Adware.Smartsearch

SUMMARY

Behavior

Adware.Smartsearch changes the default prefix of Internet Explorer. The effect of this is that any URLs typed without a http:// prefix will be redirected to http:/ /smartsearch.ws/q=.

It also sets the Internet Explorer home page to http:/ /smartsearch.ws.

Symptoms

• Your Symantec antivirus program detects this threat as Adware.Smartsearch.
• Typed URLs are redirected to http:/ /smartsearch.ws.

Transmission

Adware.Smartsearch may be installed with other programs.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) January 14, 2004
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) January 10, 2004

TECHNICAL DETAILS

When Adware.Smartsearch is executed, it performs the following actions:

1. Creates the file, Temp.txt (this file may be several megabytes in size). This file is not a threat, and therefore Symantec antivirus products do not detect it.
   
   
2. Adds the value:
   
   "SystemEmergency"="<path to Adware.Smartsearch executable file>"
   
   to the registry key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
   
   so that Adware.Smartsearch runs when you start Windows.
   
   
3. Sets the value:
   
   "(Default)"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws/?q="
   
   in the registry key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionURLDefaultPrefix
   
   which adds the string, http:/ /smartsearch.ws/?q=, to any URLs typed into the Address bar of Internet Explorer. For example, if a user was to type www.example.com into the Address bar, Internet Explorer would go to the URL, http:/ /smartsearch.ws/?q=www.example.com.
   
   
4. Sets the value:
   
   "www"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws/?q="
   
   in the registry key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionURLPrefixes
   
   
5. Sets the values:
   
   • "Search"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws/?q="
   • "SearchURL"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws/?q="
     
     in the registry key:
     
     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet Explorer
     
     
6. Sets the values:
   
   • "Default_Page_URL"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws"
   • "Default_Search_URL"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws/?q="
   • "Search Bar"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws/?q="
   • "Search Page"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws/?q="
   • "Start Page"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws"
     
     in the registry key:
     
     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain
     
     
7. Sets the values:
   
   • "CustomizeSearch"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws/?q="
   • "SearchAssistant"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws/?q="
     
     in the registry key:
     
     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet ExplorerSearch
     
     
8. Sets the values:
   
   • "Search"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws/?q="
   • "SearchURL"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws/?q="
     
     in the registry key:
     
     HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet Explorer
     
     
9. Sets the values:
   
   • "Default_Page_URL"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws"
   • "Default_Search_URL"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws/?q="
   • "Search Bar"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws/?q="
   • "Search Page"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws/?q="
   • "Start Page"="http:/ /smartsearch.ws"
     
     in the registry key:
     
     HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain
     
     
10. Contacts the Web site, http:/ /smartsearch.ws, and downloads software updates.

REMOVAL

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

1. Update the definitions.
2. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as Adware.SmartSearch.
3. Reset the Internet Explorer Home and Search pages.
4. Delete the values that were 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. Scanning for and deleting the files

1. Start your Symantec antivirus program and run a full system scan.
2. If any files are detected as Adware.SmartSearch, note their names (which will be helpful in step 3), and then click Delete.
   
   

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

   ---

3. Resetting the Internet Explorer Home and Search pages

1. Start Microsoft Internet Explorer.
2. Click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
3. Select the Programs tab.
4. Click Reset Web Settings.
5. Make sure that the "Also reset my home page" option is checked.
6. Click Yes.
7. Click OK, and then click OK again.
   
   This will reset the Internet Explorer Home and Search pages to their default settings.

4. Deleting the values 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.

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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:
   
   "SystemEmergency"="<path to file detected as Adware.SmartSearch>"
   
   
5. Navigate to the key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunServices
   
   
6. In the right pane, delete the value:
   
   "SystemEmergency"="<path to file detected as Adware.SmartSearch>"
   
   
7. Navigate to the key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionURLDefaultPrefix
   
   
8. In the right pane, restore the value:
   
   "(Default)"
   
   to its correct value. This value is normally "http://" (without quotes).
   
   
9. Navigate to the key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionURLPrefixes
   
   
10. In the right pane, restore the value:
    
    "www"
    
    to its correct value. This is normally "http://" (without quotes).
    
    
11. Navigate to the key:
    
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet Explorer
    
    
12. In the right pane, restore the values:
    
    • "Search"
    • "SearchURL"
      
      to their correct values or delete them.
      
      
13. Navigate to the key:
    
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain
    
    
14. In the right pane, restore the values:
    
    "Start Page"
    
    to its correct values or delete them.
    
    
15. Navigate to the key:
    
    HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet Explorer
    
    
16. In the right pane, restore the values:
    
    • "Search"
    • "SearchURL"
      
      to their correct values or delete them.
      
      
17. Navigate to the key:
    
    HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain
    
    
18. In the right pane, restore the values:
    
    • "Default_Page_URL"
    • "Default_Search_URL"
    • "Search Bar"
      
      to their correct values or delete them.
      
      
19. Exit the Registry Editor.