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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is TotalComicBooks?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that TotalComicBooks 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 TotalComicBooks?

You may see this toolbar in your browser(s) :



and this entry in your list of installed software:



these browser add-ons:







and these warnings during install:





How did TotalComicBooks get on my computer?

Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was downloaded from their site.

How do I remove TotalComicBooks?

Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.

Please note: the preferred way to remove this PUP is to use their built-in uninstaller. If that does not work or for extra clean-up, use the method below.

• 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 TotalComicBooks?

• If you are using Chrome, you may have to remove the Extension manually under Tools > Settings > Extensions. Remove the checkmark and click on the bin behind the TotalComicBooks entry.
• If you are using Firefox, you may have to remove the Extension manually under Add-ons > Extensions. Click on the Remove button behind the TotalComicBooks entry.

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 TotalComicBooks 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:

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://home.tb.ask.com/index.jhtml?n=780D0F54&p2=^BSG^yyyyyy^YYA^nl&ptb=1ECCE5C1-768C-42ED-9CCF-9C171082AE0F
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {b69693db-84bf-4864-9285-c411740ee6da} - C:\Program Files\TotalComicBooks_ci\bar\1.bin\ciSrcAs.dll
O2 - BHO: Toolbar BHO - {3041cef2-bfdc-48c8-bfd3-dd827878c2bb} - C:\PROGRA~1\TOTALC~2\bar\1.bin\cibar.dll
O2 - BHO: Search Assistant BHO - {9f22b88a-a81d-4cf9-8fe8-a8f520f27930} - C:\Program Files\TotalComicBooks_ci\bar\1.bin\ciSrcAs.dll
O3 - Toolbar: TotalComicBooks - {e1a31b43-d3e0-4df7-b567-1731837fe9bc} - C:\Program Files\TotalComicBooks_ci\bar\1.bin\cibar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TotalComicBooks EPM Support] "C:\PROGRA~1\TOTALC~2\bar\1.bin\cimedint.exe" T8EPMSUP.DLL,S
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TotalComicBooks AppIntegrator 32-bit] C:\PROGRA~1\TOTALC~2\bar\1.bin\AppIntegrator.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TotalComicBooks Search Scope Monitor] "C:\PROGRA~1\TOTALC~2\bar\1.bin\cisrchmn.exe" /m=2 /w /h
O23 - Service: TotalComicBooksService (TotalComicBooks_ciService) - Mindspark - C:\PROGRA~1\TOTALC~2\bar\1.bin\cibarsvc.exe

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.