Removal instructions for Word Surfer

[Metallica]

What is Word Surfer?

 

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Word Surfer is adware. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing.

 

How do I know if my computer is affected by Word Surfer?

You may see this entry in your list of installed programs:

 

and these warnings during install:

and these Scheduled Tasks :

and this type of advertisements:

 

How did Word Surfer get on my computer?

 

Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was bundled with other software.

 

How do I remove Word Surfer?

 

Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.

• Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to your desktop.
• Double-click mbam-setup-version.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
• At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to the following:
  • Enable free trial of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium
  • Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
• Then click Finish.
• If an update is found, you will be prompted to download and install the latest version.
• Once the program has loaded, select Scan now. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
• When the scan is complete , make sure that everything is set to "Quarantine", and click Apply Actions.
• Reboot your computer if prompted.

Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Word Surfer?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes Word Surfer completely.
• This PUP creates some scheduled tasks. You can read here how to check for and, if necessary, remove Scheduled Tasks.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware help protect me?

 

We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.  

 

As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware would have protected you against the Word Surfer adware. It would have warned you before the application could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

 

Technical details for experts

 

You will see these signs in a HijackThis log:

O23 - Service: Word Surfer 1.10.0.19 Client Service (wsasvc_1.10.0.19) - Word Surfer - C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Service\wsasvc.exe

 

You may see these signs in FRST logs:

 (Word Surfer) C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Service\wsasvc.exe R1 wsafd_1_10_0_19; C:\Windows\System32\drivers\wsafd_1_10_0_19.sys [61312 2015-06-16] (Word Surfer) C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\WordSurfer Auto Updater 1.10.0.19 Pending Update C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\WordSurfer Auto Updater 1.10.0.19 Core C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19 (Word Surfer) C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\wsafd_1_10_0_19.sysWordSurfer 1.10.0.19 (HKLM-x32\...\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19) (Version: 1.10.0.19 - WordSurfer)Task: {1F131060-D0D3-4D6C-903B-FE830E69CF64} - System32\Tasks\WordSurfer Auto Updater 1.10.0.19 Core => C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Update\WordSurferAutoUpdateClient.exe [2015-06-16] (Word Surfer)Task: {C959E831-3694-4DA5-AC59-AE1F19E746B3} - System32\Tasks\WordSurfer Auto Updater 1.10.0.19 Pending Update => C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Update\WordSurferAutoUpdateClient.exe [2015-06-16] (Word Surfer)

 

 

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)---------------------------------------------------    Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19       Adds the file terms-of-service.rtf"="30/05/2015 01:26, 24220 bytes, A       Adds the file Uninstall.exe"="16/06/2015 00:28, 313856 bytes, A    Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\3rd Party Licenses       Adds the file buildcrx-license.txt"="19/05/2014 21:10, 7074 bytes, A       Adds the file Info-ZIP-license.txt"="19/05/2014 21:10, 2944 bytes, A       Adds the file JSON-simple-license.txt"="30/10/2014 02:55, 11558 bytes, A       Adds the file nsJSON-license.txt"="19/05/2014 21:10, 809 bytes, A       Adds the file Nustache-license.txt"="30/10/2014 02:55, 1079 bytes, A       Adds the file TaskScheduler-license.txt"="30/10/2014 02:55, 0 bytes, A       Adds the file UAC-license.txt"="19/05/2014 21:10, 956 bytes, A    Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Service       Adds the file wsasvc.exe"="16/06/2015 00:28, 299608 bytes, A    Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Update       Adds the file Microsoft.Win32.TaskScheduler.dll"="30/10/2014 02:55, 185856 bytes, A       Adds the file Nustache.Core.dll"="30/10/2014 02:55, 28672 bytes, A       Adds the file WordSurferAutoUpdateClient.exe"="16/06/2015 00:28, 63576 bytes, A       Adds the file WordSurferAutoUpdateClient.exe.config"="30/10/2014 02:55, 256 bytes, A    In the existing folder C:\Windows\System32\drivers       Adds the file wsafd_1_10_0_19.sys"="16/06/2015 00:28, 61312 bytes, A    In the existing folder C:\Windows\System32\Tasks       Adds the file WordSurfer Auto Updater 1.10.0.19 Core"="16/07/2015 08:31, 4170 bytes, A       Adds the file WordSurfer Auto Updater 1.10.0.19 Pending Update"="16/07/2015 08:31, 4180 bytes, ARegistry details [View: All details] (Selection)------------------------------------------------    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19]       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Uninstall.exe"       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "WordSurfer 1.10.0.19"       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "1.10.0.19"       "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1       "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "WordSurfer"       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Uninstall.exe"       "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", "http://www.wordsurferapp.com"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19]       "cr-at"="REG_SZ", ""       "cr-pid"="REG_SZ", ""       "cr-ver"="REG_SZ", "43.0.2357.132"       "dbsr"="REG_SZ", "firefox"       "features"="REG_SZ", "0x01000000"       "ff-at"="REG_SZ", ""       "ff-pid"="REG_SZ", ""       "ff-ver"="REG_SZ", "38.0.5 (x86 en-GB)"       "hid"="REG_SZ", "1FB0C54E-C74D-AB91-A3A6-1983589F206E"       "ie-at"="REG_SZ", ""       "ie-pid"="REG_SZ", ""       "ie-ver"="REG_SZ", "11.0.9600.17914"       "iid"="REG_SZ", "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000"       "itm"="REG_SZ", "2015-07-16T06:31:04Z"       "nf-at"="REG_SZ", "4C978A13-596F-85D9-BE7A-A640680A1FEC"       "nf-pid"="REG_SZ", "44F41AF3-6482-4F5B-8517-7D4796F41FC6"       "nid"="REG_SZ", "7D5BAFA9-43AD-43BF-9BAE-D2823A38F2CB"       "osn"="REG_SZ", "Windows 7 Ultimate"       "ost"="REG_SZ", "x64"       "osv"="REG_SZ", "6.1.7601"       "user_sid"="REG_SZ", "S-1-5-21-612512518-1730918975-1677248042-1002"       "ver"="REG_SZ", "1.10.0.19"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\wsafd_1_10_0_19]       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "wsafd_1_10_0_19"       "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1       "Group"="REG_SZ", "PNP_TDI"       "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "system32\drivers\wsafd_1_10_0_19.sys"       "Start"="REG_DWORD", 1       "Tag"="REG_DWORD", 10       "Type"="REG_DWORD", 1       "WOW64"="REG_DWORD", 1    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\wsafd_1_10_0_19\Enum]       "0"="REG_SZ", "Root\LEGACY_WSAFD_1_10_0_19\0000"       "Count"="REG_DWORD", 1       "NextInstance"="REG_DWORD", 1    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\wsasvc_1.10.0.19]       "Description"="REG_SZ", "This service enables Word Surfer 1.10.0.19 on HTTP websites"       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Word Surfer 1.10.0.19 Client Service"       "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1       "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, ""C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Service\wsasvc.exe""       "ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem"       "Start"="REG_DWORD", 2       "Type"="REG_DWORD", 16       "WOW64"="REG_DWORD", 1

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malwarewww.malwarebytes.orgScan Date: 16/07/2015Scan Time: 08:57Logfile: mbamWordSurfer.txtAdministrator: YesVersion: 2.1.8.1057Malware Database: v2015.07.16.01Rootkit Database: v2015.07.15.01License: PremiumMalware Protection: DisabledMalicious Website Protection: EnabledSelf-protection: DisabledOS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1CPU: x64File System: NTFSUser: {username}Scan Type: Threat ScanResult: CompletedObjects Scanned: 326293Time Elapsed: 4 min, 7 secMemory: EnabledStartup: EnabledFilesystem: EnabledArchives: EnabledRootkits: EnabledHeuristics: EnabledPUP: EnabledPUM: EnabledProcesses: 1PUP.Optional.WordSurfer.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Service\wsasvc.exe, 1944, Delete-on-Reboot, [76fbac36a2e8a29424f154128a7bab55]Modules: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Keys: 3PUP.Optional.WordSurfer.A, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\wsasvc_1.10.0.19, Quarantined, [76fbac36a2e8a29424f154128a7bab55], PUP.Optional.WordSurfer.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19, Quarantined, [beb3ca18b9d1072f19fcd78f41c4da26], PUP.Optional.WordSurfer.A, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\wsafd_1_10_0_19, Quarantined, [442db82a2e5c7abc28e6514707fded13], Registry Values: 1PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\wsasvc_1.10.0.19|ImagePath, "C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Service\wsasvc.exe", Quarantined, [e091ffe36624bf77f6293b53f70d58a8]Registry Data: 0(No malicious items detected)Folders: 4PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19, Delete-on-Reboot, [264bb82a2a60300682cd4324ec1904fc], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\3rd Party Licenses, Quarantined, [264bb82a2a60300682cd4324ec1904fc], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Service, Delete-on-Reboot, [264bb82a2a60300682cd4324ec1904fc], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Update, Quarantined, [264bb82a2a60300682cd4324ec1904fc], Files: 23PUP.Optional.WordSurfer.A, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\wsafd_1_10_0_19.sys, Delete-on-Reboot, [379d24e9b28bff6a9c2de9656aa03e05], PUP.Optional.WordSurfer.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Service\wsasvc.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [76fbac36a2e8a29424f154128a7bab55], PUP.Optional.WordSurfer.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\WordSurfer.exe, Quarantined, [fc75ebf71b6fa09639dcb0b6bb4ab24e], PUP.Optional.WordSurfer.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Uninstall.exe, Quarantined, [beb3ca18b9d1072f19fcd78f41c4da26], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\vitruvian-installer-hardwareprofile-v0001, Quarantined, [1e53776b503ad95d5c0c018106fe08f8], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\vitruvian-installer-install-v0003, Quarantined, [264be3ff7f0bd165f870c8ba19eb48b8], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\vitruvian-installer-processes-v0002, Quarantined, [0a6770725f2b231391d78df541c319e7], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\vitruvian-installer-scheduledtasks-v0001, Quarantined, [6d04449ef991ac8a84e4e59d40c4a55b], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\vitruvian-installer-softwareregkeys-v0002, Quarantined, [a9c83aa836540c2a1850443e8e76c23e], PUP.Optional.WordSurfer.A, C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\WordSurfer Auto Updater 1.10.0.19 Core, Quarantined, [8ae7db07bdcd1b1b83879cfcfd07d22e], PUP.Optional.WordSurfer.A, C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\WordSurfer Auto Updater 1.10.0.19 Pending Update, Quarantined, [ec85bd25553557df8b7f5f39e420d729], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\terms-of-service.rtf, Quarantined, [264bb82a2a60300682cd4324ec1904fc], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\3rd Party Licenses\buildcrx-license.txt, Quarantined, [264bb82a2a60300682cd4324ec1904fc], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\3rd Party Licenses\Info-ZIP-license.txt, Quarantined, [264bb82a2a60300682cd4324ec1904fc], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\3rd Party Licenses\JSON-simple-license.txt, Quarantined, [264bb82a2a60300682cd4324ec1904fc], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\3rd Party Licenses\nsJSON-license.txt, Quarantined, [264bb82a2a60300682cd4324ec1904fc], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\3rd Party Licenses\Nustache-license.txt, Quarantined, [264bb82a2a60300682cd4324ec1904fc], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\3rd Party Licenses\TaskScheduler-license.txt, Quarantined, [264bb82a2a60300682cd4324ec1904fc], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\3rd Party Licenses\UAC-license.txt, Quarantined, [264bb82a2a60300682cd4324ec1904fc], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Update\Microsoft.Win32.TaskScheduler.dll, Quarantined, [264bb82a2a60300682cd4324ec1904fc], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Update\Nustache.Core.dll, Quarantined, [264bb82a2a60300682cd4324ec1904fc], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Update\WordSurferAutoUpdateClient.exe, Quarantined, [264bb82a2a60300682cd4324ec1904fc], PUP.Optional.Vitruvian.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\WordSurfer_1.10.0.19\Update\WordSurferAutoUpdateClient.exe.config, Quarantined, [264bb82a2a60300682cd4324ec1904fc], Physical Sectors: 0(No malicious items detected)(end)

As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware could have protected your computer against this threat.

We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):

• Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
• Malware Execution Prevention

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