Threat Descriptions

Adware:W32/WebHancer

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

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

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