What is SkyEmoji?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that SkyEmoji 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 SkyEmoji?
You may see this entry in your list of installed programs:
this warning during install:
and this Scheduled Task :
How did SkyEmoji get on my computer?
Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was bundled with other software.
How do I remove SkyEmoji?
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.
- No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes SkyEmoji completely.
- You should be redirected to our Restore Browser page. You can read there how to fix additional browser redirect methods.
- This PUP creates some scheduled tasks. You can read here how to check for and, if necessary, remove Scheduled Tasks.
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 SkyEmoji adware. It would have warned you before the application 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:
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.only-search.com/?babsrc=HP_kms&affID=fhctr O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [skemoji] C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\1.4.2.4\skemoji.exeYou may see these signs in FRST logs:
() C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\1.4.2.4\skemoji.exe HKCU\...\Run: [skemoji] => C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\1.4.2.4\skemoji.exe [703488 2015-09-24] () HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = hxxp://www.only-search.com/?babsrc=HP_kms&affID=fhctr FF Homepage: hxxp://www.only-search.com/?babsrc=HP_kms&affID=fhctr FF SelectedSearchEngineuser_pref("browser.search.selectedEngine","Search The Web (Only-Search)");: user_pref("browser.search.selectedEngine","Search The Web (Only-Search)"); FF DefaultSearchEngineuser_pref("browser.search.defaultenginename","Search The Web (Only-Search)");: user_pref("browser.search.defaultenginename","Search The Web (Only-Search)"); FF Keyword.URL: user_pref("keyword.URL","hxxp://www.only-search.com/?babsrc=KW_kms&affID=$afltId$&q="); FF NewTab: user_pref("browser.newtab.url","hxxp://www.only-search.com/?babsrc=NT_kms&affID=fhctr"); FF SearchPlugin: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\searchplugins\skemoji.xml [2015-09-24] C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\skemoji Updater C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji skemoji (HKCU\...\skemoji) (Version: - skemoji) Task: {05A2F85F-C5FC-471A-B810-289CDF7D056E} - System32\Tasks\skemoji Updater => Wscript.exe //B "C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\1.4.2.4\..\updt.js"Alterations made by the installer:
File system details [View: All details] (Selection) --------------------------------------------------- Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji Adds the file updt.js"="9/24/2015 4:21 PM, 144 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\1.4.2.4 Adds the file app.ini"="9/24/2015 4:21 PM, 712 bytes, A Adds the file kfPEmfgd.dll"="9/24/2015 4:19 PM, 289280 bytes, A Adds the file res.dll"="9/24/2015 4:19 PM, 225280 bytes, A Adds the file skemoji.exe"="9/24/2015 4:19 PM, 703488 bytes, A Adds the file sksetup.exe"="9/24/2015 4:19 PM, 468480 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Windows\System32\Tasks Adds the file skemoji Updater"="9/24/2015 4:21 PM, 3564 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\keepmysearch\instl\data] "APPORDR"="REG_SZ", "D29F252596320165" "chrome-st"="REG_SZ", "[true,true,true]" "country"="REG_SZ", "" "ffx-st"="REG_SZ", "[true,true,true]" "ie-st"="REG_SZ", "[true,true,true]" "lng"="REG_SZ", "" "mpvappstart"="REG_SZ", "1443104507240" "prm1"="REG_SZ", "" "prm2"="REG_SZ", "" "prm3"="REG_SZ", "" "prm4"="REG_SZ", "" "prm5"="REG_SZ", "" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\keepmysearch\uninstl] "skemoji"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\1.4.2.4\sksetup.exe" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage\amusingducks.com] "NumberOfSubdomains"="REG_DWORD", 1 "Total"="REG_DWORD", 24 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage\cdn.amusingducks.com] "(Default)"="REG_DWORD", 24 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main] "Start Page"=REG_SZ, "http://www.only-search.com/?babsrc=HP_kms&affID=fhctr" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION] "skemoji.exe"="REG_DWORD", 10000 "sksetup.exe"="REG_DWORD", 10000 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] "skemoji"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\1.4.2.4\skemoji.exe" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\skemoji] "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\1.4.2.4\sksetup.exe"" "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "skemoji" "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1 "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1 "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "skemoji" "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\1.4.2.4\sksetup.exe" /uninstl"Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware www.malwarebytes.org Scan Date: 9/24/2015 Scan Time: 5:07 PM Logfile: mbamSkyEmoji.txt Administrator: Yes Version: 2.1.8.1057 Malware Database: v2015.09.24.03 Rootkit Database: v2015.09.22.01 License: Premium Malware Protection: Disabled Malicious Website Protection: Disabled Self-protection: Disabled OS: Windows 8.1 CPU: x64 File System: NTFS User: {username} Scan Type: Threat Scan Result: Completed Objects Scanned: 352330 Time Elapsed: 30 min, 42 sec Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Enabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Enabled PUM: Enabled Processes: 1 PUP.Optional.Skemoji, C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\1.4.2.4\skemoji.exe, 5520, Delete-on-Reboot, [a50e89aa850690a6fbb1bb02da2a5fa1] Modules: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Keys: 2 PUP.Optional.KeepMySearch, HKCU_Classes\keepmysearch, Quarantined, [852e052ef29989ad5eb7a204a55fb44c], PUP.Optional.Skemoji, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\skemoji, Quarantined, [c3f0da59e4a7a195bce99b8e867dd927], Registry Values: 1 PUP.Optional.Skemoji, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN|skemoji, C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\1.4.2.4\skemoji.exe, Quarantined, [a50e89aa850690a6fbb1bb02da2a5fa1] Registry Data: 1 PUP.Optional.OnlySearch.ShrtCln, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\MAIN|Start Page, http://www.only-search.com/?babsrc=HP_kms&affID=fhctr, Good: (www.google.com), Bad: (http://www.only-search.com/?babsrc=HP_kms&affID=fhctr),Replaced,[c3f066cda8e378be17f9b2bb37ced52b] Folders: 3 PUP.Optional.Skemoji, C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji, Delete-on-Reboot, [c3f0da59e4a7a195bce99b8e867dd927], PUP.Optional.Skemoji, C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji, Delete-on-Reboot, [c3f0da59e4a7a195bce99b8e867dd927], PUP.Optional.Skemoji, C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\1.4.2.4, Delete-on-Reboot, [c3f0da59e4a7a195bce99b8e867dd927], Files: 11 PUP.Optional.Skemoji, C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\1.4.2.4\skemoji.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [a50e89aa850690a6fbb1bb02da2a5fa1], PUP.Optional.Skemoji, C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\updt.js, Quarantined, [c3f0da59e4a7a195bce99b8e867dd927], PUP.Optional.Skemoji, C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\1.4.2.4\app.ini, Quarantined, [c3f0da59e4a7a195bce99b8e867dd927], PUP.Optional.Skemoji, C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\1.4.2.4\kfPEmfgd.dll, Quarantined, [c3f0da59e4a7a195bce99b8e867dd927], PUP.Optional.Skemoji, C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\1.4.2.4\res.dll, Quarantined, [c3f0da59e4a7a195bce99b8e867dd927], PUP.Optional.Skemoji, C:\Program Files (x86)\skemoji\skemoji\1.4.2.4\sksetup.exe, Quarantined, [c3f0da59e4a7a195bce99b8e867dd927], PUP.Optional.MyStartTB.ShrtCln, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\prefs.js, Good: (), Bad: (user_pref("browser.search.defaultenginename","Search The Web (Only-Search)");), Replaced,[8c274fe48b0062d443388f1f4bba16ea] PUP.Optional.MyStartTB.ShrtCln, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\prefs.js, Good: (), Bad: (user_pref("browser.search.selectedEngine","Search The Web (Only-Search)");), Replaced,[5d56d3606b20fc3a4d2f199514f12dd3] PUP.Optional.OnlySearch.ShrtCln, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\prefs.js, Good: (), Bad: (user_pref("browser.newtab.url","http://www.only-search.com/?babsrc=NT_kms&affID=fhctr");), Replaced,[61522b08bbd02d096260a509ca3bc33d] PUP.Optional.OnlySearch.ShrtCln, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\prefs.js, Good: (), Bad: (user_pref("keyword.URL","http://www.only-search.com/?babsrc=KW_kms&affID=$afltId$&q=");), Replaced,[e5ce85ae8a01171fac175e506f9650b0] PUP.Optional.OnlySearch.ShrtCln, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\prefs.js, Good: (browser.startup.homepage", "https://www.malwarebytes.org/restorebrowser/), Bad: (browser.startup.homepage", "http://www.only-search.com), Replaced,[4e65ae853b5082b463424c69e81d04fc] 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