Home Malware Programs Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs) Mustang Browser

Mustang Browser

Posted: August 19, 2015

Threat Metric

Ranking: 12,437
Threat Level: 1/10
Infected PCs: 1,492
First Seen: August 6, 2015
Last Seen: September 30, 2023
OS(es) Affected: Windows

Although the initial impressions of the users about Mustang Browser are sometimes positive, the experts have all the necessary reasons to classify it as a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP). This separate web client can easily deceive the people that it will improve their overall online experience. In the list of the offered features, the PC users may notice a faster loading speed, an integrated ad-blocking mechanism and even a real-time shield against cyber threats. It is only after the people agree to install Mustang Browser that they understand most of the promised services are absent. This application, which is created on the popular Chromium platform, inserts too many annoying advertisements to the websites. These commercial materials are there for one simple reason – to generate revenues for the developers of this PUP. Instead of blocking the page-based ads, Mustang Browser merely replaces them with banners, pop-ups and videos that lead to partner sites. The problems with these commercial materials can be divided into two main categories. First, they may cause great annoyance as they appear consistently wherever you go. Second, they may take you to some parts of the web you don't want to visit – for example, malicious or fraudulent pages. Ironically, the presence of the marketing content makes the operating speed of Mustang Browser way slower than the one of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Since the PUP isn't able to enhance your surfing experience, there is no reason to keep it on your PC.

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:\Program Files\Mustang Browser\Uninstall.exe File name: C:\Program Files\Mustang Browser\Uninstall.exe
Size: 158B (158 bytes)
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file
Mustang.exe File name: Mustang.exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

Regexp file mask%WINDIR%\System32\Tasks\MustangBrowserUpdateCore%WINDIR%\System32\Tasks\MustangBrowserUpdateUAHKEY..\..\..\..{RegistryKeys}Software\Classes\MustangHTMSOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\Mustang BrowserSOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\TaskCache\Tree\MustangBrowserUpdateCoreSOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\TaskCache\Tree\MustangBrowserUpdateUASoftware\Mustang BrowserSoftware\Rafotech\MustangSOFTWARE\RegisteredApplications\Mustang BrowserSOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Clients\StartMenuInternet\Mustang BrowserSOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Rafotech\MustangSOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\RegisteredApplications\Mustang Browser

Additional Information

The following directories were created:
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Mustang Browser%LOCALAPPDATA%\Mustang Browser%PROGRAMFILES%\Mustang Browser%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\Mustang Browser
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