What is StudyHQ?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that StudyHQ 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.
StudyHQ is a Mindspark/Ask toolbar.
How do I know if my computer is affected by StudyHQ?
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 StudyHQ get on my computer?
Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was downloaded from their site.
How do I remove StudyHQ?
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 all Threats are selected, and click Remove Selected.
- Restart your computer when prompted to do so.
- 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 StudyHQ entry.
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 StudyHQ 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=781B139A&p2=^BVJ^yyyyyy^YYA^nl&ptb=7388B58C-CB05-4F62-BE74-70F6EC228D31 R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {65c48302-5517-4c45-b35c-b39ad2fd210c} - C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0SrcAs.dll O2 - BHO: Search Assistant BHO - {be9ec627-ec66-41ca-bedb-be06573ca920} - C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0SrcAs.dll O2 - BHO: Toolbar BHO - {d01c6cde-b7aa-490b-bc49-0ed699a37cb3} - C:\PROGRA~1\STUDYH~2\bar\1.bin\d0bar.dll O3 - Toolbar: StudyHQ - {72857cf6-12b9-43f7-8bce-4385dc65a9e4} - C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0bar.dll O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StudyHQ EPM Support] "C:\PROGRA~1\STUDYH~2\bar\1.bin\d0medint.exe" T8EPMSUP.DLL,S O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StudyHQ AppIntegrator 32-bit] C:\PROGRA~1\STUDYH~2\bar\1.bin\AppIntegrator.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StudyHQ Search Scope Monitor] "C:\PROGRA~1\STUDYH~2\bar\1.bin\d0srchmn.exe" /m=2 /w /h O23 - Service: StudyHQService (StudyHQ_d0Service) - Mindspark - C:\PROGRA~1\STUDYH~2\bar\1.bin\d0barsvc.exePossible signs in FRST logs:
(Mindspark) C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0barsvc.exe (Mindspark) C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\APPINTEGRATOR.EXE HKLM\...\Run: [StudyHQ EPM Support] => C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0medint.exe [12872 2015-04-04] (Mindspark) HKLM\...\Run: [StudyHQ AppIntegrator 32-bit] => C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\AppIntegrator.exe [225864 2015-04-04] (Mindspark) HKLM\...\Run: [StudyHQ Search Scope Monitor] => "C:\PROGRA~1\STUDYH~2\bar\1.bin\d0srchmn.exe" /m=2 /w /h HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page"="http://home.tb.ask.com/index.jhtml?n=781B139A&p2=^BVJ^yyyyyy^YYA^nl&ptb=7388B58C-CB05-4F62-BE74-70F6EC228D31 URLSearchHook: HKCU - (No Name) - {65c48302-5517-4c45-b35c-b39ad2fd210c} - C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0SrcAs.dll (Mindspark) SearchScopes: HKLM -> {b7f4511b-6fad-4627-af1c-02d05f9376b0} URL"="http://search.tb.ask.com/search/GGmain.jhtml?p2=^BVJ^yyyyyy^YYA^nl&ptb=7388B58C-CB05-4F62-BE74-70F6EC228D31&ind=2015040404&n=781b1394&psa=&st=sb&searchfor={searchTerms} SearchScopes: HKCU -> DefaultScope {b7f4511b-6fad-4627-af1c-02d05f9376b0} URL"="http://search.tb.ask.com/search/GGmain.jhtml?p2=^BVJ^yyyyyy^YYA^nl&ptb=7388B58C-CB05-4F62-BE74-70F6EC228D31&ind=2015040404&n=781b1394&psa=&st=sb&searchfor={searchTerms} SearchScopes: HKCU -> {b7f4511b-6fad-4627-af1c-02d05f9376b0} URL"="http://search.tb.ask.com/search/GGmain.jhtml?p2=^BVJ^yyyyyy^YYA^nl&ptb=7388B58C-CB05-4F62-BE74-70F6EC228D31&ind=2015040404&n=781b1394&psa=&st=sb&searchfor={searchTerms} BHO: Search Assistant BHO -> {be9ec627-ec66-41ca-bedb-be06573ca920} -> C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0SrcAs.dll [2015-04-04] (Mindspark) BHO: Toolbar BHO -> {d01c6cde-b7aa-490b-bc49-0ed699a37cb3} -> C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0bar.dll [2015-04-04] (Mindspark) Toolbar: HKLM - StudyHQ - {72857cf6-12b9-43f7-8bce-4385dc65a9e4} - C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0bar.dll [2015-04-04] (Mindspark) Toolbar: HKCU -> StudyHQ - {72857CF6-12B9-43F7-8BCE-4385DC65A9E4} - C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0bar.dll [2015-04-04] (Mindspark) FF DefaultSearchEngine: Ask Web Search FF SelectedSearchEngine: Ask Web Search FF Homepage: hxxp://home.tb.ask.com/index.jhtml?ptb=9A99999C-D58E-4706-ABC7-F847302C06D8&n=781b139a&p2=^BVJ^foxyyy^YYA^nl FF Keyword.URL: hxxp://search.tb.ask.com/search/GGmain.jhtml?st=kwd&ptb=9A99999C-D58E-4706-ABC7-F847302C06D8&n=781b139a&ind=2015040410&p2=^BVJ^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 [2015-04-04] FF Extension: StudyHQ - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\Extensions\d0ffxtbr@StudyHQ_d0.com [2015-04-04] CHR Extension: (StudyHQ) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\nnpkbpemkbeakdjfadfhfolbdociodln [2015-04-04] R2 StudyHQ_d0Service; C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0barsvc.exe [90696 2015-04-04] (Mindspark) () C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0 () C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0EI StudyHQ Internet Explorer Toolbar (HKLM\...\StudyHQ_d0bar Uninstall Internet Explorer) (Version: - Mindspark Interactive Network) <==== ATTENTION CustomCLSID: HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001_Classes\CLSID\{65c48302-5517-4c45-b35c-b39ad2fd210c}\InprocServer32 -> C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0SrcAs.dll (Mindspark)
An excerpt from the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scan log:
(full log available on request)
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware www.malwarebytes.org Scan Date: 4/4/2015 Scan Time: 10:46:34 AM Logfile: mbamStudyHQ.txt Administrator: Yes Version: 2.01.0.1004 Malware Database: v2015.04.04.02 Rootkit Database: v2015.03.31.01 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: 289325 Time Elapsed: 4 min, 13 sec Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Disabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Enabled PUM: Enabled Processes: 0 (No malicious items detected) Modules: 1 PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0SrcAs.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [eba74d1b3a50e84ec6478a49b94802fe], Registry Keys: 95 PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{be9ec627-ec66-41ca-bedb-be06573ca920}, Quarantined, [eba74d1b3a50e84ec6478a49b94802fe], PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXPLORER\BROWSER HELPER OBJECTS\{BE9EC627-EC66-41CA-BEDB-BE06573CA920}, Quarantined, [eba74d1b3a50e84ec6478a49b94802fe], PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXPLORER\BROWSER HELPER OBJECTS\{D01C6CDE-B7AA-490B-BC49-0ED699A37CB3}, Quarantined, [b7db5f092b5f8da94ac3567dae531be5], PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\StudyHQ_d0bar Uninstall Internet Explorer, Quarantined, [b7db5f092b5f8da94ac3567dae531be5], PUP.Optional.GlobalUpdate.C, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GLOBALUPDATE\UPDATE\PROXY, Quarantined, [533f5a0ea6e4bf7768caa31212f1db25], PUP.Optional.Ask.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\SEARCHSCOPES\{B7F4511B-6FAD-4627-AF1C-02D05F9376B0}, Quarantined, [bfd3f96f0189ee4853c153f9a560c937], Registry Values: 12 PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\URLSEARCHHOOKS|{65C48302-5517-4C45-B35C-B39AD2FD210C}, Quarantined, [eba74d1b3a50e84ec6478a49b94802fe], PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\TOOLBAR|{72857CF6-12B9-43F7-8BCE-4385DC65A9E4}, Quarantined, [b7db5f092b5f8da94ac3567dae531be5], PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN|StudyHQ AppIntegrator 32-bit, C:\PROGRA~1\STUDYH~2\bar\1.bin\AppIntegrator.exe, Quarantined, [f79b11575634a98df11cd8fb2fd248b8] PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN|StudyHQ EPM Support, "C:\PROGRA~1\STUDYH~2\bar\1.bin\d0medint.exe" T8EPMSUP.DLL,S, Quarantined, [deb41157c7c31521b05dc013cd34aa56] PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\TOOLBAR\WEBBROWSER\{72857CF6-12B9-43F7-8BCE-4385DC65A9E4}, Quarantined, [187ad791e2a84aec627ef27e758e35cb], PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\TOOLBAR\{72857cf6-12b9-43f7-8bce-4385dc65a9e4}, Quarantined, [8b071e4aeb9fe74ffae6b4bc22e132ce], PUP.Optional.GlobalUpdate.C, HKLM\SOFTWARE\GLOBALUPDATE\UPDATEDEV|AuCheckPeriodMs, 21600000, Quarantined, [d1c1db8df694ed497128cce82ad9d030] PUP.Optional.Ask.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\SEARCHSCOPES\{b7f4511b-6fad-4627-af1c-02d05f9376b0}|DisplayName, Ask Web Search, Quarantined, [ff931751107a47efd14463e9af5624dc] PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN|StudyHQ Search Scope Monitor, "C:\PROGRA~1\STUDYH~2\bar\1.bin\d0srchmn.exe" /m=2 /w /h, Quarantined, [4052c2a68a005bdb05220f2f8a7b4bb5] PUP.Optional.GlobalUpdate.C, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GLOBALUPDATE\UPDATE\PROXY|source, IE, Quarantined, [533f5a0ea6e4bf7768caa31212f1db25] PUP.Optional.Ask.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\SEARCHSCOPES\{b7f4511b-6fad-4627-af1c-02d05f9376b0}|DisplayName, Ask Web Search, Quarantined, [bfd3f96f0189ee4853c153f9a560c937] Registry Data: 1 PUP.Optional.AskWebSearch, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\MAIN|Start Page, http://home.tb.ask.com/index.jhtml?n=781B139A&p2=^BVJ^yyyyyy^YYA^nl&ptb=7388B58C-CB05-4F62-BE74-70F6EC228D31, Good: (www.google.com), Bad: (http://home.tb.ask.com/index.jhtml?n=781B139A&p2=^BVJ^yyyyyy^YYA^nl&ptb=7388B58C-CB05-4F62-BE74-70F6EC228D31),Replaced,[712177f1157542f4bd3ba354d92cc13f] Folders: 113 PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\extensions\d0ffxtbr@StudyHQ_d0.com, Quarantined, [543e82e628629c9ae146b201c63d2fd1], PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\StudyHQ_d0, Quarantined, [00923137d4b6fe38d088753e0ef5ff01], PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\nnpkbpemkbeakdjfadfhfolbdociodln, Quarantined, [642e5018f7930a2c8ccd7d367b886898], PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0, Delete-on-Reboot, [cac87deb6f1bc571c09b278ced16a15f], PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar, Delete-on-Reboot, [cac87deb6f1bc571c09b278ced16a15f], PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0EI, Quarantined, [464c8cdc43471026cc8fe5cee81be21e], PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\LocalLow\StudyHQ_d0, Quarantined, [7c166afe05853006b1ab842ff90ae61a], Files: 339 PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\APPINTEGRATORSTUB.DLL, Delete-on-Reboot, [fe9483e5acde4ee85bb2c40f9968ee12], PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0SrcAs.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [eba74d1b3a50e84ec6478a49b94802fe], PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0bar.dll, Quarantined, [b7db5f092b5f8da94ac3567dae531be5], PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0barsvc.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [a0f2dd8b474370c66e9f9f34dc25728e], PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\APPINTEGRATOR.EXE, Delete-on-Reboot, [f79b11575634a98df11cd8fb2fd248b8], PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\ASSISTMONITOR.DLL, Delete-on-Reboot, [efa385e3ee9ced4921ecd6fd32cff709], PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\HPG.DLL, Delete-on-Reboot, [9df51d4ba2e889ad19f4cd06df2226da], PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0dlghk.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [3260c0a84a40e155f01d07cc0bf6d927], PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\TOOLBARGUARD.DLL, Delete-on-Reboot, [e1b1bfa95535b383fb12d7fcfe03b749], PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0medint.exe, Quarantined, [deb41157c7c31521b05dc013cd34aa56], PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Users\{username}\Downloads\StudyHQ.exe, Quarantined, [fc96d692dbaff73f2973c7d9a263d030], PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Users\{username}\Downloads\StudyHQSetup2.5.15.8.^BVJ^man000^YYA^.exe, Quarantined, [6c2656123f4bdb5b5b8d0bd4d62fd52b], PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Storage\http_gostudyhq.dl.tb.ask.com_0.localstorage, Quarantined, [bfd30068e8a2b185a6e2cde9758e9e62], PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\searchplugins\ask-web-search.xml, Quarantined, [8d05095ffa9088aea6fba04c51b28a76], PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\nnpkbpemkbeakdjfadfhfolbdociodln\12.9.6.18829_0\bg.html, Quarantined, [642e5018f7930a2c8ccd7d367b886898], PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\1.bin\d0skin.dll, Quarantined, [cac87deb6f1bc571c09b278ced16a15f], PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\gen1\COMMON.T8S, Quarantined, [cac87deb6f1bc571c09b278ced16a15f], PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\Message\COMMON.T8S, Quarantined, [cac87deb6f1bc571c09b278ced16a15f], PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0\bar\Settings\s_pid.dat, Quarantined, [cac87deb6f1bc571c09b278ced16a15f], PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Program Files\StudyHQ_d0EI\Installr\1.bin\d0EIPlug.dll, Quarantined, [464c8cdc43471026cc8fe5cee81be21e], PUP.Optional.MindSpark.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\LocalLow\StudyHQ_d0EI\Installr\Cache\files.ini, Quarantined, [583aed7bc3c782b4a9b38d2662a129d7], PUP.Optional.ASK.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\prefs.js, Good: (), Bad: (user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://home.tb.ask.com/index.jhtml?ptb=9A99999C-D58E-4706-ABC7-F847302C06D8&n=781b139a&p2=^BVJ^foxyyy^YYA^nl");), Replaced,[e4ae55139ceea294d9d9b87fee18629e] PUP.Optional.ASK.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\prefs.js, Good: (), Bad: (spark.studyhqdictionary\",\"p\":\"L.8.3\"},{\"b\":223644060,\"c\":\"mindspark.duolingo\",\"p\":\"L.8.4\"},{\"b\":223644059,\"c\":\"mindspark.coursera\",\"p\":\"L.8.5\"},{\"b\":223644058,\"c\":\"), Replaced,[e8aa03653951c76f971b95a2699dcb35] PUP.Optional.ASK.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\prefs.js, Good: (), Bad: (user_pref("keyword.URL", "http://search.tb.ask.com/search/GGmain.jhtml?st=kwd&ptb=9A99999C-D58E-4706-ABC7-F847302C06D8&n=781b139a&ind=2015040410&p2=^BVJ^foxyyy^YYA^nl&searchfor=");), Replaced,[12807aee08828ea8615276c13ec8e11f] 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