Web Layers - 9% Detection Rate *
Did you just stumble upon a download or a file on your computer that has a digital signature from Web Layers? Some of the security products refers to the detected files as Adware.Searcher.2574 and PUP.Optional.WebLayers.A. The detection rate for the Web Layers files collected here is 9%. Please read on for more details.
You will typically notice Web Layers when running the file. The publisher name is then displayed as the "Verified publisher" in the UAC dialog as the screenshot shows:
You can view the additional details from the Web Layers digital signature with the following steps:
- Open up Windows Explorer and locate the Web Layers file
- Right-click on the file and select Properties
- Click on the Digital Signatures tab
- Click on the View Certificate button
Here's a screenshot of a file that has been signed by Web Layers:
As you can see in the screenshot above, Windows states that "This digital signature is OK". This implies that the file has been published by Web Layers and that the file has not been tampered with.
If you click the View Certificate button shown in the screenshot above, you can see all the details of the certificate, such as when it was issued, who issued the certificate, how long it is valid, and so on. You can also view the address for Web Layers, such as the street name, city and country.
VeriSign Class 3 Code Signing 2010 CA has issued the Web Layers certificates. You can also see the details of the issuer by clicking the View Certificate button shown in the screencap above.
Web Layers Files
The following are the Web Layers files I've gathered, thanks to the FreeFixer users.
| Detection Ratio | File Name |
|---|---|
| 5/47 | WebLayersbho.dll |
| 2/49 | utilWebLayers.exe |
| 3/47 | WebLayersbho.dll |
| 2/48 | updateWebLayers.exe |
| 3/50 | updater.exe |
| 11/50 | WebLayersBHO.dll |
| 1/46 | updateweblayers.exe |
| 11/55 | desktop.exe |
Scanner and Detection Names
Here is the detection names for the Web Layers files. I've grouped the detection names by each scanner engine. Thanks to VirusTotal for the scan results.
| Scanner | Detection Names |
|---|---|
| AVware | Yontoo (fs) |
| Agnitum | Riskware.Agent! |
| Avast | MSIL:BrowseFox-CE [PUP] |
| Baidu-International | PUA.MSIL.WebCake.A |
| Bkav | W32.HfsAdware.A323 |
| CAT-QuickHeal | PUA.Weblayers.Gen |
| Comodo | Application.Win32.Altbrowse.AK |
| DrWeb | Adware.Searcher.2574, Trojan.BPlug.17, Trojan.Yontoo.1734 |
| ESET-NOD32 | probably a variant of Win32/BrowseFox.A, a variant of Win32/BrowseFox.G, a variant of MSIL/WebCake.A, a variant of Win32/BrowseFox.F, a variant of MSIL/WebCake.A potentially unwanted |
| Ikarus | Win32.SuspectCrc |
| K7AntiVirus | Trojan ( 0049f9581 ) |
| K7GW | Trojan ( 0049f9581 ) |
| Kaspersky | not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.ahbx |
| Kingsoft | Win32.Troj.Agent.ah.(kcloud) |
| Malwarebytes | PUP.Optional.WebLayers.A |
| McAfee | Artemis!22B0983799BB |
| McAfee-GW-Edition | Artemis!22B0983799BB |
| NANO-Antivirus | Riskware.Win32.Agent.crkvek |
| Sophos | Generic PUA BK |
| TrendMicro-HouseCall | TROJ_GEN.F47V0826 |
| VIPRE | Yontoo (fs) |
* How the Detection Percentage is Calculated
The detection percentage is based on the fact that I have gathered 436 scan reports for the Web Layers files. 38 of these scan results came up with some sort of detection. If you like, you can view the full details of the scan results by examining the files listed above.
Analysis Details
The analysis has been done on certificates with the following serial numbers:
- 68b083249006ba50d35f50a8f44cd7d4