Adware.Jraun

SUMMARY

Behavior

Adware.Jraun is an adware component that modifies Internet Explorer settings and downloads and executes programs.

Symptoms

• Your Symantec antivirus program detects this threat as Adware.Jraun.
• Golden Palace Casino PT has been installed on your computer without your knowledge.
• If your computer is disconnected from the Internet on startup, you will see the message:
  
  Title: Version
  
  Message: The connection with the server was reset.

Transmission

This adware program must be manually installed.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) January 21, 2004
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) January 19, 2004

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When Version.exe is executed, it does the following:

1. Adds the value:
   
   "version" = "%system%version.exe"
   
   to the registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
   so that the adware runs when you start Windows.
   
   
2. Adds the values:
   
   "version" ="0"
   "sys" ="%system"
   "lastdate"="0"
   
   to the registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARERedirectkey
   
   
3. Attempts to download and execute files. At the time of writing, the two downloaded files are Keyhost.exe and Setup.exe (saved to disk as
   %System%Setup_123.exe).
   
   
4. Setup.exe installs "Golden Palace Casino PT," an online gambling program, onto your computer.
   
   
5. Keyhost.exe does the following:
   
   
   1. Drops an HTML file, %System%Keyhost.exe, which contains a blank Web page titled, "Enter your search keywords here."
      
   2. Adds the value:
      
      "WinEssential" = "%system%keyhost.exe"
      
      to the registry subkey:
      
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
      
      
   3. Adds the value:
      
      "Enter:your:search:keywords:here"" = "%system%keyhost.htm"
      
      to the registry subkey:
      
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet ExplorerAboutURLs
      
      
   4. Adds the value:
      
      "sys" = "%system"
      
      "lastdate"="0"
      
      to the registry subkey:
      
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARERedirectkey

REMOVAL

The following instructions pertain to all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.

1. Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP).
2. Update the virus definitions.
3. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as Adware.Jraun.
4. Delete the value that was added to the registry.
5. Uninstall Casino.
   

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

1. Disabling System Restore (Windows Me/XP)
If you are running Windows Me or Windows XP, we recommend that you temporarily turn off System Restore. Windows Me/XP uses this feature, which is enabled by default, to restore the files on your computer in case they become damaged. If a virus, worm, or Trojan infects a computer, System Restore may back up the virus, worm, or Trojan on the computer.

Windows prevents outside programs, including antivirus programs, from modifying System Restore. Therefore, antivirus programs or tools cannot remove threats in the System Restore folder. As a result, System Restore has the potential of restoring an infected file on your computer, even after you have cleaned the infected files from all the other locations.

Also, a virus scan may detect a threat in the System Restore folder even though you have removed the threat.

For instructions on how to turn off System Restore, read your Windows documentation, or one of the following articles:

• "How to disable or enable Windows Me System Restore"
• "How to turn off or turn on Windows XP System Restore"

Note: When you are completely finished with the removal procedure and are satisfied that the threat has been removed, re-enable System Restore by following the instructions in the aforementioned documents.

For additional information, and an alternative to disabling Windows Me System Restore, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, "Antivirus Tools Cannot Clean Infected Files in the _Restore Folder," Article ID: Q263455.

2. 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.

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.Jraun, click Delete.

4. Deleting the value from the registry

WARNING: 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.

1. Click Start, and then click Run. (The Run dialog box appears.)
   
2. Type regedit
   
   Then click OK. (The Registry Editor opens.)
   
   
3. Navigate to the key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
   
4. In the right pane, delete the values:
   
   "version" = "%system%version.exe"
   "WinEssential" = "%system%keyhost.exe"
   
   
5. Navigate to and delete the key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARERedirectkey
   
   
6. Navigate to the key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet ExplorerAboutURLs
   
   
7. In the right pane, delete the values:
   
   "Enter:your:search:keywords:here"" = "%system%keyhost.htm"
   
   
8. Exit the Registry Editor.
   
   

5. Uninstalling Casino

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 Golden Palace Casino PT.
   
   Note: You may need to use the scroll bar to view the whole list.
   
3. Click Add/Remove, Change/Remove, or Remove (this varies with the operating system). Follow the prompts.
4. Restart the computer.