Linkey Project or LinkeyProject.com
Posted: December 30, 2013
Threat Metric
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give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of
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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
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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: | 3,625 |
|---|---|
| Threat Level: | 5/10 |
| Infected PCs: | 235,667 |
| First Seen: | December 30, 2013 |
|---|---|
| Last Seen: | March 10, 2025 |
| 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\ietlb.dll
File name: ietlb.dllSize: 129.04 KB (129040 bytes)
MD5: ba7fab33a15fb726c78a68fdcd3ae04e
Detection count: 9,258
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Path: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Linkey\IEExtension\ietlb.dll
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: July 23, 2024
C:\System Volume Information\_restore{AC5B0343-7B70-4117-8898-7EF68E83D973}\RP267\A0050032.dll
File name: A0050032.dllSize: 202.76 KB (202768 bytes)
MD5: 4a383b30952061dac5816f2bc5130c1f
Detection count: 8,865
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Path: C:\System Volume Information\_restore{AC5B0343-7B70-4117-8898-7EF68E83D973}\RP267\A0050032.dll
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: March 23, 2023
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Win_update\Win_update.exe
File name: Win_update.exeSize: 292.35 KB (292352 bytes)
MD5: f0977316467747fa4a7dc4f424a04e98
Detection count: 8,771
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Win_update\Win_update.exe
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: December 29, 2021
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Linkey\IEExtension\ietlb64.dll
File name: ietlb64.dllSize: 148.49 KB (148496 bytes)
MD5: 74319f4311c76309b4f21eb83de6653d
Detection count: 1,921
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Path: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Linkey\IEExtension\ietlb64.dll
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: December 28, 2024
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
%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\LinkeyDeals\msilnk.exe
File name: msilnk.exeSize: 249.34 KB (249344 bytes)
MD5: 4dd3575b48158a7d9287d43497ae431d
Detection count: 162
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\LinkeyDeals
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: May 4, 2020
%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\LinkeyDeals\msilnk64.exe
File name: msilnk64.exeSize: 305.15 KB (305152 bytes)
MD5: f1f215ac8884b24fda0008122def95c7
Detection count: 148
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\LinkeyDeals
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: May 4, 2020
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\iedll64.dll
File name: iedll64.dllSize: 202.25 KB (202256 bytes)
MD5: 47a3cd4b33bc2a76f300fe21bfcc290f
Detection count: 85
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Path: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Linkey\IEExtension
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: March 23, 2016
%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
%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
%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\IEExtension\iedll64.dll
File name: iedll64.dllSize: 20B (20 bytes)
MD5: 37708438975303e89a6fd4e8bc948240
Detection count: 14
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Path: %PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\Linkey\IEExtension
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: March 23, 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\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
C:\Users\<username>\Documents\09.- Programas de Robert\Programs 1\LinkeySetup-r0-n-bc.exe
File name: LinkeySetup-r0-n-bc.exeSize: 1.46 MB (1460592 bytes)
MD5: f7ef8bf908b51f10187f3c858d81dc3a
Detection count: 5
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: C:\Users\<username>\Documents\09.- Programas de Robert\Programs 1\LinkeySetup-r0-n-bc.exe
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: October 17, 2022
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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