01/01/1970

Adware.BrowserVillage

Type:  Adware
Discovered:  01.01.1970
Updated:  28.04.2006
Affected systems:  Windows 2000, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP
AV Vendor:  Symantec

Description:

Adware.BrowserVillage is a toolbar for Internet Explorer that can display advertisements and track user browsing activity and searches.

When Adware.BrowserVillage is installed it creates the following files:

• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\bvillagetb0300.cfg
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\charts.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\finance001.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\health.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\highlight.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\info011.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\lastsearch.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\logo.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\news1.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\people002.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\popups_off.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\popups_on.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\search.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\shop.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\sidebar_off.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\sidebar_on.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\subscribe008.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\translate.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Cache\travel.bmp
• %ProgramFiles%\BVILLAGE Toolbar\Uninstall.exe
• %Windir%\Downloaded Program Files\bvillage.dll

It then creates the following registry subkeys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-D7F9-FE60B89CAC3F}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-D7F9-FE60B89CAC40}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-D7F9-FE60B89CAC41}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\bvillage.BVILLAGE
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\bvillage.BVILLAGEMenu Button
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\bvillage.BVILLAGEToggle Button
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-D7F9-FE60B89CAC3F}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\BVILLAGE
HKEY_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-D7F9-FE60B89CAC3F}
HKEY_USERS\Software\BVILLAGE TOOLBAR

It then adds the following to the registry subkey to ensure the toolbar is loaded with Internet Explorer:
HKEY_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar\WebBrowser\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-D7F9-FE60B89CAC3F}

The adware toolbar displays buttons and advertisements and also provides a Web search feature and popup blocker. The user has the option of adding or removing advertising links as well as hiding the toolbar from the Internet Explorer browser.

It can also collect and store data entered into Internet search fields by the user. This data can be sent to the browservillage.com domain, which can result in advertisements being displayed on the computer.

The adware can also retrieve the computer's IP address and the date and time that the software was downloaded. It can then check and update versions of its software without user content.

Removal instructions from Symantec Security Response Team

The following instructions pertain to all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.

Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP).

Update the virus definitions.

Run a full system scan.

Delete any values added to the registry.

For specific details on each of these steps, read the following instructions.

1. To disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP)
If you are running Windows Me or Windows XP, we recommend that you temporarily turn off System Restore. Windows Me/XP uses this feature, which is enabled by default, to restore the files on your computer in case they become damaged. If a virus, worm, or Trojan infects a computer, System Restore may back up the virus, worm, or Trojan on the computer.

Windows prevents outside programs, including antivirus programs, from modifying System Restore. Therefore, antivirus programs or tools cannot remove threats in the System Restore folder. As a result, System Restore has the potential of restoring an infected file on your computer, even after you have cleaned the infected files from all the other locations.

Also, a virus scan may detect a threat in the System Restore folder even though you have removed the threat.

For instructions on how to turn off System Restore, read your Windows documentation, or one of the following articles:

• How to disable or enable Windows Me System Restore
• How to turn off or turn on Windows XP System Restore

Note: When you are completely finished with the removal procedure and are satisfied that the threat has been removed, reenable System Restore by following the instructions in the aforementioned documents.

For additional information, and an alternative to disabling Windows Me System Restore, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article: Antivirus Tools Cannot Clean Infected Files in the _Restore Folder (Article ID: Q263455).

2. To update the virus definitions
Naked Security fully tests all the virus definitions for quality assurance before they are posted to our servers. There are two ways to obtain the most recent virus definitions:

• Running LiveUpdate, which is the easiest way to obtain virus definitions.
• Downloading the definitions using the Intelligent Updater: The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are posted daily. You should download the definitions from the Naked Security Web site and manually install them. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by the Intelligent Updater, refer to Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater).

The latest Intelligent Updater virus definitions can be obtained here: Intelligent Updater virus definitions. For detailed instructions read the document: How to update virus definition files using the Intelligent Updater.

3. To run a full system scan

Start your Symantec antivirus program and make sure that it is configured to scan all the files.

Run a full system scan.

If any files are detected, follow the instructions displayed by your antivirus program.

Important: If you are unable to start your Symantec antivirus product or the product reports that it cannot delete a detected file, you may need to stop the risk from running in order to remove it. To do 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.

4. 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.

Click Start > Run.

Type regedit

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.

Navigate to and delete the following registry subkeys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-D7F9-FE60B89CAC3F}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-D7F9-FE60B89CAC40}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-D7F9-FE60B89CAC41}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\bvillage.BVILLAGE
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\bvillage.BVILLAGEMenu Button
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\bvillage.BVILLAGEToggle Button
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-D7F9-FE60B89CAC3F}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\BVILLAGE
HKEY_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-D7F9-FE60B89CAC3F}
HKEY_USERS\Software\BVILLAGE TOOLBAR
HKEY_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar\WebBrowser\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-D7F9-FE60B89CAC3F}

Exit the Registry Editor.