What is VidsquarE?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that VidsquarE is adware. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing.
This one uses a DNS hijack to accomplish that and belongs to the DNS Unlocker family.
How do I know if my computer is affected by VidsquarE?
You may see these entries in your list of installed programs:
and this type of scheduled tasks:
and you may have seen this warning during install:
How did VidsquarE get on my computer?
Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was bundled with other software.
How do I remove VidsquarE?
Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.
- Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
- Double-click mb3-setup-consumer-{version}.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
- Then click Finish.
- Once the program has fully updated, select Scan Now on the Dashboard. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
- If another update of the definitions is available, it will be implemented before the rest of the scanning procedure.
- When the scan is complete, make sure that all Threats are selected, and click Remove Selected.
- Restart your computer when prompted to do so.
- No, Malwarebytes removes VidsquarE completely.
- This adware 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 adware.
As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the VidsquarE adware. It would have warned you before the adware could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.
The web protection module also blocks some of the connections the installer tries to make:
Technical details for experts
Possible signs in FRST logs:
() C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\GTFHAUGHTON Updater.exe
(dffdff) C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON\gtfhaughton.exe
Tcpip\..\Interfaces\{EDB0D6D8-B1F7-496F-A023-44DF7155F1CD}: [NameServer] 82.163.143.174,82.163.142.176
R2 GTFHAUGHTON Updater; C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\GTFHAUGHTON Updater.exe [313344 2016-11-29] () [File not signed] <==== ATTENTION
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\GTFHAUGHTON
C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater
C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON
GTFHAUGHTON Updater version 1.2.0.4 (HKLM-x32\...\GTFHAUGHTON Updater_is1) (Version: 1.2.0.4 - )
VidsqaurE (HKLM-x32\...\{E1527582-8509-4011-B922-29E3FB548882}_is1) (Version: 1.4 - )
Task: {10C0F82F-64F5-4051-9161-5D63A156EE94} - System32\Tasks\GTFHAUGHTON => gtfhaughton.exeAlterations made by the installer:
File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON
Adds the file config.ini"="11/29/2016 9:23 AM, 484 bytes, A
Adds the file GTFHAUGHTON.cer"="11/29/2016 9:23 AM, 1021 bytes, A
Adds the file gtfhaughton.exe"="11/29/2016 9:23 AM, 650240 bytes, A
Adds the file Info.rtf"="11/29/2016 9:23 AM, 1653 bytes, A
Adds the file License.rtf"="11/29/2016 9:23 AM, 21115 bytes, A
Adds the file settings.ini"="1/16/2017 8:44 AM, 73 bytes, A
Adds the file unins000.dat"="1/16/2017 8:44 AM, 36580 bytes, A
Adds the file unins000.exe"="1/16/2017 8:44 AM, 719521 bytes, A
Adds the file UnInstall.exe"="11/29/2016 9:23 AM, 78336 bytes, A
Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater
Adds the file cfg.ini"="1/16/2017 8:44 AM, 324 bytes, A
Adds the file GTFHAUGHTON Updater.exe"="11/29/2016 9:23 AM, 313344 bytes, A
Adds the file unins000.dat"="1/16/2017 8:44 AM, 25614 bytes, A
Adds the file unins000.exe"="1/16/2017 8:44 AM, 719521 bytes, A
Adds the file updateStatus.ini"="1/16/2017 8:44 AM, 0 bytes, A
Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\temp
Adds the file response.ini"="1/16/2017 8:44 AM, 238 bytes, A
Adds the file update.ini"="1/16/2017 8:44 AM, 335 bytes, A
Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\update
In the existing folder C:\Windows\System32\Tasks
Adds the file GTFHAUGHTON"="1/16/2017 8:44 AM, 21538 bytes, A
Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\5da059a482fd494db3f252126fbc3d5b]
"DP"="REG_SZ", "57"
"FX"="REG_SZ", "1"
"install"="REG_SZ", "1"
"SDP1"="REG_SZ", "00001"
"SDP2"="REG_SZ", "00001"
"status"="REG_SZ", "1"
"UID"="REG_SZ", "000ae0824038458fa478469e5a615cb5"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\ROOT\Certificates\26D9E607FFF0C58C7844B47FF8B6E079E5A2220E]
"Blob"="REG_BINARY, ................ ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\5da059a482fd494db3f252126fbc3d5b]
"DP"="REG_SZ", "57"
"FX"="REG_SZ", "1"
"install"="REG_SZ", "1"
"SDP1"="REG_SZ", "00001"
"SDP2"="REG_SZ", "00001"
"UID"="REG_SZ", "000ae0824038458fa478469e5a615cb5"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\GTFHAUGHTON Updater]
"LastUpdateTimeMSec"="REG_DWORD", -685138016
"Version"="REG_SZ", "1.2.0.4"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{E1527582-8509-4011-B922-29E3FB548882}_is1]
"DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "VidsqaurE"
"DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "1.4"
"EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 2137
"Inno Setup: App Path"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON"
"Inno Setup: Icon Group"="REG_SZ", "GTFHAUGHTON"
"Inno Setup: Language"="REG_SZ", "english"
"Inno Setup: Setup Version"="REG_SZ", "5.5.5 (a)"
"Inno Setup: User"="REG_SZ", "{username}"
"InstallDate"="REG_SZ", "20160715"
"InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON\"
"MajorVersion"="REG_DWORD", 1
"MinorVersion"="REG_DWORD", 4
"NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1
"NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1
"QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON\unins000.exe" /SILENT"
"UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON\unins000.exe""
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\GTFHAUGHTON Updater_is1]
"DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "GTFHAUGHTON Updater version 1.2.0.4"
"DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "1.2.0.4"
"EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 997
"Inno Setup: App Path"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater"
"Inno Setup: Icon Group"="REG_SZ", "GTFHAUGHTON Updater"
"Inno Setup: Language"="REG_SZ", "default"
"Inno Setup: Setup Version"="REG_SZ", "5.5.5 (a)"
"Inno Setup: User"="REG_SZ", "{username}"
"InstallDate"="REG_SZ", "20170116"
"InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\"
"MajorVersion"="REG_DWORD", 1
"MinorVersion"="REG_DWORD", 2
"NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1
"NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1
"QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\unins000.exe" /SILENT"
"UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\unins000.exe""
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\GTFHAUGHTON Updater]
"DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "GTFHAUGHTON Updater"
"ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1
"ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\GTFHAUGHTON Updater.exe"
"ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem"
"Start"="REG_DWORD", 2
"Type"="REG_DWORD", 16
"WOW64"="REG_DWORD", 1
Malwarebytes log:Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com
-Log Details-
Scan Date: 1/16/17
Scan Time: 8:53 AM
Logfile: mbamVidsquare.txt
Administrator: Yes
-Software Information-
Version: 3.0.5.1299
Components Version: 1.0.43
Update Package Version: 1.0.1023
License: Premium
-System Information-
OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: {computername}\{username}
-Scan Summary-
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 355795
Time Elapsed: 7 min, 43 sec
-Scan Options-
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Enabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Enabled
PUM: Enabled
-Scan Details-
Process: 2
Adware.CloudGuard, C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\GTFHAUGHTON\GTFHAUGHTON.EXE, Quarantined, [648], [354242],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\GTFHAUGHTON Updater.exe, Quarantined, [3051], [361181],1.0.1023
Module: 2
Adware.CloudGuard, C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\GTFHAUGHTON\GTFHAUGHTON.EXE, Quarantined, [648], [354242],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\GTFHAUGHTON Updater.exe, Quarantined, [3051], [361181],1.0.1023
Registry Key: 10
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\{E1527582-8509-4011-B922-29E3FB548882}_is1, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361184],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\GTFHAUGHTON Updater, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361181],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\GTFHAUGHTON Updater_is1, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361181],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{10C0F82F-64F5-4051-9161-5D63A156EE94}, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361180],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TREE\GTFHAUGHTON, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361177],1.0.1023
PUP.Optional.CloudScout, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\5da059a482fd494db3f252126fbc3d5b, Delete-on-Reboot, [12029], [246387],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\GTFHAUGHTON Updater, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361201],1.0.1023
PUP.Optional.DNSUnlocker.ACMB2, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\SYSTEMCERTIFICATES\ROOT\CERTIFICATES\26D9E607FFF0C58C7844B47FF8B6E079E5A2220E, Delete-on-Reboot, [45], [260247],1.0.1023
PUP.Optional.CloudScout, HKLM\SOFTWARE\5da059a482fd494db3f252126fbc3d5b, Delete-on-Reboot, [12029], [246387],1.0.1023
PUP.Optional.DNSUnlocker.ACMB2, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\SYSTEMCERTIFICATES\ROOT\CERTIFICATES\26D9E607FFF0C58C7844B47FF8B6E079E5A2220E, Delete-on-Reboot, [45], [260247],1.0.1023
Registry Value: 7
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{10C0F82F-64F5-4051-9161-5D63A156EE94}|PATH, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361180],1.0.1023
Trojan.DNSChanger.ACMB2, HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{EDB0D6D8-B1F7-496F-A023-44DF7155F1CD}|NameServer, Delete-on-Reboot, [17907], [260227],1.0.1023
Trojan.DNSChanger.ACMB2, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\TCPIP\PARAMETERS|NameServer, Replace-on-Reboot, [17907], [-1],0.0.0
Trojan.DNSChanger.ACMB2, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\TCPIP\PARAMETERS|DhcpNameServer, Replace-on-Reboot, [17907], [-1],0.0.0
Trojan.DNSChanger.ACMB2, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\TCPIP\PARAMETERS\Interfaces\{EDB0D6D8-B1F7-496F-A023-44DF7155F1CD}|NameServer, Replace-on-Reboot, [17907], [-1],0.0.0
Trojan.DNSChanger.ACMB2, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\TCPIP\PARAMETERS\Interfaces\{EDB0D6D8-B1F7-496F-A023-44DF7155F1CD}|DhcpNameServer, Replace-on-Reboot, [17907], [-1],0.0.0
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\GTFHAUGHTON Updater|IMAGEPATH, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361179],1.0.1023
Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Folder: 4
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\GTFHAUGHTON, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361184],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\update, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361181],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\temp, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361181],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\GTFHAUGHTON UPDATER, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361181],1.0.1023
File: 18
Adware.CloudGuard, C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\GTFHAUGHTON\GTFHAUGHTON.EXE, Delete-on-Reboot, [648], [354242],1.0.1023
Adware.DNSUnlocker, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\SETUP.EXE, Delete-on-Reboot, [2298], [356407],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\GTFHAUGHTON\LICENSE.RTF, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361184],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON\config.ini, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361184],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON\GTFHAUGHTON.cer, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361184],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON\Info.rtf, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361184],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON\settings.ini, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361184],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON\unins000.dat, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361184],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON\unins000.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361184],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON\UnInstall.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361184],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\GTFHAUGHTON UPDATER\UNINS000.DAT, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361181],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\temp\response.ini, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361181],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\temp\update.ini, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361181],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\cfg.ini, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361181],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\GTFHAUGHTON Updater.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361181],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\unins000.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361181],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\Program Files (x86)\GTFHAUGHTON Updater\updateStatus.ini, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361181],1.0.1023
Adware.VidSquare.BrwsrFlsh, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TASKS\GTFHAUGHTON, Delete-on-Reboot, [3051], [361175],1.0.1023
Physical Sector: 0
(No malicious items detected)
(end)As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes 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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