Adware.PastaQuotes
Threat Scorecard
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Ranking: The ranking of a particular threat in EnigmaSoft’s Threat Database.
Severity Level: The determined severity level of an object, represented numerically, based on our risk modeling process and research, as explained in our Threat Assessment Criteria.
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See also Threat Assessment Criteria.
| Ranking: | 3,860 |
| Threat Level: | 20 % (Normal) |
| Infected Computers: | 29,371 |
| First Seen: | May 12, 2014 |
| Last Seen: | September 14, 2023 |
| OS(es) Affected: | Windows |
PastaLeads/PastaQuotes are Potentially Unwanted Programs. PastaLeads/PastaQuotes are classified as adware. This is because PastaLeads/PastaQuotes are mainly used to deliver advertisements and marketing content to affected computers. The most common way in which PastaLeads/PastaQuotes may enter a computer is by bundling these PUPs with free software. Software distributed online for free may be bundled with adware such as PastaLeads/PastaQuotes as a way of making money. When computer users install the new software, they will be prompted to install the PUP along with a new program. Unfortunately, in most cases the installation of PastaLeads/PastaQuotes is set by default, meaning that computer users need to be careful during installation to ensure that PastaLeads/PastaQuotes and other PUPs are not installed against their will.
Table of Contents
How PastaLeads/PastaQuotes is Used
PastaLeads/PastaQuotes are used to generate sales leads for various businesses. PastaLeads/PastaQuotes do this by affecting the computer user's online searches. For example, if a computer user searches for a particular online game, PastaLeads/PastaQuotes may display a form or survey that then may send information about the computer user to the gaming company for marketing purposes. PastaLeads/PastaQuotes are associated with various insurance companies as well as several other suspicious businesses. Although, in theory, this sounds like a helpful service, malware analysts have observed that PastaLeads/PastaQuotes advertisements, pop-up windows and messages are very disruptive, making it very difficult to use the affected Web browser. Entering information into PastaLeads/PastaQuotes also may put your privacy at risk. This is because data gathered by PastaLeads/PastaQuotes to deliver insurance quotes or sales leads is given to several third party companies that may use this information for intrusive marketing or to attempt to take advantage of the affected computer user in some form or another. PUPs like PastaLeads/PastaQuotes should be avoided and, instead, the computer user should use reputable, legitimate services with a well-established online presence.
How PastaLeads/PastaQuotes is Installed on a Computer
When PastaLeads/PastaQuotes are installed, they create a Windows service that will run continuously in the background automatically. PastaLeads/PastaQuotes also may make changes to the affected Web browser, forcing it to use a proxy server when connecting to the net. This means that the computer user's online activity may be rerouted through this server automatically. PastaLeads/PastaQuotes are not particularly difficult to remove, and may be uninstalled fairly directly using the Control Panel. However, in many cases, PastaLeads/PastaQuotes may not be uninstalled correctly, meaning that the proxy settings will remain on the affected Web browser even if the Web browser add-ons themselves have been removed. This may cause the affected Web browsers to lose their ability to connect to any websites. Because of this, PC security analysts strongly recommend that computer users also restore their Web browser settings manually after uninstalling PastaLeads/PastaQuotes. This is an important step when dealing with any type of PUP.
One aspect of PastaLeads/PastaQuotes that can be misunderstood is the fact that PastaLeads/PastaQuotes are not threatening, despite the fact that it may behave in ways that are disruptive. The best way to prevent PastaLeads/PastaQuotes from being installed on a computer is by paying attention to all license agreements and every step of the installation process when installing new software. In every case, it is better to use Custom or Advanced installation procedures whenever possible. This can allow you to opt out of installing PastaLeads/PastaQuotes or other bundled software. Malware analysts strongly recommend canceling the installation of the new software and seeking out an alternative if the installation of any PUP is unavoidable. It may be possible to find versions of free software that have not been bundled with unwanted components such as PastaLeads/PastaQuotes.
SpyHunter Detects & Remove Adware.PastaQuotes
File System Details
| # | File Name | MD5 |
Detections
Detections: The number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular threat detected on
infected computers as reported by SpyHunter.
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | pastaldrw.sys | f85d3092f3324c12dbd0b8d19bbd027d | 3,706 |
| 2. | PastaLeadsWinApp.exe | ad72592143375af1a6e19ef056132c0a | 1,627 |
| 3. | PastaLeadsService.exe | 77eeeed07f395692434f20b2d758a3fd | 1,162 |
| 4. | pastaldrw.sys | 53a45d0e8dc860cb60b6d87dbb58519f | 733 |
| 5. | PastaLeadsWinApp.exe | e0b77a6ba7627d1d50cb04a9c619ca3c | 116 |
| 6. | pastaleadsservice.exe | 519c7cd28497b20ced1062faecdbb3a8 | 93 |
| 7. | pastaldrw.sys | f1d5423101d061cdde68fffbe3bc3d40 | 86 |
| 8. | PastaLeadsWinApp.exe | 0a474bb8d0252d517568fd972d68ea08 | 25 |
| 9. | pastaldrw.sys | 8c91d2bfaefb82173bc67faf011dfc79 | 22 |
| 10. | PastaLeadsService.exe | 577abf032fc9675911cafe03379b5384 | 16 |
| 11. | tsk0001.dta | 55ecd72d0c444b99631b73dee4a3a167 | 10 |
| 12. | pastaldrw.sys | 6e746ea11f6952c7b703678030cbd36c | 7 |
| 13. | pastaldrw.sys | b3cd68ae713b54c3dc34d66157da8f63 | 6 |
| 14. | pastaldrw.sys | dedcb6e53273d23a813d8894fb00a491 | 5 |
| 15. | PastaLeadsWinApp.exe | 6dc5419c65306ec4dc2eebb7db77d69d | 4 |
| 16. | PastaLeadsService.exe | 50aebaa20bf30b8015a077a86956010f | 4 |
| 17. | pastaldrw.sys | e9b56c4aae31c287927f588f25980573 | 2 |
| 18. | pastaldrw.sys | b73d45a5d35817d893643a4d50556b6f | 1 |
| 19. | pastaldrw.sys | 42ffc6a601da4ddee4bac9d95b5ebbd5 | 1 |
| 20. | pastaldrw.sys | 8b3fe1e8f1c7ff461a55ac6d508566cf | 1 |
| 21. | pastaldrw.sys | ab7928710d46014476dfe4d9b55c661a | 1 |
| 22. | pastaldrw.sys | 6865b80ce2adb22cd3d62f045f794047 | 1 |
| 23. | pastaldrw.sys | f58abd9d1a75d2e94f87e6995d6236eb | 1 |
| 24. | pastaldrw.sys | c2a105d037800aab6a2b565f505eb267 | 1 |
| 25. | pastaldrw.sys | 6b27369b095848436c2f08f2c0f4106f | 1 |
| 26. | HtmlAgilityPack.dll | ||
| 27. | Newtonsoft.Json.dll | ||
| 28. | RestSharp.dll | ||
| 29. | uninstall.exe |
Registry Details
Directories
Adware.PastaQuotes may create the following directory or directories:
| %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\PastaLeadsAgent |
| %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\pastaleads |
| %PROGRAMFILES%\Common Files\PastaLeads |
| %PROGRAMFILES%\pastaleads |
| %PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\Common Files\PastaLeads |
| %PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\pastaleads |
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