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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is RunningFanatic?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that RunningFanatic 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.
RunningFanatic is a Mindspark/Ask toolbar.

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

You may see these browser extensions/add-ons:







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



these warnings:





and this toolbar in your browser(s):



How did RunningFanatic get on my computer?

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

How do I remove RunningFanatic?

Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.
You can use their own uninstaller first, but I would advise to follow the steps below anyway.

• 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 RunningFanatic?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes RunningFanatic 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 RunningFanatic 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=781AF520&p2=^BVC^yyyyyy^YYA^nl&ptb=7C63F1FB-5D34-4D67-A5B6-4A7F1E7FDB4D
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {08cb2cbc-b564-4665-946a-07ef2fc9e277} - C:\Program Files\RunningFanatic_d6\bar\1.bin\d6SrcAs.dll
O2 - BHO: Toolbar BHO - {89220d70-362e-42d2-a6f0-f6a97294af5a} - C:\PROGRA~1\RUNNIN~2\bar\1.bin\d6bar.dll
O2 - BHO: Search Assistant BHO - {b27d1369-47f7-4d85-814b-7c95dd083b11} - C:\Program Files\RunningFanatic_d6\bar\1.bin\d6SrcAs.dll
O3 - Toolbar: RunningFanatic - {07a067c8-6223-4817-8d1b-ebd85f0dbe6b} - C:\Program Files\RunningFanatic_d6\bar\1.bin\d6bar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RunningFanatic EPM Support] "C:\PROGRA~1\RUNNIN~2\bar\1.bin\d6medint.exe" T8EPMSUP.DLL,S
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RunningFanatic AppIntegrator 32-bit] C:\PROGRA~1\RUNNIN~2\bar\1.bin\AppIntegrator.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RunningFanatic Search Scope Monitor] "C:\PROGRA~1\RUNNIN~2\bar\1.bin\d6srchmn.exe" /m=2 /w /h
O23 - Service: RunningFanaticService (RunningFanatic_d6Service) - Mindspark - C:\PROGRA~1\RUNNIN~2\bar\1.bin\d6barsvc.exe

Possible signs in a FRST log:

 (Mindspark) C:\Program Files\RunningFanatic_d6\bar\1.bin\d6barsvc.exe
 (Mindspark) C:\Program Files\RunningFanatic_d6\bar\1.bin\APPINTEGRATOR.EXE
 HKLM\...\Run: [RunningFanatic EPM Support] => C:\Program Files\RunningFanatic_d6\bar\1.bin\d6medint.exe [12872 2015-03-26] (Mindspark)
 HKLM\...\Run: [RunningFanatic AppIntegrator 32-bit] => C:\Program Files\RunningFanatic_d6\bar\1.bin\AppIntegrator.exe [225864 2015-03-26] (Mindspark)
 HKLM\...\Run: [RunningFanatic Search Scope Monitor] => "C:\PROGRA~1\RUNNIN~2\bar\1.bin\d6srchmn.exe" /m=2 /w /h
 HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page"="http://home.tb.ask.com/index.jhtml?n=781AF520&p2=^BVC^yyyyyy^YYA^nl&ptb=7C63F1FB-5D34-4D67-A5B6-4A7F1E7FDB4D
 URLSearchHook: HKCU - (No Name) - {08cb2cbc-b564-4665-946a-07ef2fc9e277} - C:\Program Files\RunningFanatic_d6\bar\1.bin\d6SrcAs.dll (Mindspark)
 SearchScopes: HKLM -> {8a375829-bbe7-4df2-8124-fa6128e91fac} URL"="http://search.tb.ask.com/search/GGmain.jhtml?p2=^BVC^yyyyyy^YYA^nl&ptb=7C63F1FB-5D34-4D67-A5B6-4A7F1E7FDB4D&ind=2015032603&n=781af51b&psa=&st=sb&searchfor={searchTerms}
 SearchScopes: HKCU -> DefaultScope {8a375829-bbe7-4df2-8124-fa6128e91fac} URL"="http://search.tb.ask.com/search/GGmain.jhtml?p2=^BVC^yyyyyy^YYA^nl&ptb=7C63F1FB-5D34-4D67-A5B6-4A7F1E7FDB4D&ind=2015032603&n=781af51b&psa=&st=sb&searchfor={searchTerms}
 SearchScopes: HKCU -> {8a375829-bbe7-4df2-8124-fa6128e91fac} URL"="http://search.tb.ask.com/search/GGmain.jhtml?p2=^BVC^yyyyyy^YYA^nl&ptb=7C63F1FB-5D34-4D67-A5B6-4A7F1E7FDB4D&ind=2015032603&n=781af51b&psa=&st=sb&searchfor={searchTerms}
 BHO: Toolbar BHO -> {89220d70-362e-42d2-a6f0-f6a97294af5a} -> C:\Program Files\RunningFanatic_d6\bar\1.bin\d6bar.dll [2015-03-26] (Mindspark)
 BHO: Search Assistant BHO -> {b27d1369-47f7-4d85-814b-7c95dd083b11} -> C:\Program Files\RunningFanatic_d6\bar\1.bin\d6SrcAs.dll [2015-03-26] (Mindspark)
 Toolbar: HKLM - RunningFanatic - {07a067c8-6223-4817-8d1b-ebd85f0dbe6b} - C:\Program Files\RunningFanatic_d6\bar\1.bin\d6bar.dll [2015-03-26] (Mindspark)
 Toolbar: HKCU -> RunningFanatic - {07A067C8-6223-4817-8D1B-EBD85F0DBE6B} - C:\Program Files\RunningFanatic_d6\bar\1.bin\d6bar.dll [2015-03-26] (Mindspark)
 FF DefaultSearchEngine: Ask Web Search
 FF SelectedSearchEngine: Ask Web Search
 FF Homepage: hxxp://home.tb.ask.com/index.jhtml?ptb=19B299B5-1562-42E1-A7E9-1BA22830E750&n=781af520&p2=^BVC^foxyyy^YYA^nl
 FF Keyword.URL: hxxp://search.tb.ask.com/search/GGmain.jhtml?st=kwd&ptb=19B299B5-1562-42E1-A7E9-1BA22830E750&n=781af520&ind=2015032608&p2=^BVC^foxyyy^YYA^nl&searchfor=
 FF Extension: No Name - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\extensions\74979c91-c812-44d6-90e1-1ff0491351e5@e3e0c78c-dd15-4ac4-b6a0-08cad184bd23.com [Not Found]
 FF SearchPlugin: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\searchplugins\ask-web-search.xml [2015-03-26]
 FF Extension: No Name - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\Extensions\d6ffxtbr@RunningFanatic_d6.com [2015-03-26]
 CHR Extension: (RunningFanatic) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\jgfiepkpeamgadjdepikmllkhpbefgdh [2015-03-26]
 R2 RunningFanatic_d6Service; C:\Program Files\RunningFanatic_d6\bar\1.bin\d6barsvc.exe [90696 2015-03-26] (Mindspark)
 () C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\RunningFanatic_d6
 () C:\Program Files\RunningFanatic_d6
 () C:\Program Files\RunningFanatic_d6EI

An excerpt from the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scan log:
(full log available on request)

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 3/26/2015
Scan Time: 8:58:55 AM
Logfile: mbamRunningFanatic.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.01.0.1004
Malware Database: v2015.03.26.03
Rootkit Database: v2015.02.25.01
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: 297933
Time Elapsed: 4 min, 44 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: 94
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\RunningFanatic_d6Service, Quarantined, [ad6e77d3cac091a5b8eea030d72ac63a], 
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{79ef6bd7-5897-45a3-a663-5eaafc8fa507}, Quarantined, [001bab9f1377bd79aff7b41c2fd24fb1], 
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\TYPELIB\{c1c5c2a0-1b04-4ada-aa23-e9548f306278}, Quarantined, [001bab9f1377bd79aff7b41c2fd24fb1], 
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\INTERFACE\{B1690252-BA79-4C6E-8965-7878D5B14F78}, Quarantined, [001bab9f1377bd79aff7b41c2fd24fb1], 
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{b27d1369-47f7-4d85-814b-7c95dd083b11}, Quarantined, [31ea400a76144de95e488d439b66dd23], 
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXPLORER\BROWSER HELPER OBJECTS\{B27D1369-47F7-4D85-814B-7C95DD083B11}, Quarantined, [31ea400a76144de95e488d439b66dd23], 

Registry Values: 10
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN|RunningFanatic AppIntegrator 32-bit, C:\PROGRA~1\RUNNIN~2\bar\1.bin\AppIntegrator.exe, Quarantined, [ac6f1436deac44f26d391cb4996809f7]
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\URLSEARCHHOOKS|{08CB2CBC-B564-4665-946A-07EF2FC9E277}, Quarantined, [31ea400a76144de95e488d439b66dd23], 
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN|RunningFanatic EPM Support, "C:\PROGRA~1\RUNNIN~2\bar\1.bin\d6medint.exe" T8EPMSUP.DLL,S, Quarantined, [f6256bdfef9ba6901c8a824e15ec1be5]
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\TOOLBAR\WEBBROWSER|{07A067C8-6223-4817-8D1B-EBD85F0DBE6B}, ?g  #b H ë?_
¾k, Quarantined, [27f4232784068ea8c3e3a42c7d8409f7]
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\TOOLBAR|{07A067C8-6223-4817-8D1B-EBD85F0DBE6B}, Quarantined, [27f4232784068ea8c3e3a42c7d8409f7], 
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\TOOLBAR\WEBBROWSER\{07A067C8-6223-4817-8D1B-EBD85F0DBE6B}, Quarantined, [ea316cdea6e41e18a99ad64d28dbf808], 
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\TOOLBAR\{07a067c8-6223-4817-8d1b-ebd85f0dbe6b}, Quarantined, [f328044621698ea87ec5978cdd26cc34], 
PUP.Optional.Ask.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\SEARCHSCOPES\{8a375829-bbe7-4df2-8124-fa6128e91fac}|DisplayName, Ask Web Search, Quarantined, [e7349eaccfbb95a1b8f7242759acaf51]
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN|RunningFanatic Search Scope Monitor, "C:\PROGRA~1\RUNNIN~2\bar\1.bin\d6srchmn.exe" /m=2 /w /h, Quarantined, [e7349caeacded561177abc818c7906fa]
PUP.Optional.Ask.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\SEARCHSCOPES\{8a375829-bbe7-4df2-8124-fa6128e91fac}|DisplayName, Ask Web Search, Quarantined, [1704ae9cfc8eab8bf0be96b545c01fe1]

Registry Data: 1
PUP.Optional.AskWebSearch, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\MAIN|Start Page, http://home.tb.ask.com/index.jhtml?n=781AF520&p2=^BVC^yyyyyy^YYA^nl&ptb=7C63F1FB-5D34-4D67-A5B6-4A7F1E7FDB4D, Good: (www.google.com), Bad: (http://home.tb.ask.com/index.jhtml?n=781AF520&p2=^BVC^yyyyyy^YYA^nl&ptb=7C63F1FB-5D34-4D67-A5B6-4A7F1E7FDB4D),Replaced,[a47799b1b4d64aec4d987d79fe0721df]

Folders: 133
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Program Files\RunningFanatic_d6\bar\1.bin, Delete-on-Reboot, [bd5e13379feb1323bb11476ba55ea45c], 
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Program Files\RunningFanatic_d6, Delete-on-Reboot, [f22972d8cbbf22148465cae763a07090], 
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\extensions\d6ffxtbr@RunningFanatic_d6.com, Quarantined, [1efda5a57b0feb4b12da3f7240c38878], 
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\LocalLow\RunningFanatic_d6, Quarantined, [82996cdebfcb2d09d816ae03e12234cc], 

Files: 529

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.