Threat Database Adware Adware.FSpy

Adware.FSpy

By Domesticus in Adware

Threat Scorecard

Ranking: 16,462
Threat Level: 20 % (Normal)
Infected Computers: 40
First Seen: December 28, 2012
Last Seen: August 4, 2023
OS(es) Affected: Windows

As the 'End of the World' approached on December 21st (due to the supposed Mayan calendar predictions), ESG security researchers observed the resurgence of the Profile Spy scam. This scam is one of the most popular viral social engineering scams on social networks, and it occasionally resurfaces despite the fact that most social networks and social network users know that it is nothing but a scam. Basically, Profile Spy offers computer users the ability to check who has visited their Twitter or Facebook profile. However, it is important to note that these social networks do not track this information and that third party applications do not have the power to do this. Since this is a major point of curiosity for many computer users, this scam will often claim unsuspecting, inexperienced victims. The latest iteration of the Profile Spy scam, detected as Adware.FSpy, uses several elements in its attack, including attacks centered on Facebook, the Google Chrome Web Store and Tumblr.

Previous versions of this scam will try to convince computer users to click on a link by having them 'like' a fake Facebook page. Adware.FSpy may also try to use social engineering tactics to convince computer users to fill out a survey or to copy and paste a malicious URL into their address bar. The Adware.FSpy attack has several steps:

  1. Adware.FSpy begins on Facebook in the form of a Facebook event invitation. This invitation is sent to random computer users that are friends with the victim. This kind of social engineering tactic is quite common in social engineering worms and scams. One of the ways Adware.FSpy spreads is by using a public 'event', meaning that friends of friends will be capable of seeing Adware.FSpy and potentially click on its link.
  2. The Facebook event page contains several links in the comments which lead to a profile on the social blogging website Tumblr. In this profile, there is a similar page that contains a link labeled 'Get it here.' Clicking on this link leads computer users to a download of 'Facebook Profile Spy v2.0, supposedly for Google Chrome.
  3. Computer users in targeted countries will be taken to the extension's web page in the Google Chrome Web Store where they can download the extension_1_0_1.crx file, which is detected as Adware.FSpy by updated anti-malware programs.
  4. Once installed, Adware.FSpy will display advertisements on the victim's computer, cause browser redirects and install other malware. It will also use the victim's Facebook profile to continue spreading via this social network.

File System Details

Adware.FSpy may create the following file(s):
# File Name Detections
1. extension_1_0_1.crx

URLs

Adware.FSpy may call the following URLs:

clickpaxon.com

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