• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Cisco Umbrella

Enterprise network security

  • Contact Sales
  • Login
    • Umbrella Login
    • Cloudlock Login
  • Why Us
    • Why Cisco Umbrella
      • Why Try Umbrella
      • Why DNS Security
      • Why Umbrella SASE
      • Our Customers
      • Customer Stories
      • Why Cisco Secure
    • Fast Reliable Cloud
      • Global Cloud Architecture
      • Cloud Network Status
      • Global Cloud Network Activity
    • Unmatched Intelligence
      • A New Approach to Cybersecurity
      • Interactive Intelligence
      • Cyber Attack Prevention
      • Umbrella and Cisco Talos Threat Intelligence
    • Extensive Integrations
      • IT Security Integrations
      • Hardware Integrations
      • Meraki Integration
      • Cisco Umbrella and SecureX
  • Products
    • Cisco Umbrella Products
      • Cisco Umbrella Cloud Security Service
      • Recursive DNS Services
      • Cisco Umbrella SIG
      • Umbrella Investigate
      • What’s New
    • Product Packages
      • Cisco Umbrella Package Comparison
      • – DNS Security Essentials Package
      • – DNS Security Advantage Package
      • – SIG Essentials Package
      • – SIG Advantage Package
      • Umbrella Support Packages
    • Functionality
      • DNS-Layer Security
      • Secure Web Gateway
      • Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)
      • Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
      • Cloud-Delivered Firewall
      • Cloud Malware Protection
      • Remote Browser Isolation (RBI)
    • Man on a laptop with headphones on. He is attending a Cisco Umbrella Live Demo
  • Solutions
    • SASE & SSE Solutions
      • Cisco Umbrella SASE
      • Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
      • What is SASE
      • What is Security Service Edge (SSE)
    • Functionality Solutions
      • Web Content Filtering
      • Secure Direct Internet Access
      • Shadow IT Discovery & App Blocking
      • Fast Incident Response
      • Unified Threat Management
      • Protect Mobile Users
      • Securing Remote and Roaming Users
    • Network Solutions
      • Guest Wi-Fi Security
      • SD-WAN Security
      • Off-Network Endpoint Security
    • Industry Solutions
      • Government and Public Sector Cybersecurity
      • Financial Services Security
      • Cybersecurity for Manufacturing
      • Higher Education Security
      • K-12 Schools Security
      • Healthcare, Retail and Hospitality Security
      • Enterprise Cloud Security
      • Small Business Cybersecurity
  • Resources
    • Content Library
      • Top Resources
      • Cybersecurity Webinars
      • Events
      • Research Reports
      • Case Studies
      • Videos
      • Datasheets
      • eBooks
      • Solution Briefs
    • International Documents
      • Deutsch/German
      • Español/Spanish
      • Français/French
      • Italiano/Italian
      • 日本語/Japanese
    • Security Definitions
      • What is Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
      • What is Security Service Edge (SSE)
      • What is a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)
      • Cyber Threat Categories and Definitions
    • For Customers
      • Support
      • Customer Success Webinars
      • Cisco Umbrella Studio
  • Trends & Threats
    • Market Trends
      • Hybrid Workforce
      • Rise of Remote Workers
      • Secure Internet Gateway (SIG)
    • Security Threats
      • How to Stop Phishing Attacks
      • Malware Detection and Protection
      • Ransomware is on the Rise
      • Cryptomining Malware Protection
      • Cybersecurity Threat Landscape
      • Global Cyber Threat Intelligence
    •  
    • Woman connecting confidently to any device anywhere
  • Partners
    • Channel Partners
      • Partner Program
      • Become a Partner
    • Service Providers
      • Secure Connectivity
      • Managed Security for MSSPs
      • Managed IT for MSPs
    •  
    • Person looking down at laptop. They are connecting and working securely
  • Blog
    • News & Product Posts
      • Latest Posts
      • Products & Services
      • Customer Focus
      • Feature Spotlight
    • Cybersecurity Posts
      • Security
      • Threats
      • Cybersecurity Threat Spotlight
      • Research
    •  
    • Register for a webinar - with illustration of connecting securely to the cloud
  • Contact Us
  • Umbrella Login
  • Cloudlock Login
  • Free Trial
Research

Fake PC Optimizer Scam Uncovered

Author avatar of Security Research TeamSecurity Research Team
Updated — March 5, 2020 • 2 minute read
View blog >

Utilizing the power of the Umbrella Security Graph, our Labs Team is constantly on the lookout for any anomalies that could indicate potential threats. Recently, we’ve noticed several domains that appear to be search engines triggering a number of predictive models in the Security Graph.

These high-volume domains seemed to be stable, but a number of red flags quickly became apparent: demonstrated fast flux behavior, residence at low reputation IP subnets, and an alarmingly low secure rank. Although the software appeared legitimate, and the domain registered at .IN had been around for a long time, a quick investigation indicated that the sites were involved in a PC optimizing scam:

websearch[.]helpmefindyour[.]info 

websearch[.]pu-result[.]info

websearch[.]coolwebsearch[.]info

websearch[.]pu-results[.]info

Screen Shot 2013-07-16 at 1.39.01 PM

We began by loading the websearch[.]helpmefindyour[.]info site, and saw the usual search window with an advertisement. Nothing suspicious here – until we used a outdated user agent when browsing the same site. The advertisement about fixing your ‘slow’ PC appeared. 

Screen Shot 2013-07-12 at 1.27.50 PMScreen Shot 2013-07-12 at 1.28.13 PM 

Getting a speed boost for your PC is fine, however, the changed behavior revealed by an outdated user agent resembles malicious downloads that exploit vulnerabilities of older systems. (Doesn’t it remind you of other Rogue AVs out there?) We got the executable from the site and ran it on a CLEAN VM. See the screenshots for the red alerts – they’re showing entirely made-up errors found on a clean system.

Screen Shot 2013-07-12 at 1.28.33 PMScreen Shot 2013-07-12 at 1.04.14 PM

In addition to a “registry cleaner”, that, of course, found things to fix on our system, we were offered the installation of two additional applications: a backup tool and another optimization tool.

Screen Shot 2013-07-12 at 1.03.17 PM Screen Shot 2013-07-12 at 1.03.14 PM (1)

Several more ‘errors’ were found on our system, and only a handful of them could be fixed with the free version. Fixing the 100+ remaining issues required one to buy the product.

Screen Shot 2013-07-12 at 1.07.18 PM Screen Shot 2013-07-16 at 4.42.47 PM

A few minutes after having installed this tool, another window popped up informing us of 30 malware infections needing to be fixed, which required the purchase of yet another product. 

Screen Shot 2013-07-16 at 5.01.49 PMScreen Shot 2013-07-16 at 4.57.00 PM

These executables don’t appear to be malicious per se – however, programs asking for money to install bogus PC optimizers are blatant scamware products you need to be aware of. 

Additional malicious domains:

websearch.4shared.com
websearch.a-searchpage.info
websearch.coolwebsearch.info
websearch.good-results.info
websearch.greatresults.info
websearch.helpmefindyour.info
websearch.homesearchapp.info
websearch.homesearch-hub.info
websearch.lookforithere.info
websearch.pu-result.info
websearch.pur-esult.info
websearch.pu-results.info
websearch.resulthunters.info
websearch.searchannel.info
websearch.searchdwebs.info
websearch.searchingissme.info
websearch.searchmainia.info
websearch.searchouse.info
websearch.searchrocket.info
websearch.simplespeedy.info
websearch.soft-quick.info
websearch.youwillfind.info

Suggested Blogs

  • Cloud Application Security – Risks, Questions, Insights, and Solutions July 1, 2021 3 minute read
  • Cisco Umbrella discovers evolving, complex cyberthreats in first half of 2020 August 18, 2020 6 minute read
  • New research shows consumers want cybersecurity from service providers July 7, 2020 4 minute read

Share this blog

FacebookTweetLinkedIn

Follow Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Footer Sections

What we make

  • Cloud Security Service
  • DNS-Layer Network Security
  • Secure Web Gateway
  • Security Packages

Who we are

  • Global Cloud Architecture
  • Cloud Network Status
  • Cloud Network Activity
  • OpenDNS is now Umbrella
  • Cisco Umbrella Blog

Learn more

  • Webinars
  • Careers
  • Support
  • Cisco Umbrella Live Demo
  • Contact Sales
Umbrella by Cisco
208.67.222.222+208.67.220.220
2620:119:35::35+2620:119:53::53
Sign up for a Free Trial
  • Cisco Online Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Sitemap

© 2023 Cisco Umbrella