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:
and these warnings during install:
and this changed setting:
How did Fastest Searches get on my computer?
Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was installed through their website:
but it was also available in the webstore:
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.
- No, Malwarebytes removes Fastest Searches completely.
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.
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