{
  "family": "adbreak",
  "sample_count": 1,
  "category": "ransomware",
  "description": "<h3>Executive Summary</h3>\nAdbreak is a highly disruptive Adware and Browser Hijacker variant designed to aggressively monetize infected endpoints. It achieves this by forcefully injecting unauthorized advertisements into the user's web browsing experience, redirecting search queries to affiliate marketing networks, and comprehensively tracking the user's online behavior to generate illicit ad revenue for the threat actors.\n\n<h3>Infection Vector and Technical Capabilities</h3>\nAdbreak primarily infiltrates systems via deceptive software bundling. It is frequently packaged with \"freeware\" applications, media players, or PDF converters downloaded from third-party, untrustworthy aggregators. The installation is often obscured through deceptive UI \"Dark Patterns\" that trick the user into authorizing the adware's deployment.\n\nOnce installed, Adbreak employs several aggressive techniques:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Browser Extension Forcing:</strong> It installs malicious extensions or add-ons across all major web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge). It often uses Group Policy Object (GPO) modifications in Windows to force-install these extensions and prevent the user from disabling them.</li>\n<li><strong>Search Hijacking and Redirection:</strong> Adbreak alters the browser's default search engine and homepage. Legitimate search queries are intercepted and routed through attacker-controlled domains to artificially inflate traffic metrics for affiliate programs.</li>\n<li><strong>Content Injection:</strong> The adware actively modifies the HTML of legitimate websites the user visits, overlaying the page with intrusive pop-ups, banner ads, and in-text hyperlinks that were not placed there by the site owner.</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h3>Threat Assessment</h3>\nWhile Adbreak does not typically encrypt files like ransomware, it severely degrades the operational capacity of the endpoint. The constant redirection and rendering of injected ads consume significant CPU and RAM, leading to browser crashes and system instability. Furthermore, the extensive harvesting of browsing history constitutes a severe privacy violation.\n\n<h3>Incident Response and Remediation</h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Comprehensive Anti-Malware Scan:</strong> Utilize an enterprise-grade anti-malware solution capable of detecting and removing deeply embedded Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs), specifically targeting the persistent registry keys associated with the hijacker.</li>\n<li><strong>Remediation of Group Policies:</strong> IT staff must inspect the local Group Policy settings (specifically Chrome/Edge enterprise policies) to remove any entries that are force-installing the malicious extensions.</li>\n<li><strong>Browser Factory Reset:</strong> The most effective way to eradicate the hijacking components is to perform a complete factory reset of all installed web browsers, clearing all extensions, caches, and custom settings.</li>\n</ul>",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [
    "Adware.Adbreak",
    "BrowserHijacker.Adbreak",
    "PUP.Adbreak"
  ],
  "enrichment_level": "insufficient_information",
  "faq": [],
  "faq_count": 0,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1562.001",
    "T1185",
    "T1112"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-07-02T07:14:42Z",
  "type": "Adware / Browser Hijacker",
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ]
}