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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Breaking News Alert?
 
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Breaking News Alert is adware. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing.
 
How do I know if my computer is affected by Breaking News Alert?

You may see these warnings:




 
and this entry in your list of installed programs:
 


How did Breaking News Alert get on my computer?
 
Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was bundled with other software.
 
How do I remove Breaking News Alert?
 
Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.

• 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.

Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Breaking News Alert?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes Breaking News Alert completely.

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 Breaking News Alert adware.  It would have warned you before the rogue could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.
 

Technical details for experts
 
You will see these signs in a HijackThis log:

O23 - Service: BreakingNewsAlert - Mathematical Applications - C:\ProgramData\BreakingNewsAlert\BreakingNewsAlertService.exe

 
 
Alterations made by the installer:

File system details  
---------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\ProgramData\BreakingNewsAlert
       Adds the file app.dat"="11/17/2014 5:02 PM, 777790 bytes, A
       Adds the file BreakingNewsAlert.dll"="11/17/2014 5:02 PM, 1241432 bytes, A
       Adds the file BreakingNewsAlert.exe"="11/17/2014 5:02 PM, 48984 bytes, A
       Adds the file BreakingNewsAlert.exe.config"="11/17/2014 5:02 PM, 190 bytes, A
       Adds the file BreakingNewsAlert.ico"="11/4/2014 7:30 PM, 129334 bytes, A
       Adds the file BreakingNewsAlertService.exe"="11/17/2014 5:02 PM, 2727768 bytes, A
       Adds the file BreakingNewsAlertService.exe.config"="11/17/2014 5:02 PM, 189 bytes, A
       Adds the file data.dat"="11/17/2014 5:02 PM, 2048 bytes, A
       Adds the file info.dat"="11/17/2014 5:02 PM, 64 bytes, A
       Adds the file Uninstall.exe"="11/13/2014 8:56 PM, 537432 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\BreakingNewsAlert

Registry details  
------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{051E9166-B275-4683-907B-372FAE22BC7C}]
       "ad"="REG_SZ", "trackbreakingnews.com"
       "id"="REG_SZ", "2506582ebdc4436fbeaf2c8fc74e4a73"
       "ip"="REG_SZ", "376"
       "ns"="REG_SZ", "NEWS"
       "p"="REG_SZ", "376"
       "v"="REG_SZ", "2.7.47"
       "vp"="REG_SZ", "2.7.47376"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{8104a4bb-ca9f-1f0b-8466-9ed71482098c}]
       "ik"="REG_SZ", "{14e1a77f-539e-cf12-4605-46046600cdd7}"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{9C4EFBD5-1ADF-41E6-BE26-AF44326E30E4}]
       "(Default)"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "v"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "vs"="REG_SZ", "1"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{E5A7A645-8318-4895-B85C-EDC606B80DB6}]
       "id"="REG_SZ", "2506582ebdc4436fbeaf2c8fc74e4a73"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{ed23c2b7-7455-1804-b4b8-11e49df8406d}]
       "id"="REG_SZ", "2506582ebdc4436fbeaf2c8fc74e4a73"
       "p"="REG_SZ", "376"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\BreakingNewsAlertService_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\BreakingNewsAlertService_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\Uninstall\BreakingNewsAlert]
       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\ProgramData\BreakingNewsAlert\BreakingNewsAlert.ico"
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Breaking News Alert"
       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "2.7.47"
       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 4074
       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "http://www.trackbreakingnews.com/about.html"
       "InstallDate"="REG_SZ", "20141117"
       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "Mathematical Applications"
       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\ProgramData\BreakingNewsAlert\uninstall.exe /kb=y /ic=0"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\BreakingNewsAlert]
       "DependOnService"="REG_MULTI_SZ, "Winmgmt CryptSvc "
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "BreakingNewsAlert"
       "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "FailureActions"="REG_BINARY, <.....................
       "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, ""C:\ProgramData\BreakingNewsAlert\BreakingNewsAlertService.exe""
       "ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem"
       "Start"="REG_DWORD", 2
       "Type"="REG_DWORD", 16
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\Software\DynConIE]
       "id"="REG_SZ", "2506582ebdc4436fbeaf2c8fc74e4a73"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{9C4EFBD5-1ADF-41E6-BE26-AF44326E30E4}]
       "(Default)"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "v"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "vs"="REG_SZ", "1"

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 11/17/2014
Scan Time: 5:05:52 PM
Logfile: mbamBreakingNewsAlert.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.00.3.1025
Malware Database: v2014.11.17.05
Rootkit Database: v2014.11.12.01
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: 276057
Time Elapsed: 3 min, 38 sec

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

Processes: 1
PUP.Optional.BreakingNewsAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\BreakingNewsAlert\BreakingNewsAlertService.exe, 3640, Delete-on-Reboot, [b425b686cbb11026d33ace18649d837d]

Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys: 5
PUP.Optional.BreakingNewsAlert.A, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\BreakingNewsAlert, Quarantined, [b425b686cbb11026d33ace18649d837d], 
PUP.Optional.WebSteroids.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{051E9166-B275-4683-907B-372FAE22BC7C}, Quarantined, [6475c775c6b6ec4a49a03786b949d62a], 
PUP.Optional.DynConIE.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{E5A7A645-8318-4895-B85C-EDC606B80DB6}, Quarantined, [02d7c577364623133484704d10f256aa], 
PUP.Optional.BreakingNewsAlert.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\BreakingNewsAlert, Quarantined, [e8f11626275570c61d1448ed5aa9847c], 
PUP.Optional.MultiIE.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\APPDATALOW\SOFTWARE\DynConIE, Quarantined, [daffc676eb91af874ea203a26a9aee12], 

Registry Values: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders: 1
PUP.Optional.BreakingNewsAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\BreakingNewsAlert, Delete-on-Reboot, [e8f11626275570c61d1448ed5aa9847c], 

Files: 12
PUP.Optional.BreakingNewsAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\BreakingNewsAlert\BreakingNewsAlertService.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [b425b686cbb11026d33ace18649d837d], 
PUP.Optional.BreakingNewsAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\BreakingNewsAlert\BreakingNewsAlert.exe, Quarantined, [885165d781fb59ddf31a20c64fb2659b], 
PUP.Optional.BreakingNewsAlert.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\Breaking news alert.exe, Quarantined, [9c3d0c301a62c670836c2519ca3bc838], 
PUP.Optional.BreakingNewsAlert.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\nsaE65B.tmp\Helper.dll, Quarantined, [defba993a3d9152142ad69d5d82da15f], 
PUP.Optional.BreakingNewsAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\BreakingNewsAlert\app.dat, Quarantined, [e8f11626275570c61d1448ed5aa9847c], 
PUP.Optional.BreakingNewsAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\BreakingNewsAlert\BreakingNewsAlert.dll, Quarantined, [e8f11626275570c61d1448ed5aa9847c], 
PUP.Optional.BreakingNewsAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\BreakingNewsAlert\BreakingNewsAlert.exe.config, Quarantined, [e8f11626275570c61d1448ed5aa9847c], 
PUP.Optional.BreakingNewsAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\BreakingNewsAlert\BreakingNewsAlert.ico, Quarantined, [e8f11626275570c61d1448ed5aa9847c], 
PUP.Optional.BreakingNewsAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\BreakingNewsAlert\BreakingNewsAlertService.exe.config, Quarantined, [e8f11626275570c61d1448ed5aa9847c], 
PUP.Optional.BreakingNewsAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\BreakingNewsAlert\data.dat, Quarantined, [e8f11626275570c61d1448ed5aa9847c], 
PUP.Optional.BreakingNewsAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\BreakingNewsAlert\info.dat, Delete-on-Reboot, [e8f11626275570c61d1448ed5aa9847c], 
PUP.Optional.BreakingNewsAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\BreakingNewsAlert\Uninstall.exe, Quarantined, [e8f11626275570c61d1448ed5aa9847c], 

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.