McAfee > Theat Center > Virus Detail Page

Overview

This is a trojan detection. Unlike viruses, trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that they are beneficial or wanted. The most common installation methods involve system or security exploitation, and unsuspecting users manually executing unknown programs. Distribution channels include email, malicious or hacked web pages, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), peer-to-peer networks, etc.

Characteristics

When executed, this trojan modifies the following registry settings:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main "HOMEOldSP" = "about:blank"
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main "Search Bar" = "sp.html"
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main "Use Search Asst" = "no"
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search "SearchAssistant" = "sp.html"
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
  RunMRU "e" = "hhk.dll"

The following file is dropped:

• sp.html (7,976 bytes)

Note:  This file is dropped in the user's temporary file area.  For example:  c:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Temp\

Symptoms

• Modified start and search page in Internet Explorer
• Drops the following file as listed above

Method of Infection

Trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that the executable is something beneficial.  Distribution channels include IRC, peer-to-peer networks, newsgroup postings, email, etc

Removal

All Users:
Use specified engine and DAT files for detection.

Modifications made to the system Registry and/or INI files for the purposes of hooking system startup, will be successfully removed if cleaning with the current engine and the specified DATs (or higher). Older engines may not be able to remove all registry keys created by this threat.

Additional Windows ME/XP removal considerations

Variants

Variants

N/A

All Information

Overview -

This is a trojan detection. Unlike viruses, trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that they are beneficial or wanted. The most common installation methods involve system or security exploitation, and unsuspecting users manually executing unknown programs. Distribution channels include email, malicious or hacked web pages, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), peer-to-peer networks, etc.

Characteristics

Characteristics -

When executed, this trojan modifies the following registry settings:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main "HOMEOldSP" = "about:blank"
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main "Search Bar" = "sp.html"
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main "Use Search Asst" = "no"
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search "SearchAssistant" = "sp.html"
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
  RunMRU "e" = "hhk.dll"

The following file is dropped:

• sp.html (7,976 bytes)

Note:  This file is dropped in the user's temporary file area.  For example:  c:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Temp\

Symptoms

Symptoms -

• Modified start and search page in Internet Explorer
• Drops the following file as listed above

Method of Infection

Method of Infection -

Trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that the executable is something beneficial.  Distribution channels include IRC, peer-to-peer networks, newsgroup postings, email, etc

Removal -

Removal -

All Users:
Use specified engine and DAT files for detection.

Modifications made to the system Registry and/or INI files for the purposes of hooking system startup, will be successfully removed if cleaning with the current engine and the specified DATs (or higher). Older engines may not be able to remove all registry keys created by this threat.

Additional Windows ME/XP removal considerations

Variants

Variants -

N/A