Wow Search

Posted: March 24, 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:	2,639
Threat Level:	5/10
Infected PCs:	155,246

First Seen:	March 24, 2014
Last Seen:	March 10, 2025
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Wow Search is both a search site and associated browser toolbar that promotes Wow Search, along with other unwanted products and, in some cases, even threats. Even though malware experts have verified that Wow Search's current search results are safe to browse, Wow Search's overall bad reputation and tendency to be associated with negative browser add-ons makes the removal of all Wow Search software a default recommendation for your PC's safety. Some variants of Wow Search software may disable your access to browser add-on settings and may even be installed with other, equally unwanted software. Using general anti-malware software is recommended for overcoming these common issues, both for Wow Search and for similar browser-hijacking search engines.

Wow Search – a Search Site that Scarcely 'Wows' Its Users

Found at wow.utop.it, Wow Search is a search site that scrapes content from other search engines to fuel its results. While this isn't illegal, there are no benefits to using Wow Search's search engine, nor do malware experts recommend installing the software associated with Wow Search. The latter warning is particularly relevant, due to recently-identified browser-hijacking campaigns that are associated with Wow Search. These attacks are coordinated by Potentially Unwanted Programs that are installed through bundles with other software and files, such as technical user manuals for electronics. Naturally, scanning any files downloaded from a potentially unsafe source is the most immediate defense that malware experts can recommend.

Wow Search add-ons have been identified with a variety of generic names, such as 'Plugins,' and also may be bundled with other programs like 'Download 0.1.7' or EZ Dropbox. In some cases, these programs also may include other, beneficial features along with their redirects to Wow Search. In others, resetting your homepage or search engine to Wow Search, or loading an additional search bar for Wow Search, is the only function that the add-ons possess. Based on the patterns of previous incidents, malware researchers estimate that Chrome and Firefox browsers are more propense to being targeted by these browser hijacks.

Finding a Search Engine Utopia Away from Wow Search's Utop.it

Though there's no harm in browsing the Web with Wow Search, neither are there any advantages to using its search services, or letting PUPs redirect your browser to Wow Search automatically. Since the latter function may be a security issue, malware researchers recommend removing all unwanted Wow Search add-ons from any browser modified by them. Wow Search has a history of using various methods to block the removal of its software, and you may need anti-malware utilities to render deleting Wow Search toolbars as efficient and painless as possible.

No matter how hard they are to uninstall, most browser hijackers and unwanted add-ons are installed through the incidental efforts of the compromised PC's user. Sites that haven't been verified for your safety never should be trusted for file downloads. However, if there are no alternative resources available, you can protect your PC from Wow Search installers, as long as you scan any suspicious files with appropriate and up-to-date security software before launching them.

Use SpyHunter to Detect and Remove PC Threats

If you are concerned that malware or PC threats similar to Wow Search may have infected your computer, we recommend you start an in-depth system scan with SpyHunter. SpyHunter is an advanced malware protection and remediation application that offers subscribers a comprehensive method for protecting PCs from malware, in addition to providing one-on-one technical support service.

Download SpyHunter's Malware Scanner*

* See Free Trial offer below. EULA and Privacy/Cookie Policy. * See Free Trial offer below. EULA and Privacy/Cookie Policy.

Why can't I open any program including SpyHunter? You may have a malware file running in memory that kills any programs that you try to launch on your PC. Tip: Download SpyHunter from a clean computer, copy it to a USB thumb drive, DVD or CD, then install it on the infected PC and run SpyHunter's malware scanner.

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:

%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\yvd_chrome_se.exe

File name: yvd_chrome_se.exe
Size: 2.03 MB (2032503 bytes)
MD5: bbbda84b36c5e1c35eeeae5e97420d1f
Detection count: 9,066
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\yvd_chrome_se.exe
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: April 28, 2023

C:\ProgramData\yvd_ie_se.exe

File name: yvd_ie_se.exe
Size: 837.53 KB (837536 bytes)
MD5: 6a99c2d85398302a4c75283076d99176
Detection count: 3,949
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: C:\ProgramData\yvd_ie_se.exe
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: November 6, 2022

C:\ProgramData\yvd_firefox_se.exe

File name: yvd_firefox_se.exe
Size: 1.52 MB (1529534 bytes)
MD5: f1a3227d3d9e416e4631e64f3ada9d80
Detection count: 3,197
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: C:\ProgramData\yvd_firefox_se.exe
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: February 26, 2023

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\0PS72R2M\wow_ch_v1.0.4[1].exe

File name: wow_ch_v1.0.4[1].exe
Size: 1.29 MB (1290554 bytes)
MD5: 1afc902c9fa4ccad85cabec992a7f70b
Detection count: 700
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\0PS72R2M\wow_ch_v1.0.4[1].exe
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: April 28, 2023

More files

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

File name without pathhttp_utop.it_0.localstoragehttp_utop.it_0.localstorage-journalHKEY..\..\..\..{RegistryKeys}Software\Classes\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{9bb2c1cc-4a7d-4cd5-bce9-0ca5f9ff8391}SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage\utop.itSoftware\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{9bb2c1cc-4a7d-4cd5-bce9-0ca5f9ff8391}SOFTWARE\wow searchSOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{9bb2c1cc-4a7d-4cd5-bce9-0ca5f9ff8391}SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\wow search

Additional Information

The following directories were created:

%PROGRAMFILES%\wow search%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\wow search

The following URL's were detected:

res.utop.itwow.utop.it