LogFormat Adware
Оur research team came across the LogFormat adware, which is a member of the AdLoad malware family. LogFormat is responsible for delivering intrusive ad campaigns and may harbor additional harmful functionalities.
Adware, short for advertising-supported software, is designed to inundate users with unwanted and potentially malicious advertisements. These third-party graphical elements can appear on visited websites, desktops, or other interfaces.
It's important to note that certain conditions may need to be met for adware like LogFormat to function effectively, such as having a compatible browser or system, specific user geolocation, or visiting particular websites. However, even if LogFormat does not actively display advertisements, its presence on a system poses a persistent threat to device and user safety.
Advertisements displayed by adware can endorse various scams, unreliable or hazardous software, and even malware. Clicking on these ads can trigger scripts that perform stealthy downloads or installations.
While legitimate products or services may occasionally be advertised through these means, they are unlikely to be endorsed by official parties. Instead, such promotion is often driven by scammers seeking to earn illegitimate commissions by exploiting affiliate programs.
Although AdLoad applications typically include browser-hijacking capabilities, we did not observe these qualities during our testing of the LogFormat adware.
Furthermore, advertising-supported software typically includes data-tracking capabilities, which may also be true for LogFormat. This information can encompass visited URLs, viewed webpages, search queries, internet cookies, personally identifiable details, account log-in credentials, financial data, and more. This sensitive data is then at risk of being shared with or sold to third parties.
How Can Adware Expose You to Privacy and Security Risks?
Adware can expose you to privacy and security risks in several ways:
Collecting and Sharing Personal Information: Adware often gathers information about your browsing habits, search history, IP address, device identifiers, and other sensitive data. This information can be shared with third-party advertisers or malicious actors without your consent, compromising your privacy.
Displaying Malicious Ads: Adware can display intrusive and misleading advertisements that lead to phishing websites, scams, or malicious downloads. Clicking on these ads can expose you to malware infections or other security threats.
Browser Hijacking: Some adware variants hijack your web browser settings, changing your homepage, default search engine, or new tab page without permission. This can redirect your browsing activities to malicious websites or unwanted content.
Installing Unwanted Software: Adware may bundle with other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) or browser extensions that install additional software without your knowledge or consent. This can slow down your system, consume resources, and compromise its security.
Tracking and Selling Your Data: Adware often tracks your online activities to create targeted advertising profiles. This data can be sold to advertisers or used for malicious purposes, such as identity theft or financial fraud.
Interfering with System Performance: Adware can cause your computer to slow down, freeze, or crash due to the continuous display of ads and resource-intensive activities running in the background.
Exploiting Vulnerabilities: Adware may exploit security vulnerabilities in your operating system or software to gain unauthorized access to your system or install malware silently.
Compromising Online Accounts: Adware can steal login credentials, financial information, or sensitive data entered into compromised browsers, putting your online accounts at risk of unauthorized access or identity theft.
