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ClearSearch

Overview

Summary

 03.24.2005: ClearSearch uses very deceptive tactics in hijacking Internet Explorer. For instance, if a user tries to navigate to the popullar news website CNN.COM, they are blocked from doing so and then presented with a webpage that says: 'Here are some suggested search terms that you may find useful.' Clicking on any of the 'suggested terms' will take the user to the IP address 81.201.104.136. with the 'Sponsored Link' displayed.

In December 2003 ClearSearch was observed doing the following: every time the computer is started, ClearSearch will remove the search-hijacking part of Xupiter, HuntBar/MSLink, CommonName, NewDotNet, the iWon toolbar/search assistant and Netword.

Alias

 Adware.ClearSearch, Backdoor.Ruledor.b [Kaspersky], Backdoor/Ruledor.B [Computer Associates], BKDR_RULEDOR.E, ClearSearch.bho1, IGetNet.ClearSearch, Spyware/ClearSearch [Panda],

See Also

  CommonName · HuntBar/MSLink · iWon · Netword · NewDotNet · Xupiter ·

Category

 Hijacker: Any software that resets your browser's settings to point to other sites. Hijacks may reroute your info and address requests through an unseen site, capturing that info. In such hijacks, your browser may behave normally, but be slower.

Adware:  Software that displays popup/popunder ads when the primary user interface is not visible or which do not appear to be assocaited with the product.

Backdoor:  A secret or undocumented means of getting into a computer system, or software that uses such a means to penetrate a system. Some software has a backdoor placed by the programmer to allow them to gain access to troubleshoot or change the program. Software that is classified as a "backdoor" is designed to exploit a vulnerability in a system, and open it to future access by an attacker.

Browser Helper Object:  (BHO). A component that Internet Explorer will load whenever it starts, shares IE's memory context, can perform any action on the available windows and modules. A BHO can detect events, create windows to display additional information on a viewed page, monitor messages and actions. Microsoft calls it "a spy we send to infiltrate the browser's land." BHOs are not stopped by personal firewalls, because they are seen by the firewall as your browser itself. Some exploits of this technology search all pages you view in IE and replace banner advertisements with other ads. Some monitor and report on your actions. Some change your home page.

Toolbar:  A group of buttons which perform common tasks. A toolbar for Internet Explorer is nomally located below the menu bar at the top of the form. Toolbars may be created by Browser Helper Objects.

Variants

   ClearSearch.csie ·  ClearSearch/CSIE ·  ClearSearch/IECS ·  ClearSearch/Lycos ·

Reasons For Retention

 Research conducted 03.24.2005: Based on eTrust PestPatrol« Spyware Scorecard v2.0 ClearSearch violates the following criteria: First, changes browser settings, for example the default search provider, home or error page(s) etc., without user permission at time of change. Second, Installs or updates without user permission or knowledge at time of installation. Third, Silently connects to an unintended location to transmit personal information. Fourth, can't be uninstalled by Windows Add/Remove Programs and no uninstaller is provided with application.
 

Origins

 

Group

 Clear Search, Inc.

Others By This Group

 ClearSearch.csie·

Mailing Address

 USA Revco, LLC,2501 Cherry Avenue,Suite 260,Long Beach, CA 90755,USA

Phone:

 (562) 421-2111 fax: (562) 421-1111

Email

 RB.Williams@Verizon.net or info@clear-search.com

URL

 http://clrsch.com/

Date of Origin

 Variants from July, 2003 to June, 2005

Place of Origin

 clear-search.com
 

Detection and Removal

Manual Removal

 After following the instructions below, in Internet Explorer, click Tools | Internet Options | Programs | Reset Web Settings.

 Stop Running Processes:

Kill these running processes with Task Manager:



Remove Autorun Reference:

Go To the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run


If you find the value HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run\csv10p1, delete it and reboot the machine immediately.



Unregister DLLs:

Unregister these DLLs with Regsvr32, then reboot:



Clean Registry:

Remove these registry items (if present) with RegEdit:



Remove Files:

Remove these files (if present) with Windows Explorer:



Remove Directories:

Remove these directories (if present) with Windows Explorer:



Restore Settings:

After following the instructions above, you will still need to restore your original settings and prevent this from happening again.
 
Claria.Screenscenes  Claria.Weatherscope  Claria.WebSecureAlert  Claria.ewallet  Clear-Search  ClearSearch  ClearSearch.csie  ClearStreamAccelerator  CleverIEHooker  CleverIEHooker.Jeired  
 
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