What is MusicBox Search?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that MusicBox Search is a browser NewTab and search hijacker. These so-called "NewTabs" can 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.
How do I know if my computer is affected by MusicBox Search?
You may see these browser extensions:
and these warnings during install:
How did MusicBox Search get on my computer?
Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. These were promoted by a website served by an ad-rotator. Depending on the visiting browser they served a fitting extension.
The Chrome extension was also available in the Chrome webstore.
How do I remove MusicBox Search?
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.
- If you are using an older version of Malwarebytes, you may have to remove the Chrome Extension manually under Tools > More Tools > Extensions. Click on the bin behind the MusicBox Search entry and confirm Remove in the prompt.
- If your browsers have been hijacked, you should read our Restore Browser page. You can read there how to fix additional browser redirect methods.
We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.
As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the MusicBox Search hijacker. It blocks traffic to the ad-rotator, the serving website and the hijackers domain:
Technical details for experts
Possible signs in a FRST log:
FF Extension: No Name - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\Extensions\{fa73622c-8b41-45b8-9d93-6d66e7633765}.xpi [2018-02-06] CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxp://music.eanswers.com/go/?category=web&s=21ds&vert=music&q={searchTerms} CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> MusicBox CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxp://sug.eanswers.com/search/index_sg.php?q={searchTerms} CHR Extension: (MusicBox Search) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde [2018-02-06]Changes made by the installer:
File system details [View: All details] (Selection) --------------------------------------------------- Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0 Adds the file manifest.json"="2/6/2018 8:50 AM, 2266 bytes, A Adds the file popup.html"="9/6/2017 1:39 PM, 4841 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\_metadata Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="2/6/2018 8:50 AM, 18881 bytes, A Adds the file verified_contents.json"="12/8/2017 11:10 AM, 4967 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css Adds the file style.css"="9/6/2017 1:39 PM, 4085 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts Adds the file material-icons.css"="9/6/2017 1:39 PM, 1037 bytes, A Adds the file MaterialIcons-Regular.eot"="9/6/2017 1:39 PM, 143258 bytes, A Adds the file MaterialIcons-Regular.ijmap"="9/6/2017 1:39 PM, 28416 bytes, A Adds the file MaterialIcons-Regular.svg"="9/6/2017 1:39 PM, 284031 bytes, A Adds the file MaterialIcons-Regular.ttf"="9/6/2017 1:39 PM, 128180 bytes, A Adds the file MaterialIcons-Regular.woff"="9/6/2017 1:39 PM, 78776 bytes, A Adds the file MaterialIcons-Regular.woff2"="9/6/2017 1:39 PM, 42304 bytes, A Adds the file RobotoCondensed-Light.ttf"="9/6/2017 1:39 PM, 126168 bytes, A Adds the file RobotoCondensed-Regular.ttf"="9/6/2017 1:39 PM, 125332 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images Adds the file icon128.png"="2/6/2018 8:50 AM, 9991 bytes, A Adds the file icon16.png"="2/6/2018 8:50 AM, 576 bytes, A Adds the file icon38.png"="2/6/2018 8:50 AM, 1815 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\rateshare Adds the file close.png"="9/4/2017 2:23 PM, 1920 bytes, A Adds the file rate.jpg"="9/4/2017 2:23 PM, 102155 bytes, A Adds the file rate1.png"="9/4/2017 2:23 PM, 12334 bytes, A Adds the file share.jpg"="9/4/2017 2:23 PM, 17633 bytes, A Adds the file share1.png"="9/4/2017 2:23 PM, 4466 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js Adds the file base.js"="12/8/2017 11:07 AM, 38338 bytes, A Adds the file init.js"="11/19/2017 3:32 PM, 439 bytes, A Adds the file main.js"="9/6/2017 1:39 PM, 3863 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\official Adds the file bootstrap.min.js"="9/6/2017 1:39 PM, 36874 bytes, A Adds the file jquery.min.js"="9/6/2017 1:39 PM, 85660 bytes, A Adds the file material.min.js"="9/6/2017 1:39 PM, 62359 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\official\onesignal Adds the file onesignal.js"="9/4/2017 2:22 PM, 17241 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\vertical Adds the file 440x280.jpg"="12/8/2017 11:19 AM, 68550 bytes, A Adds the file init.js"="7/26/2017 8:38 AM, 582 bytes, A Adds the file pop.js"="7/26/2017 8:38 AM, 2497 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde Adds the file 000003.log"="2/6/2018 8:50 AM, 387 bytes, A Adds the file CURRENT"="2/6/2018 8:50 AM, 16 bytes, A Adds the file LOCK"="2/6/2018 8:50 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file LOG"="2/6/2018 8:50 AM, 185 bytes, A Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="2/6/2018 8:50 AM, 41 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions Adds the file {fa73622c-8b41-45b8-9d93-6d66e7633765}.xpi"="2/6/2018 8:48 AM, 1531925 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings] "gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde"="REG_SZ", "176B26AB18262AE2C964F7F502394D170D64916D35524860E53D679351CEA415"The Malwarebytes scan log:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 2/6/18 Scan Time: 1:10 PM Log File: c1eff460-0b36-11e8-9439-080027750297.json Administrator: Yes -Software Information- Version: 3.3.1.2183 Components Version: 1.0.262 Update Package Version: 1.0.3881 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: 241535 Threats Detected: 52 Threats Quarantined: 52 Time Elapsed: 2 min, 29 sec -Scan Options- Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Disabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Detect PUM: Detect -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) Registry Data: 0 (No malicious items detected) Data Stream: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folder: 12 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\official\onesignal, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\rateshare, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\official, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\vertical, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\GMCOGIOMGBBNMABKNLDEIKBKNAPOLPDE, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 File: 40 PUP.Optional.SuperAppBox, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\{profile}.default\EXTENSIONS\{FA73622C-8B41-45B8-9D93-6D66E7633765}.XPI, Quarantined, [7968], [487839],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\000003.log, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\CURRENT, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\LOCK, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\LOG, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\GMCOGIOMGBBNMABKNLDEIKBKNAPOLPDE\1.0.0_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\material-icons.css, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\MaterialIcons-Regular.eot, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\MaterialIcons-Regular.ijmap, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\MaterialIcons-Regular.svg, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\MaterialIcons-Regular.ttf, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\MaterialIcons-Regular.woff, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\MaterialIcons-Regular.woff2, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\RobotoCondensed-Light.ttf, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\RobotoCondensed-Regular.ttf, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\style.css, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\rateshare\close.png, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\rateshare\rate.jpg, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\rateshare\rate1.png, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\rateshare\share.jpg, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\rateshare\share1.png, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\icon128.png, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\icon16.png, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\icon38.png, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\official\onesignal\onesignal.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\official\bootstrap.min.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\official\jquery.min.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\official\material.min.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\base.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\init.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\main.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\vertical\440x280.jpg, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\vertical\init.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\vertical\pop.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\popup.html, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881 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