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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Searchsio?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Searchsio 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 Searchsio?

You may see this entry in your list of installed Chrome extensions:



this icon in the Chrome menu-bar:



this changed setting:



and these warnings during install:









How did Searchsio get on my computer?

Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was downloaded from the webstore:



after a redirect from their website:



How do I remove Searchsio?

Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.

• 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.

Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Searchsio?

• No, Malwarebytes removes Searchsio completely.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes help protect me?

We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.

As you can see below Malwarebytes Browser Guard, as well as the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the Searchsio 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 DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://feed.searchsio.com/?q={searchTerms}&publisher=searchsio&barcodeid=568580000000000
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> Searchsio
CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://api.searchsio.com/suggest/get?q={searchTerms}
CHR Extension: (Searchsio) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\bolckdodmilglagkpefcempiidghfbgj [2020-02-11]

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\bolckdodmilglagkpefcempiidghfbgj\1.0.0_0
       Adds the file manifest.json"="2/11/2020 8:56 AM, 2038 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\bolckdodmilglagkpefcempiidghfbgj\1.0.0_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="2/11/2020 8:56 AM, 6135 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="1/19/2020 12:43 PM, 1921 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\bolckdodmilglagkpefcempiidghfbgj\1.0.0_0\images\icons
       Adds the file 128x128.png"="2/11/2020 8:56 AM, 10948 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16x16.png"="2/11/2020 8:56 AM, 747 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64x64.png"="2/11/2020 8:56 AM, 4478 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\bolckdodmilglagkpefcempiidghfbgj\1.0.0_0\scripts
       Adds the file background.js"="1/19/2020 12:43 PM, 513868 bytes, A
       Adds the file sitecontent.js"="1/19/2020 12:43 PM, 77 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\_crx_bolckdodmilglagkpefcempiidghfbgj
       Adds the file Searchsio.ico"="2/11/2020 8:56 AM, 204420 bytes, A
       Adds the file Searchsio.ico.md5"="2/11/2020 8:56 AM, 16 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "bolckdodmilglagkpefcempiidghfbgj"="REG_SZ", "967457670AE6AA3FA28F271A327F7B20F3610E5515640159CB153281AF11517A"

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 2/11/20
Scan Time: 9:09 AM
Log File: da61f928-4ca5-11ea-96bc-00ffdcc6fdfc.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.0.4.49
Components Version: 1.0.810
Update Package Version: 1.0.19028
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: 235809
Threats Detected: 4
Threats Quarantined: 4
Time Elapsed: 12 min, 39 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: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Value: 1
PUP.Optional.Searchsio, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|bolckdodmilglagkpefcempiidghfbgj, Quarantined, 2197, 789280, , , , 

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 1
PUP.Optional.Searchsio, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\EXTENSIONS\bolckdodmilglagkpefcempiidghfbgj, Quarantined, 2197, 789280, 1.0.19028, , ame, 

File: 2
PUP.Optional.Searchsio, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 2197, 789280, , , , 
PUP.Optional.Searchsio, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 2197, 789280, , , , 

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

Save yourself the hassle and get protected.