What is Quick Audio Converter?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Quick Audio Converter is a browser NewTab. These so-called "NewTabs" can 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 is a newtab and search hijacker and uses web push notifications.
How do I know if my computer is affected by Quick Audio Converter?
You may see this Chrome extension:
these warnings during install:
You may see this new startpage:
this entry in your list of installed Programs and Features:
and these new settings:
How did Quick Audio Converter get on my computer?
Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was downloaded from their website.
How do I remove Quick Audio Converter?
Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.
You can use their own uninstall instructions first, but I would advise to follow the steps below anyway.
- Please download Malwarebytes for Windows to your desktop.
- Double-click MBSetup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
- When your Malwarebytes for Windows installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen.
- Click on the Get started button.
- Click Scan to start a Threat Scan.
- When the scan is finished click Quarantine to remove the found threats.
- Reboot the system if prompted to complete the removal process.
- No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes Quick Audio Converter completely.
- If you have allowed the notifications you can read here how to disable them.
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 Quick Audio Converter hijacker. It would have warned you before the application could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.
and it blocks traffic to their domain:
Technical details for experts
Possible signs in FRST logs:
HKCU\...\Run: [IEXPLORE] => C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE hxxp://search.quickaudioconvertertab.com/?i_id=audioconverter_spt__1.30&uid=054012ce-cd8e-4406-96da-9159c3da02a9&uc=20191119&ap=0&source=_v2-bb9-iei-msn (the data entry has 3 more characters). <==== ATTENTION HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = hxxp://search.quickaudioconvertertab.com/?i_id=audioconverter_spt__1.30&uid=054012ce-cd8e-4406-96da-9159c3da02a9&uc=20191119&ap=0&source=_v2-bb9-iei-msn SearchScopes: HKCU -> DefaultScope {20126AD1-6B9B-41E9-A3D8-B92F31CCBC31} URL = hxxp://search.quickaudioconvertertab.com/s?i_id=audioconverter_spt__1.30&source=_v2-bb9-iei&uid=054012ce-cd8e-4406-96da-9159c3da02a9&uc=20191119&ap=0&query={searchTerms} SearchScopes: HKCU -> {20126AD1-6B9B-41E9-A3D8-B92F31CCBC31} URL = hxxp://search.quickaudioconvertertab.com/s?i_id=audioconverter_spt__1.30&source=_v2-bb9-iei&uid=054012ce-cd8e-4406-96da-9159c3da02a9&uc=20191119&ap=0&query={searchTerms} CHR NewTab: Default -> Active:"chrome-extension://dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk/index.html" CHR Extension: (Quick Audio Converter) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk [2019-11-19] C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\{28e56cfb-e30e-4f66-85d8-339885b726b8} Quick Audio Converter (HKCU\...\{28e56cfb-e30e-4f66-85d8-339885b726b8}) (Version: 5.4.0.2 - SpringTech (Cayman) Ltd.)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\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0 Adds the file about.html"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 6806 bytes, A Adds the file icon.png"="11/19/2019 9:19 AM, 10358 bytes, A Adds the file index.html"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 625 bytes, A Adds the file main.js"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 8060 bytes, A Adds the file main.js.map"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 4605 bytes, A Adds the file manifest.json"="11/19/2019 9:19 AM, 1378 bytes, A Adds the file polyfills.js"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 276518 bytes, A Adds the file polyfills.js.map"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 271850 bytes, A Adds the file polyfills-es5.js"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 401061 bytes, A Adds the file polyfills-es5.js.map"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 299080 bytes, A Adds the file popup.html"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 573 bytes, A Adds the file runtime.js"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 6233 bytes, A Adds the file runtime.js.map"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 6206 bytes, A Adds the file styles.css"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 249 bytes, A Adds the file styles.js"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 17351 bytes, A Adds the file styles.js.map"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 20279 bytes, A Adds the file vendor.js"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 3734558 bytes, A Adds the file vendor.js.map"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 3886759 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\_metadata Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="11/19/2019 9:19 AM, 104353 bytes, A Adds the file verified_contents.json"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 3380 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\app Adds the file background.js"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 12471 bytes, A Adds the file index.js"="9/26/2019 4:26 PM, 5575 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\IndexedDB\https_quickaudioconvertertab.com_0.indexeddb.leveldb Adds the file 000003.log"="11/19/2019 9:20 AM, 1047 bytes, A Adds the file CURRENT"="11/19/2019 9:19 AM, 16 bytes, A Adds the file LOCK"="11/19/2019 9:19 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file LOG"="11/19/2019 9:20 AM, 190 bytes, A Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="11/19/2019 9:19 AM, 23 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk Adds the file 000003.log"="11/19/2019 9:20 AM, 67 bytes, A Adds the file CURRENT"="11/19/2019 9:19 AM, 16 bytes, A Adds the file LOCK"="11/19/2019 9:19 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file LOG"="11/19/2019 9:20 AM, 184 bytes, A Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="11/19/2019 9:19 AM, 41 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\{28e56cfb-e30e-4f66-85d8-339885b726b8} Adds the file Uninstall.exe"="11/19/2019 9:15 AM, 347416 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\Downloads Adds the file QuickAudioConverter-27273412.exe"="11/19/2019 9:15 AM, 1117464 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings] "dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk"="REG_SZ", "7BE027341D4A35EECDB258C8E18102CFA2C2B0A708BF55FE07690A15332A996B" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main] "Start Page" ==> REG_SZ, "http://search.quickaudioconvertertab.com/?i_id=audioconverter_spt__1.30&uid=054012ce-cd8e-4406-96da-9159c3da02a9&uc=20191119&ap=0&source=_v2-bb9-iei-msn" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes] "DefaultScope" ==> REG_SZ, "{20126AD1-6B9B-41E9-A3D8-B92F31CCBC31}" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{20126AD1-6B9B-41E9-A3D8-B92F31CCBC31}] "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Quick Audio Converter - Powered by Yahoo!" "SuggestionsURL"="REG_SZ", "https://ie.search.yahoo.com/os?appid=ie8&command={searchTerms}" "URL"="REG_SZ", "http://search.quickaudioconvertertab.com/s?i_id=audioconverter_spt__1.30&source=_v2-bb9-iei&uid=054012ce-cd8e-4406-96da-9159c3da02a9&uc=20191119&ap=0&query={searchTerms}" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] "IEXPLORE"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE http://search.quickaudioconvertertab.com/?i_id=audioconverter_spt__1.30&uid=054012ce-cd8e-4406-96da-9159c3da02a9&uc=20191119&ap=0&source=_v2-bb9-iei-msn-su" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{28e56cfb-e30e-4f66-85d8-339885b726b8}] "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Quick Audio Converter" "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "5.4.0.2" "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\{28e56cfb-e30e-4f66-85d8-339885b726b8}\" "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "SpringTech (Cayman) Ltd." "UninstallDialog"="REG_DWORD", 2 "UninstallEngineID"="REG_SZ", "{20126AD1-6B9B-41E9-A3D8-B92F31CCBC31}" "UninstallHomepage"="REG_SZ", "http://search.quickaudioconvertertab.com/?i_id=audioconverter_spt__1.30&uid=054012ce-cd8e-4406-96da-9159c3da02a9&uc=20191119&ap=0&source=_v2-bb9-iei-msn" "UninstallImpression"="REG_SZ", "http://www.typeyoursearch.com/impression.do?domain=quickaudioconvertertab.com&implementation_id=audioconverter_spt__1.30&offer_id=_iei_&source=_v2-bb9-iei&sub_id=20191119&traffic_source=0&user_id=054012ce-cd8e-4406-96da-9159c3da02a9&useragent=Mozilla%2F5.0+(Windows+NT+6.1%3B+WOW64%3B+Trident%2F7.0%3B+rv%3A11.0)+like+Gecko&ts=1574151299&sgn=907100ef78bf95073d45546b162f5a833901fdc0&subid2=11.0.9600.19540&event={exEvent}" "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\{28e56cfb-e30e-4f66-85d8-339885b726b8}\Uninstall.exe" /uninstall"Malwarebytes log:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 11/19/19 Scan Time: 9:32 AM Log File: 294d1220-0aa7-11ea-94ae-00ffdcc6fdfc.json -Software Information- Version: 4.0.4.49 Components Version: 1.0.718 Update Package Version: 1.0.15128 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: 233776 Threats Detected: 42 Threats Quarantined: 42 Time Elapsed: 3 min, 25 sec -Scan Options- Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Disabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Detect PUM: Detect -Scan Details- Process: 0 (No malicious items detected) Module: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Key: 2 PUP.Optional.Spigot, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\{28e56cfb-e30e-4f66-85d8-339885b726b8}, Quarantined, 157, 373879, 1.0.15128, , ame, PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\SEARCHSCOPES\{20126AD1-6B9B-41E9-A3D8-B92F31CCBC31}, Quarantined, 207, 368913, 1.0.15128, , ame, Registry Value: 2 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\SEARCHSCOPES\{20126AD1-6B9B-41E9-A3D8-B92F31CCBC31}|URL, Quarantined, 207, 368913, 1.0.15128, , ame, PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , Registry Data: 1 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\MAIN|START PAGE, Replaced, 207, 662623, 1.0.15128, , ame, Data Stream: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folder: 6 PUP.Optional.Spigot, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\{28E56CFB-E30E-4F66-85D8-339885B726B8}, Quarantined, 157, 373878, 1.0.15128, , ame, PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Sync Extension Settings\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\_metadata, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\app, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\DHEFHIBLKACPEPNJCDBNCINODJGJAPKK\1.1_0, Quarantined, 207, 757812, 1.0.15128, , ame, File: 31 PUP.Optional.Spigot, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\{28e56cfb-e30e-4f66-85d8-339885b726b8}\Uninstall.exe, Quarantined, 157, 373878, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\000003.log, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\CURRENT, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\LOCK, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\LOG, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\DHEFHIBLKACPEPNJCDBNCINODJGJAPKK\1.1_0\APP\BACKGROUND.JS, Quarantined, 207, 757812, 1.0.15128, , ame, PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\app\index.js, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\about.html, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\icon.png, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\index.html, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\main.js, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\main.js.map, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\manifest.json, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\polyfills-es5.js, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\polyfills-es5.js.map, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\polyfills.js, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\polyfills.js.map, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\popup.html, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\runtime.js, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\runtime.js.map, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\styles.css, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\styles.js, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\styles.js.map, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\vendor.js, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\dhefhiblkacpepnjcdbncinodjgjapkk\1.1_0\vendor.js.map, Quarantined, 207, 757812, , , , PUP.Optional.Spigot, C:\USERS\{username}\DOWNLOADS\QUICKAUDIOCONVERTER-27273412.EXE, Quarantined, 157, 756784, 1.0.15128, D7795909B8C4DB37C7A293AB, dds, 00464144 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