What is Hide My History?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Hide My History 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 Hide My History?
You may see this entry in your list of installed Chrome extensions:
this icon in the Chrome menu-bar:
this changed setting:
this new searchpage:
and these warnings during install:
How did Hide My History 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 Hide My History?
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.
- No, Malwarebytes removes Hide My History completely.
We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.
As you can see below Malwarebytes Browser Guard, and the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the Hide My History 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://www.hidemyhistory.co/encsearch?q={searchTerms} CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> hy CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://www.hidemyhistory.co/encsuggest?q={searchTerms} CHR Extension: (Hide My History) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal [2020-02-28]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\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal\1.2.1.0_0 Adds the file background.html"="11/22/2019 2:16 PM, 151 bytes, A Adds the file manifest.json"="2/28/2020 9:01 AM, 2252 bytes, A Adds the file panel.html"="1/14/2020 12:20 PM, 2083 bytes, A Adds the file settings.html"="11/22/2019 2:16 PM, 11203 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal\1.2.1.0_0\_metadata Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="2/28/2020 9:01 AM, 8531 bytes, A Adds the file verified_contents.json"="1/21/2020 3:40 PM, 3057 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal\1.2.1.0_0\css Adds the file tooltip.css"="11/22/2019 2:16 PM, 1295 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal\1.2.1.0_0\img\hy Adds the file icon128.png"="2/28/2020 9:01 AM, 4595 bytes, A Adds the file icon16.png"="2/28/2020 9:01 AM, 633 bytes, A Adds the file icon16_disabled.png"="2/28/2020 9:01 AM, 616 bytes, A Adds the file icon48.png"="2/28/2020 9:01 AM, 1928 bytes, A Adds the file input-checked.png"="11/25/2019 1:55 PM, 318 bytes, A Adds the file input-unchecked.png"="11/25/2019 1:55 PM, 154 bytes, A Adds the file si-logo.png"="11/25/2019 1:55 PM, 18143 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal\1.2.1.0_0\lib Adds the file bg.js"="1/27/2020 5:44 PM, 425330 bytes, A Adds the file page-protection.js"="1/27/2020 5:44 PM, 71216 bytes, A Adds the file panel.js"="1/27/2020 5:44 PM, 57343 bytes, A Adds the file savesettings.js"="1/27/2020 5:44 PM, 65956 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal Adds the file 000003.log"="2/28/2020 9:01 AM, 15881 bytes, A Adds the file CURRENT"="2/28/2020 9:01 AM, 16 bytes, A Adds the file LOCK"="2/28/2020 9:01 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file LOG"="2/28/2020 9:05 AM, 184 bytes, A Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="2/28/2020 9:01 AM, 41 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal Adds the file 000003.log"="2/28/2020 9:01 AM, 349 bytes, A Adds the file CURRENT"="2/28/2020 9:01 AM, 16 bytes, A Adds the file LOCK"="2/28/2020 9:01 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file LOG"="2/28/2020 9:05 AM, 183 bytes, A Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="2/28/2020 9:01 AM, 41 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings] "jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal"="REG_SZ", "4A932DB92F373F3DF2A45B7E8A6D2CE8F2501F501BA83639DBD969FC53354F92"Malwarebytes log:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 2/28/20 Scan Time: 11:36 AM Log File: 1da686f4-5a16-11ea-9295-00ffdcc6fdfc.json -Software Information- Version: 4.1.0.56 Components Version: 1.0.835 Update Package Version: 1.0.19948 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: 235747 Threats Detected: 21 Threats Quarantined: 21 Time Elapsed: 14 min, 41 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.HideMyHistory, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal, Quarantined, 353, 795006, , , , Registry Data: 0 (No malicious items detected) Data Stream: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folder: 3 PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Local Extension Settings\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal, Quarantined, 353, 795006, , , , PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Sync Extension Settings\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal, Quarantined, 353, 795006, , , , PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\JMKNLINJEDPCCCEPHOKGBOEFOMNAJKAL, Quarantined, 353, 795006, 1.0.19948, , ame, File: 17 PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 353, 795006, , , , PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 353, 795006, , , , PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal\000003.log, Quarantined, 353, 795006, , , , PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal\CURRENT, Quarantined, 353, 795006, , , , PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal\LOCK, Quarantined, 353, 795006, , , , PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal\LOG, Quarantined, 353, 795006, , , , PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal\LOG.old, Quarantined, 353, 795006, , , , PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 353, 795006, , , , PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal\000003.log, Quarantined, 353, 795006, , , , PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal\CURRENT, Quarantined, 353, 795006, , , , PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal\LOCK, Quarantined, 353, 795006, , , , PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal\LOG, Quarantined, 353, 795006, , , , PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal\LOG.old, Quarantined, 353, 795006, , , , PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\jmknlinjedpcccephokgboefomnajkal\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 353, 795006, , , , PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\JMKNLINJEDPCCCEPHOKGBOEFOMNAJKAL\1.2.1.0_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, 353, 795006, 1.0.19948, , ame, PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 353, 795005, 1.0.19948, , ame, PUP.Optional.HideMyHistory, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 353, 795005, 1.0.19948, , ame, 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