Windows 2003/XP/2000/NT/ME/98/95

Adware refers to programs that display advertising using any means: pop-ups, banners, changes to the browser home page or search page, etc. The advertisements could be associated with the products or services offered by the creator of the program or by third-parties.

Adware can be installed in a number of ways, on some occasions without users' consent, and either with or without users' knowledge of its function.

It affects productivity, preventing tasks from being carried out:

• In the affected computer: it displays pop-up windows.

It reduces the security level of the computer: it changes the security settings of Internet Explorer, decreasing its security level.

It uses stealth techniques to avoid being detected by the user:

• It deletes the original file from which it was run once it is installed on the computer.
• It modifies system permissions in order to hide itself.

Startpage.AUZ uses the following propagation or distribution methods:

• Exploiting vulnerabilities with the intervention of the user: exploiting vulnerabilities in file formats or applications. To exploit them successfully it needs the intervention of the user: opening files, viewing malicious web pages, reading emails, etc.
• Via Internet, exploiting remote vulnerabilities: attacking random IP addresses, in which it tries to insert a copy of itself by exploiting one or more vulnerabilities.
• It is dropped or downloaded to the computer by other malware specimens, for example: MultiDropper.BNP.