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Removal instructions for Fastest Searches

- - - - - spigot

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Metallica

Metallica

    Spyware Veteran

  • GeekU Moderator
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Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Fastest Searches?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Fastest Searches 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 Fastest Searches?

You may see this entry in your list of installed Chrome extensions:

main.png

and these warnings during install:

warning1.png

warning2.png

warning3.png

warning4.png

and this changed setting:

warning5.png

How did Fastest Searches get on my computer?

Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was installed through their website:

website.png

but it was also available in the webstore:

webstore.png

How do I remove Fastest Searches?

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 Fastest Searches?
  • No, Malwarebytes removes Fastest Searches completely.
How would the full version of Malwarebytes help protect me?

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 Fastest Searches hijacker. It would have blocked the website, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

protection2.png


Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxp://search.hfastestsearches.com/s?query={searchTerms}
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> qs
CHR Extension: (Fastest) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag [2018-08-31]
Alterations 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\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0
       Adds the file background.js"="5/16/2018 11:13 AM, 16954 bytes, A
       Adds the file contentscript.js"="5/16/2018 11:07 AM, 374 bytes, A
       Adds the file icon.png"="8/31/2018 9:33 AM, 5540 bytes, A
       Adds the file manifest.json"="8/31/2018 9:33 AM, 1663 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\_locales
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\_locales\en
       Adds the file messages.json"="8/31/2018 9:33 AM, 256 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="8/31/2018 9:33 AM, 936 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="5/24/2018 9:39 AM, 2008 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\css
       Adds the file description.css"="3/30/2017 12:11 PM, 1008 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\html
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\html\popup
       Adds the file description.html"="5/1/2018 10:56 AM, 238 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag
       Adds the file 000003.log"="8/31/2018 9:33 AM, 142 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="8/31/2018 9:33 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="8/31/2018 9:33 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="8/31/2018 9:33 AM, 184 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="8/31/2018 9:33 AM, 41 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag"="REG_SZ"", "56F15BA5875321C0ACC6232322046B30198203634B8427CF493D631C84EC1E84"
Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 8/31/18
Scan Time: 9:25 AM
Log File: 07abfc88-acef-11e8-a2b7-00ffdcc6fdfc.json
Administrator: Yes

-Software Information-
Version: 3.5.1.2522
Components Version: 1.0.391
Update Package Version: 1.0.6579
License: Premium

-System Information-
OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: {computername}\{username}

-Scan Summary-
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Scan Initiated By: Manual
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 252323
Threats Detected: 25
Threats Quarantined: 25
Time Elapsed: 4 min, 19 sec

-Scan Options-
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Enabled
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: 9
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\_locales\en, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\html\popup, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\_locales, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\html, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\css, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\IKKEKHBLEAJMJKELLOIGDBMBGKEJJMAG, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579

File: 16
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\000003.log, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\CURRENT, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\LOCK, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\LOG, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\IKKEKHBLEAJMJKELLOIGDBMBGKEJJMAG\1.7_0\BACKGROUND.JS, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\css\description.css, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\html\popup\description.html, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\_locales\en\messages.json, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\contentscript.js, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\icon.png, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579
PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ikkekhbleajmjkelloigdbmbgkejjmag\1.7_0\manifest.json, Quarantined, [223], [495178],1.0.6579

Physical Sector: 0
(No malicious items detected)

WMI: 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.
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