Adware.Flyswat

SUMMARY

Behavior

Adware.Flyswat is an Adware program that creates links from keywords on Web pages as they are viewed with Internet Explorer. It works as a Browser Helper Object.

Symptoms

The files are detected as Adware.Flyswat.

Transmission

This adware program must be manually installed. However, there are several known programs that have Adware.Flyswat within them, and that install it as the program itself is installed.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) August 18, 2003
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) August 18, 2003

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Adware.Flyswat is an Adware program that creates links from keywords on Web pages as they are viewed with Internet Explorer. The keywords that are turned into links will have a yellow line underneath them.

Adware.Flyswat runs as a Browser Helper Object. This means that the adware component will receive information regarding all the actions inside Internet Explorer. Browser Helper Objects require Internet Explorer 4 or later to function.

This adware component will send Internet usage habits to the flyswat.com server, on port 80.

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Note: At the time of this writing, the server was off-line. We do not know whether this is permanent or temporary.

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When installing Flyswat, an End User License Agreement (EULA) is displayed. However, it is difficult to read the EULA, as it is displayed in a small window that cannot be increased in size.

The EULA states that submitted information is not personally identifiable. However, when usage information is submitted to the server, a Global Unique Identifier (GUID) is also sent. Even though the GUID is not tied to a person, usage history can be built based on the GUID.

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Note: We do not know how these GUIDs are used, as this is done on the server. The EULA states that they are not used to personally identify the user or the location of the user. It is highly likely that the EULA is correct, and therefore, should be trusted.

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REMOVAL

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Note: Removing this adware component from the system will likely cause the program that installed it to not function as intended. The uninstaller generally identifies the programs that will not work after uninstallation.

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1. Update the virus definitions.
2. Uninstall Flyswat using the Add/Remove Programs utility.
3. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as Adware.Flyswat.
   

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

1. Updating the virus definitions
Symantec Security Response fully tests all the virus definitions for quality assurance before they are posted to our servers. There are two ways to obtain the most recent virus definitions:

• Running LiveUpdate, which is the easiest way to obtain virus definitions: These virus definitions are posted to the LiveUpdate servers once each week (usually on Wednesdays), unless there is a major virus outbreak. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by LiveUpdate, refer to the Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate).
• Downloading the definitions using the Intelligent Updater: The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are posted on U.S. business days (Monday through Friday). You should download the definitions from the Symantec Security Response Web site and manually install them. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by the Intelligent Updater, refer to the Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater).
  
  The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are available: Read "How to update virus definition files using the Intelligent Updater" for detailed instructions.

2. Uninstalling the Adware

1. Do one of the following:
   • On the Windows 98 taskbar:
     1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
     2. In the Control Panel window, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
        
        
   • On the Windows Me taskbar:
     1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
     2. In the Control Panel window, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
        If you do not see the Add/Remove Programs icon, click "...view all Control Panel options."
        
        
   • On the Windows 2000 taskbar:
     By default, Windows 2000 is set up the same as Windows 98. In that case, follow the instructions for Windows 98. Otherwise, click Start, point to Settings, point to Control Panel, and then click Add/Remove Programs.
     
     
   • On the Windows XP taskbar:
     1. Click Start > Control Panel.
     2. In the Control Panel window, double-click Add or Remove Programs.
        
        
2. Click Flyswat.
   
   

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   Note: You may need to use the scroll bar to view the whole list.

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3. Click Add/Remove, Change/Remove, or Remove (this varies with the operating system). Follow the prompts.

3. Scanning for and deleting the infected files

1. Start your Symantec antivirus program and make sure that it is configured to scan all the files.
   • For Norton AntiVirus consumer products: Read the document, "How to configure Norton AntiVirus to scan all files."
   • For Symantec AntiVirus Enterprise products: Read the document, "How to verify that a Symantec Corporate antivirus product is set to scan all files."
2. Run a full system scan.
3. If any files are detected as infected with Adware.Flyswat, click Delete.
4. Find an entry in the Add/Remove option in the Windows Control Panel, titled: “flyswat�. Click “Remove."
5. Scan the computer and, if found, delete any files detected as Adware.Flyswat.