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Removal instructions for Plants Vs Zombies

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Started by Metallica , May 20 2016 01:33 AM

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2 replies to this topic

#1
Metallica
Posted 20 May 2016 - 01:33 AM

Metallica

    Spyware Veteran

  • GeekU Moderator
  • 33,101 posts
Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Plants Vs Zombies?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Plants Vs Zombies 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 Plants Vs Zombies?

You may see these warnings during install:

main.png

warning1.png

this entry in your list of installed programs:

warning4.png

and this icon on your desktop and in your startmenu:

icons.png

How did Plants Vs Zombies get on my computer?

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

How do I remove Plants Vs Zombies?

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 Plants Vs Zombies?
  • No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes Plants Vs Zombies 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 Plants Vs Zombies adware. It would have warned you before the adware could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

protection1.png


The web protection module also blocks some of the connections the installer tries to make:

protection2.png


Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:
 (Surf Island Solutions) C:\ProgramData\Plants Vs Zombies\Plants Vs ZombiesService.exe
 R2 Plants Vs Zombies; C:\ProgramData\Plants Vs Zombies\Plants Vs ZombiesService.exe [2729960 2016-05-20] (Surf Island Solutions)
 C:\ProgramData\Plants Vs Zombies
 C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\Plants Vs Zombies.lnk
 C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Plants Vs Zombies
 C:\ProgramData\PlantsVsZombies

Plants Vs Zombies (HKLM-x32\...\Plants Vs Zombies) (Version: 3.0.54 - Surf Island Solutions)
Alterations made by the installer:

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\ProgramData\Plants Vs Zombies
       Adds the file info.dat"="5/20/2016 8:43 AM, 80 bytes, A
       Adds the file Plants Vs Zombies.dll"="5/20/2016 8:44 AM, 1240552 bytes, A
       Adds the file Plants Vs Zombies.exe"="5/20/2016 8:44 AM, 47592 bytes, A
       Adds the file Plants Vs Zombies.exe.config"="5/20/2016 8:44 AM, 190 bytes, A
       Adds the file Plants Vs ZombiesService.exe"="5/20/2016 8:43 AM, 2729960 bytes, A
       Adds the file Plants Vs ZombiesService.exe.config"="5/20/2016 8:43 AM, 288 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\ProgramData\PlantsVsZombies
       Adds the file Plants Vs Zombies.ico"="5/20/2016 8:43 AM, 99678 bytes, A
       Adds the file uninstall.exe"="5/20/2016 8:43 AM, 644072 bytes, A
       Adds the file uninstall.exe.config"="5/20/2016 8:43 AM, 168 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\PlantsVsZombies
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Plants Vs Zombies
       Adds the file Plants Vs Zombies.lnk"="5/20/2016 8:43 AM, 1559 bytes, A
    In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\Desktop
       Adds the file Plants Vs Zombies.lnk"="5/20/2016 8:43 AM, 1449 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{051E9166-B275-4683-907B-372FAE22BC7C}]
       "id"="REG_SZ", "c144180f520a428a8d7a9ca1fdeae620"
       "p"="REG_SZ", "217509"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{2af28178-c4ee-e919-8b53-6cf1542c0bb4}]
       "id"="REG_SZ", "c144180f520a428a8d7a9ca1fdeae620"
       "ip"="REG_SZ", "217509"
       "p"="REG_SZ", "217509"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{9C4EFBD5-1ADF-41E6-BE26-AF44326E30E4}]
       "(Default)"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "v"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "vs"="REG_SZ", "1"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{A2970C7C-8392-4E6F-8B51-B763CF38E13C}]
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{051E9166-B275-4683-907B-372FAE22BC7C}]
       "id"="REG_SZ", "c144180f520a428a8d7a9ca1fdeae620"
       "p"="REG_SZ", "217509"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{2af28178-c4ee-e919-8b53-6cf1542c0bb4}]
       "id"="REG_SZ", "c144180f520a428a8d7a9ca1fdeae620"
       "ip"="REG_SZ", "217509"
       "p"="REG_SZ", "217509"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{9C4EFBD5-1ADF-41E6-BE26-AF44326E30E4}]
       "(Default)"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "v"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "vs"="REG_SZ", "1"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{A2970C7C-8392-4E6F-8B51-B763CF38E13C}]
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{b3a7a7da-ebf5-e0ee-b46b-d1e1f9fda279}]
       "id"="REG_SZ", "c144180f520a428a8d7a9ca1fdeae620"
       "lpvcc"="REG_SZ", "3.0.54"
       "p"="REG_SZ", "217509"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{df80c1d6-553f-e7e1-84b5-5ed27087eb98}]
       "ik"="REG_SZ", "{7d88e17c-eb48-cc6e-a39e-4b46e5dd22ef}"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Plants Vs Zombies]
       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\ProgramData\PlantsVsZombies\Plants Vs Zombies.ico"
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Plants Vs Zombies"
       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "3.0.54"
       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 5000
       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "http://www.plants-vs-zombies-game.com/about.html"
       "InstallDate"="REG_SZ", "5/20/2016"
       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "Surf Island Solutions"
       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\ProgramData\PlantsVsZombies\uninstall.exe""
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Plants Vs Zombies]
       "DependOnService"="REG_MULTI_SZ, "Winmgmt CryptSvc "
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Plants Vs Zombies"
       "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "FailureActions"="REG_BINARY, <.....................
       "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, ""C:\ProgramData\Plants Vs Zombies\Plants Vs ZombiesService.exe""
       "ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem"
       "Start"="REG_DWORD", 2
       "Type"="REG_DWORD", 16
       "WOW64"="REG_DWORD", 1
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 5/20/2016
Scan Time: 8:57 AM
Logfile: mbamZombiesVsPlants.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.2.1.1043
Malware Database: v2016.05.20.03
Rootkit Database: v2016.05.06.01
License: Premium
Malware Protection: Disabled
Malicious Website Protection: Disabled
Self-protection: Enabled

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

Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 311573
Time Elapsed: 7 min, 54 sec

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

Processes: 1
PUP.Optional.PullUpdate, C:\ProgramData\Plants Vs Zombies\Plants Vs ZombiesService.exe, 1912, Delete-on-Reboot, [7aa965739cfdd264acc19e3658a9728e]

Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys: 5
PUP.Optional.PullUpdate, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\Plants Vs Zombies, Quarantined, [7aa965739cfdd264acc19e3658a9728e], 
PUP.Optional.WebSteroids, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{051E9166-B275-4683-907B-372FAE22BC7C}, Quarantined, [160d0ecadbbe86b0b9289cd72bd71de3], 
PUP.Optional.WebSteroids, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\CLSID\{051E9166-B275-4683-907B-372FAE22BC7C}, Quarantined, [160d0ecadbbe86b0b9289cd72bd71de3], 
PUP.Optional.WebSteroids, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\CLSID\{051E9166-B275-4683-907B-372FAE22BC7C}, Quarantined, [160d0ecadbbe86b0b9289cd72bd71de3], 
PUP.Optional.PullUpdate, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\Plants Vs Zombies, Quarantined, [9a89ddfb29709f97f6776e6641c044bc], 

Registry Values: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders: 1
PUP.Optional.PullUpdate, C:\ProgramData\PlantsVsZombies, Quarantined, [c26132a65f3a40f6fff772696e957c84], 

Files: 7
PUP.Optional.PullUpdate, C:\ProgramData\Plants Vs Zombies\Plants Vs ZombiesService.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [7aa965739cfdd264acc19e3658a9728e], 
PUP.Optional.PullUpdate, C:\ProgramData\Plants Vs Zombies\Plants Vs Zombies.dll, Quarantined, [f03365738c0d0036d9b3a13336cb758b], 
PUP.Optional.PullUpdate, C:\ProgramData\Plants Vs Zombies\Plants Vs Zombies.exe, Quarantined, [230019bf712870c698d5953f23de31cf], 
PUP.Optional.PullUpdate, C:\ProgramData\PlantsVsZombies\uninstall.exe, Quarantined, [9a89ddfb29709f97f6776e6641c044bc], 
PUP.Optional.PullUpdate, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\PlantsVSZombis.exe, Quarantined, [c55e09cf8e0bed49a5c8b222728f2ed2], 
PUP.Optional.PullUpdate, C:\ProgramData\PlantsVsZombies\uninstall.exe.config, Quarantined, [c26132a65f3a40f6fff772696e957c84], 
PUP.Optional.PullUpdate, C:\ProgramData\PlantsVsZombies\Plants Vs Zombies.ico, Quarantined, [c26132a65f3a40f6fff772696e957c84], 

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.
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#2
rainyXP
Posted 20 May 2016 - 08:06 AM

rainyXP

    Member

  • Member
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  • 116 posts

Not to be confused with the actual plants vs. zombies, I hope?


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#3
Metallica
Posted 20 May 2016 - 09:54 AM

Metallica

    Spyware Veteran

  • GeekU Moderator
  • 33,101 posts
No I think that one is from a different Publisher, not "Surf Island Solutions".
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