Linkey Project or LinkeyProject.com
Posted: December 30, 2013
Threat Metric
The Threat Meter is a malware assessment that SpywareRemove.com's research team is able to
give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of
specific malware threats to value their severity, reach and volume. The Threat Meter is able to give
you a numerical breakdown of each threat's initial Threat Level, Detection Count, Volume Count,
Trend Path and Percentage Impact. The overall ranking of each threat in the Threat Meter is a basic
breakdown of how all threats are ranked within our own extensive malware database. The scoring for
each specific malware threat can be easily compared to other emerging threats to draw a contrast in
its particular severity. The Threat Meter is a useful tool in the endeavor of seeking a solution to
remove a threat or pursue additional analytical research for all types of computer users.
The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:
Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.
Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.
Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.
Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.
% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.
The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:
Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.
Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.
Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.
Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.
% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.
| Ranking: | 1,540 |
|---|---|
| Threat Level: | 5/10 |
| Infected PCs: | 233,489 |
| First Seen: | December 30, 2013 |
|---|---|
| Last Seen: | October 17, 2023 |
| OS(es) Affected: | Windows |
The Linkey Project is a Potentially Unwanted Program that modifies your browser to promote various websites through additional links. Potential issues related to the Linkey Project may include a hijacked homepage or search engine, as well as general browser performance problems that are detrimental to your Web browser. Although malware experts have looked the Linkey Project over and found the Linkey Project insufficiently unsafe to be considered as a threat, deleting the Linkey Project and similar PUPs may provide you with a better Internet-surfing experience than letting them stay on your computer.
The Linking Project You May Be Rethinking When You Opt In
The Linkey Project claims to offer 'quick and easy' access to popular websites, but, as a browser add-on, the Linkey Project offers few features of any value. Because the Linkey Project still is being developed and may add or subtract features over time, malware researchers can't verify all of the Linkey Project's functions. However, common problems that previous users of the Linkey Project have complained about include:
- Worsened browser performance. This potentially may be caused by the Linkey Project monitoring your Web-browsing habits for non-confidential data, such as your favorite search terms or websites.
- Homepage, search or new tab hijacks that redirect you to the Linkey Project's primary application page. Although the Linkey Project's page doesn't provide any intentionally corrupted links, being redirected to this page may prevent you from using an alternative site or choosing your own Web-browsing settings. Recurring issues in this area may cause malware experts to classify the Linkey Project as a browser hijacker, as well as a PUP.
- The Linkey Project doesn't try to harm your computer intentionally, but the Linkey Project does ignore your default Web-browsing settings and may deny you the chance to regulate your browser's behavior yourself. Perhaps most importantly, the Linkey Project claims to be beneficial to your PC but, like most PUPs, is more of a case of valueless software clutter than anything else.
Unlinking Your Browser from a Project with Little Benefit
The browser changes made by the Linkey Project may not be equivalent to the direct attacks of a banking Trojan or similar threat, but, still, they aren't to your overall advantage. You can make your own decision about how valuable you find the Linkey Project to be, but malware researchers always would call for deleting the Linkey Project and other PUPs for keeping your browser's performance and safety maximized. This is applicable to all browsers affected by the Linkey Project, which, so far, include Chrome, Firefox and, as usual, the often-abused Internet Explorer.
Removing the Linkey Project with anti-malware tools will provide the cleanest uninstallation process and help keep your browser from displaying any additional unwanted behavior. During scans where your security suite fails to recognize the Linkey Project as a PUP, malware experts would recommend installing any available database updates before making a second attempt.
Aliases
Riskware/SearchSuite [Fortinet]Win64.Application.AztecSystemk.C [GData]RiskWare[WebToolbar:not-a-virus]/Win64.SearchSuite [Antiy-AVL]Artemis [McAfee-GW-Edition]SearchSuite [Sophos]not-a-virus:WebToolbar.Win64.SearchSuite.e [Kaspersky]Trojan.Semnager [Symantec]Artemis!74319F4311C7 [McAfee]
Technical Details
File System Modifications
Tutorials: If you wish to learn how to remove malware components manually, you can read the tutorials on how to find malware, kill unwanted processes, remove malicious DLLs and delete other harmful files. Always be sure to back up your PC before making any changes.
The following files were created in the system:C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Linkey\IEExtension\ietlbl64.exe
File name: ietlbl64.exeSize: 104.44 KB (104440 bytes)
MD5: 97581dd119f9f1a68b50b7ff71c670fb
Detection count: 3,914
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Linkey\IEExtension\ietlbl64.exe
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: January 12, 2022
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey\IEExtension\ietlbl64.exe
File name: ietlbl64.exeSize: 104.46 KB (104464 bytes)
MD5: da0fff6c6fca6c7584a158759fb2e4ba
Detection count: 2,478
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey\IEExtension
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: December 27, 2019
C:\Program Files (x86)\Assets Manager\smdmf\x64\smdmfmgrc3.cfg
File name: smdmfmgrc3.cfgSize: 45.96 KB (45968 bytes)
MD5: 3b16b559c70efa862fb43c423622ef36
Detection count: 1,031
Mime Type: unknown/cfg
Path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Assets Manager\smdmf\x64\smdmfmgrc3.cfg
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: June 5, 2022
C:\Program Files\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll64.dll
File name: iedll64.dllSize: 182.8 KB (182800 bytes)
MD5: 51486743f356ea02dde4596a45edca55
Detection count: 405
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Path: C:\Program Files\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll64.dll
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: September 13, 2023
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll.dll
File name: iedll.dllSize: 156.15 KB (156152 bytes)
MD5: b6eefbd2a796f7904008c92abfce6469
Detection count: 281
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Path: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll.dll
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: January 12, 2022
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll.dll
File name: iedll.dllSize: 156.17 KB (156176 bytes)
MD5: 89b1114786efdaa228053bc063571054
Detection count: 269
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Path: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll.dll
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: November 26, 2021
C:\AdwCleaner\Quarantine\C\Program Files (x86)\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll64.dll.vir
File name: iedll64.dll.virSize: 182.8 KB (182800 bytes)
MD5: 839e1959658d305d31d900c98a39ef84
Detection count: 211
Mime Type: unknown/vir
Path: C:\AdwCleaner\Quarantine\C\Program Files (x86)\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll64.dll.vir
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: February 23, 2022
C:\Program Files (x86)\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll.dll
File name: iedll.dllSize: 155.9 KB (155904 bytes)
MD5: 043db173717851ebf40e58ffac8ee32a
Detection count: 157
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll.dll
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: November 21, 2022
C:\AdwCleaner\Quarantine\C\Program Files (x86)\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll.dll.vir
File name: iedll.dll.virSize: 155.15 KB (155152 bytes)
MD5: dac57190e07c3ad9d0969086830e5416
Detection count: 126
Mime Type: unknown/vir
Path: C:\AdwCleaner\Quarantine\C\Program Files (x86)\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll.dll.vir
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: April 14, 2022
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll.dll
File name: iedll.dllSize: 175.63 KB (175632 bytes)
MD5: 6b81e1a9b2972022dc618472ba817461
Detection count: 72
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Path: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey\IEExtension
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: March 19, 2016
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll.dll
File name: iedll.dllSize: 154.64 KB (154640 bytes)
MD5: 89fee3a8995560ee59d972e5a7e9aad2
Detection count: 70
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Path: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll.dll
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: June 25, 2021
%PROGRAMFILES%\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll.dll
File name: iedll.dllSize: 155.9 KB (155904 bytes)
MD5: b9a7cb567b034662f527e4a8a9d52783
Detection count: 63
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Path: %PROGRAMFILES%\Linkey\IEExtension
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: March 19, 2016
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll64.dll
File name: iedll64.dllSize: 183.82 KB (183824 bytes)
MD5: 7dffac2e2ea29b858cedee556132d138
Detection count: 44
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Path: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll64.dll
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: November 26, 2021
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll64.dll
File name: iedll64.dllSize: 182.28 KB (182288 bytes)
MD5: ff475a6a947522c43c14c986a85cc54a
Detection count: 40
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Path: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll64.dll
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: June 25, 2021
%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Linkey\IEExtension\ietlbl.exe
File name: ietlbl.exeSize: 156.66 KB (156664 bytes)
MD5: 6af80657cde9535ca945a0eda943eb2c
Detection count: 21
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Linkey\IEExtension
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: March 19, 2016
%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\LINKEY\IEEXTE~1\iedll64.dll
File name: iedll64.dllSize: 20B (20 bytes)
MD5: 0248eed29b01a9a393dd734902656676
Detection count: 13
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Path: %PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\LINKEY\IEEXTE~1
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: March 23, 2016
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey\IEExtension\ietlbl.exe
File name: ietlbl.exeSize: 252.94 KB (252944 bytes)
MD5: 94f06aaace6880d6915e8487307dd0ac
Detection count: 12
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey\IEExtension
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: March 19, 2016
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey\IEExtension\ietlbl.exe
File name: ietlbl.exeSize: 87.03 KB (87032 bytes)
MD5: 05b7b19f619b82f2ac11ea408b03959e
Detection count: 7
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey\IEExtension
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: March 19, 2016
%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Linkey\IEExtension\ietlbl.exe
File name: ietlbl.exeSize: 137.71 KB (137716 bytes)
MD5: eae98f50551c785c4ad2876285551022
Detection count: 7
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Linkey\IEExtension
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: March 19, 2016
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey\IEExtension\ietlbl64.exe
File name: ietlbl64.exeSize: 228.88 KB (228880 bytes)
MD5: a6cf254eefe312e8ae01f3543c7537e0
Detection count: 7
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey\IEExtension
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: March 19, 2016
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey\IEExtension\ietlbl.exe
File name: ietlbl.exeSize: 128.5 KB (128508 bytes)
MD5: 5851fa9948b53516bf65fa38ab32f342
Detection count: 5
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey\IEExtension
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: March 19, 2016
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey\IEExtension\ietlbl.exe
File name: ietlbl.exeSize: 127.99 KB (127996 bytes)
MD5: b94276425857938e9c543a5591df1985
Detection count: 5
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey\IEExtension
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: March 19, 2016
More files
Registry Modifications
The following newly produced Registry Values are:
CLSID{4613B1C1-FBC0-43C3-A4B9-B1D6CD360BB3}{4D9101D6-5BA0-4048-BDDE-7E2DF54C8C47}{6A7CD9EC-D8BD-4340-BCD0-77C09A282921}{726E90BE-DC22-4965-B215-E0784DC26F47}{C9776592-77D0-4C68-8F83-BC65F674B92A}File name without pathLinkey.lnkRegexp file mask%LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll64.dll%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll64.dllHKEY..\..\..\..{RegistryKeys}"Software\Linkey"SOFTWARE\Classes\Linkey.LinkeySoftware\LinkeySOFTWARE\LinkeyDealsSoftware\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Approved Extensions\{4D9101D6-5BA0-4048-BDDE-7E2DF54C8C47}Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage\linkeyproject.comSoftware\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage\www.linkeyproject.comSOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{4D9101D6-5BA0-4048-BDDE-7E2DF54C8C47}Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{4D9101D6-5BA0-4048-BDDE-7E2DF54C8C47}Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{4D9101D6-5BA0-4048-BDDE-7E2DF54C8C47}SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Linkey DealsSOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Linkey Dealsx64SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\LinkeySOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\LinkeyDealsSOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{4D9101D6-5BA0-4048-BDDE-7E2DF54C8C47}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\[APPLICATION]\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall..{Uninstaller}Linkey
CLSID{4613B1C1-FBC0-43C3-A4B9-B1D6CD360BB3}{4D9101D6-5BA0-4048-BDDE-7E2DF54C8C47}{6A7CD9EC-D8BD-4340-BCD0-77C09A282921}{726E90BE-DC22-4965-B215-E0784DC26F47}{C9776592-77D0-4C68-8F83-BC65F674B92A}File name without pathLinkey.lnkRegexp file mask%LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll64.dll%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll64.dllHKEY..\..\..\..{RegistryKeys}"Software\Linkey"SOFTWARE\Classes\Linkey.LinkeySoftware\LinkeySOFTWARE\LinkeyDealsSoftware\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Approved Extensions\{4D9101D6-5BA0-4048-BDDE-7E2DF54C8C47}Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage\linkeyproject.comSoftware\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage\www.linkeyproject.comSOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{4D9101D6-5BA0-4048-BDDE-7E2DF54C8C47}Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{4D9101D6-5BA0-4048-BDDE-7E2DF54C8C47}Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{4D9101D6-5BA0-4048-BDDE-7E2DF54C8C47}SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Linkey DealsSOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Linkey Dealsx64SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\LinkeySOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\LinkeyDealsSOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{4D9101D6-5BA0-4048-BDDE-7E2DF54C8C47}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\[APPLICATION]\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall..{Uninstaller}Linkey
Additional Information
The following directories were created:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey%PROGRAMFILES%\Linkey%PROGRAMFILES%\LinkeyDeals%PROGRAMFILES(X86)%\Linkey%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\LinkeyDeals%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Linkey
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