Adware.Aureate

SUMMARY

Behavior

Adware.Aureate is an advertising program that displays banner ads and sends user information to a central server at adsoftware.com. At the time of this writing, the server at adsoftware.com was not functioning.

Symptoms

One or more files are detected as Adware.Aureate.

Transmission

Aureate is installed with shareware and freeware programs.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) September 22, 2004
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) September 22, 2004

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When Adware.Aureate is run, it does the following:

1. Creates the following files:
   • %System%Advert.dll (Ad banner library, detected as Adware.Aureate)
   • %System%Advertcontrolxcontrol.ocx (Ad banner control, detected as Adware.Aureate)
     
     
2. Creates the following registry keys:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionSharedDLLsC:WINDOWSsystem32advertcontrolxcontrol.ocx
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionSharedDLLsC:WINDOWSsystem32advert.dll
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib{FEFDB340-8402-11D2-0008C7D894F0}
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface{FEFDB340-8402-11D2-0008C7D894F0}
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{FEFDB340-8402-11D2-0008C7D894F0}

REMOVAL

The following instructions pertain to all Symantec antivirus products that support Security Risk detection.

1. Update the definitions.
2. Unregister the dll files.
3. Run a full system scan.
4. Delete the keys that were added to the registry.
   

For specific details on each of these steps, read the following instructions.

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

2. To unregister the dll files

1. Click Start > Run.
2. Type, or copy and paste, the following text:
   
   regsvr32 /u "%System%advert.dll"
   
   then click OK.
   
   
3. If a dialog box confirming this action appears, click OK.
4. Click Start > Run.
5. Type, or copy and paste, the following text:
   
   regsvr32 /u "%System%advertcontrolxcontrol.ocx"
   
   then click OK.
   
   
6. If a dialog box confirming this action appears, click OK.

3. To run the scan

1. Start your Symantec antivirus program, and then run a full system scan.
   
2. If any files are detected as Adware.Aureate 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 threat 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 threat 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 threat for this scan only, and thus, the threat 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.
       
       If Windows reports that it cannot delete the file, this indicates that the file is in use. In this situation, complete the rest of the instructions on this page, restart the computer in Safe mode, and then delete the file using Windows Explorer.
       
       
   • 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 threat 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.
       
       If Windows reports that it cannot delete the file, this indicates that the file is in use. In this situation, complete the rest of the instructions on this page, restart the computer in Safe mode, and then delete the file using Windows Explorer.
       
       

4. To delete the keys 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 keys only. Read the document, "How to make a backup of the Windows registry," for instructions.


Note: This is done to make sure that all the keys are removed. They may not be there if regsvr32 removed them.

1. Click Start > Run.
2. Type regedit
   
   Then click OK.
   
   
3. Navigate to and delete the following registry keys:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionSharedDLLsC:WINDOWSsystem32advertcontrolxcontrol.ocx
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionSharedDLLsC:WINDOWSsystem32advert.dll
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib{FEFDB340-8402-11D2-0008C7D894F0}
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface{FEFDB340-8402-11D2-0008C7D894F0}
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{FEFDB340-8402-11D2-0008C7D894F0}