Threat Database Adware Ads by Ads2

Ads by Ads2

By GoldSparrow in Adware

Threat Scorecard

Popularity Rank: 15,954
Threat Level: 20 % (Normal)
Infected Computers: 362
First Seen: February 12, 2016
Last Seen: December 20, 2025
OS(es) Affected: Windows

Do you experience pop-ups powered by Ads2? If you do, then you are infected with the Ads2 adware that is designed to show pop-up windows that are tailored to look like notifications from the sites you visit. The Ads2 adware is made to generate pay-per-click revenue for its developers while maintaining the appearance of a safe and legitimate browser extension. Security investigators note that the Ads2 adware is using offers from the trusted online store Alibaba.com to claim affiliate marketing revenue. However, the Ads2 adware may redirect users to harmful Web pages and welcome users to install badware such as FastAgain PC Booster and HeadlineAlley Toolbar. The ads by Ads2 may look like notifications from the website you are at but can be recognized by their thick black borders, gray X button and the slogan 'Powered by Ads2.'

Security investigators note that the ads by Ads2 are injected into the browser with ActionScript and are loaded onto a virtual layer that appears as a semitransparent cover. Due to the implementation of ActionScript, the Ads2 adware has the same vulnerabilities as Adobe Flash Player. Computer users that are infected with the Ads2 adware may be exposed to attacks with the Blackhole Exploit Kit and HanJuan Exploit Kit. Another disturbing fact about the Ads2 adware is that it is not digitally signed and may download corrupted binary to your computer in the form of a patch. Network administrators recognize the risk of tolerating the Ads2 adware and do not recommend users to click on ads by Ads2 and install patches from untrusted sources. The Ads2 adware may work as a browser service in your system background and hide its process in the svchost.exe host service of Windows. The proper method to remove the Ads2 adware safely is to use a trustworthy anti-malware suite.

Analysis Report

General information

Family Name: Adware.ConvertAd.G
Signature status: No Signature

Known Samples

MD5: 20ebc46cb6982f1bca288c0b26ebe641
SHA1: 359f917825b856595c01d5d542eecf622b21ea52
File Size: 745.98 KB, 745984 bytes
MD5: ea72a2364c03d26ed5cab522844a1dc2
SHA1: b2d2d4659dff94a155241c76b921a8387d567228
SHA256: E45D88833C2A462E7B745643C5D3767166E4746DAEC468407024F21ECB9FDDFF
File Size: 300.03 KB, 300032 bytes
MD5: d272cc016d524d454350c4743cc51a13
SHA1: 55ffd3b55a69c40bb1858500a5406478c914d270
SHA256: 371E05B5767C97EBBFC0167EA57B8B1EFE20C4CA926D8DE740C9CC8543E12A24
File Size: 1.65 MB, 1645056 bytes

Windows Portable Executable Attributes

  • File doesn't have "Rich" header
  • File doesn't have debug information
  • File doesn't have exports table
  • File doesn't have resources
  • File doesn't have security information
  • File is 32-bit executable
  • File is console application (IMAGE_SUBSYSTEM_WINDOWS_CUI)
  • File is either console or GUI application
  • File is GUI application (IMAGE_SUBSYSTEM_WINDOWS_GUI)
  • File is Native application (NOT .NET application)
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  • File is not packed
  • IMAGE_FILE_DLL is not set inside PE header (Executable)
  • IMAGE_FILE_EXECUTABLE_IMAGE is set inside PE header (Executable Image)

File Traits

  • No Version Info
  • x86

Block Information

Total Blocks: 5,120
Potentially Malicious Blocks: 968
Whitelisted Blocks: 4,102
Unknown Blocks: 50

Visual Map

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... Data truncated
0 - Probable Safe Block
? - Unknown Block
x - Potentially Malicious Block

Similar Families

  • ConvertAd.G

Windows API Usage

Category API
Service Control
  • StartServiceCtrlDispatcher

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