What is Kittens new tab?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Kittens new tab is a search 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.
How do I know if my computer is affected by Kittens new tab?
You may see this entry in your list of installed Chrome extensions:
and these warnings during install:
You will see this icon in your Chrome menu-bar:
and this changed setting:
How did Kittens new tab get on my computer?
Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. These particular ones were downloaded from their respective webstores:
after a redirect from their website:
How do I remove Kittens new tab?
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 Kittens new tab 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 Kittens new tab hijacker. It would have blocked their website, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.
Technical details for experts
Possible signs in FRST logs:
FF NewTabOverride: Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default -> Enabled: {a36d5211-070b-4021-bca1-1b73b2ce4d73} FF Extension: (Kittens new tab) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\Extensions\{a36d5211-070b-4021-bca1-1b73b2ce4d73}.xpi [2019-02-05] CHR NewTab: Default -> Active:"chrome-extension://dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl/newtab.html" CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://searchpage.com/?ext=kittens&v=a1.6.2&keywords={searchTerms} CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> searchTerms CHR Extension: (Searchpage) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl [2019-02-05]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\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0 Adds the file 128.png"="2/5/2019 9:00 AM, 23719 bytes, A Adds the file font.woff2"="11/7/2018 11:36 AM, 49168 bytes, A Adds the file manifest.json"="2/5/2019 9:00 AM, 1804 bytes, A Adds the file newtab.html"="1/16/2019 2:19 PM, 5142 bytes, A Adds the file one.css"="1/29/2019 5:15 PM, 229240 bytes, A Adds the file pixel.js"="1/17/2019 4:18 PM, 177 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\_locales\en Adds the file messages.json"="2/5/2019 9:00 AM, 149 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\_metadata Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="2/5/2019 9:00 AM, 10446 bytes, A Adds the file verified_contents.json"="1/31/2019 1:45 PM, 3227 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\js Adds the file b.js"="1/22/2019 3:55 PM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file background.js"="1/31/2019 1:44 PM, 1985 bytes, A Adds the file data.js"="11/7/2018 11:36 AM, 3862 bytes, A Adds the file detailsUpdate.js"="1/16/2019 11:59 AM, 1523 bytes, A Adds the file dynamicData.json"="1/15/2019 5:52 PM, 478 bytes, A Adds the file fontawesome.js"="11/7/2018 11:36 AM, 9543 bytes, A Adds the file init.js"="1/16/2019 12:18 PM, 6583 bytes, A Adds the file initAnalytics.js"="11/7/2018 11:36 AM, 1277 bytes, A Adds the file jquery-3.3.1.min.js"="11/7/2018 6:39 PM, 271751 bytes, A Adds the file masonry.pkgd.min.js"="11/7/2018 11:36 AM, 26187 bytes, A Adds the file materialize.min.js"="11/7/2018 11:36 AM, 181214 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl Adds the file 000003.log"="2/5/2019 9:00 AM, 2876 bytes, A Adds the file CURRENT"="2/5/2019 9:00 AM, 16 bytes, A Adds the file LOCK"="2/5/2019 9:00 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file LOG"="2/5/2019 9:00 AM, 185 bytes, A Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="2/5/2019 9:00 AM, 41 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\browser-extension-data\{a36d5211-070b-4021-bca1-1b73b2ce4d73} In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions Adds the file {a36d5211-070b-4021-bca1-1b73b2ce4d73}.xpi"="2/5/2019 9:05 AM, 253254 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings] "dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl"="REG_SZ", "E307B096C2061CB4FDB2F2CF0B78CC1D06D232CD84772F969B60768494CA817F"Malwarebytes log:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 2/5/19 Scan Time: 9:11 AM Log File: a47e4bc4-291d-11e9-9cc6-00ffdcc6fdfc.json -Software Information- Version: 3.6.1.2711 Components Version: 1.0.482 Update Package Version: 1.0.9122 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: 235939 Threats Detected: 37 Threats Quarantined: 37 Time Elapsed: 4 min, 2 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: 1 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 Registry Data: 0 (No malicious items detected) Data Stream: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folder: 8 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\_locales\en, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\_locales, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\js, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Local Extension Settings\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\EXTENSIONS\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.KittensNewTab, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\{profile}.default\BROWSER-EXTENSION-DATA\{A36D5211-070B-4021-BCA1-1B73B2CE4D73}, Quarantined, [1732], [634388],1.0.9122 File: 28 PUP.Optional.KittensNewTab, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\{profile}.default\EXTENSIONS\{A36D5211-070B-4021-BCA1-1B73B2CE4D73}.XPI, Quarantined, [1732], [634389],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\js\b.js, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\js\background.js, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\js\data.js, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\js\detailsUpdate.js, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\js\dynamicData.json, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\js\fontawesome.js, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\js\init.js, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\js\initAnalytics.js, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\js\jquery-3.3.1.min.js, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\js\masonry.pkgd.min.js, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\js\materialize.min.js, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\_locales\en\messages.json, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\128.png, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\font.woff2, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\manifest.json, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\newtab.html, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\one.css, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\1.6.3_0\pixel.js, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\000003.log, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\CURRENT, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\LOCK, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\LOG, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\dlakdjndmfmnpcagngkijpmhpbfngdnl\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 PUP.Optional.BestText4Fun, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [255], [631846],1.0.9122 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