Removal instructions for Innovate Direct

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Innovate Direct?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Innovate Direct 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 Innovate Direct?

This is how the first screen of the installer looks:

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

Firefox disables the unsigned Extension

and this entry in your list of installed programs:

How did Innovate Direct get on my computer?

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

How do I remove Innovate Direct?

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 Innovate Direct?

No, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware removes Innovate Direct 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 Innovate Direct 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

Possible signs in FRST logs:

 BHO-x32: Innovate Direct -> {9b94dd1e-f92e-470b-b098-7dfa23b44cf9} -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Innovate Direct\Extensions\9b94dd1e-f92e-470b-b098-7dfa23b44cf9.dll [2016-02-28] ()
 FF Extension: Innovate Direct - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\Extensions\[email protected] [2016-02-28] [not signed]
 C:\Program Files (x86)\Innovate Direct

Innovate Direct (HKLM-x32\...\Innovate Direct) (Version: 2.0.5902.36458 - Innovate Direct) <==== ATTENTION

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Innovate Direct
       Adds the file 7za.exe"="2/24/2016 8:19 PM, 536064 bytes, A
       Adds the file Uninstaller.exe"="2/29/2016 5:15 AM, 356232 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Innovate Direct\Extensions
       Adds the file 9b94dd1e-f92e-470b-b098-7dfa23b44cf9.dll"="2/28/2016 4:58 PM, 145616 bytes, A
       Adds the file [email protected]"="2/28/2016 4:58 PM, 8794 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions
       Adds the file [email protected]"="2/28/2016 4:58 PM, 8794 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{D52892BB-8200-4388-B59A-F1FE38A6EB4F}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "IInnovateDirectBHO"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{D52892BB-8200-4388-B59A-F1FE38A6EB4F}\ProxyStubClsid32]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{D52892BB-8200-4388-B59A-F1FE38A6EB4F}\TypeLib]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{33E0A650-02D2-473B-B950-355B096215C5}"
       "Version"="REG_SZ", "1.0"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{33E0A650-02D2-473B-B950-355B096215C5}\1.0]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "InnovateDirectIEClientLib"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{33E0A650-02D2-473B-B950-355B096215C5}\1.0\0\win32]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Innovate Direct\Extensions\9b94dd1e-f92e-470b-b098-7dfa23b44cf9.dll"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{33E0A650-02D2-473B-B950-355B096215C5}\1.0\FLAGS]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "0"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{33E0A650-02D2-473B-B950-355B096215C5}\1.0\HELPDIR]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Innovate Direct\Extensions"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{9b94dd1e-f92e-470b-b098-7dfa23b44cf9}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "Innovate Direct"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{9b94dd1e-f92e-470b-b098-7dfa23b44cf9}\InprocServer32]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Innovate Direct\Extensions\9b94dd1e-f92e-470b-b098-7dfa23b44cf9.dll"
       "ThreadingModel"="REG_SZ", "Apartment"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{9b94dd1e-f92e-470b-b098-7dfa23b44cf9}\Programmable]
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{9b94dd1e-f92e-470b-b098-7dfa23b44cf9}\TypeLib]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{33e0a650-02d2-473b-b950-355b096215c5}"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{9b94dd1e-f92e-470b-b098-7dfa23b44cf9}\Version]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "1.0"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{B853E835-9F24-4F4B-B55C-E554D15CCCD2}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "1"
       "{B853E835-9F24-4F4B-B55C-E554D15CCCD2}"="REG_SZ", "{B853E835-9F24-4F4B-B55C-E554D15CCCD2}"
       "1"="REG_SZ", ""
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{F83D1872-D9FF-47F8-B5A0-49CC51E24EE8}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "66c58349-7658-458f-8f34-bcf93b3a20a0"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Interface\{D52892BB-8200-4388-B59A-F1FE38A6EB4F}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "IInnovateDirectBHO"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Interface\{D52892BB-8200-4388-B59A-F1FE38A6EB4F}\ProxyStubClsid32]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Interface\{D52892BB-8200-4388-B59A-F1FE38A6EB4F}\TypeLib]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{33E0A650-02D2-473B-B950-355B096215C5}"
       "Version"="REG_SZ", "1.0"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\InnovateDirect]
       "cg"="REG_SZ", "66c58349-7658-458f-8f34-bcf93b3a20a0"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{9b94dd1e-f92e-470b-b098-7dfa23b44cf9}]
       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "Innovate Direct"
       "NoExplorer"="REG_DWORD", 1
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Innovate Direct]
       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Innovate Direct\uninstaller.exe""
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Innovate Direct"
       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "2.0.5902.36458"
       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 1022
       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "mailto:[email protected]"
       "InstallDate"="REG_SZ", "20160229"
       "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Innovate Direct"
       "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "Innovate Direct"
       "QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Innovate Direct\uninstaller.exe""
       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Innovate Direct\uninstaller.exe""
       "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", "http://www.innovatedirect.com/support"
       "URLUpdateInfo"="REG_SZ", "http://www.innovatedirect.com"

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 2/29/2016
Scan Time: 8:24 AM
Logfile: mbamInnovateDirect.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.2.0.1024
Malware Database: v2016.02.29.02
Rootkit Database: v2016.02.27.01
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: 367203
Time Elapsed: 5 min, 5 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: 17
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\CLSID\{9b94dd1e-f92e-470b-b098-7dfa23b44cf9}, Quarantined, [de985a0c247563d352d11175bc467a86], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\CLSID\{9b94dd1e-f92e-470b-b098-7dfa23b44cf9}, Quarantined, [de985a0c247563d352d11175bc467a86], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\TYPELIB\{33e0a650-02d2-473b-b950-355b096215c5}, Quarantined, [de985a0c247563d352d11175bc467a86], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\INTERFACE\{D52892BB-8200-4388-B59A-F1FE38A6EB4F}, Quarantined, [de985a0c247563d352d11175bc467a86], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\INTERFACE\{D52892BB-8200-4388-B59A-F1FE38A6EB4F}, Quarantined, [de985a0c247563d352d11175bc467a86], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\INTERFACE\{D52892BB-8200-4388-B59A-F1FE38A6EB4F}, Quarantined, [de985a0c247563d352d11175bc467a86], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\TYPELIB\{33e0a650-02d2-473b-b950-355b096215c5}, Quarantined, [de985a0c247563d352d11175bc467a86], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\TYPELIB\{33e0a650-02d2-473b-b950-355b096215c5}, Quarantined, [de985a0c247563d352d11175bc467a86], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXPLORER\BROWSER HELPER OBJECTS\{9B94DD1E-F92E-470B-B098-7DFA23B44CF9}, Quarantined, [de985a0c247563d352d11175bc467a86], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\SETTINGS\{9B94DD1E-F92E-470B-B098-7DFA23B44CF9}, Quarantined, [de985a0c247563d352d11175bc467a86], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\STATS\{9B94DD1E-F92E-470B-B098-7DFA23B44CF9}, Quarantined, [de985a0c247563d352d11175bc467a86], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\CLSID\{B853E835-9F24-4F4B-B55C-E554D15CCCD2}, Quarantined, [e393323480193bfbae8eb8cf4fb3e917], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\CLSID\{B853E835-9F24-4F4B-B55C-E554D15CCCD2}, Quarantined, [e393323480193bfbae8eb8cf4fb3e917], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\CLSID\{F83D1872-D9FF-47F8-B5A0-49CC51E24EE8}, Quarantined, [ed89f76fd0c93bfba59bb4d3659d56aa], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\CLSID\{F83D1872-D9FF-47F8-B5A0-49CC51E24EE8}, Quarantined, [ed89f76fd0c93bfba59bb4d3659d56aa], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\Innovate Direct, Quarantined, [adc92a3cbfda9f97fccf9366fd044fb1], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\InnovateDirect, Quarantined, [f581dc8abbdeb185a37792703ec59b65], 

Registry Values: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders: 3
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Program Files (x86)\Innovate Direct, Quarantined, [8de9c0a68a0fee4816fb8978847f0ef2], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Program Files (x86)\Innovate Direct\Extensions, Quarantined, [8de9c0a68a0fee4816fb8978847f0ef2], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\Innovate Direct, Quarantined, [096d3a2c653447efb75bab56a45fcc34], 

Files: 6
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Program Files (x86)\Innovate Direct\Extensions\9b94dd1e-f92e-470b-b098-7dfa23b44cf9.dll, Quarantined, [de985a0c247563d352d11175bc467a86], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\InnovateDirect.exe, Quarantined, [492d4a1cecad4ee83c8ff10848b940c0], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Program Files (x86)\Innovate Direct\Uninstaller.exe, Quarantined, [adc92a3cbfda9f97fccf9366fd044fb1], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions\[email protected], Quarantined, [3b3b1c4ad0c95ed8ee283cc69271d729], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Program Files (x86)\Innovate Direct\7za.exe, Quarantined, [8de9c0a68a0fee4816fb8978847f0ef2], 
PUP.Optional.Yontoo, C:\Program Files (x86)\Innovate Direct\Extensions\[email protected], Quarantined, [8de9c0a68a0fee4816fb8978847f0ef2], 

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 29 February 2016 - 01:50 AM

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