Content

Adware-Searchwords

Type
Program
SubType
Adware
Discovery Date
07/07/2005
Minimum DAT
4530 (07/07/2005)
Updated DAT
4708 (03/01/2006)
Minimum Engine
5.1.00
Description Added
07/07/2005
Description Modified
10/12/2005 5:34 AM (PT)

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Characteristics

McAfee(R) AVERT recognizes that this program may have legitimate uses in contexts where an authorized administrator has knowingly installed this application. If you agreed to a license agreement for this, or another bundled application, you may have legal obligations with regard to removing this software, or using the host application without this software. Please contact the software vendor for further information.

See http://vil.nai.com/vil/DATReadme.asp for a list of Program detections added to the DATs.

See http://vil.nai.com/vil/pups/configuration.htm for information about how to enable, disable, and exclude detection of legitimately installed programs.

Summary

This is not a virus or a Trojan.
It is an adware application and may generate extra pop-up ads while using Internet Explorer. This kind of application generally comes bundled with another program, which usually discloses the fact that it is ad-supported

Privacy

No license agreement is displayed during installation, although one could be displayed by another installer if bundled with another application. No EULA or privacy policy related to the software could be found.

System Changes

File Name : SWBar.dll
MD5Hash : 5240da6747888e6f5a40668cc6bbea08

Upon execution of this adware application, a toolbar is installed (see red box below) and while browsing the internet it also tries to make some connections with "searchwords.com".


Following file is added:

  • SWBARTB0.cfg

Following registry entries are added:

  • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-
    C0FF-FD7BA7D5FA7D} displayname="SWBAR"
  • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SWBAR.SWBAR
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
    Toolbar\WebBrowser | "{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-
    FD7BA7D5FA7D}"
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Visicom Media
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
    Toolbar | "{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-C0FF-FD7BA7D5FA7D}"

Network Impact

Additional overhead in bandwidth due to unwanted internet connections.

Aliases

Aliases

  • AdRoad.Cpr,Adware : CA eTrust
  • Adware.SearchWords : Symantec