{
  "family": "secucharge",
  "sample_count": 1,
  "category": "ransomware",
  "description": "<h3>Executive Summary</h3>\nSecuCharge is a classification for a category of Adware and Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs). Its primary objective is unauthorized monetization through the aggressive tracking of user web behavior and the injection of intrusive, highly targeted advertisements (such as pop-ups, pop-unders, and embedded banners) into the victim's web browser, severely degrading system performance and privacy.\n\n<h3>Infection Vector and Technical Capabilities</h3>\nSecuCharge adware is almost exclusively distributed via software bundling (pay-per-install networks). Users typically install this threat inadvertently when downloading \"free\" utilities (like media players or PDF converters) from third-party download portals, failing to uncheck pre-selected boxes during the installation wizard.\n\nUpon execution, the software focuses on data collection and ad injection:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Browser Integration:</strong> The adware installs persistent Browser Helper Objects (BHOs) or malicious extensions into major web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge). It may also alter the browser's default homepage and search engine to route traffic through affiliate marketing portals.</li>\n<li><strong>Ad Injection and Overlay:</strong> SecuCharge significantly degrades the user experience by injecting its own advertisements into legitimate websites. It often overlays legitimate ads with its own, spawns new browser windows, or highlights random text on a page to create hyperlinked ads leading to dubious products or services.</li>\n<li><strong>Data Tracking:</strong> To serve targeted ads, the adware tracks the user's browsing history, search queries, and geographical location, transmitting this telemetry to third-party marketing servers without clear consent.</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h3>Threat Assessment</h3>\nWhile SecuCharge is not typically designed to destroy data like ransomware or steal banking credentials like an Info-stealer, it poses a severe privacy risk and significantly degrades system performance (causing browser crashes and high CPU usage). Furthermore, the aggressive ad networks utilized by these programs frequently serve \"malvertising,\" exposing the user to severe secondary infections.\n\n<h3>Remediation and Eradication</h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Application Removal:</strong> The first step is to identify and uninstall the core adware application via the Windows Control Panel, looking for recently installed, suspicious \"free\" utilities or toolbars often bearing names related to \"Media,\" \"Search,\" or \"Deals.\"</li>\n<li><strong>Browser Reset:</strong> Because SecuCharge deeply alters browser configurations, the most effective remediation is a complete reset of all installed web browsers to their factory default settings, which automatically clears malicious extensions, BHOs, and tracking cookies.</li>\n<li><strong>Anti-Malware Sweep:</strong> Run a comprehensive scan using a reputable anti-malware solution specifically tuned to detect and remove Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs) and lingering registry keys left behind by the adware.</li>\n</ul>",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [
    "Adware.SecuCharge",
    "PUP.SecuCharge",
    "Win32/Adware.SecuCharge"
  ],
  "enrichment_level": "insufficient_information",
  "faq": [],
  "faq_count": 0,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1185",
    "T1176",
    "T1546.015"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-07-01T17:33:16Z",
  "type": "Adware / PUP",
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ]
}