What is SearchAssist?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that SearchAssist 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 SearchAssist?
You may see these warnings during install:
and you will see this Firefox extension:
How did SearchAssist get on my computer?
Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was offered by a redirect:
How do I remove SearchAssist?
Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.
- Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
- Double-click mb3-setup-consumer-{version}.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
- Then click Finish.
- Once the program has fully updated, select Scan Now on the Dashboard. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
- If another update of the definitions is available, it will be implemented before the rest of the scanning procedure.
- When the scan is complete, make sure that all Threats are selected, and click Remove Selected.
- Restart your computer when prompted to do so.
- No, Malwarebytes removes SearchAssist completely.
We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.
Technical details for experts
Possible sign in FRST log:
FF Extension: SearchAssist Incognito - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\Extensions\@searchassistincognito [2017-03-01]Alterations made by the installer:
File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default
Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito
Adds the file bootstrap.js"="3/1/2017 8:58 AM, 593 bytes, A
Adds the file chrome.manifest"="3/1/2017 8:58 AM, 100 bytes, A
Adds the file icon.png"="3/1/2017 8:58 AM, 1928 bytes, A
Adds the file index.js"="3/1/2017 8:58 AM, 9172 bytes, A
Adds the file install.rdf"="3/1/2017 8:58 AM, 965 bytes, A
Adds the file package.json"="3/1/2017 8:58 AM, 273 bytes, A
Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\content\skin\images
Adds the file ping.png"="3/1/2017 8:58 AM, 68 bytes, A
Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\data
Adds the file allsi.js"="3/1/2017 8:58 AM, 0 bytes, A
Adds the file settings.js"="3/1/2017 8:58 AM, 1853 bytes, A
Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\META-INF
Adds the file manifest.mf"="3/1/2017 8:58 AM, 1181 bytes, A
Adds the file mozilla.rsa"="3/1/2017 8:58 AM, 4179 bytes, A
Adds the file mozilla.sf"="3/1/2017 8:58 AM, 121 bytes, A
Malwarebytes log:Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com
-Log Details-
Scan Date: 3/1/17
Scan Time: 9:20 AM
Logfile: mbamSearchAssisy.txt
Administrator: Yes
-Software Information-
Version: 3.0.5.1299
Components Version: 1.0.43
Update Package Version: 1.0.1389
License: Premium
-System Information-
OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: {computername}\{username}
-Scan Summary-
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 362511
Time Elapsed: 2 min, 10 sec
-Scan Options-
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Disabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Enabled
PUM: Enabled
-Scan Details-
Process: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Module: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Key: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Value: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Folder: 6
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\content\skin\images, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\content\skin, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\META-INF, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\content, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\data, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\NCH5MQSA.DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\@SEARCHASSISTINCOGNITO, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
File: 12
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\content\skin\images\ping.png, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\data\allsi.js, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\data\settings.js, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\META-INF\manifest.mf, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\META-INF\mozilla.rsa, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\META-INF\mozilla.sf, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\bootstrap.js, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\chrome.manifest, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\icon.png, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\index.js, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\install.rdf, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
PUP.Optional.SearchAssist, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\@searchassistincognito\package.json, Delete-on-Reboot, [2918], [359400],1.0.1389
Physical Sector: 0
(No malicious items detected)
(end)As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes 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
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