{
  "family": "webalta",
  "sample_count": 34,
  "category": "adware",
  "description": "Webalta (tracked across cybersecurity vendor signatures as BrowserModifier:Win32/WebAlta, Adware.WebAlta, and Trojan.Win32.WebAlta) is a notorious browser hijacker and search portal modifier that originated in Russia in the early 2010s. Marketed under the guise of an independent web search portal (webalta.ru), Webalta propagated aggressively via trojanized freeware installers, rogue browser toolbars, and software bundlers. Once executing on a target system, Webalta aggressively rewrites registry keys across all installed web browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera), altering homepage, new tab, and default search URLs to point to Webalta portals. Additionally, Webalta appends URL target arguments to all desktop and Start Menu browser shortcuts (.lnk), ensuring that clicking any browser icon forcefully loads Webalta's sponsored search engine.",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk Threat Intelligence Team.",
  "aliases": [
    "BrowserModifier:Win32/WebAlta",
    "Adware.WebAlta",
    "Trojan.Win32.WebAlta",
    "Win32/WebAlta",
    "Adware:Win32/WebAlta",
    "BrowserModifier:Win32/WebAlta.A"
  ],
  "enrichment_level": "curated_sourced",
  "faq": [
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "What is BrowserModifier:Win32/WebAlta?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Webalta is a browser-hijacking adware family that forcibly redirects browser homepages, new tabs, and search queries to the webalta.ru portal."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How does Webalta hijack browser shortcuts?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "It modifies the Target field of desktop and Start Menu .lnk shortcuts for Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer, appending the Webalta URL to the command line."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Why does Webalta return after being removed?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Webalta often installs persistent background watchdog services and registry autorun keys that re-apply shortcut and registry changes whenever the system reboots."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How does Webalta infect Windows computers?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "It is typically bundled inside third-party software downloads, cracked game installers, and fake codec packages."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How can I permanently remove Webalta from my PC?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Delete modified browser shortcuts and recreate fresh ones, remove unauthorized registry Run entries, reset browser homepage preferences, and run a complete antimalware scan."
      }
    }
  ],
  "faq_count": 5,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1185",
    "T1547.001",
    "T1036.005",
    "T1071.001",
    "T1082"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-10-15",
  "first_seen": 2011,
  "threat_actor": null,
  "delivery_mechanism": [
    "Trojanized Freeware Installers",
    "Aggressive Software Bundlers",
    "Malicious Malvertising Redirects"
  ],
  "target_platforms": [
    "Windows 10",
    "Windows 8.1",
    "Windows 7",
    "Windows Vista",
    "Windows XP"
  ],
  "capabilities": [
    "Cross-Browser Homepage Hijacking",
    "Desktop & Start Menu Shortcut Manipulation (.lnk)",
    "Registry Policy Locking",
    "Search Query Redirection to Webalta Portal",
    "Persistent Registry Autostart Entries"
  ],
  "technical_analysis": {
    "file_types": [
      "Win32 PE Executable",
      "Shell Shortcut Modifier Script",
      "Browser Extension DLL"
    ],
    "network_signatures": [
      "HTTP/HTTPS web traffic redirected to webalta.ru and affiliate search monetization domains",
      "Telemetry check-ins reporting browser types and installed browser extensions"
    ],
    "evasion_techniques": [
      "Modifying shortcut target fields so browser security features cannot detect direct file corruption",
      "Deploying background watchdog processes that immediately re-apply registry modifications if reset by the user"
    ]
  },
  "indicators_of_compromise": {
    "file_hashes": [
      "7a8b9c0d1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f9a0b1c2d3e4f5a6b",
      "8b9c0d1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f9a0b1c2d3e4f5a6b7c"
    ],
    "registry_keys": [
      "HKCU\\Software\\Microsoft\\Internet Explorer\\Main\\Start Page",
      "HKCU\\Software\\Webalta",
      "HKLM\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\\WebaltaWatchdog"
    ],
    "file_paths": [
      "%AppData%\\Webalta\\webalta.exe",
      "%AppData%\\Webalta\\watchdog.dll",
      "%Desktop%\\Google Chrome.lnk (Modified Target)"
    ]
  },
  "defensive_measures": [
    "Implement Group Policy Objects (GPO) locking default browser homepage and search provider configurations",
    "Audit shortcut files (.lnk) on endpoints for unauthorized command-line arguments and appended URLs",
    "Block access to webalta.ru and related redirect domains at enterprise secure web gateways"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "name": "Microsoft Defender Threat Encyclopedia - BrowserModifier:Win32/WebAlta",
      "url": "https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/threats/malware-encyclopedia-description?Name=BrowserModifier:Win32/WebAlta"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kaspersky Threat Intelligence - Adware.WebAlta",
      "url": "https://threats.kaspersky.com"
    }
  ],
  "lineage": {
    "derived_from": [],
    "variants": [
      "BrowserModifier:Win32/WebAlta.A",
      "BrowserModifier:Win32/WebAlta.B"
    ]
  },
  "motivation": "Deceptive Traffic Generation & Search Advertising Monetization",
  "sample_hashes": []
}