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Removal instructions for TopStreamsSearch

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#1
Metallica

Metallica

    Spyware Veteran

  • GeekU Moderator
  • 33,101 posts
Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is TopStreamsSearch?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that TopStreamsSearch 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 is a search hijacker and uses web push notifications.

notifications.png

How do I know if my computer is affected by TopStreamsSearch?

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

main.png

and these warnings during install:

warning1.png

warning3.png

warning4.png

and these changed settings:

warning5.png

warning6.png

How did TopStreamsSearch get on my computer?

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

webstore.png

after a redirect from their website:

website.png

How do I remove TopStreamsSearch?

Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this adware.
  • 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 TopStreamsSearch?
  • No, Malwarebytes removes TopStreamsSearch completely.
  • If you have allowed the notifications you can read here how to disable them.
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 wel as the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the TopStreamsSearch hijacker. It would have blocked their website, giving you a chance to stop before it became too late.

protection1.png


Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

CHR Notifications: Default -> hxxps://get.topstreamssearch.com
CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://feed.topstreamssearch.com/?q={searchTerms}&publisher=topstreamssearch&barcodeid=579250000000000
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> TopStreamsSearch
CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://api.topstreamssearch.com/suggest/get?q={searchTerms}
CHR Extension: (TopStreamsSearch) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\fenocinnkcgbipcocnikejepddfdalpe [2020-08-31]
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\fenocinnkcgbipcocnikejepddfdalpe\1.1.0_0
       Adds the file manifest.json"="8/31/2020 8:31 AM, 2132 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\fenocinnkcgbipcocnikejepddfdalpe\1.1.0_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="8/31/2020 8:31 AM, 6255 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="7/29/2020 9:14 AM, 2049 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\fenocinnkcgbipcocnikejepddfdalpe\1.1.0_0\images
       Adds the file logo-white-text.png"="7/29/2020 9:14 AM, 0 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\fenocinnkcgbipcocnikejepddfdalpe\1.1.0_0\images\icons
       Adds the file 128x128.png"="8/31/2020 8:31 AM, 10590 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16x16.png"="8/31/2020 8:31 AM, 680 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64x64.png"="8/31/2020 8:31 AM, 4230 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\fenocinnkcgbipcocnikejepddfdalpe\1.1.0_0\scripts
       Adds the file background.js"="7/29/2020 9:14 AM, 514640 bytes, A
       Adds the file sitecontent.js"="7/29/2020 9:14 AM, 77 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\fenocinnkcgbipcocnikejepddfdalpe
       Adds the file 000003.log"="8/31/2020 8:31 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="8/31/2020 8:31 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="8/31/2020 8:31 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="8/31/2020 8:31 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="8/31/2020 8:31 AM, 41 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\_crx_fenocinnkcgbipcocnikejepddfdalpe
       Adds the file TopStreamsSearch.ico"="8/31/2020 8:31 AM, 197278 bytes, A
       Adds the file TopStreamsSearch.ico.md5"="8/31/2020 8:31 AM, 16 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "fenocinnkcgbipcocnikejepddfdalpe"="REG_SZ", "DDCEC61405FF58A765D44759C8843FD6FBC8E8A4F71D9329C7F51F09C7CF8965"
Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 8/31/20
Scan Time: 8:41 AM
Log File: f90b6e9c-eb54-11ea-93b6-00ffdcc6fdfc.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.2.0.82
Components Version: 1.0.1025
Update Package Version: 1.0.29251
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: 231345
Threats Detected: 12
Threats Quarantined: 12
Time Elapsed: 6 min, 45 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
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|fenocinnkcgbipcocnikejepddfdalpe, Quarantined, 15245, 799722, , , , , , 

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 2
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Sync Extension Settings\fenocinnkcgbipcocnikejepddfdalpe, Quarantined, 15245, 799722, , , , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\FENOCINNKCGBIPCOCNIKEJEPDDFDALPE, Quarantined, 15245, 799722, 1.0.29251, , ame, , , 

File: 9
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 15245, 799722, , , , , 1DB54A13138D857DB6D0E2AFBBFB0FAA, 4DD374B5056972D042819CC1F09752507AEFEA8697ED77D4AA2315C6AB1DD48D
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 15245, 799722, , , , , 1D3F3F3B6F6A6857A635DB619D256452, 4A2051B8C904639C4770C2D2EB9C9AC69AC61B7AD5D1F34C3A8B561E02EE0D09
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\fenocinnkcgbipcocnikejepddfdalpe\000003.log, Quarantined, 15245, 799722, , , , , 07A574C2CE8DC1CF138A192398C40375, 137F3F7DC826A79300B4F167B9DC5FB8C9FF8FC25068ACD97768458A4414C370
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\fenocinnkcgbipcocnikejepddfdalpe\CURRENT, Quarantined, 15245, 799722, , , , , 46295CAC801E5D4857D09837238A6394, 0F1BAD70C7BD1E0A69562853EC529355462FCD0423263A3D39D6D0D70B780443
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\fenocinnkcgbipcocnikejepddfdalpe\LOCK, Quarantined, 15245, 799722, , , , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\fenocinnkcgbipcocnikejepddfdalpe\LOG, Quarantined, 15245, 799722, , , , , 801E29B6F00FDA58E5AF10936A496DE8, EE99F4F346885FA5A5E1317D22D5265EA28C2F8DC83E05F472F8FB4604D5E6FD
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\fenocinnkcgbipcocnikejepddfdalpe\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 15245, 799722, , , , , 5AF87DFD673BA2115E2FCF5CFDB727AB, F9D31B278E215EB0D0E9CD709EDFA037E828F36214AB7906F612160FEAD4B2B4
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\FENOCINNKCGBIPCOCNIKEJEPDDFDALPE\1.1.0_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, 15245, 799722, 1.0.29251, , ame, , 65FB0CED0A706B675D9E14295D4F2F2B, 9EB6C0382C8BACE785507CB5C3A4B583F2A0252FB7421606FDA8F00C4A8B757A
PUP.Optional.PushNotifications, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 203, 846248, 1.0.29251, , ame, , 1D3F3F3B6F6A6857A635DB619D256452, 4A2051B8C904639C4770C2D2EB9C9AC69AC61B7AD5D1F34C3A8B561E02EE0D09

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.
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