Tech: Spware Alert: CoolWeb

Subject: Tech: Spware Alert: CoolWeb
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 09 Aug 05 - 03:20 PM

A particularly obnoxious program group called CoolWebSearch has been in circulation for some time. It is sometimes detected by the standard AdAware and Spybot scans, but can get past them. AntiSpyware websites have been recommending a program called CWShredder for removal of this crud for some time. Previous articles from a number of AntiSpyware sources have indicated that the CoolWebSearch crud is sometimes embedded in other "apparently harmless utilities."

A new report indicates just how bad the stuff is. Take notice NOW. Because of the significance of this report, in it's entirety:

[quote:]

eWeek

Spyware Researchers Discover ID Theft Ring
By Ryan Naraine
August 8, 2005

Spyware researchers picking apart one of the more notorious spyware programs have stumbled upon what appears to be a massive identity theft ring hijacking confidential data from millions of infected computers.

Sunbelt Software Inc., makers of the enterprise-grade CounterSpy spyware protection product, made the discovery during an audit of "CoolWebSearch," a program that routinely hijacks Web searchers, browser home pages and other Internet Explorer settings.

During the research, Sunbelt researcher Patrick Jordan deliberately installed the "CoolWebSearch application on a machine and immediately noticed that the infected system became a spam zombie that was placing callbacks to a remote server.

When Jordan visited the remote server, he was shocked to find that it was being used to distribute sensitive personal information from millions of PC users infected by the spyware application.

"We found the keylogger transcript files that are being uploaded to the servers. We're talking real spyware stuff…chat sessions, usernames, passwords, bank account information, full names, addresses," said Sunbelt president Alex Eckelberry.

In an interview with Ziff Davis Internet News, Eckelberry said the sophistication of the operation suggests it's the work of a "massive identity theft ring" that used keystroke loggers to grab confidential information that could be used to create fake online identities.

"I'm not being dramatic. This is the most repulsive thing I've ever seen. It's very painful to see what's in these log files that are being uploaded in real time. We're seeing a lot of bank information and usernames and passwords to get in," Eckelberry said.

He said the log files included logins to one business bank account with more than $350,000 and another small company in California with over $11,000, readily accessible.

"There are lots of eBay account information and names and addresses of the people owning those accounts. Names, passwords, all matched up," Eckelberry added.

He said the server, which is hosted out of a data center in Texas, was effectively a "massive repository of stolen data" that was being replenished in real time.

"As the [log] file gets to a certain size, it gets taken down and a new file starts generating. This goes on nonstop. We've been watching it for a few days while trying to get to the FBI, and it just keeps growing and growing."

While the site is being hosted in the United States, Eckelberry said the domain name is registered to an offshore company.

Eckelberry said the huge size of the log files is a clear indication that thousands of machines are pinging back daily.

In some cases, where users appeared to be at immediate risk of losing a considerable amount of money, Sunbelt has contacted the affected individuals.

Eckelberry said the "CoolWebSearch" payload included a typical adware download that immediately scanned the infected machine for e-mails to use for spam runs. It then sets up a "very intelligent keylogger" that looks for very specific information.

"This won't get caught by a typical anti-spyware application," he said, noting that the keystroke logger was able to pick up identity-related data for delivery to the remote server.

Anti-virus vendor Trend Micro Inc. provides a free online scanning tool that detects and deletes the "CoolWebSearch" application.

The tool is available for the Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Millenium Edition and Windows 98 operating systems.

Editor's Note: This story was updated to include information on Trend Micro's scanning tool.

[end quote]

The Trend Micro free scanning tool is the current version of CWShredder. This program is designed for this specific threat, and is the only one generally considered reliable for detecting and removing known forms of CoolWebSearch crudware.

Get it at:

Trend Micro Free Scanner (CWShredder).

Run it.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Spware Alert: CoolWeb
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 09 Aug 05 - 05:52 PM

Thanks for advice and link.
Ran Shredder. I'm clean.
Quack!
Geoff.

Subject: RE: Tech: Spware Alert: CoolWeb
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Aug 05 - 05:54 PM

Been there. Done that. But, Ta anyway

Subject: RE: Tech: Spware Alert: CoolWeb
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Aug 05 - 07:12 PM

It is just MAX playing around with the OSI codes to keep MC's ranking.

Google Page Rank Comparison Tool

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