Crusader Adware

Posted: April 3, 2017

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.

Threat Level:	1/10
Infected PCs:	66

First Seen:	April 3, 2017
Last Seen:	September 17, 2022
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The Crusader Adware is an advertising extension that may use browser-hijacking techniques for overwriting or modifying your search results, including automatic redirecting you to other Websites. While the Crusader Adware is a low-level threat with limited potential for damage, being exposed to its affiliate content may cause other security problems for the user. Malware experts suggest deleting the Crusader Adware from your browser with any appropriate anti-malware or anti-adware tool capable of uninstalling unwanted browser add-ons.

The Crusade Launching under a False Banner

Adware can be an all-too-frequent sight for anyone downloading software from untrustworthy resources, particularly peer-to-peer networks. Their well-known symptoms may limit themselves to occasional pop-ups, changing your homepage settings, or inserting new advertisements into your Web pages. However, malware experts see uncharacteristically invasive advertising through a new piece of adware: the Crusader Adware, which may go as far as overwriting support phone numbers.

The Crusader Adware is available in different variants for Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer as either an extension, add-on or Browser Helper Object (BHO). Although malware researchers are finding only demo versions of this adware, it most likely will circulate by bundling with other downloads. The only warning that the Crusader Adware offers during its installation is the by now generic request to read and modify data on any Websites that your browser loads.

In addition to the usual symptoms of adware, such as creating pop-ups and redirecting the Web surfer to affiliate domains, the Crusader Adware also may include an unusual feature for targeting any searches for support phone numbers. The Crusader Adware may replace the numbers associated with brands like Norton or Dell with its affiliated numbers, redirecting the victim to what most likely is a series of con artists. Malware experts often find con artists using such methods of contact for promoting scamware or gaining remote access to the computer.

Ending an Adware's War on Your Browser

The Crusader Adware may re-download its configuration file each time your PC reboots, resulting in your redirecting to different advertising affiliates. While sites that the Crusader Adware promotes are not necessarily sure of being unsafe, extended exposure to an insecure advertising network may lead to other issues, such as an Exploit Kit's drive-by-download or the above phone tactics. Because the Crusader Adware may modify phone numbers without changing any of the related contact information, it could provide threat actors with tailor-made disguises for their operations.

Victims of these attacks should disconnect their PCs from the Internet before using appropriate anti-malware products to scan for threats. Close your Web browser before removing the Crusader Adware, to allow for a complete uninstall, and erase any temporary data, such as the cookies related to its affiliate content. Although the Crusader Adware is only adware, the symptoms of adware may lead to security issues from worse threats than the original, advertising-specialized program.

Many adware products may market themselves as being beneficial or, at the least, non-threatening. The Crusader Adware is the rare exception: adware including a feature that malware experts find difficult to describe as anything other than a facilitator of ill-minded activities.

Crusader Adware

Threat Metric

The Crusade Launching under a False Banner

Ending an Adware's War on Your Browser

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