{
  "family": "allstars",
  "sample_count": 1,
  "category": "advanced_threat",
  "description": "Adware:Win32/Allstars is an intrusive adware family designed to hijack the user's web browsing experience. Its primary goal is monetization through forced ad impressions, pop-ups, and affiliate link redirection. Allstars targets the browser's core components, injecting advertisements directly into web pages and altering default search settings without user consent (`T1189`).<br><br><b>Understanding Allstars (Adware/PUP)</b><br>To an end-user, Allstars degrades system performance and internet speed. Legitimate search results are replaced with sponsored links, and pop-ups appear regardless of the site being visited. For an IT department, Allstars represents a vector for more severe malware, as the 'bargain' ad networks it relies upon are frequently abused to serve exploits (malvertising).<br><br><b>Execution and Hijacking Mechanics</b><br>Allstars is typically distributed via pay-per-install (PPI) networks or bundled with freeware downloads. Upon execution, it installs itself as a Windows Service or Scheduled Task to ensure persistence (`T1543.003`). It drops malicious extensions into Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. To prevent easy removal, Allstars may modify the Windows Registry (specifically the `ExtensionInstallForcelist` policies) (`T1562.001`), locking the extension so the user cannot simply uninstall it via the browser's settings menu.<br><br><b>Indicators of Compromise & Impact</b><br>The primary impact is the unauthorized monetization of user data and the display of unwanted content. Host-based IoCs include the presence of unexpected browser extensions, unauthorized modifications to browser policy registry keys, and unexpected executables running from `%LocalAppData%` or `%ProgramFiles%`. Network IoCs involve constant, high-volume background HTTP/HTTPS requests to known advertising networks and affiliate tracking domains.",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [],
  "enrichment_level": "expert-seo",
  "faq": [],
  "faq_count": 0,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1543.003",
    "T1562.001",
    "T1189"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-06-09",
  "mitre_attack_detail": [
    {
      "id": "T1189",
      "name": "Drive-by Compromise (Initial distribution via deceptive software bundles)",
      "tactic": "Initial Access"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1562.001",
      "name": "Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools (Modifying browser policies to prevent adware removal)",
      "tactic": "Defense Evasion"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1543.003",
      "name": "Create or Modify System Process: Windows Service (Establishing persistent adware updaters)",
      "tactic": "Persistence"
    }
  ],
  "containment_steps": [
    "Use a specialized Adware/Malware removal tool to identify and strip out the persistent registry keys and services protecting Allstars.",
    "Manually inspect and remove any forced browser policies (`chrome://policy` or `edge://policy`) that prevent extension removal.",
    "Reset all installed web browsers to their default, factory settings to clear out hijacked search engines and proxy configurations.",
    "Implement endpoint application control to block the execution of common adware installers from user directories."
  ],
  "what_to_avoid": [
    "Do not rely solely on the browser's 'Uninstall Extension' button; Allstars's background service will simply reinstall it.",
    "Avoid downloading 'free' software from third-party download portals, as they are the primary distribution vector for bundled adware."
  ],
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ]
}