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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is RelevantKnowledge?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that RelevantKnowledge is adware. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing.
RelevantKnowledge is also considered spyware because of their market research.

How do I know if my computer is affected by RelevantKnowledge?

You may see these warnings during install:




These obviously depend on what program RelevantKnowledge comes bundled with.





this entry in your list of installed programs:



How did RelevantKnowledge get on my computer?

Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was bundled with other adware.

How do I remove RelevantKnowledge?

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 RelevantKnowledge?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes RelevantKnowledge 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 RelevantKnowledge 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:

 (TMRG,  Inc.) C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlservice.exe
 R2 RelevantKnowledge; C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlservice.exe [213784 2014-08-18] (TMRG,  Inc.) <==== ATTENTION
 C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\RelevantKnowledge
 C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Scrollup
 C:\Program Files (x86)\Software
 C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge
 (TMRG, Inc.) C:\Windows\system32\rlls64.dll
 (TMRG, Inc.) C:\Windows\SysWOW64\rlls.dll

RelevantKnowledge (HKLM-x32\...\{d08d9f98-1c78-4704-87e6-368b0023d831}) (Version: 1.3.337.341 - TMRG,  Inc.) <==== ATTENTION
Scrollup 1.0.0 (HKLM-x32\...\{fd2cb11f-5d65-410e-9569-ce67e83fbe72}_is1) (Version: 1.0.0 - Scrollup)
FirewallRules: [{43AE79B1-1209-4D27-BD34-3C0DBA6226A7}] => (Allow) C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlvknlg.exe
FirewallRules: [{8EB6CCB6-A94F-4C8C-877C-5CD4029AADA6}] => (Allow) C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlvknlg.exe

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge
       Adds the file rlls.dll"="8/18/2014 9:49 PM, 660760 bytes, A
       Adds the file rlls64.dll"="8/18/2014 9:49 PM, 971544 bytes, A
       Adds the file rlservice.exe"="8/18/2014 9:49 PM, 213784 bytes, A
       Adds the file rlvknlg.exe"="8/18/2014 9:49 PM, 3507992 bytes, A
       Adds the file rlvknlg32.exe"="8/18/2014 9:49 PM, 160536 bytes, A
       Adds the file rlvknlg64.exe"="8/18/2014 9:49 PM, 190232 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Software\Scrollup
       Adds the file Scrollup.exe"="3/5/2014 5:16 PM, 1181184 bytes, A
       Adds the file unins000.dat"="5/23/2016 11:56 AM, 48064 bytes, A
       Adds the file unins000.exe"="5/23/2016 11:55 AM, 719766 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\RelevantKnowledge
       Adds the file About RelevantKnowledge.lnk"="5/23/2016 11:57 AM, 348 bytes, A
       Adds the file Member of GRID -  Goodware Repository Information Database.lnk"="5/23/2016 11:57 AM, 420 bytes, A
       Adds the file Privacy Policy and User License Agreement.lnk"="5/23/2016 11:57 AM, 384 bytes, A
       Adds the file Support.lnk"="5/23/2016 11:57 AM, 316 bytes, A
       Adds the file Uninstall Instructions.lnk"="5/23/2016 11:57 AM, 1555 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Scrollup\Software
       Adds the file Scrollup.lnk"="5/23/2016 11:56 AM, 1007 bytes, A
    In the existing folder C:\Windows\System32
       Adds the file rlls64.dll"="8/18/2014 9:49 PM, 971544 bytes, A
    In the existing folder C:\Windows\SysWOW64
       Adds the file rlls.dll"="8/18/2014 9:49 PM, 660760 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{d08d9f98-1c78-4704-87e6-368b0023d831}]
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "RelevantKnowledge"
       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "1.3.337.341"
       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 5400
       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "TMRG,  Inc."
       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlvknlg.exe -bootremove -uninst:RelevantKnowledge"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{d08d9f98-1c78-4704-87e6-368b0023d831}\Config]
       "HK_Path"="REG_SZ", "C:\Windows\system32\rlls.dll"
       "HK64_Path"="REG_SZ", "C:\Windows\system32\rlls64.dll"
       "KS_Path"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlls.dll"
       "LD64_Path"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlvknlg64.exe"
       "SV_Path"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlservice.exe"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{d08d9f98-1c78-4704-87e6-368b0023d831}\Config\OSSProxy\Settings]
       "Capabilities"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "ExtCapabilities"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "installed"="REG_BINARY, ..
       "instLanguage"="REG_DWORD", 1033
       "ipcountry"="REG_SZ", "NL"
       "Name"="REG_SZ", "x-ns1VrVXNOiM4It,x-ns28G0K4f54o9b"
       "OptionsBitmask"="REG_DWORD", 0
       "RevertPath"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\"
       "RunLine"="REG_SZ", "c:\program files (x86)\relevantknowledge\rlvknlg.exe -boot"
       "SendContentIDToServer"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "ServiceName"="REG_SZ", "RelevantKnowledge"
       "UninstURL"="REG_SZ", "http://www.relevantknowledge.com/confirmuninstall.aspx?siteid=2600&campaign_id=820"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{fd2cb11f-5d65-410e-9569-ce67e83fbe72}_is1]
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Scrollup 1.0.0"
       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "1.0.0"
       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 1854
       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "http://www.linkular.com"
       "Inno Setup: App Path"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Software\Scrollup"
       "Inno Setup: Icon Group"="REG_SZ", "Scrollup"
       "Inno Setup: Language"="REG_SZ", "en_1"
       "Inno Setup: Setup Version"="REG_SZ", "5.5.5 (a)"
       "Inno Setup: User"="REG_SZ", "{username}"
       "InstallDate"="REG_SZ", "20160523"
       "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Software\Scrollup\"
       "MajorVersion"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "MinorVersion"="REG_DWORD", 0
       "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "Scrollup"
       "QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Software\Scrollup\unins000.exe" /SILENT"
       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Software\Scrollup\unins000.exe""
       "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", "http://www.linkular.com"
       "URLUpdateInfo"="REG_SZ", "http://www.linkular.com"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\RelevantKnowledge]
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "RelevantKnowledge"
       "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 0
       "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlservice.exe /service"
       "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: 5/23/2016
Scan Time: 12:02 PM
Logfile: mbamScrollupwithRelevantKnowledge.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.2.1.1043
Malware Database: v2016.05.23.01
Rootkit Database: v2016.05.20.01
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: 311633
Time Elapsed: 8 min, 17 sec

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

Processes: 1
PUP.Optional.RelevantKnowledge, C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlservice.exe, 3984, Delete-on-Reboot, [67e6daffeaaf340271fbc992cb396d93]

Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys: 3
PUP.Optional.RelevantKnowledge, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\RelevantKnowledge, Quarantined, [67e6daffeaaf340271fbc992cb396d93], 
PUP.Optional.RelevantKnowledge, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\{d08d9f98-1c78-4704-87e6-368b0023d831}, Quarantined, [ee5fad2c0a8f42f4501cde7d5ba97c84], 
PUP.Optional.ScrollUp, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\{fd2cb11f-5d65-410e-9569-ce67e83fbe72}_is1, Quarantined, [dc71e3f6f1a83204e7f142617e85837d], 

Registry Values: 2
PUP.Optional.RelevantKnowledge, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\SHAREDACCESS\PARAMETERS\FIREWALLPOLICY\FIREWALLRULES|{43AE79B1-1209-4D27-BD34-3C0DBA6226A7}, v2.10|Action=Allow|Active=TRUE|Dir=In|Protocol=6|Profile=Private|App=C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlvknlg.exe|Name=rlvknlg.exe|, Quarantined, [133a3e9b5d3cf93d3056c30a60a3ae52]
PUP.Optional.RelevantKnowledge, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\SHAREDACCESS\PARAMETERS\FIREWALLPOLICY\FIREWALLRULES|{8EB6CCB6-A94F-4C8C-877C-5CD4029AADA6}, v2.10|Action=Allow|Active=TRUE|Dir=In|Protocol=17|Profile=Private|App=C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlvknlg.exe|Name=rlvknlg.exe|, Quarantined, [f05d4b8e7524ef47c4c2d7f62ed50cf4]

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders: 5
PUP.Optional.ScrollUp, C:\Program Files (x86)\Software\Scrollup, Quarantined, [dc71e3f6f1a83204e7f142617e85837d], 
PUP.Optional.ScrollUp, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Scrollup\Software, Quarantined, [e36aa237debbff378554e3c023e0f010], 
PUP.Optional.ScrollUp, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Scrollup, Quarantined, [e36aa237debbff378554e3c023e0f010], 
PUP.Optional.MarketScore, C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge, Delete-on-Reboot, [93ba2dac9affdc5aa2d598e65da5669a], 
PUP.Optional.MarketScore, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\RelevantKnowledge, Quarantined, [82cbc019e7b249ed55a00878669cda26], 

Files: 21
PUP.Optional.RelevantKnowledge, C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlservice.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [67e6daffeaaf340271fbc992cb396d93], 
PUP.Optional.ScrollUp, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\scrollup_setup.exe, Quarantined, [5cf1ad2c4752bc7a3726ed927c8548b8], 
PUP.Optional.RelevantKnowledge, C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlls.dll, Quarantined, [6ae3bd1c3861cd69115b035847bde11f], 
PUP.Optional.RelevantKnowledge, C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlls64.dll, Quarantined, [ce7ff9e0cdccb1853f2d8dce07fdff01], 
PUP.Optional.RelevantKnowledge, C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlvknlg.exe, Quarantined, [ee5fad2c0a8f42f4501cde7d5ba97c84], 
PUP.Optional.RelevantKnowledge, C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlvknlg32.exe, Quarantined, [0e3fe4f5abee6accdd8f2d2e2fd526da], 
PUP.Optional.RelevantKnowledge, C:\Program Files (x86)\RelevantKnowledge\rlvknlg64.exe, Quarantined, [6fde91481a7f49ed64085dfe0301be42], 
PUP.Optional.RelevantKnowledge, C:\Windows\System32\rlls64.dll, Quarantined, [ba937f5aaced74c27bf169f252b29a66], 
PUP.Optional.RelevantKnowledge, C:\Windows\SysWOW64\rlls.dll, Quarantined, [311cf6e3118854e2e88499c2ee169b65], 
PUP.Optional.RelevantKnowledge, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\CSMF216.tmp, Quarantined, [61ecebee32673006610ca0b4bf45aa56], 
PUP.Optional.RelevantKnowledge, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\is-DGL26.tmp\rkinstaller.exe, Quarantined, [a9a45a7f3a5f41f5b4b80457ef1508f8], 
Trojan.Agent, C:\Windows\SysWOW64\rlls.dll, Quarantined, [b29b67723b5e3303294d8579e71b1ae6], 
PUP.Optional.ScrollUp, C:\Program Files (x86)\Software\Scrollup\unins000.dat, Quarantined, [dc71e3f6f1a83204e7f142617e85837d], 
PUP.Optional.ScrollUp, C:\Program Files (x86)\Software\Scrollup\Scrollup.exe, Quarantined, [dc71e3f6f1a83204e7f142617e85837d], 
PUP.Optional.ScrollUp, C:\Program Files (x86)\Software\Scrollup\unins000.exe, Quarantined, [dc71e3f6f1a83204e7f142617e85837d], 
PUP.Optional.ScrollUp, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Scrollup\Software\Scrollup.lnk, Quarantined, [e36aa237debbff378554e3c023e0f010], 
PUP.Optional.MarketScore, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\RelevantKnowledge\About RelevantKnowledge.lnk, Quarantined, [82cbc019e7b249ed55a00878669cda26], 
PUP.Optional.MarketScore, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\RelevantKnowledge\Member of GRID -  Goodware Repository Information Database.lnk, Quarantined, [82cbc019e7b249ed55a00878669cda26], 
PUP.Optional.MarketScore, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\RelevantKnowledge\Privacy Policy and User License Agreement.lnk, Quarantined, [82cbc019e7b249ed55a00878669cda26], 
PUP.Optional.MarketScore, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\RelevantKnowledge\Support.lnk, Quarantined, [82cbc019e7b249ed55a00878669cda26], 
PUP.Optional.MarketScore, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\RelevantKnowledge\Uninstall Instructions.lnk, Quarantined, [82cbc019e7b249ed55a00878669cda26], 

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.