancer\Programs\SET8.tmp
%programfiles%\webHancer\Programs\SET9.tmp
%windir%\SETA.tmp
%windir%\SETB.tmp
%windir%\SETC.tmp

Create these directories:

%programfiles%\whInstall
%windir%\LastGood
%windir%\LastGood\INF
%programfiles%\webHancer
%programfiles%\webHancer\Programs

Process Changes

Creates these processes:

%programfiles%\whInstall\whInstaller.exe
%programfiles%\webHancer\Programs\whAgent.exe

Creates these mutexes:

D6E09E34-294E-40bf-82AF-756D33497609
D6E09E34-294E-40bf-82AF-756D33497609
951B13F8-F40D-4c56-BD57-909A968F918B-31
74F5FD53-368F-4e0d-805B-4A983826EF91-31
08C823B1-76F2-11d5-AFC3-00010245B43E-31
71BA7250-BC07-4cd2-BAB0-3E84FEBB108E
EC5A3219-A690-4392-BF36-E9040EEE50CC
46F021DC-CB81-4acc-BA1B-9E1B440020D4ms
46F021DC-CB81-4acc-BA1B-9E1B440020D4mr
6CB749B3-CE68-4fcb-A589-D6E71479F502ms
6CB749B3-CE68-4fcb-A589-D6E71479F502mr
06C1F0D5-9344-4086-8E00-8CFAE44B22B7ms
06C1F0D5-9344-4086-8E00-8CFAE44B22B7mr
08C823B1-76F2-11d5-AFC3-00010245B43E-31
CCF23955-C5EC-4eca-9166-53DC22C1DBC9

Registry Modifications

Sets these values:

HKLM\Software\Classes\exefile\MUICache\& C:\Program Files\whInstall\whInstaller.exe = webHancer Installer
HKLM\Software\webHancer& (default) =
HKLM\Software\webHancer& BaseDir = C:\Program Files\webHancer
HKLM\Software\webHancer\CC& DistTag = CYZEAL
HKLM\Software\webHancer\ESO& aa = 003.006.000.000
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\webHancer Agent& (default) =
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\webHancer Agent& DisplayName = webHancer Customer Companion
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\webHancer Agent& UninstallString = C:\WINDOWS\whInstaller.exe /uninstall whAgent
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run& webHancer Agent = "C:\Program Files\webHancer\Programs\whAgent.exe"
[Launchpoint: Run]& HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\whSurvey& (default) =
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\whSurvey& DisplayName = webHancer Survey Companion
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\whSurvey& UninstallString = C:\Program Files\webHancer\Programs\WhSurvey.exe -uninstall
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run& webHancer Survey Companion = "C:\Program Files\webHancer\Programs\whSurvey.exe"
[Launchpoint: Run]& HKLM\System\LastKnownGoodRecovery\LastGood& INF/oem0.inf = 7143525
HKLM\System\LastKnownGoodRecovery\LastGood& INF/oem0.PNF = 7143525
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WS2IFSL& Type = 655360
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WS2IFSL& Start = 12
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WS2IFSL& ErrorControl = 7274563
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WS2IFSL& ImagePath = \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\ws2ifsl.sys
[Launchpoint: Service]& HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WS2IFSL& DisplayName = Windows Socket 2.0 Non-IFS Service Provider Support Environment
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WS2IFSL& Group = PNP_TDI
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WS2IFSL\Security& Security =
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9& Num_Catalog_Entries = 7209029
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9& Next_Catalog_Entry_ID = 7602286
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9& Serial_Access_Num = 7536741
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000001& PackedCatalogItem =
[Launchpoint: LSP]& HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000002& PackedCatalogItem =
[Launchpoint: LSP]& HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000003& PackedCatalogItem =
[Launchpoint: LSP]& HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000004& PackedCatalogItem =
[Launchpoint: LSP]& HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000005& PackedCatalogItem =
[Launchpoint: LSP]& HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000006& PackedCatalogItem =
[Launchpoint: LSP]& HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000007& PackedCatalogItem =
[Launchpoint: LSP]& HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000008& PackedCatalogItem =
[Launchpoint: LSP]& HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000009& PackedCatalogItem =
[Launchpoint: LSP]& HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000010& PackedCatalogItem =
[Launchpoint: LSP]& HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000011& PackedCatalogItem =
[Launchpoint: LSP]& HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000012& PackedCatalogItem =
[Launchpoint: LSP]& HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000013& PackedCatalogItem =
[Launchpoint: LSP]& HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000014& PackedCatalogItem =
[Launchpoint: LSP]& HKU\S-1-5-21-299502267-823518204-839522115-1003\Software\Microsoft\windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings& MigrateProxy = 6619252
HKU\S-1-5-21-299502267-823518204-839522115-1003\Software\Microsoft\windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings& ProxyEnable = 4522105
HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\HARDWARE PROFILES\CURRENT\Software\Microsoft\windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings& ProxyEnable = 4522105
HKU\S-1-5-21-299502267-823518204-839522115-1003& SavedLegacySettings =
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\{C900B400-CDFE-11D3-976A-00E02913A9E0}\iexplore& Type = 655360
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\{C900B400-CDFE-11D3-976A-00E02913A9E0}\iexplore& Count = 12
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\{C900B400-CDFE-11D3-976A-00E02913A9E0}\iexplore& Time =

Creates these keys:

HKLM\Software\webHancer
HKLM\Software\webHancer\ESO
HKLM\Software\webHancer\CC
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\webHancer Agent
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\whSurvey
HKLM\System\LastKnownGoodRecovery\LastGood
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WS2IFSL\Security
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\00000006
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\00000007
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\00000008
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000001
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000002
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000003
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000004
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000005
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000006
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000007
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000008
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000009
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000010
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000011
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000012
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000013
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries\000000000014
HKLM\Software\Classes\WhIeHelperObj.WhIeHelperObj.1
HKLM\Software\Classes\WhIeHelperObj.WhIeHelperObj.1\CLSID
HKLM\Software\Classes\WhIeHelperObj.WhIeHelperObj
HKLM\Software\Classes\WhIeHelperObj.WhIeHelperObj\CurVer
HKLM\Software\Classes\CLSID\{c900b400-cdfe-11d3-976a-00e02913a9e0}
HKLM\Software\Classes\CLSID\{c900b400-cdfe-11d3-976a-00e02913a9e0}\ProgID
HKLM\Software\Classes\CLSID\{c900b400-cdfe-11d3-976a-00e02913a9e0}\VersionIndependentProgID
HKLM\Software\Classes\CLSID\{c900b400-cdfe-11d3-976a-00e02913a9e0}\Programmable
HKLM\Software\Classes\CLSID\{c900b400-cdfe-11d3-976a-00e02913a9e0}\InprocServer32
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{c900b400-cdfe-11d3-976a-00e02913a9e0}
HKLM\Software\Classes\TypeLib\{C8CB3870-CDFE-11D3-976A-00E02913A9E0}
HKLM\Software\Classes\TypeLib\{C8CB3870-CDFE-11D3-976A-00E02913A9E0}\1.0
HKLM\Software\Classes\TypeLib\{C8CB3870-CDFE-11D3-976A-00E02913A9E0}\1.0\FLAGS
HKLM\Software\Classes\TypeLib\{C8CB3870-CDFE-11D3-976A-00E02913A9E0}\1.0\0
HKLM\Software\Classes\TypeLib\{C8CB3870-CDFE-11D3-976A-00E02913A9E0}\1.0\0\win32
HKLM\Software\Classes\TypeLib\{C8CB3870-CDFE-11D3-976A-00E02913A9E0}\1.0\HELPDIR
HKLM\Software\Classes\Interface\{C89435B0-CDFE-11D3-976A-00E02913A9E0}
HKLM\Software\Classes\Interface\{C89435B0-CDFE-11D3-976A-00E02913A9E0}\ProxyStubClsid
HKLM\Software\Classes\Interface\{C89435B0-CDFE-11D3-976A-00E02913A9E0}\ProxyStubClsid32
HKLM\Software\Classes\Interface\{C89435B0-CDFE-11D3-976A-00E02913A9E0}\TypeLib
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\{C900B400-CDFE-11D3-976A-00E02913A9E0}
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\{C900B400-CDFE-11D3-976A-00E02913A9E0}\iexplore