Removal instructions for Search Window

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Search Window?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Search Window 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 effected by Search Window?

This is how the first screen of the installer looks:

And you may see these browser extensions/add-ons:

and this entry in your list of installed programs:

How did Search Window get on my computer?

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

How do I remove Search Window?

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

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.

Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Search Window?

No, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware removes Search Window 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 Search Window hijacker. 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

Signs in a HijackThis log:

O2 - BHO: Search Window - {310eeba3-f844-4bdb-8204-0f7738a73264} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window\Extensions\310eeba3-f844-4bdb-8204-0f7738a73264.dll

Possible signs in FRST logs:

 BHO-x32: Search Window -> {310eeba3-f844-4bdb-8204-0f7738a73264} -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window\Extensions\310eeba3-f844-4bdb-8204-0f7738a73264.dll [2016-01-21] ()
 FF Extension: Search Window - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\Extensions\[email protected] [2016-01-21] [not signed]
 C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window

Search Window (HKLM-x32\...\Search Window) (Version: 2.0.5863.37130 - Search Window) <==== ATTENTION

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window
       Adds the file 7za.exe"="20/01/2016 00:40, 536064 bytes, A
       Adds the file Uninstaller.exe"="21/01/2016 05:37, 313224 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window\Extensions
       Adds the file 310eeba3-f844-4bdb-8204-0f7738a73264.dll"="21/01/2016 01:56, 145608 bytes, A
       Adds the file [email protected]"="21/01/2016 08:22, 8495 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions
       Adds the file [email protected]"="21/01/2016 08:22, 8495 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{636090DE-20BF-4B6A-BEF2-36D787DDB8E0}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "ISearchWindowBHO"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{636090DE-20BF-4B6A-BEF2-36D787DDB8E0}\ProxyStubClsid32]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{636090DE-20BF-4B6A-BEF2-36D787DDB8E0}\TypeLib]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{FB31FD77-10D0-4820-AA97-C08D32864580}"
       "Version"="REG_SZ", "1.0"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{FB31FD77-10D0-4820-AA97-C08D32864580}\1.0]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "SearchWindowIEClientLib"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{FB31FD77-10D0-4820-AA97-C08D32864580}\1.0\0\win32]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window\Extensions\310eeba3-f844-4bdb-8204-0f7738a73264.dll"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{FB31FD77-10D0-4820-AA97-C08D32864580}\1.0\FLAGS]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "0"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{FB31FD77-10D0-4820-AA97-C08D32864580}\1.0\HELPDIR]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window\Extensions"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{310eeba3-f844-4bdb-8204-0f7738a73264}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "Search Window"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{310eeba3-f844-4bdb-8204-0f7738a73264}\InprocServer32]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window\Extensions\310eeba3-f844-4bdb-8204-0f7738a73264.dll"
       "ThreadingModel"="REG_SZ", "Apartment"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{310eeba3-f844-4bdb-8204-0f7738a73264}\Programmable]
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{310eeba3-f844-4bdb-8204-0f7738a73264}\TypeLib]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{fb31fd77-10d0-4820-aa97-c08d32864580}"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{310eeba3-f844-4bdb-8204-0f7738a73264}\Version]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "1.0"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{99415057-7C50-439D-AA20-02D83C071B61}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "1"
       "{99415057-7C50-439D-AA20-02D83C071B61}"="REG_SZ", "{99415057-7C50-439D-AA20-02D83C071B61}"
       "1"="REG_SZ", ""
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{F83D1872-D9FF-47F8-B5A0-49CC51E24EE8}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "95056998-c51c-4939-a6b9-dc59d43d2a0a"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Interface\{636090DE-20BF-4B6A-BEF2-36D787DDB8E0}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "ISearchWindowBHO"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Interface\{636090DE-20BF-4B6A-BEF2-36D787DDB8E0}\ProxyStubClsid32]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Interface\{636090DE-20BF-4B6A-BEF2-36D787DDB8E0}\TypeLib]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{FB31FD77-10D0-4820-AA97-C08D32864580}"
       "Version"="REG_SZ", "1.0"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{310eeba3-f844-4bdb-8204-0f7738a73264}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "Search Window"
       "NoExplorer"="REG_DWORD", 1
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Search Window]
       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window\uninstaller.exe""
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Search Window"
       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "2.0.5863.37130"
       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 979
       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "mailto:[email protected]"
       "InstallDate"="REG_SZ", "20160121"
       "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window"
       "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "Search Window"
       "QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window\uninstaller.exe""
       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window\uninstaller.exe""
       "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", "http://www.thesearchwindow.com/support"
       "URLUpdateInfo"="REG_SZ", "http://www.thesearchwindow.com"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SearchWindow]
       "cg"="REG_SZ", "95056998-c51c-4939-a6b9-dc59d43d2a0a"

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 21/01/2016
Scan Time: 08:28
Logfile: mbamSearchWindow.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.2.0.1020
Malware Database: v2016.01.21.01
Rootkit Database: v2016.01.20.01
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: 317101
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: 17
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\CLSID\{99415057-7C50-439D-AA20-02D83C071B61}, Quarantined, [a1a4a795cdccce68400b95c4e0226b95], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\CLSID\{99415057-7C50-439D-AA20-02D83C071B61}, Quarantined, [a1a4a795cdccce68400b95c4e0226b95], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\CLSID\{F83D1872-D9FF-47F8-B5A0-49CC51E24EE8}, Quarantined, [351092aaecad60d6fa520257ea18b54b], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\CLSID\{F83D1872-D9FF-47F8-B5A0-49CC51E24EE8}, Quarantined, [351092aaecad60d6fa520257ea18b54b], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\Search Window, Quarantined, [8bba75c78712290dd5b1973efb06f709], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\SearchWindow, Quarantined, [71d455e7158457df9ef79c9b9b69f808], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\CLSID\{310eeba3-f844-4bdb-8204-0f7738a73264}, Quarantined, [7bcaa7950d8c64d2aa41894861a1de22], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\TYPELIB\{fb31fd77-10d0-4820-aa97-c08d32864580}, Quarantined, [7bcaa7950d8c64d2aa41894861a1de22], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\INTERFACE\{636090DE-20BF-4B6A-BEF2-36D787DDB8E0}, Quarantined, [7bcaa7950d8c64d2aa41894861a1de22], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\INTERFACE\{636090DE-20BF-4B6A-BEF2-36D787DDB8E0}, Quarantined, [7bcaa7950d8c64d2aa41894861a1de22], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\INTERFACE\{636090DE-20BF-4B6A-BEF2-36D787DDB8E0}, Quarantined, [7bcaa7950d8c64d2aa41894861a1de22], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\TYPELIB\{fb31fd77-10d0-4820-aa97-c08d32864580}, Quarantined, [7bcaa7950d8c64d2aa41894861a1de22], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\TYPELIB\{fb31fd77-10d0-4820-aa97-c08d32864580}, Quarantined, [7bcaa7950d8c64d2aa41894861a1de22], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXPLORER\BROWSER HELPER OBJECTS\{310EEBA3-F844-4BDB-8204-0F7738A73264}, Quarantined, [7bcaa7950d8c64d2aa41894861a1de22], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\CLSID\{310EEBA3-F844-4BDB-8204-0F7738A73264}, Quarantined, [7bcaa7950d8c64d2aa41894861a1de22], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\SETTINGS\{310EEBA3-F844-4BDB-8204-0F7738A73264}, Quarantined, [7bcaa7950d8c64d2aa41894861a1de22], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\STATS\{310EEBA3-F844-4BDB-8204-0F7738A73264}, Quarantined, [7bcaa7950d8c64d2aa41894861a1de22], 

Registry Values: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders: 3
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window, Quarantined, [7bcaa7950d8c64d2aa41894861a1de22], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window\Extensions, Quarantined, [7bcaa7950d8c64d2aa41894861a1de22], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\Search Window, Quarantined, [3411c7750f8a999d896310c18c76a858], 

Files: 6
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\SearchWindow.exe, Quarantined, [3e070a327d1c1e1875118c4903fe11ef], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window\Uninstaller.exe, Quarantined, [8bba75c78712290dd5b1973efb06f709], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\[email protected], Quarantined, [77ce8cb04b4e3006a4edee492bd9ff01], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window\7za.exe, Quarantined, [7bcaa7950d8c64d2aa41894861a1de22], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window\Extensions\310eeba3-f844-4bdb-8204-0f7738a73264.dll, Quarantined, [7bcaa7950d8c64d2aa41894861a1de22], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Window\Extensions\[email protected], Quarantined, [7bcaa7950d8c64d2aa41894861a1de22], 

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.

#1
Metallica

Posted 21 January 2016 - 01:50 AM

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