Adware.SearchNugget

SUMMARY

Behavior

Adware.SearchNugget is a Browser Helper Object that displays a toolbar in Internet Explorer. It also changes the home page in Internet Explorer.

Symptoms

Your Symantec program detects files as Adware.SearchNugget.

Note: Definitions dated prior to May 31, 2005 may detect this threat as Spyware.SearchNugget.

Transmission

This security risk can be manually installed or installed as a component of another program. It is reported that Adware.SearchNugget is selectively installed when Skywriter Plane Screen Saver is installed, which may be detected as Adware.SaveNow.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) June 1, 2005
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) June 1, 2005

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When Adware.SearchNugget executed, it performs the following actions:

1. Modifies the value:
   
   "Start Page" = "[http://]www.searchnugget[REMOVED].com/"
   
   in the registry subkeys:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain
   HKEY_USERS.DEFAULTSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain
   
   so that the start page of Internet Explorer is changed to a Web site on the searchnugget.com domain.
   
   
2. Adds the follwing registry entries:
   
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{4E7BD74F-2B80-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7F}"(Default)" = "SBARMenu Button"
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{4E7BD74F-2B80-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7F}InProcServer32"(Default)" = "%Windir%DOWNLO~1sbar.dll"
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{4E7BD74F-2B80-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7F}InProcServer32"ThreadingModel" = "Apartment"
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTsbar.SBARMenu Button"(Default)" = "SBARMenu Button"
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTsbar.SBARMenu ButtonClsid"(Default)" = "{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7F}"
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7F}ProgID"(Default)" = "sbar.SBARMenu Button"
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7E}"(Default)" = "SBARToggle Button"
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7E}InprocServer32"(Default)" = "C:WINDOWSDOWNLO~1sbar.dll"
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7E}InprocServer32"ThreadingModel" = "Apartment"
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTsbar.SBARToggle Button"(Default)" = "SBARToggle Button"
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTsbar.SBARToggle ButtonClsid"(Default)" = "{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7E}"
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7E}ProgID"(Default)" = "sbar.SBARToggle Button"
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7D}"(Default)" = "SearchNugget Toolbar"
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7D}InprocServer32"(Default)" = "C:WINDOWSDOWNLO~1sbar.dll"
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7D}InprocServer32"ThreadingModel" = "Apartment"
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTsbar.SBAR"(Default)" = "SBAR"
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTsbar.SBARClsid"(Default)" = "{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7D}"
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7D}ProgID"(Default)" = "sbar.SBAR"
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbar"{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7D}" = "02"
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser Helper Objects{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7D}
   
   so that the toolbar is installed in Internet Explorer.
   
   
3. Adds the values:
   
   "CfgID" = "0"
   "clientID" = "main"
   
   to the registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareSbar Toolbar
   
   for its internal use.
   
   
4. Adds the values:
   
   "DisplayName" = "SearchNugget Toolbar"
   "UninstallString" = "%Program Files%Sbar ToolbarUninstall.exe"
   
   to the registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstallSBAR
   
   so that SearchNugget Toolbar appears in Add or Removal Programs window.
   
   
5. Creates the following files:
   
   
   • %Windir%sbar.dll
   • %ProgramFiles%Sbar ToolbarUninstall.exe
     
     Note:
   • %Windir% is a variable that refers to the Windows installation folder. By default, this is C:Windows or C:Winnt.
   • %ProgramFiles% is a variable that refers to the program files folder. By default, this is C:Program Files.
     
     
6. Creates files in %Program Files%Sbar ToolbarCache folder.
   
   
7. Displays a search toolbar on Internet Explorer window.

REMOVAL

The following instructions pertain to all Symantec antivirus products that support security risk detection.

1. Update the definitions.
2. Uninstall the security risk.
3. Reset the Internet Explorer home page.
4. Run a full system scan.
5. Delete any values 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 uninstall the Security Risk

1. Do one of the following:
   1. On the Windows 98 taskbar:
      1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
      2. In the Control Panel window, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
         
         
   2. 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."
         
         
   3. On the Windows 2000 taskbar:
      By default, Windows 2000 is set up the same as Windows 98, so follow the instructions for Windows 98. If otherwise, click Start, point to Settings > Control Panel, and then click Add/Remove Programs.
      
      
   4. On the Windows XP taskbar:
      1. Click Start > Control Panel.
      2. In the Control Panel window, double-click Add or Remove Programs.
         
         
2. Click SearchNugget Toolbar.
   
   
   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.
   
   Note: After running the Add/Remove programs applet, all the files may have been removed. You will want to run a full system scan to ensure that this is the case. However, it is possible that no files will be detected after using Add/Remove programs.
   
4. Uninstall SaveNow (which is Adware.SaveNow) and/or Skywriter Plane Screen Saver 1.0 upon necessity.
   
   Note: Adware.SearchNugget is installed with other software, SaveNow and Skywriter Plane Screen Saver 1.0. Skywriter Plane Screen Saver is not a Security Risk.
   
   

3. To reset the Internet Explorer home page

1. Start Microsoft Internet Explorer.
2. Connect to the Internet, and then go to the page that you want to set as your home page.
3. Click Tools > Internet Options.
4. In the Home page section of the General tab, click Use Current > OK.

For additional information, or if this procedure does not work, read the Microsoft® Knowledge Base article: Home Page Setting Changes Unexpectedly, or You Cannot Change Your Home Page Setting, Article ID 320159.

4. To scan for and delete 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, click Delete.

Important: If your Symantec antivirus product reports that it cannot delete a detected file, Windows may be using the file. To fix this, run the scan in Safe mode. For instructions, read the document: How to start the computer in Safe Mode. Once you have restarted in Safe mode, run the scan again.

After the files are deleted, restart the computer in Normal mode and proceed with the next section.

Warning messages may be displayed when the computer is restarted, since the threat may not be fully removed at this point. You can ignore these messages and click OK. These messages will not appear when the computer is restarted after the removal instructions have been fully completed. The messages displayed may be similar to the following:

Title: [File path]
Message body: Windows cannot find [file name]. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.


5. To delete the value 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 subkeys only. For instructions refer to the document: How to make a backup of the Windows registry.

1. Click Start > Run.
2. Type regedit
3. Click OK.
   
   Note: If the registry editor fails to open the threat may have modified the registry to prevent access to the registry editor. Security Response has developed a tool to resolve this problem. Download and run this tool, and then continue with the removal.
   
   
4. Navigate to the subkey:
   
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID
   
   
5. In the left pane, delete the keys:
   
   {4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7D}
   {4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7E}
   {4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7F}
   
   
6. Navigate to the subkey:
   
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
   
   
7. In the left pane, delete the keys:
   
   sbar.SBARMenu Button
   sbar.SBARToggle Button
   sbar.SBAR
   
   
8. Navigate to the subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbar
   
   
9. In the right pane, delete the value:
   
   "{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7D}" = "02"
   
   
10. Navigate to the subkey:
    
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser Helper Objects
    
    
11. In the left pane, delete the key:
    
    {4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7FF4D5FA7D}
    
    
12. Exit the Registry Editor.