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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is CloudScout?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that CloudScout is a browser 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 one also displays advertisements.

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

You may see this entry in your list of installed software:



Or this entry in your Scheduled Tasks :



How did CloudScout get on my computer?

Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was offered as parental control software.

How do I remove CloudScout?

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 CloudScout?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes CloudScout completely.

Look at the replies to this topic for the additional guides.

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 CloudScout hijacker. 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

Signs in a HijackThis log:

O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{86308DB8-906A-4644-BFB4-ACEB40A65B72}: NameServer = 31.168.224.106,5.135.12.52

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details  
---------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\CloudGuard
       Adds the file CloudGuard.exe"="10/26/2014 1:01 AM, 528384 bytes, A
       Adds the file config.ini"="11/4/2014 4:20 AM, 893 bytes, A
       Adds the file Info.rtf"="8/20/2014 3:48 PM, 1274 bytes, A
       Adds the file License.rtf"="11/4/2014 3:45 AM, 13694 bytes, A
       Adds the file uninstall.exe"="12/5/2014 2:33 PM, 156665 bytes, A
       Adds the file ZonaTools.XPlorerBar.dll"="10/26/2014 1:00 AM, 67584 bytes, A
    In the existing folder C:\Windows\System32\Tasks
       Adds the file CloudScout"="12/5/2014 2:33 PM, 5254 bytes, A

Registry details  
------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CloudGuard]
       "Install_Dir"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\CloudGuard"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\CloudGuard]
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "CloudScout Parental Control"
       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "1.10"
       "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\CloudGuard.exe"
       "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 0
       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "CloudGuard.me"
       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\uninstall.exe" /S"
       "VersionMajor"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "VersionMinor"="REG_DWORD", 10

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 12/5/2014
Scan Time: 9:34:29 PM
Logfile: mbamCloudScout2.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.00.4.1028
Malware Database: v2014.12.05.11
Rootkit Database: v2014.12.03.01
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: 279735
Time Elapsed: 3 min, 27 sec

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

Processes: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys: 2
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\CloudGuard, Quarantined, [3a057ce3007cb2849cc7c9fc996be020], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLOUDGUARD, Quarantined, [f24d461944388da997a91830798a8e72], 

Registry Values: 1
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLOUDGUARD|Install_Dir, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard, Quarantined, [f24d461944388da997a91830798a8e72]

Registry Data: 1
Trojan.DNSChanger, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\TCPIP\PARAMETERS\Interfaces\{86308DB8-906A-4644-BFB4-ACEB40A65B72}|NameServer, 31.168.224.106,5.135.12.52, Good: (), Bad: (31.168.224.106,5.135.12.52),Replaced,[69d6075895e7072f1219b3b2bc4931cf]

Folders: 2
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Users\Malwarebytes\AppData\Local\Temp\CloudGuard, Quarantined, [d867e57a5725c47229167bcd699a4fb1], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard, Delete-on-Reboot, [3a057ce3007cb2849cc7c9fc996be020], 

Files: 10
PUP.Optional.CloudScout.A, C:\Users\Malwarebytes\Desktop\CloudScout.exe, Quarantined, [fe418ed11864bf779f4ff4ff6e939070], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Users\Malwarebytes\AppData\Local\Temp\CloudGuard\config.ini, Quarantined, [d867e57a5725c47229167bcd699a4fb1], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Users\Malwarebytes\AppData\Local\Temp\CloudGuard\ConsoleApplication1.dll, Quarantined, [d867e57a5725c47229167bcd699a4fb1], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\License.rtf, Quarantined, [3a057ce3007cb2849cc7c9fc996be020], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\CloudGuard.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [3a057ce3007cb2849cc7c9fc996be020], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\config.ini, Quarantined, [3a057ce3007cb2849cc7c9fc996be020], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\Info.rtf, Quarantined, [3a057ce3007cb2849cc7c9fc996be020], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\uninstall.exe, Quarantined, [3a057ce3007cb2849cc7c9fc996be020], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\ZonaTools.XPlorerBar.dll, Quarantined, [3a057ce3007cb2849cc7c9fc996be020], 
PUP.Optional.CloudScout.A, C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\CloudScout, Quarantined, [6bd4b1ae0a7282b46cf86e57f70d6898], 

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.