WordExtra

Posted: September 12, 2014

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.

Ranking:	14,627
Threat Level:	2/10
Infected PCs:	15,669

First Seen:	September 8, 2014
Last Seen:	December 22, 2024
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

WordExtra Ads (or, in some cases, simply 'WordExtra') is a browser extension that creates extra, typically undesired advertisements while you surf the Web; AKA, adware. Because of the possibility for WordExtra Ads to accidentally load content that could harm you or your computer, deleting WordExtra Ads is the encouraged course of action by malware researchers, who find few legitimate benefits associated with this software. However, WordExtra Ads is not equivalent to a Trojan or other threatening software and does not need to be considered an immediate breach of your PC's security, in and of itself.

The Add-On that Gets an Extra Word in with Your Browser

WordExtra Ads may be installed in the format of a Chrome extension, Internet Explorer add-on or Firefox add-on, all of which are designed predominately for loading new advertisements while you browse unrelated websites. WordExtra Ads-based advertisements may include injected banners, pop-up windows or other formats. As usual for adware products, the developers of WordExtra Ads also decry any personal responsibility for potential harm that could come to your PC through their third-party advertising partners.

Despite its company claiming to avoid the use of 'data-harvesting technology,' WordExtra Ads also monitors your website traffic and 'clicks.' PC users who place their privacy at a high priority may have an interest in removing WordExtra Ads, which doesn't limit its site-tracking functions to your interactions with its advertisements.

These functions aren't necessarily immediate dangers to your PC, but malware experts often relate adware advertisements to a variety of other security and performance problems, including generally-hindered website accessibility.

Removing the Extra Browser Advertisements You Never Wanted

WordExtra Ads may install itself automatically, which is a traditional distribution strategy amongst various adware publishers. In most cases, using ant-malware products to scan files prior to launching them will let you detect possible installers for WordExtra Ads and other Potentially Unwanted Programs (which also may include toolbars and browser hijackers). However, circumstances where WordExtra Ads appears without an intentional installation of another program may be related to the presence of real threats, such as Zlob-based Trojan downloaders. The latter PC threats require no consent to install WordExtra Ads or, sometimes, even themselves, due to the widespread use of exploits among threat authors.

Beside to the probability of an unwanted installation through third parties, WordExtra Ads also is distributed by the wordextra.com website. Malware researchers' analyses of the site showed no unsafe content or attempts to install WordExtra Ads automatically. However, as is the case with any site that distributes suspicious software, contact with wordextra.com is not advisable, and should be undertaken only while using appropriate browser protection.

While, like any PUP, WordExtra Ads should be removed posthaste, uninstalling WordExtra Ads improperly may lead to your browser continuing to load its advertisements or display other symptoms. Due to these typical risks, you should remove Potentially Unwanted Programs of all types via general anti-adware or anti-malware programs with good records against similar PUPs.

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:

%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Users\<username>\Desktop\GSDataBackup\2020.02.25.MULLIS\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\WordExtra\temp.dat

File name: temp.dat
Size: 1.16 MB (1165183 bytes)
MD5: 67190e94be6457102aeecf730a64e2ea
Detection count: 15,032
File type: Data file
Mime Type: unknown/dat
Path: %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Users\<username>\Desktop\GSDataBackup\2020.02.25.MULLIS\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\WordExtra\temp.dat
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: January 11, 2023

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

HKEY..\..\..\..{RegistryKeys}Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Approved Extensions\{A6C43252-D4D5-4ADC-9678-28558885D150}Software\WordExtraSOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\WordExtraHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\[APPLICATION]\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall..{Uninstaller}WordExtra

Additional Information

The following directories were created:

%APPDATA%\WordExtra