Adware.SearchCounter

Behavior

Adware.SearchCounter changes Internet Explorer's search and home pages, redirects network traffic, and displays browser popup windows.

Symptoms

Attempts to connect to auto.search.msn.com are redirected to in.webcounter.cc.

• The default search and home pages in Internet Explorer are changed to in.webcounter.cc.
• Internet Explorer popup windows displaying in.webcounter.cc are automatically opened.
• On logon, Windows error messages are displayed, stating that "fntldr.exe cannot be found."

Transmission

This adware component can be manually installed or installed as a component of another program.

Protection

• Initial Rapid Release version December 1, 2003
• Latest Rapid Release version March 25, 2009 revision 057
• Initial Daily Certified version December 1, 2003
• Latest Daily Certified version March 26, 2009 revision 007
• Initial Weekly Certified release date December 3, 2003

Click here for a more detailed description of Rapid Release and Daily Certified virus definitions.