What is TechSmart?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that TechSmart 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 TechSmart?
You may see warning during install:
these Scheduled Tasks:
and these proxy settings:
How did TechSmart get on my computer?
Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was bundled with other software.
How do I remove TechSmart?
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.
- No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes TechSmart completely.
- This PUP creates some scheduled tasks. You can read here how to check for and, if necessary, remove Scheduled Tasks.
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 TechSmart adware. It would have warned you before the adware could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.
Technical details for experts
Possible signs in FRST logs:
(The Privoxy team - www.privoxy.org) C:\Program Files (x86)\Techsmart Computer\privoxy.exe
ProxyEnable: [{currentuserID}] => Proxy is enabled.
ProxyServer: [{currentuserID}] => 127.0.0.1:8118
R2 PrivoxyService; C:\Program Files (x86)\Techsmart Computer\privoxy.exe [371200 2016-04-26] (The Privoxy team - www.privoxy.org) [File not signed] <==== ATTENTION
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Network Checker
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Network Checker Logon
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Techsmart Computer Service
C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Network Checker
C:\Program Files (x86)\Techsmart Computer
Task: {5B06CF43-569E-4150-B1C8-1C98479F7E91} - System32\Tasks\Network Checker => C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Network Checker\Network Checker.exe [2016-04-26] () <==== ATTENTION
Task: {702248C0-48B7-4E9F-AAE4-F1BBF4292ED1} - System32\Tasks\Techsmart Computer Service => C:\Program Files (x86)\Techsmart Computer\ittask.exe [2016-04-26] (East CH Soft) <==== ATTENTION
Task: {7FAA750D-C9C8-4B61-A2DF-E762AE4712F4} - System32\Tasks\Network Checker Logon => C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Network Checker\Network Checker.exe [2016-04-26] ()
() C:\Program Files (x86)\Techsmart Computer\mgwz.dllAlterations made by the installer:File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Techsmart Computer
Adds the file config.txt"="4/26/2016 8:41 AM, 411 bytes, A
Adds the file default.action"="4/26/2016 8:41 AM, 21 bytes, A
Adds the file default.filter"="4/26/2016 8:41 AM, 154 bytes, A
Adds the file ittask.exe"="4/26/2016 8:41 AM, 963584 bytes, A
Adds the file mgwz.dll"="4/26/2016 8:41 AM, 86528 bytes, A
Adds the file privoxy.exe"="4/26/2016 8:41 AM, 371200 bytes, A
Adds the file privoxy.log"="4/26/2016 8:41 AM, 0 bytes, A
Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Network Checker
Adds the file Network Checker.exe"="4/26/2016 8:41 AM, 817152 bytes, A
In the existing folder C:\Windows\System32\Tasks
Adds the file Network Checker"="4/26/2016 8:41 AM, 3660 bytes, A
Adds the file Network Checker Logon"="4/26/2016 8:41 AM, 3322 bytes, A
Adds the file Techsmart Computer Service"="4/26/2016 8:41 AM, 3292 bytes, A
Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SecureWebChannel]
"Channel"="REG_SZ", "UN"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\PrivoxyService]
"DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Privoxy (PrivoxyService)"
"ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1
"ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Techsmart Computer\privoxy.exe" --service"
"ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem"
"Start"="REG_DWORD", 2
"Type"="REG_DWORD", 272
"WOW64"="REG_DWORD", 1
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings]
"ProxyEnable"="REG_DWORD", 1
"ProxyServer"="REG_SZ", "127.0.0.1:8118"Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org
Scan Date: 4/26/2016
Scan Time: 8:54 AM
Logfile: mbamTechSmart.txt
Administrator: Yes
Version: 2.2.1.1043
Malware Database: v2016.04.26.01
Rootkit Database: v2016.04.17.01
License: Premium
Malware Protection: Disabled
Malicious Website Protection: Enabled
Self-protection: Enabled
OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: {username}
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 364573
Time Elapsed: 9 min, 45 sec
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Enabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Enabled
PUM: Enabled
Processes: 1
PUP.Optional.PrxySvrRST, C:\Program Files (x86)\Techsmart Computer\privoxy.exe, 4092, Delete-on-Reboot, [93d6971cdcbd56e020132be417ecc33d]
Modules: 1
PUP.Optional.PrxySvrRST, C:\Program Files (x86)\Techsmart Computer\mgwz.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [93d6971cdcbd56e020132be417ecc33d],
Registry Keys: 1
PUP.Optional.PrxySvrRST, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\PrivoxyService, Quarantined, [93d6971cdcbd56e020132be417ecc33d],
Registry Values: 1
PUM.Optional.ProxyHijacker, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|ProxyServer, 127.0.0.1:8118, Quarantined, [5f0a3f74bcdd56e0c87ea6d818ec5ca4]
Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Folders: 1
PUP.Optional.PrxySvrRST, C:\Program Files (x86)\Techsmart Computer, Delete-on-Reboot, [93d6971cdcbd56e020132be417ecc33d],
Files: 9
PUP.Optional.Privoxy, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\TechSmart.exe, Quarantined, [f376bdf6277254e2333c3bf6b15118e8],
Backdoor.Agent.WD, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\91C0.tmp.exe, Quarantined, [b5b4ab08dabf0f27f19771ad99677090],
PUP.Optional.PrxySvrRST, C:\Program Files (x86)\Techsmart Computer\config.txt, Quarantined, [93d6971cdcbd56e020132be417ecc33d],
PUP.Optional.PrxySvrRST, C:\Program Files (x86)\Techsmart Computer\default.action, Quarantined, [93d6971cdcbd56e020132be417ecc33d],
PUP.Optional.PrxySvrRST, C:\Program Files (x86)\Techsmart Computer\default.filter, Quarantined, [93d6971cdcbd56e020132be417ecc33d],
PUP.Optional.PrxySvrRST, C:\Program Files (x86)\Techsmart Computer\ittask.exe, Quarantined, [93d6971cdcbd56e020132be417ecc33d],
PUP.Optional.PrxySvrRST, C:\Program Files (x86)\Techsmart Computer\mgwz.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [93d6971cdcbd56e020132be417ecc33d],
PUP.Optional.PrxySvrRST, C:\Program Files (x86)\Techsmart Computer\privoxy.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [93d6971cdcbd56e020132be417ecc33d],
PUP.Optional.PrxySvrRST, C:\Program Files (x86)\Techsmart Computer\privoxy.log, Delete-on-Reboot, [93d6971cdcbd56e020132be417ecc33d],
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
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