Removal instructions for Topic Torch

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Topic Torch?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Topic Torch is a browser hijacker. These so-called "hijackers" alter your startpage or searchscopes so that the effected browser visits their site or one of their choice. This one also displays advertisements.

How do I know if my computer is affected by Topic Torch?

You may see this warning:

And you may see these toolbars/add-ons:

or this entry in your list of installed programs:

How did Topic Torch get on my computer?

Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was bundled with other software.

How do I remove Topic Torch?

Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this rogue application.

Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to your desktop.
Double-click mbam-setup-version.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to the following:
- Enable free trial of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium
- Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Then click Finish.
If an update is found, you will be prompted to download and install the latest version.
Once the program has loaded, select Scan now.
When the scan is complete , make sure that everything is set to "Quarantine", and click Apply Actions.
Reboot your computer if prompted.

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

No, but for a full removal of the Firefox add-on you will need Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 2.00 beta or newer.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 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 Anti-Malware would have protected you against the Topic Torch hijacker. It would have warned you before the browser helper object could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

Technical details for experts

Signs in a HijackThis log:

O2 - BHO: TopicTorch - {225bfb24-8e4e-4b07-9e23-a23a686e268a} - C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorchbho.dll

Alterations made by the installer:


File system details  
---------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\TopicTorch
       Adds the file TopicTorch.ico"="4/9/2014 5:39 AM, 1150 bytes, A
       Adds the file TopicTorchBHO.dll"="4/9/2014 5:39 AM, 249632 bytes, A
       Adds the file TopicTorchUninstall.exe"="4/16/2014 7:29 AM, 240409 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\joxsq3f5.default\extensions
       Adds the file [email protected]"="4/9/2014 5:39 AM, 10874 bytes, A


Registry details  
------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{1AA60054-57D9-4F99-9A55-D0FBFBE7ECD3}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "10B0F982-97C8-4DFA-AD3D-647679839C3C"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{225bfb24-8e4e-4b07-9e23-a23a686e268a}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "TopicTorch"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{225bfb24-8e4e-4b07-9e23-a23a686e268a}\InprocServer32]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorchbho.dll"
       "ThreadingModel"="REG_SZ", "Apartment"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{225bfb24-8e4e-4b07-9e23-a23a686e268a}\Programmable]
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{225bfb24-8e4e-4b07-9e23-a23a686e268a}\TypeLib]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{c4252659-61a9-40ae-86fe-7f112ddfe662}"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{225bfb24-8e4e-4b07-9e23-a23a686e268a}\Version]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "1.0"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "689EAC3E-64CB-4FC6-8422-078498D8D844"
       "id"="REG_SZ", "220"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{6ED00366-F35C-4D0D-8383-D7E224C1C25C}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "ITopicTorchBHO"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{6ED00366-F35C-4D0D-8383-D7E224C1C25C}\ProxyStubClsid]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{6ED00366-F35C-4D0D-8383-D7E224C1C25C}\ProxyStubClsid32]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{6ED00366-F35C-4D0D-8383-D7E224C1C25C}\TypeLib]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{C4252659-61A9-40AE-86FE-7F112DDFE662}"
       "Version"="REG_SZ", "1.0"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{C4252659-61A9-40AE-86FE-7F112DDFE662}\1.0]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "TopicTorchIEClientLib"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{C4252659-61A9-40AE-86FE-7F112DDFE662}\1.0\0\win32]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorchbho.dll"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{C4252659-61A9-40AE-86FE-7F112DDFE662}\1.0\FLAGS]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "0"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{C4252659-61A9-40AE-86FE-7F112DDFE662}\1.0\HELPDIR]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\TopicTorch"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{225bfb24-8e4e-4b07-9e23-a23a686e268a}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "TopicTorch"
       "NoExplorer"="REG_DWORD", 1
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\TopicTorch]
       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorch.ico"
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "TopicTorch"
       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "2014.04.09.033923"
       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 244
       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "mailto:"
       "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\TopicTorch"
       "InstallTime"="REG_SZ", "2014-04-16 7:29:54"
       "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "TopicTorch"
       "QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorchuninstall.exe /S"
       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorchuninstall.exe"
       "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", "http://topictorch.com/support"
       "URLUpdateInfo"="REG_SZ", "http://topictorch.com"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\TopicTorch\Chrome]
       "sgc"="REG_SZ", "true"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\TopicTorch\Firefox]
       "sff"="REG_SZ", "false"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\TopicTorch\Internet Explorer]
       "sie"="REG_SZ", "false"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Approved Extensions]
       "{225BFB24-8E4E-4B07-9E23-A23A686E268A}"="REG_BINARY, ............
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Compatibility Assistant\Persisted]
       "C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\TopicTorch (superweb).exe"="REG_DWORD", 1
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TopicTorch]
       "id"="REG_SZ", "2014-04-16 7:29:54"
       "iid"="REG_SZ", "org_TopicTorch"
       "is"="REG_SZ", "org_TopicTorch"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TopicTorch\Chrome]
       "ug"="REG_SZ", "EC3266B1-9EAC-4BC0-AB78-D503B9AE0D27"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TopicTorch\Firefox]
       "ug"="REG_SZ", "00697BC3-126F-45E9-89FD-866E8EFFDCD3"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TopicTorch\Internet Explorer]
       "ug"="REG_SZ", "1615E7B2-444B-4D3C-A297-314B5210FBD0"

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 4/16/2014
Scan Time: 7:42:02 AM
Logfile: mbamTopicTorch.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.00.1.1004
Malware Database: v2014.04.16.03
Rootkit Database: v2014.03.27.01
License: Trial
Malware Protection: Disabled
Malicious Website Protection: Disabled
Chameleon: Disabled

OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x86
File System: NTFS
User: Malwarebytes

Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 211047
Time Elapsed: 6 min, 11 sec

Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Disabled
Shuriken: Enabled
PUP: Enabled
PUM: Enabled

Processes: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Modules: 1
PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorchBHO.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], 

Registry Keys: 11
PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{225bfb24-8e4e-4b07-9e23-a23a686e268a}, Quarantined, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], 
PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\TYPELIB\{c4252659-61a9-40ae-86fe-7f112ddfe662}, Quarantined, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], 
PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\INTERFACE\{6ED00366-F35C-4D0D-8383-D7E224C1C25C}, Quarantined, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], 
PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXPLORER\BROWSER HELPER OBJECTS\{225BFB24-8E4E-4B07-9E23-A23A686E268A}, Quarantined, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], 
PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\SETTINGS\{225BFB24-8E4E-4B07-9E23-A23A686E268A}, Quarantined, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], 
PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\STATS\{225BFB24-8E4E-4B07-9E23-A23A686E268A}, Quarantined, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], 
PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{225BFB24-8E4E-4B07-9E23-A23A686E268A}\INPROCSERVER32, Quarantined, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], 
PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}, Quarantined, [a360a78458231620130d0a4016ec13ed], 
PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\TopicTorch, Quarantined, [11f23deed3a849ed0becf177de247987], 
PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\TopicTorch, Quarantined, [956e3eed156691a56d8c4e1a01016b95], 
PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\TopicTorch, Quarantined, [9d6660cb5c1f8aac6a8e264254ae51af], 

Registry Values: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders: 1
PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, C:\Program Files\TopicTorch, Delete-on-Reboot, [11f23deed3a849ed0becf177de247987], 

Files: 5
PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorchBHO.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], 
PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\TopicTorch (superweb).exe, Quarantined, [26dda289bfbc37ff1dc1b4b84cb58c74], 
PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\joxsq3f5.default\extensions\[email protected], Quarantined, [55aec269bebd082e936299cf24de08f8], 
PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorch.ico, Quarantined, [11f23deed3a849ed0becf177de247987], 
PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorchUninstall.exe, Quarantined, [11f23deed3a849ed0becf177de247987], 

Physical Sectors: 0
(No malicious items detected)


(end)

As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 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.

#1
Metallica

Posted 15 April 2014 - 11:56 PM

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