{
  "family": "jacard",
  "sample_count": 69,
  "category": "advanced_threat",
  "description": "Adware:Win32/Jacard is an intrusive adware variant and browser hijacker that specifically targets web browsers to forcibly redirect traffic, inject advertisements, and harvest user search telemetry for affiliate monetization.<br><br><b>What is Jacard?</b><br>To the average user, Jacard is highly visible and deeply frustrating. The browser homepage is forcibly changed, default search engines are locked to unfamiliar domains, and standard websites are flooded with injected banner ads. For security analysts, Jacard is a classic browser hijacker. It leverages deceptive installation tactics and aggressive persistence mechanisms to ensure the user cannot easily revert their browser settings, guaranteeing continued revenue generation for the attackers.<br><br><b>Infection Vectors & Threat Hunting</b><br>Jacard is almost exclusively distributed via deceptive software bundlers or fake 'browser update' alerts. Upon execution, the adware heavily modifies browser configurations. It installs malicious extensions and frequently leverages Windows Group Policy (GPO) settings to 'lock' the rogue extensions in place, preventing the user from disabling them via the browser's native UI. It establishes persistence via Registry Run keys. Jacard constantly communicates with its C2 infrastructure to download updated lists of ads to inject and to exfiltrate the user's browsing history.<br><br><b>Forensic Analysis & Impact</b><br>The impact is a degraded user experience and a total loss of browsing privacy. Incident responders will observe anomalous HTTP/HTTPS traffic to known ad-tracking networks. EDR logs will show the initial installer modifying browser preference files (e.g., Chrome's `Preferences` JSON file) and establishing unauthorized Group Policies (e.g., under `HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Google\\Chrome\\ExtensionInstallForcelist`).",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [],
  "enrichment_level": "expert-seo",
  "faq": [],
  "faq_count": 0,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1562.001",
    "T1112",
    "T1105",
    "T1176",
    "T1189"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-06-09",
  "mitre_attack_detail": [
    {
      "id": "T1189",
      "name": "Drive-by Compromise",
      "tactic": "Initial Access"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1176",
      "name": "Browser Extensions",
      "tactic": "Persistence"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1112",
      "name": "Modify Registry",
      "tactic": "Defense Evasion"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1562.001",
      "name": "Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools",
      "tactic": "Defense Evasion"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1105",
      "name": "Ingress Tool Transfer",
      "tactic": "Command and Control"
    }
  ],
  "containment_steps": [
    "Quarantine the endpoint to halt the active exfiltration of browsing telemetry and the downloading of further adware modules.",
    "Audit Windows Group Policies and the Registry to remove any forced extension installation policies (ExtensionInstallForcelist) created by the adware.",
    "Deploy an enterprise adware removal tool (e.g., AdwCleaner) to locate and strip the deeply embedded registry hooks and watchdog services.",
    "Force a complete reset of all installed web browsers to factory defaults to eradicate the rogue extensions and restore the homepage."
  ],
  "what_to_avoid": [
    "Do not rely solely on the browser's 'remove extension' button; Jacard frequently uses GPOs and watchdog services to immediately reinstall itself.",
    "Avoid ignoring the infection; adware tracking data is highly detailed and may expose corporate activities or access to internal portals."
  ],
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ]
}