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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is MyNewsFree?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that MyNewsFree 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.

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

You may see this browser extension:



these warnings during install:







this new startpage:



and this new setting:



How did MyNewsFree 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 MyNewsFree?

Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.
[Mindspark only]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.

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

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes MyNewsFree completely.
• If your browsers have been hijacked, you should read our Restore Browser page. You can read there how to fix additional browser redirect methods.

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 the full version of Malwarebytes, as well as Browser Guard, would have protected you against the MyNewsFree hijacker. It would have warned you before the application could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

CHR NewTab: Default ->  Active:"chrome-extension://lfjginbgcjmiclnjcmfagakkdpdjibpg/newtab.html"
CHR Extension: (MyNewsFree) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\lfjginbgcjmiclnjcmfagakkdpdjibpg [2020-12-03]

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\lfjginbgcjmiclnjcmfagakkdpdjibpg\1.2_0
       Adds the file manifest.json"="12/3/2020 8:52 AM, 929 bytes, A
       Adds the file newtab.html"="7/16/2020 11:55 PM, 427 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\lfjginbgcjmiclnjcmfagakkdpdjibpg\1.2_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="12/3/2020 8:52 AM, 395 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="7/16/2020 11:56 PM, 1853 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\lfjginbgcjmiclnjcmfagakkdpdjibpg\1.2_0\icons
       Adds the file 128.png"="12/3/2020 8:52 AM, 6868 bytes, A
       Adds the file 48.png"="12/3/2020 8:52 AM, 1680 bytes, A
       Adds the file logo.png"="5/21/2020 3:31 PM, 5907 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\lfjginbgcjmiclnjcmfagakkdpdjibpg\1.2_0\js
       Adds the file custom.js"="7/2/2020 12:49 AM, 363 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "lfjginbgcjmiclnjcmfagakkdpdjibpg"="REG_SZ", "F9533D88F5D85021968D124A2F1C379926F9A641DFC8847924B6B3F3DD58F0EA"

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 12/3/20
Scan Time: 2:31 PM
Log File: e8916010-356b-11eb-85e7-080027235d76.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.2.3.96
Components Version: 1.0.1122
Update Package Version: 1.0.33810
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: 232205
Threats Detected: 4
Threats Quarantined: 4
Time Elapsed: 4 min, 21 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.SearchHijacker, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|lfjginbgcjmiclnjcmfagakkdpdjibpg, Quarantined, 368, 885637, , , , , , 

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 1
Adware.SearchHijacker, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\EXTENSIONS\lfjginbgcjmiclnjcmfagakkdpdjibpg, Quarantined, 368, 885637, 1.0.33810, , ame, , , 

File: 2
Adware.SearchHijacker, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 368, 885637, , , , , 71DB70F9FFB8F43966E111A9CC3E632D, 50AEEEBCD1C1A3C629D1589E30A8D15C00051E0D4EF4221B0B9D53929B896F52
Adware.SearchHijacker, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 368, 885637, , , , , C7F86D7BEA7B5DE12F425297D5EF65A2, A94F2A6824CED42C8FEDF665D89B277835994693C5D27CF508A8D6FA1A0B9CA2

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.