Adware.RCPrograms

SUMMARY

Behavior

Adware.RCPrograms is an adware program that downloads and displays advertisements.

Symptoms

The files are detected as Adware.RCPrograms.

Transmission

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

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) November 26, 2003
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) November 25, 2003

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Adware.RCPrograms is an adware program that displays advertisements. When this adware is executed, it contacts update.rcprograms.com on port 80. Then it keeps open a connection to the server, which downloads and displays advertisements. The advertisements are generally displayed in a small browser window.

When Adware.RCPrograms is executed, it does the following:

1. Creates the file, C:Program FilesRCProgramsRcsync.exe.
   
   
2. Adds the value:
   
   "RCSync"="C:Program FilesRCProgramsRCSync.exe"
   
   to the registry key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
   so that the adware runs when you start Windows.
   
   
3. Adds the value:
   
   "PartID"="14"
   
   to the registry key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARERCPrograms

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.

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

1. Update the definitions. Uninstall Adware.RCPrograms using the Add/Remove Programs utility.
2. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as Adware.RCPrograms.
3. Delete the values that were added to the registry.

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

2. Scanning for and deleting the files

1. Start Norton AntiVirus and make sure that it is configured to scan all the files. For more information, read the document, "How to configure Norton AntiVirus to scan all files."
2. Run a full system scan.
3. If any files are detected as Adware.RCPrograms, click Delete.

3. Deleting the values 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:
   
   "RCSync"="C:Program FilesRCProgramsRCSync.exe"
   
   
5. Navigate to the key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARERCPrograms
   
   
6. In the right pane, delete the value:
   
   "PartID"="14"
   
   
7. Exit the Registry Editor.