Removal instructions for Comet Arcade

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Comet Arcade?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Comet Arcade is adware. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing.

How do I know if my computer is affected by Comet Arcade?

This is how the startpage looks:

And you may see these warnings:

or this entry in your list of installed programs:

How did Comet Arcade get on my computer?

Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was offered as a game.

How do I remove Comet Arcade?

Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.

Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to your desktop.
Double-click mbam-setup-version.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to the following:
- Enable free trial of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium
- Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Then click Finish.
If an update is found, you will be prompted to download and install the latest version.
Once the program has loaded, select Scan now. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
When the scan is complete , make sure that everything is set to "Quarantine", and click Apply Actions.
Reboot your computer if prompted.

Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Comet Arcade?

No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes Comet Arcade completely.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware help protect me?

We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this adware application.

As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware would have protected you against the Comet Arcade adware. It would have warned you before the adware could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

Technical details for experts

Signs in a HijackThis log:

O23 - Service: CometArcade - Acute Angle Solutions - C:\ProgramData\CometArcade\CometArcadeService.exe

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details  
---------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\ProgramData\CometArcade
       Adds the file app.dat"="8/10/2014 9:51 AM, 767538 bytes, A
       Adds the file CometArcade.dll"="8/10/2014 9:52 AM, 1184120 bytes, A
       Adds the file CometArcade.exe"="8/10/2014 9:52 AM, 50040 bytes, A
       Adds the file CometArcade.exe.config"="8/10/2014 9:52 AM, 190 bytes, A
       Adds the file CometArcade.ico"="7/7/2014 4:44 AM, 132198 bytes, A
       Adds the file CometArcadeService.exe"="8/10/2014 9:51 AM, 2319736 bytes, A
       Adds the file CometArcadeService.exe.config"="8/10/2014 9:51 AM, 189 bytes, A
       Adds the file data.dat"="8/10/2014 9:51 AM, 2048 bytes, A
       Adds the file info.dat"="8/10/2014 9:51 AM, 64 bytes, A
       Adds the file Uninstall.exe"="8/5/2014 3:20 AM, 523128 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\CometArcade

Registry details  
------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{051E9166-B275-4683-907B-372FAE22BC7C}]
       "ad"="REG_SZ", "comet-arcade.com"
       "id"="REG_SZ", "9fba0e0c438c49829c86f79d2c599b73"
       "ip"="REG_SZ", "152971"
       "ns"="REG_SZ", "COMA"
       "p"="REG_SZ", "152971"
       "v"="REG_SZ", "2.7.31"
       "vp"="REG_SZ", "2.7.31152971"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{9C4EFBD5-1ADF-41E6-BE26-AF44326E30E4}]
       "(Default)"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "v"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "vs"="REG_SZ", "1"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{af955bf4-c671-7972-1518-397a02051bf5}]
       "ik"="REG_SZ", "{3a705830-5f70-a96b-d77b-e1a97087dfae}"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{c3b23df8-78bb-7e7d-25c6-b6498b7f5214}]
       "id"="REG_SZ", "9fba0e0c438c49829c86f79d2c599b73"
       "p"="REG_SZ", "152971"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{E5A7A645-8318-4895-B85C-EDC606B80DB6}]
       "id"="REG_SZ", "9fba0e0c438c49829c86f79d2c599b73"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\CometArcadeService_RASAPI32]
       "ConsoleTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536
       "EnableConsoleTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0
       "EnableFileTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0
       "FileDirectory"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "%windir%\tracing"
       "FileTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536
       "MaxFileSize"="REG_DWORD", 1048576
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\CometArcadeService_RASMANCS]
       "ConsoleTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536
       "EnableConsoleTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0
       "EnableFileTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0
       "FileDirectory"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "%windir%\tracing"
       "FileTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536
       "MaxFileSize"="REG_DWORD", 1048576
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\CometArcade]
       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\ProgramData\CometArcade\CometArcade.ico"
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Comet Arcade"
       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "2.7.31"
       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 3655
       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "http://www.comet-arcade.com/about.html"
       "InstallDate"="REG_SZ", "20140810"
       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "Acute Angle Solutions"
       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\ProgramData\CometArcade\uninstall.exe /kb=y /ic=1"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\CometArcade]
       "DependOnService"="REG_MULTI_SZ, "Winmgmt CryptSvc "
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "CometArcade"
       "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "FailureActions"="REG_BINARY, <.....................
       "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, ""C:\ProgramData\CometArcade\CometArcadeService.exe""
       "ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem"
       "Start"="REG_DWORD", 2
       "Type"="REG_DWORD", 16
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\Software\DynConIE]
       "id"="REG_SZ", "9fba0e0c438c49829c86f79d2c599b73"

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 8/10/2014
Scan Time: 9:58:29 AM
Logfile: mbamCometArcade.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.00.2.1012
Malware Database: v2014.08.10.01
Rootkit Database: v2014.08.04.01
License: Free
Malware Protection: Disabled
Malicious Website Protection: Disabled
Self-protection: Disabled

OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x86
File System: NTFS
User: Malwarebytes

Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 252415
Time Elapsed: 3 min, 42 sec

Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Disabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Enabled
PUM: Enabled

Processes: 1
PUP.Optional.CometArcade.A, C:\ProgramData\CometArcade\CometArcadeService.exe, 304, Delete-on-Reboot, [5e8b09bbc6b5f3432972158e12ef51af]

Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys: 7
PUP.Optional.CometArcade.A, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\CometArcade, Quarantined, [5e8b09bbc6b5f3432972158e12ef51af], 
PUP.Optional.WebSteroids.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{051E9166-B275-4683-907B-372FAE22BC7C}, Quarantined, [1fca8e36cead0c2a035db8b320e216ea], 
PUP.Optional.DynConIE.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{E5A7A645-8318-4895-B85C-EDC606B80DB6}, Quarantined, [f9f0992bc9b2f244a08fc2a9a45eb44c], 
PUP.Optional.CometArcade.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\CometArcade, Quarantined, [9d4cd1f358238da9c5067a5e17ebc739], 
PUP.Optional.GlobalUpdate.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MOZILLAPLUGINS\@staging.google.com/globalUpdate Update;version=10, Quarantined, [559482422358a98d588483bae51fda26], 
PUP.Optional.GlobalUpdate.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MOZILLAPLUGINS\@staging.google.com/globalUpdate Update;version=4, Quarantined, [bb2eedd779026bcb32abdb62e91bf808], 
PUP.Optional.MultiIE.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\APPDATALOW\SOFTWARE\DynConIE, Quarantined, [9d4cae16a9d2f343aa62b18708fc50b0], 

Registry Values: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders: 2
PUP.Optional.CometArcade.A, C:\ProgramData\CometArcade, Delete-on-Reboot, [9d4cd1f358238da9c5067a5e17ebc739], 
PUP.Optional.CometArcade.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\CometArcade, Quarantined, [0fdaf7cd0972082ee3ed8e44867c2cd4], 

Files: 12
PUP.Optional.CometArcade.A, C:\ProgramData\CometArcade\CometArcadeService.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [5e8b09bbc6b5f3432972158e12ef51af], 
PUP.Optional.CometArcade.A, C:\ProgramData\CometArcade\CometArcade.dll, Quarantined, [3eaba42016656bcb45348637877d7c84], 
PUP.Optional.CometArcade.A, C:\ProgramData\CometArcade\CometArcade.exe, Quarantined, [8168e0e40d6e8aac8d0ef0b3ba476c94], 
PUP.Optional.CometArcade.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\Comet Arcade.exe, Quarantined, [7574556f81fafe3822566e4f55af1ae6], 
PUP.Optional.CometArcade.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\nspD5A.tmp\Helper.dll, Quarantined, [faef34903942082ec6b28a33ea1ad927], 
PUP.Optional.CometArcade.A, C:\ProgramData\CometArcade\app.dat, Quarantined, [9d4cd1f358238da9c5067a5e17ebc739], 
PUP.Optional.CometArcade.A, C:\ProgramData\CometArcade\CometArcade.exe.config, Quarantined, [9d4cd1f358238da9c5067a5e17ebc739], 
PUP.Optional.CometArcade.A, C:\ProgramData\CometArcade\CometArcade.ico, Quarantined, [9d4cd1f358238da9c5067a5e17ebc739], 
PUP.Optional.CometArcade.A, C:\ProgramData\CometArcade\CometArcadeService.exe.config, Quarantined, [9d4cd1f358238da9c5067a5e17ebc739], 
PUP.Optional.CometArcade.A, C:\ProgramData\CometArcade\data.dat, Quarantined, [9d4cd1f358238da9c5067a5e17ebc739], 
PUP.Optional.CometArcade.A, C:\ProgramData\CometArcade\info.dat, Delete-on-Reboot, [9d4cd1f358238da9c5067a5e17ebc739], 
PUP.Optional.CometArcade.A, C:\ProgramData\CometArcade\Uninstall.exe, Quarantined, [9d4cd1f358238da9c5067a5e17ebc739], 

Physical Sectors: 0
(No malicious items detected)


(end)

As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware could have protected your computer against this threat.
We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):

Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
Malware Execution Prevention

Save yourself the hassle and get protected.

#1
Metallica

Posted 10 August 2014 - 02:23 AM

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