PUA-TOOLBARS -- Snort has detected a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA). This Is a program which installs adware or toolbars, collects information, runs unwanted processes that consume computing resources, or has otherwise unclear objectives. These are usually additional programs bundled with legitimate programs. Some users consider the benefit of the main application to outweigh the risks of the PUA; you are paying for a free product by contributing with advertising or data. These alerts are often assigned a lower risk, as they are not directly malicious or as fast-spreading as worms or trojans. This alert concerns PUA that deals with toolbars and other browser add-ons. These are usually unnecessary additions which consume screen real estate and/or computing resources, and may slow your computer performance.
PUA-TOOLBARS Hijacker customtoolbar runtime detection
This event is generated when activity relating to a spyware application is detected. Impact: Unknown. Possible information disclosure, violation of privacy, possible violation of policy. Details: Spyware is malicious software running on a host that may intercept or take information from the host system without a users consent or knowledge. Spyware is also capable of using a hosts Internet connection without the knowledge or consent of the user, in order to deliver that information to an unauthorized third party. This software not only uses available bandwidth on a network connection but also consumes system resources to the point of making the host unusable in some cases. Spyware can be classified into multiple categories depending on the behavior of the software. In particular, this event indicates that the software detected is a hijacker. Hijacker programs take control of browser settings and are able to redirect information intended for one web site to another without the consent and knowledge of the user. Ease of Attack: Simple. This is spyware activity.
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No known false positives
Cisco Talos
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