What is PodoWeb?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that PodoWeb 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 effected by PodoWeb?
This is how the first screen of the installer looks:

And you may see these toolbars/add-ons:


and this entry in your list of installed programs:

How did PodoWeb get on my computer?
Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was bundled with other software.
How do I remove PodoWeb?
Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this potentially unwanted 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. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
- When the scan is complete , make sure that everything is set to "Quarantine", and click Apply Actions.
- Reboot your computer if prompted.
- No, but for a full removal of the Firefox add-on you will need Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 2.00 beta or newer.
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 PodoWeb 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.
Signs in a HijackThis log:
O2 - BHO: PodoWeb - {980b8a8f-ea0b-4c24-a2e9-70635e2502e9} - C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWebbho.dll O23 - Service: Update PodoWeb - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\updatePodoWeb.exeAlterations made by the installer:
File system details --------------------------------------------- Adds the folder C:\Program Files\PodoWeb Adds the file 0"="8/24/2014 9:53 AM, 203 bytes, A Adds the file 7za.exe"="8/15/2014 9:12 PM, 536064 bytes, A Adds the file PodoWeb.FirstRun.exe"="8/17/2014 9:29 AM, 1123608 bytes, A Adds the file PodoWeb.ico"="8/17/2014 9:28 AM, 1150 bytes, A Adds the file PodoWebBHO.dll"="8/17/2014 9:28 AM, 250136 bytes, A Adds the file PodoWebUninstall.exe"="8/24/2014 9:53 AM, 240929 bytes, A Adds the file updatePodoWeb.exe"="8/17/2014 9:28 AM, 323352 bytes, A Adds the file updatePodoWeb.InstallState"="8/24/2014 9:53 AM, 5012 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\extensions Adds the file {00c97d86-accb-4288-9972-6d929c1fe93a}.xpi"="8/17/2014 9:28 AM, 9078 bytes, A Registry details ------------------------------------------ [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{1AA60054-57D9-4F99-9A55-D0FBFBE7ECD3}] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "F0EC96CC-E925-419C-8D4A-745701823CD6" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "5E55CF83-7C32-4C98-A35F-2F826164B74D" "id"="REG_SZ", "255" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{980b8a8f-ea0b-4c24-a2e9-70635e2502e9}] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "PodoWeb" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{980b8a8f-ea0b-4c24-a2e9-70635e2502e9}\InprocServer32] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWebbho.dll" "ThreadingModel"="REG_SZ", "Apartment" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{980b8a8f-ea0b-4c24-a2e9-70635e2502e9}\Programmable] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{980b8a8f-ea0b-4c24-a2e9-70635e2502e9}\TypeLib] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{b3d6b511-4d77-44db-a459-938d9e6995f7}" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{980b8a8f-ea0b-4c24-a2e9-70635e2502e9}\Version] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "1.0" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{AEDAB5B0-022B-465C-A88B-1E8C2FAAA5A2}] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "IPodoWebBHO" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{AEDAB5B0-022B-465C-A88B-1E8C2FAAA5A2}\ProxyStubClsid] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{AEDAB5B0-022B-465C-A88B-1E8C2FAAA5A2}\ProxyStubClsid32] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{AEDAB5B0-022B-465C-A88B-1E8C2FAAA5A2}\TypeLib] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{B3D6B511-4D77-44DB-A459-938D9E6995F7}" "Version"="REG_SZ", "1.0" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{B3D6B511-4D77-44DB-A459-938D9E6995F7}\1.0] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "PodoWebIEClientLib" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{B3D6B511-4D77-44DB-A459-938D9E6995F7}\1.0\0\win32] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWebbho.dll" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{B3D6B511-4D77-44DB-A459-938D9E6995F7}\1.0\FLAGS] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "0" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{B3D6B511-4D77-44DB-A459-938D9E6995F7}\1.0\HELPDIR] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\PodoWeb" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\PodoWeb_RASAPI32] "ConsoleTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536 "EnableConsoleTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0 "EnableFileTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0 "FileDirectory"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "%windir%\tracing" "FileTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536 "MaxFileSize"="REG_DWORD", 1048576 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\PodoWeb_RASMANCS] "ConsoleTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536 "EnableConsoleTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0 "EnableFileTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0 "FileDirectory"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "%windir%\tracing" "FileTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536 "MaxFileSize"="REG_DWORD", 1048576 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\updatePodoWeb_RASAPI32] "ConsoleTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536 "EnableConsoleTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0 "EnableFileTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0 "FileDirectory"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "%windir%\tracing" "FileTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536 "MaxFileSize"="REG_DWORD", 1048576 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\updatePodoWeb_RASMANCS] "ConsoleTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536 "EnableConsoleTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0 "EnableFileTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0 "FileDirectory"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "%windir%\tracing" "FileTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536 "MaxFileSize"="REG_DWORD", 1048576 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{980b8a8f-ea0b-4c24-a2e9-70635e2502e9}] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "PodoWeb" "NoExplorer"="REG_DWORD", 1 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\PodoWeb] "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWeb.ico" "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "PodoWeb" "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "2014.08.17.072851" "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 2187 "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "mailto:[email protected]" "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\PodoWeb" "InstallTime"="REG_SZ", "2014-08-24 9:53:05" "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1 "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1 "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "PodoWeb" "QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWebuninstall.exe /S" "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWebuninstall.exe" "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", "http://podoweb.net/support" "URLUpdateInfo"="REG_SZ", "http://podoweb.net" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PodoWeb] "iid"="REG_SZ", "def_PodoWeb" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PodoWeb\Chrome] "sgc"="REG_SZ", "true" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PodoWeb\Firefox] "sff"="REG_SZ", "false" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PodoWeb\Internet Explorer] "sie"="REG_SZ", "false" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Update PodoWeb] "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Update PodoWeb" "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1 "FailureActions"="REG_BINARY, ...................... "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, ""C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\updatePodoWeb.exe"" "ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem" "Start"="REG_DWORD", 2 "Type"="REG_DWORD", 16 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Approved Extensions] "{980B8A8F-EA0B-4C24-A2E9-70635E2502E9}"="REG_BINARY, ............ [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{980B8A8F-EA0B-4C24-A2E9-70635E2502E9}] "VerCache"="REG_BINARY, ...................... [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{980B8A8F-EA0B-4C24-A2E9-70635E2502E9}\iexplore] "Blocked"="REG_DWORD", 2 "Count"="REG_DWORD", 2 "Flags"="REG_DWORD", 0 "Time"="REG_BINARY, .....6.. "Type"="REG_DWORD", 3 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PodoWeb] "id"="REG_SZ", "2014-08-24 9:53:05" "iid"="REG_SZ", "def_PodoWeb" "is"="REG_SZ", "def_PodoWeb" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PodoWeb\Chrome] "ug"="REG_SZ", "282D5A14-C8FB-4D00-8115-EC4CE5F5EF18" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PodoWeb\Firefox] "ug"="REG_SZ", "F6AE978C-6987-4A53-A596-95BC5B04CB22" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PodoWeb\Internet Explorer] "ug"="REG_SZ", "B45C36EF-FBF8-42DE-AB52-2D6A6A922149"Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware www.malwarebytes.org Scan Date: 8/24/2014 Scan Time: 10:01:25 AM Logfile: mbamPodoweb.txt Administrator: Yes Version: 2.00.2.1012 Malware Database: v2014.08.24.02 Rootkit Database: v2014.08.21.01 License: Free Malware Protection: Disabled Malicious Website Protection: Disabled Self-protection: Disabled OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 CPU: x86 File System: NTFS User: Malwarebytes Scan Type: Threat Scan Result: Completed Objects Scanned: 257999 Time Elapsed: 2 min, 46 sec Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Disabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Enabled PUM: Enabled Processes: 1 PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\updatePodoWeb.exe, 3156, Delete-on-Reboot, [aab8309a98e3f73fbcdc4c595ea3fc04] Modules: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Keys: 12 PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\Update PodoWeb, Quarantined, [aab8309a98e3f73fbcdc4c595ea3fc04], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{980b8a8f-ea0b-4c24-a2e9-70635e2502e9}, Quarantined, [f36f0dbdd5a6ea4c0a8d4d581ee34cb4], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\TYPELIB\{b3d6b511-4d77-44db-a459-938d9e6995f7}, Quarantined, [f36f0dbdd5a6ea4c0a8d4d581ee34cb4], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\INTERFACE\{AEDAB5B0-022B-465C-A88B-1E8C2FAAA5A2}, Quarantined, [f36f0dbdd5a6ea4c0a8d4d581ee34cb4], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXPLORER\BROWSER HELPER OBJECTS\{980B8A8F-EA0B-4C24-A2E9-70635E2502E9}, Quarantined, [f36f0dbdd5a6ea4c0a8d4d581ee34cb4], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\SETTINGS\{980B8A8F-EA0B-4C24-A2E9-70635E2502E9}, Quarantined, [f36f0dbdd5a6ea4c0a8d4d581ee34cb4], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\STATS\{980B8A8F-EA0B-4C24-A2E9-70635E2502E9}, Quarantined, [f36f0dbdd5a6ea4c0a8d4d581ee34cb4], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{980B8A8F-EA0B-4C24-A2E9-70635E2502E9}\INPROCSERVER32, Quarantined, [f36f0dbdd5a6ea4c0a8d4d581ee34cb4], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}, Quarantined, [4f133892047752e442ccf4b7ed1560a0], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\PodoWeb, Quarantined, [3c26696123582c0ac352a744ff030ff1], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\PodoWeb, Quarantined, [df833793b0cbbd79a96d02e918eaf40c], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\PodoWeb, Quarantined, [8dd5d9f1a0db34027d9a9259ae5421df], Registry Values: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Data: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folders: 1 PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb, Delete-on-Reboot, [3c26696123582c0ac352a744ff030ff1], Files: 10 PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\updatePodoWeb.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [aab8309a98e3f73fbcdc4c595ea3fc04], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWebBHO.dll, Quarantined, [f36f0dbdd5a6ea4c0a8d4d581ee34cb4], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\PodoWeb.exe, Quarantined, [40220dbd3d3e2d09a97e98b9ee1239c7], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\extensions\{00c97d86-accb-4288-9972-6d929c1fe93a}.xpi, Quarantined, [bda5b6143d3ed75f2a36b0355aa8bd43], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWeb.ico, Quarantined, [3c26696123582c0ac352a744ff030ff1], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\0, Quarantined, [3c26696123582c0ac352a744ff030ff1], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\7za.exe, Quarantined, [3c26696123582c0ac352a744ff030ff1], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWeb.FirstRun.exe, Quarantined, [3c26696123582c0ac352a744ff030ff1], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWebUninstall.exe, Quarantined, [3c26696123582c0ac352a744ff030ff1], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\updatePodoWeb.InstallState, Quarantined, [3c26696123582c0ac352a744ff030ff1], 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