{
  "family": "zwangi",
  "sample_count": 1,
  "category": "ransomware",
  "description": "<h3>Executive Summary</h3>\nZwangi is a highly persistent Adware and Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) designed to aggressively monetize infected systems. It achieves this by hijacking web browser settings, forcefully injecting unauthorized advertisements, and tracking user browsing habits to generate fraudulent affiliate revenue. Zwangi is particularly notorious for its aggressive persistence mechanisms, making it exceptionally difficult for standard users to remove.\n\n<h3>Infection Vector and Technical Capabilities</h3>\nZwangi primarily infiltrates systems via deceptive software bundling. It is frequently packaged with \"freeware\" applications, media players, or PDF converters downloaded from third-party, untrustworthy aggregators. The installation is often obscured through deceptive UI \"Dark Patterns.\"\n\nOnce installed, Zwangi employs several aggressive techniques:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Browser Extension Forcing:</strong> It installs malicious extensions or add-ons across all major web browsers. It specifically abuses Windows Group Policy Object (GPO) modifications to \"force-install\" these extensions, graying out the \"Remove\" button in the browser settings so the user cannot disable them.</li>\n<li><strong>Search Hijacking and Redirection:</strong> The adware alters the browser's default search engine and homepage. Legitimate search queries are intercepted and routed through attacker-controlled domains to artificially inflate traffic metrics for affiliate programs.</li>\n<li><strong>Registry and Service Persistence:</strong> Zwangi installs background Windows Services and multiple registry `Run` keys that constantly monitor the system. If a user manages to delete the browser extension, the background service will immediately reinstall it.</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h3>Threat Assessment</h3>\nWhile Zwangi does not encrypt files like ransomware, it severely degrades the operational capacity of the endpoint. The constant redirection and rendering of injected ads consume significant CPU and RAM, leading to browser crashes and system instability. The persistent tracking of search queries also constitutes a significant privacy violation.\n\n<h3>Incident Response and Remediation</h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Remediation of Group Policies:</strong> Standard AV will fail to remove Zwangi if the GPOs are not cleared first. IT staff must inspect the local Group Policy settings (e.g., `Computer Configuration\\Administrative Templates\\Google\\Google Chrome\\Extensions`) to remove the forced extension IDs.</li>\n<li><strong>Safe Mode Antivirus Scan:</strong> Boot the machine into Windows \"Safe Mode\" to prevent Zwangi's persistent background services from loading. Then, utilize an enterprise-grade anti-malware solution capable of removing deeply embedded PUPs.</li>\n<li><strong>Browser Factory Reset:</strong> After the GPOs and registry keys are cleared, perform a complete factory reset of all installed web browsers to clear the hijacked search settings and tracking cookies.</li>\n</ul>",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [
    "Adware.Zwangi",
    "PUP.Zwangi",
    "BrowserHijacker.Zwangi",
    "Win32/Zwangi"
  ],
  "enrichment_level": "insufficient_information",
  "faq": [],
  "faq_count": 0,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1562.001",
    "T1185",
    "T1112"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-07-02T07:32:43Z",
  "type": "Adware / PUP",
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ]
}