Jump to content

Welcome to Geeks to Go
Geeks to Go Welcome
Create Account Login to Account
Photo

Removal instructions for StartPoint

- - - - -
Started by Metallica , Jan 04 2015 06:41 AM

  • Please log in to reply
No replies to this topic

#1
Metallica
Posted 04 January 2015 - 06:41 AM

Metallica

    Spyware Veteran

  • GeekU Moderator
  • 33,101 posts
Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is StartPoint?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that StartPoint 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 StartPoint?

This is how the start- and search-page of the hijacker looks:

main.png

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

warning4.png

this icon in your taskbar:

icons.png

and these warnings:

warning1.png

warning2.png

warning3.png

Or these entries in your Scheduled Tasks :

warning5.png

How did StartPoint get on my computer?

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

How do I remove StartPoint?

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 StartPoint?
  • This PUP creates some scheduled tasks. You can read here how to remove Scheduled Tasks.
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 StartPoint hijacker. It would have warned you before the rogue could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

protection1.png


Technical details for experts

Signs in a HijackThis log:

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://search.strtpoint.com/?v=insMac&t=1411&ap=578080078
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [StartPoint] C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7\startpoint.exe
Alterations made by the installer:

File system details  
---------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7
       Adds the file app.ini"="1/4/2015 12:45 PM, 594 bytes, A
       Adds the file el3mkR2l.dll"="1/4/2015 12:45 PM, 306688 bytes, A
       Adds the file ieds.xml"="1/4/2015 12:45 PM, 1454 bytes, A
       Adds the file jfekfofP.dll"="1/4/2015 12:45 PM, 288768 bytes, A
       Adds the file res.dll"="1/4/2015 12:45 PM, 197120 bytes, A
       Adds the file serp.js"="1/4/2015 12:45 PM, 1456 bytes, A
       Adds the file sqlite.dll"="1/4/2015 12:45 PM, 573100 bytes, A
       Adds the file startpoint.exe"="1/4/2015 12:45 PM, 631064 bytes, A
       Adds the file startup.exe"="1/4/2015 12:45 PM, 433944 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\searchplugins
       Adds the file startpointkms.xml"="1/4/2015 12:45 PM, 1195 bytes, A
    In the existing folder C:\Windows\System32\Tasks
       Adds the file StartPoint"="1/4/2015 12:45 PM, 3516 bytes, A
       Adds the file StartPoint Updater"="1/4/2015 12:45 PM, 3510 bytes, A

Registry details  
------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce]
       "piratebaymirror"="REG_SZ", ""
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\keepmysearch\instl\data]
       "APPORDR"="REG_SZ", "F1D3B1133FD4E504"
       "cmndln-swtch"="REG_SZ", "7"
       "country"="REG_SZ", ""
       "insllPgLoad"="REG_SZ", "true"
       "lng"="REG_SZ", ""
       "prm1"="REG_SZ", "1411"
       "prm2"="REG_SZ", "578080078"
       "prm3"="REG_SZ", ""
       "prm4"="REG_SZ", ""
       "prm5"="REG_SZ", ""
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\keepmysearch\uninstl]
       "startpointkms"="REG_SZ", "C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7\startup.exe"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
       "Start Page"="REG_SZ", "http://search.strtpoint.com/?v=insMac&t=1411&ap=578080078"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION]
       "startpoint.exe"="REG_DWORD", 19000
       "startup.exe"="REG_DWORD", 19000
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{1711444A-E3F7-4083-9DB1-ED9D08B299F6}]
       "Codepage"="REG_DWORD", 65001
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Search The Web (Start Point)"
       "FaviconURL"="REG_SZ", "http://search.strtpoint.com/favicon.ico"
       "OSDFileURL"="REG_SZ", "file:///C:/Users/Malwarebytes/AppData/Local/StartPoint/startpoint/1.3.18.7/ieds.xml"
       "URL"="REG_SZ", "http://search.strtpoint.com/results.html?v=insMac&t=1411&ap=578080078&q={searchTerms}&r=573"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
       "StartPoint"="REG_SZ", "C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7\startpoint.exe"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\startpoint]
       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7\startup.exe""
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "StartPoint"
       "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "StartPoint"
       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7\startup.exe" /uninstl"
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 1/4/2015
Scan Time: 12:56:46 PM
Logfile: mbamStartPoint.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.00.4.1028
Malware Database: v2015.01.04.06
Rootkit Database: v2014.12.30.01
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: 286405
Time Elapsed: 3 min, 24 sec

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

Processes: 1
PUP.Optional.StartPoint.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7\startpoint.exe, 2632, Delete-on-Reboot, [c2a434bf4940f73f4386be9d45bbbb45]

Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys: 1
PUP.Optional.StartPoint.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\startpoint, Quarantined, [72f438bb5930d75f6bdf19449c67c23e], 

Registry Values: 1
PUP.Optional.StartPoint.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN|StartPoint, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7\startpoint.exe, Quarantined, [c2a434bf4940f73f4386be9d45bbbb45]

Registry Data: 1
PUP.Optional.StrtPoint.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\MAIN|Start Page, http://search.strtpoint.com/?v=insMac&t=1411&ap=578080078, Good: (www.google.com), Bad: (http://search.strtpoint.com/?v=insMac&t=1411&ap=578080078),Replaced,[83e3658edbae8ea86f5a49314db8d927]

Folders: 2
PUP.Optional.StartPoint.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint, Delete-on-Reboot, [72f438bb5930d75f6bdf19449c67c23e], 
PUP.Optional.StartPoint.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7, Delete-on-Reboot, [72f438bb5930d75f6bdf19449c67c23e], 

Files: 14
PUP.Optional.StartPoint.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7\startpoint.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [c2a434bf4940f73f4386be9d45bbbb45], 
PUP.Optional.Somoto.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\SomotoA.exe, Quarantined, [2e38747f4544ec4a08679d9bc43c58a8], 
PUP.Optional.Somoto.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\biclient.exe, Quarantined, [e482658e8cfdb68051c35ddb837e6c94], 
PUP.Optional.StartPoint.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\startpoint_1.exe, Quarantined, [cb9b08eb2f5a53e308c1bf9ccf3141bf], 
PUP.Optional.StartPoint.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7\app.ini, Quarantined, [72f438bb5930d75f6bdf19449c67c23e], 
PUP.Optional.StartPoint.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7\el3mkR2l.dll, Quarantined, [72f438bb5930d75f6bdf19449c67c23e], 
PUP.Optional.StartPoint.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7\ieds.xml, Quarantined, [72f438bb5930d75f6bdf19449c67c23e], 
PUP.Optional.StartPoint.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7\jfekfofP.dll, Quarantined, [72f438bb5930d75f6bdf19449c67c23e], 
PUP.Optional.StartPoint.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7\res.dll, Quarantined, [72f438bb5930d75f6bdf19449c67c23e], 
PUP.Optional.StartPoint.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7\serp.js, Quarantined, [72f438bb5930d75f6bdf19449c67c23e], 
PUP.Optional.StartPoint.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7\sqlite.dll, Quarantined, [72f438bb5930d75f6bdf19449c67c23e], 
PUP.Optional.StartPoint.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\StartPoint\startpoint\1.3.18.7\startup.exe, Quarantined, [72f438bb5930d75f6bdf19449c67c23e], 
PUP.Optional.StrtPoint.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\prefs.js, Good: (), Bad: (user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://search.strtpoint.com/?v=insMac&t=1411&ap=578080078");), Replaced,[244235be0c7de74f7a73cfeefa0bbb45]
PUP.Optional.StrtPoint.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\prefs.js, Good: (), Bad: (user_pref("browser.newtab.url", "http://search.strtpoint.com/?v=insMac&t=1411&ap=578080078");), Replaced,[dd89ee05c7c2d5610ce2d0ed000545bb]

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.
  • 0

Advertisements

Back to Malware Removal Guides and Tutorials


0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users

  1. Geeks to Go Community
  2. → Security
  3. → Malware Removal Guides and Tutorials

As Featured On:

featured
Malware Removal How to Guides Windows 7 System Building Download Files Register welcome

Never used a forum? Learn how.