Removal instructions for PlayGem

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is PlayGem?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that PlayGem 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 PlayGem?

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

this kind of advertisements:

and this icon in your startmenu:

How did PlayGem get on my computer?

Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one is offered as an online game portal.

How do I remove PlayGem?

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 PlayGem?

No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes PlayGem 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 PlayGem 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

You will see these signs in a HijackThis log:

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PlayGem] "C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayGem\PlayGem.exe" monetize

You may see these signs in FRST logs:

 (PlayGem) C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayGem\PlayGem.exe
 HKLM-x32\...\Run: [PlayGem] => C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayGem\PlayGem.exe [3247616 2015-10-21] (PlayGem)
 C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\PlayGem
 C:\ProgramData\PlayGemConfig
 C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayGem

PlayGem 1.0 (HKLM-x32\...\PlayGem) (Version: 1.0 - PlayGem)

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayGem
       Adds the file Compaign.dat"="22/01/2016 09:35, 8 bytes, A
       Adds the file Events.dat"="22/01/2016 09:35, 731 bytes, A
       Adds the file PlayGem.exe"="21/10/2015 14:38, 3247616 bytes, A
       Adds the file uninst.exe"="22/01/2016 09:35, 165582 bytes, A
       Adds the file Version.dat"="22/01/2016 09:35, 54 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\ProgramData\PlayGemConfig
       Adds the file Sample.json"="22/01/2016 09:35, 20108 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\PlayGem
       Adds the file PlayGem.lnk"="22/01/2016 09:35, 1027 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
       "EnableLUA"= REG_DWORD, 0
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MAIN\FeatureControl\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION]
       "ExploreMedia.exe"="REG_DWORD", 9999
       "PlayGem.exe"="REG_DWORD", 9999
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\PlayGem\ExploreMedia]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", ""
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\PlayGem\PlayGem]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", ""
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
       "PlayGem"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayGem\PlayGem.exe" monetize"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\PlayGem]
       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayGem\PlayGem.exe"
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "PlayGem 1.0"
       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "1.0"
       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "PlayGem"
       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayGem\uninst.exe"
       "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", " www.PlayGem.com"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\PlayGem]
       "xDaysDownload"="REG_DWORD", 2147483647

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 22/01/2016
Scan Time: 09:54
Logfile: mbamPlayGem.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.2.0.1020
Malware Database: v2016.01.22.03
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: 317631
Time Elapsed: 4 min, 30 sec

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

Processes: 2
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayGem\PlayGem.exe, 3548, Delete-on-Reboot, [7d2eba823d5cdc5a0f9e332108f8c33d]
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayGem\PlayGem.exe, 1824, Delete-on-Reboot, [7d2eba823d5cdc5a0f9e332108f8c33d]

Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys: 3
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\PlayGem, Quarantined, [7b301f1d8811c96d0e0e84786c97748c], 
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\PlayGem, Quarantined, [3378c17b0297f640c15fee0e2dd627d9], 
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\PlayGem, Quarantined, [9714c17bc9d0bb7bda444bb1f80bb54b], 

Registry Values: 4
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN|PlayGem, "C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayGem\PlayGem.exe" monetize, Quarantined, [7d2eba823d5cdc5a0f9e332108f8c33d]
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\MAIN\FEATURECONTROL\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION|PlayGem.exe, 9999, Quarantined, [c0ebed4f4b4e1e183c14e8506f9508f8]
PUP.Optional.ExploreMedia, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\MAIN\FEATURECONTROL\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION|ExploreMedia.exe, 9999, Quarantined, [bbf0cf6d5a3fab8b2d424490c73bb947]
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\PLAYGEM|URLInfoAbout,  www.PlayGem.com, Quarantined, [1596a399d9c0f04639b0869718ec08f8]

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders: 3
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayGem, Delete-on-Reboot, [7b301f1d8811c96d0e0e84786c97748c], 
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\PlayGem, Quarantined, [4a6145f76831d85eca5329d39a690bf5], 
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, C:\ProgramData\PlayGemConfig, Quarantined, [4962d5677c1d41f562d8834b2ad85ba5], 

Files: 8
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayGem\PlayGem.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [7d2eba823d5cdc5a0f9e332108f8c33d], 
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\PlayGem_Setup.exe, Quarantined, [377490ac4653d561eebf69eb16ea05fb], 
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayGem\Compaign.dat, Quarantined, [7b301f1d8811c96d0e0e84786c97748c], 
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayGem\Events.dat, Quarantined, [7b301f1d8811c96d0e0e84786c97748c], 
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayGem\uninst.exe, Quarantined, [7b301f1d8811c96d0e0e84786c97748c], 
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayGem\Version.dat, Quarantined, [7b301f1d8811c96d0e0e84786c97748c], 
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\PlayGem\PlayGem.lnk, Quarantined, [4a6145f76831d85eca5329d39a690bf5], 
PUP.Optional.PlayGem, C:\ProgramData\PlayGemConfig\Sample.json, Quarantined, [4962d5677c1d41f562d8834b2ad85ba5], 

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 22 January 2016 - 03:24 AM

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