What is Discrete Search?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Discrete Search 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.
This particular one targets both Chrome and Firefox users, but the Firefox add-on no longer installs:
For those that alre4ady had it installed, Malwarebytes detects the add-on generically as PUP.Optional.SearchFF.
How do I know if my computer is affected by Discrete Search?
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 Discrete Search get on my computer?
Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was downloaded from the webstore:
and this is their website:
How do I remove Discrete 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.
- No, Malwarebytes removes Discrete Search completely.
We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.
Technical details for experts
Possible signs in FRST logs:
CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://www.discretesearch.com/encsearch?q={searchTerms} CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> ds CHR Extension: (Discrete Search) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc [2019-07-04]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\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0 Adds the file manifest.json"="7/4/2019 9:08 AM, 2112 bytes, A Adds the file popup.html"="10/12/2017 11:17 AM, 2092 bytes, A Adds the file settings.html"="10/12/2017 11:17 AM, 12390 bytes, A Adds the file util.js"="10/12/2017 11:17 AM, 4917 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\_metadata Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="7/4/2019 9:08 AM, 4099 bytes, A Adds the file verified_contents.json"="10/12/2017 11:17 AM, 3285 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\css Adds the file tooltip.css"="10/12/2017 11:17 AM, 1355 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\img\ds Adds the file icon128.png"="7/4/2019 9:08 AM, 8242 bytes, A Adds the file icon16.png"="7/4/2019 9:08 AM, 754 bytes, A Adds the file icon16_disabled.png"="7/4/2019 9:08 AM, 709 bytes, A Adds the file icon48.png"="7/4/2019 9:08 AM, 2788 bytes, A Adds the file input-checked.png"="10/5/2017 10:33 AM, 318 bytes, A Adds the file input-unchecked.png"="10/5/2017 10:33 AM, 154 bytes, A Adds the file si-logo.png"="10/5/2017 10:33 AM, 30122 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\lib Adds the file bg.js"="10/12/2017 11:17 AM, 57140 bytes, A Adds the file jquery.js"="10/12/2017 11:17 AM, 115205 bytes, A Adds the file label.js"="10/12/2017 11:17 AM, 8725 bytes, A Adds the file popup.js"="10/12/2017 11:17 AM, 2640 bytes, A Adds the file savesettings.js"="10/12/2017 11:17 AM, 4496 bytes, A Adds the file warn-user-of-potential-redirect.js"="10/12/2017 11:17 AM, 7094 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc Adds the file 000003.log"="7/4/2019 9:08 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file CURRENT"="7/4/2019 9:08 AM, 16 bytes, A Adds the file LOCK"="7/4/2019 9:08 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file LOG"="7/4/2019 9:08 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="7/4/2019 9:08 AM, 41 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings] "ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc"="REG_SZ", "A7CCAA5DA11D3B64A3819D6591B88F4ADFA146FAC50957ABBA79449D58647267"Malwarebytes log:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 7/4/19 Scan Time: 9:18 AM Log File: db62083c-9e2b-11e9-b93f-00ffdcc6fdfc.json -Software Information- Version: 3.7.1.2839 Components Version: 1.0.586 Update Package Version: 1.0.11398 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: 236424 Threats Detected: 36 Threats Quarantined: 36 Time Elapsed: 5 min, 50 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.DiscreteSearch, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 Registry Data: 0 (No malicious items detected) Data Stream: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folder: 8 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\img\ds, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\css, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\img, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\lib, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\OJHNMOJGMOIKEAMDKAADCEBHOKJHMHLC, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 File: 27 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\000003.log, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\CURRENT, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\LOCK, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\LOG, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\OJHNMOJGMOIKEAMDKAADCEBHOKJHMHLC\2.1.4_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\css\tooltip.css, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\img\ds\icon128.png, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\img\ds\icon16.png, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\img\ds\icon16_disabled.png, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\img\ds\icon48.png, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\img\ds\input-checked.png, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\img\ds\input-unchecked.png, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\img\ds\si-logo.png, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\lib\bg.js, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\lib\jquery.js, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\lib\label.js, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\lib\popup.js, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\lib\savesettings.js, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\lib\warn-user-of-potential-redirect.js, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\popup.html, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\settings.html, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 PUP.Optional.DiscreteSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ojhnmojgmoikeamdkaadcebhokjhmhlc\2.1.4_0\util.js, Quarantined, [4621], [351131],1.0.11398 Physical Sector: 0 (No malicious items detected) WMI: 0 (No malicious items detected) (end)The full version of Malwarebytes can protect your computer against threats.
We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):
- Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
- Malware Execution Prevention