What is OnlineStreamSearch?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that OnlineStreamSearch 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 OnlineStreamSearch?
You may see this entry in your list of installed Chrome extensions:
and these warnings during install:
and this changed setting:
How did OnlineStreamSearch 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 OnlineStreamSearch?
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 OnlineStreamSearch completely.
- If you have allowed the notifications you can read here how to disable them.
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 OnlineStreamSearch 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.onlinestreamsearch.com CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://feed.onlinestreamsearch.com/?q={searchTerms}&publisher=onlinestreamsearch&barcodeid=584040000000000 CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> OnlineStreamSearch CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://api.onlinestreamsearch.com/suggest/get?q={searchTerms} CHR Extension: (OnlineStreamSearch) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\kjpkpjaepmfhndihmhdmgkfnhnmgabpj [2021-04-09]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\kjpkpjaepmfhndihmhdmgkfnhnmgabpj\1.1.0_0 Adds the file manifest.json"="4/9/2021 8:55 AM, 2156 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\kjpkpjaepmfhndihmhdmgkfnhnmgabpj\1.1.0_0\_metadata Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="4/9/2021 8:55 AM, 6255 bytes, A Adds the file verified_contents.json"="10/6/2020 9:26 AM, 2049 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\kjpkpjaepmfhndihmhdmgkfnhnmgabpj\1.1.0_0\images Adds the file logo-white-text.png"="10/6/2020 9:26 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\kjpkpjaepmfhndihmhdmgkfnhnmgabpj\1.1.0_0\images\icons Adds the file 128x128.png"="4/9/2021 8:55 AM, 10427 bytes, A Adds the file 16x16.png"="4/9/2021 8:55 AM, 669 bytes, A Adds the file 64x64.png"="4/9/2021 8:55 AM, 4057 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\kjpkpjaepmfhndihmhdmgkfnhnmgabpj\1.1.0_0\scripts Adds the file background.js"="10/6/2020 9:26 AM, 514547 bytes, A Adds the file sitecontent.js"="10/6/2020 9:26 AM, 77 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\kjpkpjaepmfhndihmhdmgkfnhnmgabpj Adds the file 000003.log"="4/9/2021 8:55 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file CURRENT"="4/9/2021 8:55 AM, 16 bytes, A Adds the file LOCK"="4/9/2021 8:55 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file LOG"="4/9/2021 8:55 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="4/9/2021 8:55 AM, 41 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\_crx_kjpkpjaepmfhndihmhdmgkfnhnmgabpj Adds the file OnlineStreamSearch.ico"="4/9/2021 8:55 AM, 194804 bytes, A Adds the file OnlineStreamSearch.ico.md5"="4/9/2021 8:55 AM, 16 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings] "kjpkpjaepmfhndihmhdmgkfnhnmgabpj"="REG_SZ", "2F218777DD2DEE73C7805AFE50CC42603D6959F5735FD1628C6F20C663949E64"Malwarebytes log:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 4/9/21 Scan Time: 9:03 AM Log File: bec2f72c-9901-11eb-af71-080027235d76.json -Software Information- Version: 4.3.0.98 Components Version: 1.0.1249 Update Package Version: 1.0.39257 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: 233745 Threats Detected: 13 Threats Quarantined: 13 Time Elapsed: 5 min, 27 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|kjpkpjaepmfhndihmhdmgkfnhnmgabpj, Quarantined, 16285, 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\kjpkpjaepmfhndihmhdmgkfnhnmgabpj, Quarantined, 16285, 799722, , , , , , Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\KJPKPJAEPMFHNDIHMHDMGKFNHNMGABPJ, Quarantined, 16285, 799722, 1.0.39257, , ame, , , File: 10 Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 16285, 799722, , , , , D7B7EC60A57BAAC24CB139343DC7EAA6, 67407A3B3D594CC57F242A025D6482FEE7143FDB6A564F79F1A134EDFFF6E13A Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 16285, 799722, , , , , 6EE8774596BCC887AD9EE13E095126F2, 343CAF48B3C7BC359CAB208681B31E4850F6A352A4159C88A6F911A90BE78AE2 Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\kjpkpjaepmfhndihmhdmgkfnhnmgabpj\000003.log, Quarantined, 16285, 799722, , , , , FCD43F3CAB81A6261B9DD9E6CABB1088, 311B0AFBE31E9C6AE5D72D3589F9D47C1D6D861C89E0EA77CACC199EB1309069 Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\kjpkpjaepmfhndihmhdmgkfnhnmgabpj\CURRENT, Quarantined, 16285, 799722, , , , , 46295CAC801E5D4857D09837238A6394, 0F1BAD70C7BD1E0A69562853EC529355462FCD0423263A3D39D6D0D70B780443 Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\kjpkpjaepmfhndihmhdmgkfnhnmgabpj\LOCK, Quarantined, 16285, 799722, , , , , , Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\kjpkpjaepmfhndihmhdmgkfnhnmgabpj\LOG, Quarantined, 16285, 799722, , , , , 41E2F6E522E0FD88F65000D12DA25D06, 75EC7C327CCF05CC127453F933BEE1CAFBCC0FDC4A3DDB22334D80A124155B5D Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\kjpkpjaepmfhndihmhdmgkfnhnmgabpj\LOG.old, Quarantined, 16285, 799722, , , , , 9D00CD778637544C4F6A4F56C1DD1014, E00505269842D1BA97D4D9C5C3D6F3B6D126349A4ACC12545C01F1C97632BE56 Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\kjpkpjaepmfhndihmhdmgkfnhnmgabpj\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 16285, 799722, , , , , 5AF87DFD673BA2115E2FCF5CFDB727AB, F9D31B278E215EB0D0E9CD709EDFA037E828F36214AB7906F612160FEAD4B2B4 Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\KJPKPJAEPMFHNDIHMHDMGKFNHNMGABPJ\1.1.0_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, 16285, 799722, 1.0.39257, , ame, , D81AEE0DDE16C52BD2D5D15274B0EB6A, 07F02DBBD00E646AFAF2AD5C4027F4759BF1D7D3EE76C4E78A8E031E14A0C468 PUP.Optional.PushNotifications, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 203, 846248, 1.0.39257, , ame, , 6EE8774596BCC887AD9EE13E095126F2, 343CAF48B3C7BC359CAB208681B31E4850F6A352A4159C88A6F911A90BE78AE2 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