Threat Database Adware Squirrel Web

Squirrel Web

By ZulaZuza in Adware

Threat Scorecard

Ranking: 10,722
Threat Level: 20 % (Normal)
Infected Computers: 816
First Seen: December 10, 2013
Last Seen: September 1, 2023
OS(es) Affected: Windows

The Squirrel Web is classified as adware and is one of the many Potentially Unwanted Programs that are bundled with freeware programs downloaded from dubious download websites. The Squirrel Web may also be distributed using threat delivery methods such as fake updates for Flash Player or using drive-by download techniques. In many cases, some free programs may install the Squirrel Web without alerting you, often as a way of monetizing the free content. The main purpose of the Squirrel Web is to display coupons and deals whenever you visit an online retailer. The Squirrel Web is also designed to fill up your Web browser with all kinds of advertisements. Although this may sound superficial like a useful service, it is not. The Squirrel Web is extremely disruptive, may expose your computer to unsafe content. The Squirrel Web may also cause system performance issues and significantly slow down your Internet connectivity. Because of this, security researchers strongly recommend removing the Squirrel Web at once from an affected computer.

The Nuisance Caused by Advertisements Associated with the Squirrel Web

The main purpose of the Squirrel Web is to generate revenue at the cost of PC users. There are some paths in which marketers may use the Squirrel Web to generate revenue. These methods include the following:

  • The Squirrel Web may generate advertisement revenue directly by displaying advertisements on the victim's Web browser. There are several types of advertisements that have been associated with the Squirrel Web, including pop-up advertisements, in-text affiliate marketing links and mouse-over advertisements.
  • It is possible to surplus using computer users by taking over their Web browser and forcing it to visit websites associated with the Squirrel Web repeatedly. This practice is known as browser hijacking and is one of the most used tactics for generating revenue by forcing PC users to visit websites containing advertising material or promoting certain products repeatedly. It is also important to know that browser hijacking may be used to raise a website's page ranking and traffic numbers artificially, resulting in higher advertisement revenue and sponsorships.
  • The Squirrel Web has been known to keep track of your activity online and to gather data about your computer. This information may be sold by the Squirrel Web to a third party that may use it for identity theft or other harmful actions.

SpyHunter Detects & Remove Squirrel Web

File System Details

Squirrel Web may create the following file(s):
# File Name Detections
1. C:\Program Files\SquirrelWeb\updateSquirrelWeb.exe
2. C:\Program Files\SquirrelWeb\sqlite3.exe
3. C:\Program Files\SquirrelWeb\SquirrelWebBHO.dll
4. C:\Program Files\SquirrelWeb\SquirrelWebUninstall.exe
5. C:\Program Files\SquirrelWeb\SquirrelWeb.ico

Registry Details

Squirrel Web may create the following registry entry or registry entries:
CLSID
{58BB7423-A9E3-47E0-9742-61E3BC3D5A18}
{7F2F43AC-A6F0-4685-A6BD-6550C3836F91}
{dd86af49-1ef1-4532-89f7-41eda1dbbe6d}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\SquirrelWeb
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\SquirrelWeb
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SquirrelWeb
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Update SquirrelWeb
Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Approved Extensions\{dd86af49-1ef1-4532-89f7-41eda1dbbe6d}
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\updateSquirrelWeb_RASAPI32
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\updateSquirrelWeb_RASMANCS
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{dd86af49-1ef1-4532-89f7-41eda1dbbe6d}
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{DD86AF49-1EF1-4532-89F7-41EDA1DBBE6D}
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{DD86AF49-1EF1-4532-89F7-41EDA1DBBE6D}
Software\SquirrelWeb
SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Tracing\updateSquirrelWeb_RASAPI32
SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Tracing\updateSquirrelWeb_RASMANCS
SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{dd86af49-1ef1-4532-89f7-41eda1dbbe6d}
SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SquirrelWeb
SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\eventlog\Application\Update SquirrelWeb
SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\Update SquirrelWeb
SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\eventlog\Application\Update SquirrelWeb
SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Update SquirrelWeb

Directories

Squirrel Web may create the following directory or directories:

%ProgramFiles%\SquirrelWeb
%ProgramFiles(x86)%\SquirrelWeb

URLs

Squirrel Web may call the following URLs:

SquirrelWeb

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