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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is AnyGameSearch?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that AnyGameSearch 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. It also adds advertisements to your search results in the form of recommended searches.





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

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



and these warnings during install:







and this changed setting:



How did AnyGameSearch 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 AnyGameSearch?

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 AnyGameSearch?

• No, Malwarebytes removes AnyGameSearch 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, and the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the AnyGameSearch 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 Notifications: Default -> hxxps://get.anygamesearch.com
CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://feed.anygamesearch.com/?q={searchTerms}&publisher=anygamesearch&barcodeid=576890000000000
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> AnyGameSearch
CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://api.anygamesearch.com/suggest/get?q={searchTerms}
CHR Extension: (AnyGameSearch) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneeapnjflfgmlffolfefiehoclcmdkn [2021-02-10]

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\cneeapnjflfgmlffolfefiehoclcmdkn\1.1.0_0
       Adds the file manifest.json"="2/10/2021 7:48 AM, 2096 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneeapnjflfgmlffolfefiehoclcmdkn\1.1.0_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="2/10/2021 7:48 AM, 6255 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="7/9/2020 2:50 PM, 2049 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneeapnjflfgmlffolfefiehoclcmdkn\1.1.0_0\images
       Adds the file logo-white-text.png"="7/9/2020 2:50 PM, 0 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneeapnjflfgmlffolfefiehoclcmdkn\1.1.0_0\images\icons
       Adds the file 128x128.png"="2/10/2021 7:48 AM, 8772 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16x16.png"="2/10/2021 7:48 AM, 835 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64x64.png"="2/10/2021 7:48 AM, 4193 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneeapnjflfgmlffolfefiehoclcmdkn\1.1.0_0\scripts
       Adds the file background.js"="7/9/2020 2:50 PM, 514594 bytes, A
       Adds the file sitecontent.js"="7/9/2020 2:50 PM, 77 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cneeapnjflfgmlffolfefiehoclcmdkn
       Adds the file 000003.log"="2/10/2021 7:48 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="2/10/2021 7:48 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="2/10/2021 7:48 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="2/10/2021 7:48 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="2/10/2021 7:48 AM, 41 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\_crx_cneeapnjflfgmlffolfefiehoclcmdkn
       Adds the file AnyGameSearch.ico"="2/10/2021 7:48 AM, 206154 bytes, A
       Adds the file AnyGameSearch.ico.md5"="2/10/2021 7:48 AM, 16 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "cneeapnjflfgmlffolfefiehoclcmdkn"="REG_SZ", "4BD71F2627ED23125986AF0586F6463B5209AFE36FF267AB760814E156179BB3"

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 2/10/21
Scan Time: 7:57 AM
Log File: 444cd43e-6b6d-11eb-814c-080027235d76.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.3.0.98
Components Version: 1.0.1157
Update Package Version: 1.0.36899
License: Premium

-System Information-
OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: {username}-PC\{username}

-Scan Summary-
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Scan Initiated By: Manual
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 233171
Threats Detected: 12
Threats Quarantined: 12
Time Elapsed: 3 min, 43 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|cneeapnjflfgmlffolfefiehoclcmdkn, Quarantined, 15232, 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\cneeapnjflfgmlffolfefiehoclcmdkn, Quarantined, 15232, 799722, , , , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\CNEEAPNJFLFGMLFFOLFEFIEHOCLCMDKN, Quarantined, 15232, 799722, 1.0.36899, , ame, , , 

File: 9
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 15232, 799722, , , , , 0B0A79FC52E9233ECDD1C5EF4537AF0E, 934E2F5F8F19F6AC64F9250339291832B628F68781206B35238FB419C2E2CE78
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 15232, 799722, , , , , 3661F4B716BA223A0BE2E6112ECCE952, A87547EF33630902BB5E4A3E95DADDB7E842F33E31ACAAECBB93A5CA517C2860
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cneeapnjflfgmlffolfefiehoclcmdkn\000003.log, Quarantined, 15232, 799722, , , , , 1AFECC7432404BCF7E58B207A2FD50E9, C44FD1632096D4D5FEAE72C4D889462E90F50AAB8DCE7B0E2ECF6F0489789C4D
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cneeapnjflfgmlffolfefiehoclcmdkn\CURRENT, Quarantined, 15232, 799722, , , , , 46295CAC801E5D4857D09837238A6394, 0F1BAD70C7BD1E0A69562853EC529355462FCD0423263A3D39D6D0D70B780443
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cneeapnjflfgmlffolfefiehoclcmdkn\LOCK, Quarantined, 15232, 799722, , , , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cneeapnjflfgmlffolfefiehoclcmdkn\LOG, Quarantined, 15232, 799722, , , , , ECF73745D594746614526CA7F4581CF2, F163E3767E6AD310D7A4EEE7A046C912299E3DB284EE4BBD06426BFC804A705E
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cneeapnjflfgmlffolfefiehoclcmdkn\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 15232, 799722, , , , , 5AF87DFD673BA2115E2FCF5CFDB727AB, F9D31B278E215EB0D0E9CD709EDFA037E828F36214AB7906F612160FEAD4B2B4
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\CNEEAPNJFLFGMLFFOLFEFIEHOCLCMDKN\1.1.0_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, 15232, 799722, 1.0.36899, , ame, , DF9415DE2BC5685B8BE0E35C4B5027D1, C390249524ED4EF3442414BB49038B34759948854BC3D2A39AFC385A6D0C2749
PUP.Optional.PushNotifications, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 14953, 846248, 1.0.36899, , ame, , 3661F4B716BA223A0BE2E6112ECCE952, A87547EF33630902BB5E4A3E95DADDB7E842F33E31ACAAECBB93A5CA517C2860

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.