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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is GamerHippo?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that GamerHippo is adware. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing.

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

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



and these warnings during install:





How did GamerHippo get on my computer?

Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was offered as a gaming portal.

How do I remove GamerHippo?

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 GamerHippo?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes GamerHippo 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 adware application.

As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware would have protected you against the GamerHippo adware. It would have warned you before the application could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

Technical details for experts

No visible signs in a HijackThis log

You may see these signs in FRST logs:

 C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\GamerHippo
 C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\GamerHippo

GamerHippo (HKCU\...\gamerhippo.com) (Version: 1.0.0 - )

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\GamerHippo
       Adds the file clngh.exe"="22/05/2015 11:03, 55264 bytes, A
    In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default
       Alters the file directoryLinks.json
        12/08/2015 14:34, 4144 bytes, A ==> 18/08/2015 08:31, 4342 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\GamerHippo
       Adds the file GamerHippo.lnk"="18/08/2015 08:31, 1224 bytes, A
       Adds the file Uninstall GamerHippo.lnk"="18/08/2015 08:31, 1077 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\gamerhippo.com]
       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\GamerHippo\clngh.exe""
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "GamerHippo"
       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "1.0.0"
       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "http://www.gamerhippo.com"
       "SupportLink"="REG_SZ", "http://www.gamerhippo.com"
       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\GamerHippo\clngh.exe""

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 18/08/2015
Scan Time: 08:40
Logfile: mbamGamerHippo.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.1.8.1057
Malware Database: v2015.08.18.01
Rootkit Database: v2015.08.16.01
License: Premium
Malware Protection: Disabled
Malicious Website Protection: Enabled
Self-protection: Disabled

OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: {username}

Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 329619
Time Elapsed: 4 min, 14 sec

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

Processes: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys: 1
PUP.Optional.GamerHippo.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\gamerhippo.com, Quarantined, [3811709a0f7cef47ed1a7a0fe4210ef2], 

Registry Values: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders: 2
PUP.Optional.GamerHippo.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\GamerHippo, Quarantined, [1c2dc74395f6b284da76a31228dc14ec], 
PUP.Optional.GamerHippo.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\GamerHippo, Quarantined, [9cada367a9e2d1655690d245d72c659b], 

Files: 4
PUP.Optional.GamerHippo.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\GamerHippo.exe, Quarantined, [58f113f7286300369b6c068312f39f61], 
PUP.Optional.GamerHippo.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\GamerHippo\clngh.exe, Quarantined, [3811709a0f7cef47ed1a7a0fe4210ef2], 
PUP.Optional.GamerHippo.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\GamerHippo\GamerHippo.lnk, Quarantined, [1c2dc74395f6b284da76a31228dc14ec], 
PUP.Optional.GamerHippo.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\GamerHippo\Uninstall GamerHippo.lnk, Quarantined, [1c2dc74395f6b284da76a31228dc14ec], 

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.