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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is SearchGo?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that SearchGo 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 SearchGo?

You may see this new service:



How did SearchGo get on my computer?

Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was bundled with other software.

How do I remove SearchGo?

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.

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

• No, Malwarebytes removes SearchGo completely.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes help protect me?

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

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

The web protection module also blocks some of the connections the installer tries to make:

Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

 () C:\Windows\Microsoft\svchost.exe
 () C:\Windows\Microsoft\svchost.exe.exe
 R2 SvcHost Service Host; C:\Windows\Microsoft\svchost.exe [0 ] () <==== ATTENTION 
 C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\searchgo0.dll
 C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\searchgo0.new.exe

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Windows\Microsoft
       Adds the file svchost.exe"="8/4/2017 8:48 AM, 1264616 bytes, RHSA
       Adds the file svchost.exe.exe"="8/4/2017 8:48 AM, 509920 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{650C445D-2084-4028-7F06-4D012B06472B}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "CompositeMoniker"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{650C445D-2084-4028-7F06-4D012B06472B}\InprocServer32]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "ole32.dll"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\SvcHost Service Host]
       "Description"="REG_SZ", "SvcHost Service Host"
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "SvcHost Service Host"
       "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 0
       "FailureActions"="REG_BINARY, ..............
       "FailureActionsOnNonCrashFailures"="REG_DWORD", 0
       "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, ""C:\Windows\Microsoft\svchost.exe" -k LocalService"
       "ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem"
       "Start"="REG_DWORD", 2
       "Type"="REG_DWORD", 16
       "WOW64"="REG_DWORD", 1
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\SvcHost Service Host\Security]
       "Security"="REG_BINARY, ..`.|...0................0....b.....................................
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\iesg]
       "lt"="REG_QWORD, ....

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 8/4/17
Scan Time: 9:12 AM
Log File: mbamSearchgoi.txt
Administrator: Yes

-Software Information-
Version: 3.1.2.1733
Components Version: 1.0.160
Update Package Version: 1.0.2505
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: 320447
Threats Detected: 10
Threats Quarantined: 10
Time Elapsed: 1 min, 29 sec

-Scan Options-
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Disabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Enabled
PUM: Enabled

-Scan Details-
Process: 2
Adware.RuKometa, C:\WINDOWS\MICROSOFT\SVCHOST.EXE, Quarantined, [147], [421085],1.0.2505
Adware.RuKometa, C:\WINDOWS\MICROSOFT\SVCHOST.EXE.EXE, Quarantined, [147], [419654],1.0.2505

Module: 2
Adware.RuKometa, C:\WINDOWS\MICROSOFT\SVCHOST.EXE, Quarantined, [147], [421085],1.0.2505
Adware.RuKometa, C:\WINDOWS\MICROSOFT\SVCHOST.EXE.EXE, Quarantined, [147], [419654],1.0.2505

Registry Key: 1
Adware.RuKometa, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\SvcHost Service Host, Delete-on-Reboot, [147], [421085],1.0.2505

Registry Value: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 0
(No malicious items detected)

File: 5
Adware.RuKometa, C:\WINDOWS\MICROSOFT\SVCHOST.EXE, Delete-on-Reboot, [147], [421085],1.0.2505
Adware.RuKometa, C:\WINDOWS\MICROSOFT\SVCHOST.EXE.EXE, Delete-on-Reboot, [147], [419654],1.0.2505
Adware.SearchGo, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\SEARCHGOI.EXE, Delete-on-Reboot, [3560], [411104],1.0.2505
Adware.SearchGo, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\TEMP\SEARCHGO0.DLL, Delete-on-Reboot, [3560], [411104],1.0.2505
Adware.SearchGo, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\TEMP\SEARCHGO0.NEW.EXE, Delete-on-Reboot, [3560], [411104],1.0.2505

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

Save yourself the hassle and get protected.