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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Keep My Search?
 
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Keep My Search 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 Keep My Search?

You may see this icon in your taskbar:


 
and this entry in your list of installed programs:
 


and these Scheduled Tasks:


 
How did Keep My Search get on my computer?
 
Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was bundled with other software.
 
How do I remove Keep My Search?
 
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 Keep My Search?

• This PUP creates some scheduled tasks. You can read here how to remove Scheduled Tasks if some were left behind.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware help protect me?
 
We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.  
 
As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware would have protected you against the Keep My Search adware.  It would have warned you before the rogue could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.
 

Technical details for experts
 
You will see these signs in a HijackThis log:

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Keep My Search] C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch\1.3.16.0\keepmysearch.exe

 
 
Alterations made by the installer:

File system details  
---------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch\1.3.16.0
       Adds the file 2nkpappm.dll"="11/17/2014 9:09 AM, 305152 bytes, A
       Adds the file app.ini"="11/17/2014 9:09 AM, 578 bytes, A
       Adds the file keepmysearch.exe"="11/17/2014 9:09 AM, 527872 bytes, A
       Adds the file kmssetup.exe"="11/17/2014 9:09 AM, 431616 bytes, A
       Adds the file panjnCih.dll"="11/17/2014 9:09 AM, 203264 bytes, A
       Adds the file res.dll"="11/17/2014 9:09 AM, 197120 bytes, A
       Adds the file serp.js"="11/17/2014 9:09 AM, 1354 bytes, A
       Adds the file sqlite.dll"="11/17/2014 9:09 AM, 573100 bytes, A
    In the existing folder C:\Windows\System32\Tasks
       Adds the file Keep My Search"="11/17/2014 9:09 AM, 3528 bytes, A
       Adds the file Keep My Search Updater"="11/17/2014 9:09 AM, 3520 bytes, A

Registry details  
------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\keepmysearch\instl\data]
       "APPORDR"="REG_SZ", "3DDB22C68E6BA6AB"
       "country"="REG_SZ", ""
       "insllPgLoad"="REG_SZ", "true"
       "lng"="REG_SZ", ""
       "prm1"="REG_SZ", ""
       "prm2"="REG_SZ", ""
       "prm3"="REG_SZ", ""
       "prm4"="REG_SZ", ""
       "prm5"="REG_SZ", ""
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\keepmysearch\uninstl]
       "keepmysearchkms"="REG_SZ", "C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch\1.3.16.0\kmssetup.exe"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION]
       "keepmysearch.exe"="REG_DWORD", 19000
       "kmssetup.exe"="REG_DWORD", 19000
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
       "Keep My Search"="REG_SZ", "C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch\1.3.16.0\keepmysearch.exe"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\keepmysearch]
       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch\1.3.16.0\kmssetup.exe""
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Keep My Search"
       "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "KeepMySearch"
       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch\1.3.16.0\kmssetup.exe" /uninstl"

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 11/17/2014
Scan Time: 9:15:35 AM
Logfile: mbamKeepMySearch.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.00.3.1025
Malware Database: v2014.11.17.02
Rootkit Database: v2014.11.12.01
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: 276026
Time Elapsed: 4 min, 49 sec

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

Processes: 1
PUP.Optional.PayByAds.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch\1.3.16.0\keepmysearch.exe, 1900, Delete-on-Reboot, [726472ca106c90a6c4c39be284818779]

Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys: 1
PUP.Optional.KeepMySearch.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\keepmysearch, Quarantined, [bd19c17b7b01fc3a67969a99eb183cc4], 

Registry Values: 1
PUP.Optional.PayByAds.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN|Keep My Search, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch\1.3.16.0\keepmysearch.exe, Quarantined, [726472ca106c90a6c4c39be284818779]

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders: 3
PUP.Optional.KeepMySearch.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch, Delete-on-Reboot, [bd19c17b7b01fc3a67969a99eb183cc4], 
PUP.Optional.KeepMySearch.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch, Delete-on-Reboot, [bd19c17b7b01fc3a67969a99eb183cc4], 
PUP.Optional.KeepMySearch.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch\1.3.16.0, Delete-on-Reboot, [bd19c17b7b01fc3a67969a99eb183cc4], 

Files: 9
PUP.Optional.PayByAds.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch\1.3.16.0\keepmysearch.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [726472ca106c90a6c4c39be284818779], 
PUP.Optional.KeepMySearch.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\KeepMySearch.exe, Quarantined, [63732d0f36469b9bff35067837ceb947], 
PUP.Optional.KeepMySearch.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch\1.3.16.0\2nkpappm.dll, Quarantined, [bd19c17b7b01fc3a67969a99eb183cc4], 
PUP.Optional.KeepMySearch.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch\1.3.16.0\app.ini, Quarantined, [bd19c17b7b01fc3a67969a99eb183cc4], 
PUP.Optional.KeepMySearch.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch\1.3.16.0\kmssetup.exe, Quarantined, [bd19c17b7b01fc3a67969a99eb183cc4], 
PUP.Optional.KeepMySearch.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch\1.3.16.0\panjnCih.dll, Quarantined, [bd19c17b7b01fc3a67969a99eb183cc4], 
PUP.Optional.KeepMySearch.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch\1.3.16.0\res.dll, Quarantined, [bd19c17b7b01fc3a67969a99eb183cc4], 
PUP.Optional.KeepMySearch.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch\1.3.16.0\serp.js, Quarantined, [bd19c17b7b01fc3a67969a99eb183cc4], 
PUP.Optional.KeepMySearch.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\KeepMySearch\keepmysearch\1.3.16.0\sqlite.dll, Quarantined, [bd19c17b7b01fc3a67969a99eb183cc4], 

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.