What is BrowseFox?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that BrowseFox is a browser hijacker. These so-called "hijackers" manipulate your browser(s), for example to change your startpage or searchscopes, so that the affected browser visits their site or one of their choice. This one also displays advertisements.
How do I know if my computer is affected by BrowseFox?
You may see this entry in your list of installed software:

and these warnings:


and these browser extensions/add-ons:



How did BrowseFox get on my computer?
Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was bundled with other software.
How do I remove BrowseFox?
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.
- If you are using Chrome, you may have to remove the Extension manually under Tools > Settings > Extensions. Remove the checkmark and click on the bin behind the BrowseFox entry.
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 BrowseFox hijacker. 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
Signs in a HijackThis log:
O2 - BHO: BrowseFox - {b9507101-e464-4b3b-a4cb-291aaedd94f2} - C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\BrowseFoxbho.dll O23 - Service: Update BrowseFox - BrowseFox - C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\updateBrowseFox.exePossible signs in a FRST log:
(BrowseFox) C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\updateBrowseFox.exe BHO: BrowseFox -> {b9507101-e464-4b3b-a4cb-291aaedd94f2} -> C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\BrowseFoxbho.dll (Browse Fox) FF Extension: No Name - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\extensions\[email protected]ad184bd23.com [Not Found] FF Extension: BrowseFox - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\Extensions\[email protected] [2013-08-30] CHR Extension: (BrowseFox) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ppdjnkblmcjfnlogjjhpigpdgpcgdpll [2015-02-28] CHR HKLM\...\Chrome\Extension: [ppdjnkblmcjfnlogjjhpigpdgpcgdpll] - C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\ppdjnkblmcjfnlogjjhpigpdgpcgdpll.crx [2013-08-30] R2 Update BrowseFox; C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\updateBrowseFox.exe [206624 2013-08-30] (BrowseFox)Alterations made by the installer:
File system details --------------------------------------------- Adds the folder C:\Program Files\BrowseFox Adds the file BrowseFox.Common.dll"="2/28/2015 11:08 AM, 14112 bytes, A Adds the file BrowseFox.ico"="8/30/2013 3:57 AM, 1150 bytes, A Adds the file BrowseFoxBHO.dll"="8/30/2013 3:57 AM, 149280 bytes, A Adds the file BrowseFoxUninstall.exe"="2/28/2015 11:08 AM, 211337 bytes, A Adds the file Microsoft.Win32.TaskScheduler.dll"="2/28/2015 11:08 AM, 171008 bytes, A Adds the file ppdjnkblmcjfnlogjjhpigpdgpcgdpll.crx"="8/30/2013 3:57 AM, 3803 bytes, A Adds the file sqlite3.exe"="8/1/2013 10:00 PM, 465408 bytes, A Adds the file updateBrowseFox.exe"="8/30/2013 3:57 AM, 206624 bytes, A Adds the file updateBrowseFox.InstallState"="2/28/2015 11:08 AM, 5012 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Storage Adds the file chrome-extension_ppdjnkblmcjfnlogjjhpigpdgpcgdpll_0.localstorage"="2/28/2015 11:08 AM, 3072 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\extensions Adds the file [email protected]"="8/30/2013 3:57 AM, 7979 bytes, A Registry details ------------------------------------------ [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{1AA60054-57D9-4F99-9A55-D0FBFBE7ECD3}] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "4ECA3BD4-42D4-4976-9F99-12867F0A568B" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "449C1E25-5E1E-4DF0-B182-AB05AF94A4B2" "id"="REG_SZ", "30" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{b9507101-e464-4b3b-a4cb-291aaedd94f2}] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "BrowseFox" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{b9507101-e464-4b3b-a4cb-291aaedd94f2}\InprocServer32] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\BrowseFoxbho.dll" "ThreadingModel"="REG_SZ", "Apartment" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{b9507101-e464-4b3b-a4cb-291aaedd94f2}\Programmable] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{b9507101-e464-4b3b-a4cb-291aaedd94f2}\TypeLib] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{006232f7-dbd6-4631-84e8-66ea161b43c4}" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{b9507101-e464-4b3b-a4cb-291aaedd94f2}\Version] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "1.0" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{BB9817CA-9B43-41EB-8706-44847957338D}] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "IBrowseFoxBHO" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{BB9817CA-9B43-41EB-8706-44847957338D}\ProxyStubClsid] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{BB9817CA-9B43-41EB-8706-44847957338D}\ProxyStubClsid32] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{BB9817CA-9B43-41EB-8706-44847957338D}\TypeLib] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{006232F7-DBD6-4631-84E8-66EA161B43C4}" "Version"="REG_SZ", "1.0" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{006232F7-DBD6-4631-84E8-66EA161B43C4}\1.0] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "BrowseFoxIEClientLib" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{006232F7-DBD6-4631-84E8-66EA161B43C4}\1.0\0\win32] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\BrowseFoxbho.dll" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{006232F7-DBD6-4631-84E8-66EA161B43C4}\1.0\FLAGS] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "0" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{006232F7-DBD6-4631-84E8-66EA161B43C4}\1.0\HELPDIR] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\BrowseFox" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\Extensions\ppdjnkblmcjfnlogjjhpigpdgpcgdpll] "path"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\ppdjnkblmcjfnlogjjhpigpdgpcgdpll.crx" "version"="REG_SZ", "1.0.0" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{b9507101-e464-4b3b-a4cb-291aaedd94f2}] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "BrowseFox" "NoExplorer"="REG_DWORD", 1 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\BrowseFox] "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\BrowseFox.ico" "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "BrowseFox 3.0.0" "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "3.0.0" "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 806 "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "mailto:[email protected]" "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\BrowseFox" "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1 "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1 "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "Browse Fox" "QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\BrowseFoxuninstall.exe /S" "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\BrowseFoxuninstall.exe" "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", "http://browsefox.com/support" "URLUpdateInfo"="REG_SZ", "http://browsefox.com" "VersionMajor"="REG_DWORD", 3 "VersionMinor"="REG_DWORD", 0 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\eventlog\Application\Update BrowseFox] "EventMessageFile"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\EventLogMessages.dll" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Update BrowseFox] "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Update BrowseFox" "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1 "FailureActions"="REG_BINARY, ...................... "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, ""C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\updateBrowseFox.exe"" "ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem" "Start"="REG_DWORD", 2 "Type"="REG_DWORD", 16 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\BrowseFox] "id"="REG_SZ", "2015-02-28 11:08:48" "iid"="REG_SZ", "def_BrowseFox" "is"="REG_SZ", "def_BrowseFox" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\BrowseFox\Chrome] "ug"="REG_SZ", "AA21012D-4960-4608-BFB0-590CB80789A7" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\BrowseFox\Firefox] "ug"="REG_SZ", "52CFEFA8-D454-41A4-8DF9-2CC1A72E20F4" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\BrowseFox\Internet Explorer] "ug"="REG_SZ", "884E1DC7-FAB7-4728-8562-4063AAF9D914"Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware www.malwarebytes.org Scan Date: 2/28/2015 Scan Time: 11:16:24 AM Logfile: mbamBrowsefox.txt Administrator: Yes Version: 2.00.4.1028 Malware Database: v2015.02.28.02 Rootkit Database: v2015.02.25.01 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: 294817 Time Elapsed: 4 min, 40 sec Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Disabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Enabled PUM: Enabled Processes: 1 PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\updateBrowseFox.exe, 3096, Delete-on-Reboot, [567c998aa5e5cd6910e7c4b945bca65a] Modules: 1 PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\BrowseFox.Common.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [d5fddc47583211251ce9b264a95cd927], Registry Keys: 11 PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\Update BrowseFox, Quarantined, [567c998aa5e5cd6910e7c4b945bca65a], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{b9507101-e464-4b3b-a4cb-291aaedd94f2}, Quarantined, [14be29fa8406f83e4d4b86b201004fb1], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\TYPELIB\{006232f7-dbd6-4631-84e8-66ea161b43c4}, Quarantined, [14be29fa8406f83e4d4b86b201004fb1], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\INTERFACE\{BB9817CA-9B43-41EB-8706-44847957338D}, Quarantined, [14be29fa8406f83e4d4b86b201004fb1], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXPLORER\BROWSER HELPER OBJECTS\{B9507101-E464-4B3B-A4CB-291AAEDD94F2}, Quarantined, [14be29fa8406f83e4d4b86b201004fb1], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\SETTINGS\{B9507101-E464-4B3B-A4CB-291AAEDD94F2}, Quarantined, [14be29fa8406f83e4d4b86b201004fb1], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\STATS\{B9507101-E464-4B3B-A4CB-291AAEDD94F2}, Quarantined, [14be29fa8406f83e4d4b86b201004fb1], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{B9507101-E464-4B3B-A4CB-291AAEDD94F2}\INPROCSERVER32, Quarantined, [14be29fa8406f83e4d4b86b201004fb1], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}, Quarantined, [e9e9f0332169db5bce0357f525de60a0], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\BrowseFox, Quarantined, [d5fddc47583211251ce9b264a95cd927], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\EXTENSIONS\ppdjnkblmcjfnlogjjhpigpdgpcgdpll, Quarantined, [8d4529fa08829b9b5dad120d37ceb947], Registry Values: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Data: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folders: 3 PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseFox, Delete-on-Reboot, [d5fddc47583211251ce9b264a95cd927], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ppdjnkblmcjfnlogjjhpigpdgpcgdpll, Quarantined, [b51dae750981a591cdf20e64f60db64a], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ppdjnkblmcjfnlogjjhpigpdgpcgdpll\1.0.0_0, Quarantined, [b51dae750981a591cdf20e64f60db64a], Files: 15 PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\updateBrowseFox.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [567c998aa5e5cd6910e7c4b945bca65a], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\BrowseFoxBHO.dll, Quarantined, [14be29fa8406f83e4d4b86b201004fb1], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\installer.exe, Quarantined, [d5fdd84b573382b495031e1af908d927], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\extensions\[email protected], Quarantined, [daf8b76c92f8dd5975468e509073e917], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\BrowseFox.ico, Quarantined, [d5fddc47583211251ce9b264a95cd927], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\BrowseFox.Common.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [d5fddc47583211251ce9b264a95cd927], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\BrowseFoxUninstall.exe, Quarantined, [d5fddc47583211251ce9b264a95cd927], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\Microsoft.Win32.TaskScheduler.dll, Quarantined, [d5fddc47583211251ce9b264a95cd927], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\ppdjnkblmcjfnlogjjhpigpdgpcgdpll.crx, Quarantined, [d5fddc47583211251ce9b264a95cd927], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\sqlite3.exe, Quarantined, [d5fddc47583211251ce9b264a95cd927], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseFox\updateBrowseFox.InstallState, Quarantined, [d5fddc47583211251ce9b264a95cd927], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ppdjnkblmcjfnlogjjhpigpdgpcgdpll\1.0.0_0\background.js, Quarantined, [b51dae750981a591cdf20e64f60db64a], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ppdjnkblmcjfnlogjjhpigpdgpcgdpll\1.0.0_0\content.js, Quarantined, [b51dae750981a591cdf20e64f60db64a], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ppdjnkblmcjfnlogjjhpigpdgpcgdpll\1.0.0_0\icon.png, Quarantined, [b51dae750981a591cdf20e64f60db64a], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ppdjnkblmcjfnlogjjhpigpdgpcgdpll\1.0.0_0\manifest.json, Quarantined, [b51dae750981a591cdf20e64f60db64a], 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