Adware.LSPP

SUMMARY

Behavior

Adware.LSPP displays advertisements and may download other programs.

Symptoms

Your Symantec program detects this threat as Adware.LSPP.

Transmission

This adware program must be manually installed.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) March 10, 2004
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) March 8, 2004

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When adware.LSPP is executed, it performs the following actions:

1. Drops the following files into the C:LSPP folder:
   
   • lspp.exe (The main program)
   • act.exe (An updating utility)
   • uninstal.exe (The uninstaller)
   • leeme.txt (Uninstall information in Spanish)
   • licencia.txt (License agreement in Spanish)
   • readme.txt (Uninstall information in English)
     
     
2. Adds the value:
   
   "lspp" = "C:LSPPlspp.exe"
   
   to the registry key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
   so that the Adware runs when you start Windows.
   
   
3. Downloads a Web page from a predetermined site. The contents of this page are used to determine what to download and execute.
   
   

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   Note: At present, the adware only appears to update itself, but the license agreement reserves the right to download other programs.

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4. If lspp.exe is required to update itself, it downloads the new version as lspp2.exe, executes act.exe, and then exits. After waiting 10 seconds, act.exe copies lspp2.exe over lspp.exe, and then executes it.
   
   
5. Displays pop-up advertisements.

REMOVAL

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

1. Update the definitions.
2. Restart the computer in Safe mode
3. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as Adware.LSPP.
4. Delete the value that was added to the registry.
   

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

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

2. Restarting the computer in Safe mode
Shut down the computer and turn off the power. Wait for at least 30 seconds, and then restart the computer in Safe mode or VGA mode. For instructions, read the document, "How to start the computer in Safe Mode."

3. Scanning for and deleting the files

1. Start your Symantec antivirus program, and then run a full system scan.
2. If any files are detected as Adware.LSPP, click Delete.
   
   

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   Note: If your Symantec antivirus product reports that it cannot delete a detected file, note the path and file name. Then use Windows Explorer to locate and delete the file.

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4. Deleting the value from the registry

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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.

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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 value:
   
   "lspp"="C:LSPPlspp.exe"
   
   
5. Close the Registry Editor.