What is CraniumCapacity ads?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that CraniumCapacity ads is a potentially unwanted program that behaves like adware. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing.
This particular one uses web push notifications.
How do I know if my computer is affected by CraniumCapacity ads?
You may see this entry in your list of installed Chrome extensions:
You may see these warnings during install:
and this changed setting:
How did CraniumCapacity ads get on my computer?
Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was downloaded from the webstore:
after a redirect from their website:
How do I remove CraniumCapacity ads?
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 CraniumCapacity ads completely.
- The permission for the domain to show you notifications can be removed manually. More information and a how-to can be found in this blogpost.
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 CraniumCapacity ads 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:
CHR Extension: (CraniumCapacity ads) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj [2019-05-08]Significant 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\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0 Adds the file background.html"="2/7/2019 9:30 AM, 178 bytes, A Adds the file background.js"="2/7/2019 9:31 AM, 154085 bytes, A Adds the file content.js"="2/7/2019 9:30 AM, 48949 bytes, A Adds the file install.js"="2/7/2019 9:30 AM, 443 bytes, A Adds the file intextContent.js"="2/7/2019 9:30 AM, 120555 bytes, A Adds the file intextstyle.css"="2/7/2019 9:30 AM, 1613 bytes, A Adds the file manifest.json"="5/8/2019 8:42 AM, 1878 bytes, A Adds the file vsframe.js"="2/7/2019 9:30 AM, 21690 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0\_metadata Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="5/8/2019 8:42 AM, 4843 bytes, A Adds the file verified_contents.json"="2/7/2019 9:30 AM, 2523 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0\img Adds the file close.svg"="2/7/2019 9:30 AM, 1594 bytes, A Adds the file icon.png"="5/8/2019 8:42 AM, 15059 bytes, A Adds the file icon48.png"="5/8/2019 8:42 AM, 3827 bytes, A Adds the file info.svg"="2/7/2019 9:30 AM, 1251 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj Adds the file 000003.log"="5/8/2019 8:42 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file CURRENT"="5/8/2019 8:42 AM, 16 bytes, A Adds the file LOCK"="5/8/2019 8:42 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file LOG"="5/8/2019 8:42 AM, 185 bytes, A Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="5/8/2019 8:42 AM, 41 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Platform Notifications Alters the file LOG 5/8/2019 8:37 AM, 0 bytes, A ==> 5/8/2019 8:37 AM, 342 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj Adds the file 000003.log"="5/8/2019 8:42 AM, 4584 bytes, A Adds the file CURRENT"="5/8/2019 8:42 AM, 16 bytes, A Adds the file LOCK"="5/8/2019 8:42 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file LOG"="5/8/2019 8:42 AM, 184 bytes, A Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="5/8/2019 8:42 AM, 41 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings] "llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj"="REG_SZ", "6179405C11D64181AE725DF30C7372AA3DAE8FAACBDF139D600F02EB9BEA6B0F"Malwarebytes log:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 5/8/19 Scan Time: 8:57 AM Log File: 81ab20c1-715e-11e9-a1e6-00ffdcc6fdfc.json -Software Information- Version: 3.7.1.2839 Components Version: 1.0.563 Update Package Version: 1.0.10510 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: 236126 Threats Detected: 33 Threats Quarantined: 33 Time Elapsed: 5 min, 23 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.AdvertisingExt.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 Registry Data: 0 (No malicious items detected) Data Stream: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folder: 6 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Local Extension Settings\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Sync Extension Settings\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0\img, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\LLKBDACDPAIOPPMGFMBLFIFEAPGKLKOJ, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 File: 26 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\000003.log, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\CURRENT, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\LOCK, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\LOG, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\000003.log, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\CURRENT, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\LOCK, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\LOG, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\LLKBDACDPAIOPPMGFMBLFIFEAPGKLKOJ\9.1.2.9_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0\img\close.svg, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0\img\icon.png, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0\img\icon48.png, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0\img\info.svg, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0\background.html, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0\background.js, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0\content.js, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0\install.js, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0\intextContent.js, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0\intextstyle.css, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 PUP.Optional.AdvertisingExt.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\llkbdacdpaioppmgfmblfifeapgklkoj\9.1.2.9_0\vsframe.js, Quarantined, [14675], [542296],1.0.10510 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