DNS-Locker

Posted: September 1, 2015

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:	2/10
Infected PCs:	1

First Seen:	September 1, 2015
Last Seen:	May 13, 2020
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

DNS-Locker is a Potentially Unwanted Program designed for delivering advertisements through your Web browser. Even with advertisements from DNS-Locker not being threatening, DNS-Locker's presence, like that of most adware, may be considered a net downside to your Web-surfing stability and security. Malware analysts also have seen some samples of DNS-Locker resisting standard removal techniques, which raises the importance of having appropriate anti-adware products for any PC user interested in removing DNS-Locker permanently.

A Browser Locked Down into Advertisements

DNS-Locker is adware that malware researchers have seen being installed simultaneously to several brands of Web browsers, such as Internet Explorer and Chrome. Despite its brand name similarity to DNS Unlocker, a DNS management utility, these two products have no known relationship. As per usual for other adware products, DNS-Locker claims that it provides a useful feature (in this case, protecting your DNS settings from unwanted changes) in return for displaying its advertisements.

DNS-Locker advertisements may include:

DNS-Locker may use injected advertisements for modifying any Web pages during their loading times. These additional advertisements may look 'built in' for the Web page in question, but are unaffiliated with the site and may cause unintended anomalies with content interactivity or display.
Malware researchers also saw DNS-Locker hijacking some instances of in-browser mouse events, such as clicking to download a file or navigate a link. These browser hijackings may load additional DNS-Locker advertisements and block other websites or file downloads.

Unwanted DNS changes are a legitimate security issue that even high-level threats like DNS Changer have exploited. However, they can be resolved with any number of PC security tools or strategies that have no need of involving adware products. In particular, malware researchers strongly discourage using 'security' products that interfere with you downloading other files or managing the content loaded in your Web browser. In most cases, such programs may cause more security concerns than they alleviate.

The Perfect Lock Pick for a Browser Chained to DNS-Locker

Most adware products, including DNS-Locker, earn the classification of being Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs), due to the likelihood of their unwanted presence but a dearth of illicit or threatening functions. In spite of that categorization, malware experts can't help but note that DNS-Locker does have some attributes in common with invasive threats, and may block you from downloading necessary security solutions or another content. These security issues only are added to the already-present risk of DNS-Locker launching advertisements that can't be disabled and may promote hostile content, including phishing tactics or fraudulent patches harboring threats.

Most PC users should try to delete DNS-Locker as an automatic step against keeping their browsers from being compromised by other, more serious threats than adware. However, DNS-Locker has shown evidence of concealing itself or otherwise blocking most normal attempts at uninstalling DNS-Locker. Counteracting these issues and removing DNS-Locker completely should still be well within the reach of any anti-adware program or similar security suite that's worth your time or money.

DNS-Locker

Threat Metric

A Browser Locked Down into Advertisements

The Perfect Lock Pick for a Browser Chained to DNS-Locker

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