Home Malware Programs Adware CounterFlix

CounterFlix

Posted: October 2, 2016

Threat Metric

Threat Level: 2/10
Infected PCs: 16
First Seen: October 2, 2016
Last Seen: January 10, 2019
OS(es) Affected: Windows


Counterflix is a Potentially Unwanted Program that provides users with the ability to visit websites that they should not be able to visit due to restrictions set by their employer, school district or government. These services are usually meant to provide users with access to iPlayer, BBC, Pandora, and other streaming services or social media networks. Other applications that offer similar functionality are DNSUnlocker and AnyFlix, both classified as Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs) by malware researchers. Counterflix is also classified as a Potentially Unwanted Program, and while it may work as expected, using its service may result in being exposed to unwanted advertisements and marketing content while browsing the Web.

Counterflix works by modifying the user's default DNS settings with new information provided by Counterflix. However, this way the user's Web traffic is redirected through 3rd-party DNS services that may have the ability to inject content in the user's browsing sessions. In the case of Counterflix, the injected content is not malicious, but it may come in the forms of advertisements that may be used to promote dubious Web destinations, unreliable software or other irrelevant and annoying content.

The Counterflix DNS changer software may often be introduced on the user's computer without the user's knowledge. Usually, this may happen with the help of software bundles – a software distribution technique that offers users to install 3rd-party applications when they download and install an entirely different program. This is not an illegal way to spread software, and it is often used to distribute helpful utilities and tools. However, some low-quality software bundles may use misleading tricks, confusing installation instructions and other gimmicks whose purpose is to confuse the users and get them to install software they might not need.

Technical Details

Additional Information

The following directories were created:
%PROGRAMFILES%\CounterFlix%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\CounterFlix
Loading...