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Removal instructions for MergeDocsOnline

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Started by Metallica , Jul 17 2017 07:21 AM
mindspark

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#1
Metallica
Posted 17 July 2017 - 07:21 AM

Metallica

    Spyware Veteran

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

What is MergeDocsOnline?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that MergeDocsOnline is a browser NewTab. These so-called "NewTabs" can 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.
MergeDocsOnline is a member of the Mindspark/Ask family now known as IAC Applications.

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

You may see this browser extensions/add-ons:

warning1.png

these warnings during install:

warning5.png

warning6.png

warning7.png

warning8.png

You may see this entry in your list of installed software:

warning4.png

and this new homepage in the affected browsers:

startpage.png

How did MergeDocsOnline get on my computer?

Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was downloaded from their site.

website.png

How do I remove MergeDocsOnline?

Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.
You can use their own uninstall instructions first, but I would advise to follow the steps below anyway.
  • 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.
Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of MergeDocsOnline?
  • If your browsers have been hijacked, you should read our Restore Browser page. You can read there how to fix additional browser redirect methods.
How would the full version of Malwarebytes 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 would have protected you against the MergeDocsOnline hijacker. It would have warned you before the hijacker could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

protection1.png


and it blocks traffic to some of their domains:

protection2.png


Technical details for experts

Possible signs in a FRST log:

 HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = hxxp://hp.myway.com/mergedocsonline/ttab02/index.html?n={n1}&p2={p21}&ptb={ptb1}&coid={coid1}
 FF Homepage: hxxp://hp.myway.com/mergedocsonline/ttab02/index.html?coId={coid2}&subId&ln=en&n={n2}&ptb={ptb2}&st&p2={p21}&si
 FF Extension: MergeDocsOnline - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\(profile).default\Extensions\[email protected] [2017-07-17]

MergeDocsOnline Internet Explorer Homepage and New Tab (HKCU\...\MergeDocsOnlineTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer) (Version:  - Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc.) <==== ATTENTION
The most significant changes made by the installer:

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MergeDocsOnlineTooltab
       Adds the file TooltabExtension.dll"="10/19/2016 6:26 PM, 266864 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\(profile).default\extensions\[email protected]
       Adds the file bootstrap.js"="7/17/2017 2:04 PM, 24987 bytes, A
       Adds the file chrome.manifest"="7/17/2017 2:04 PM, 135 bytes, A
       Adds the file chrome.manifest.restartless"="7/17/2017 2:04 PM, 135 bytes, A
       Adds the file install.rdf"="7/17/2017 2:04 PM, 1375 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\(profile).default\extensions\[email protected]\chrome
       Adds the file ffxtbr.jar"="7/17/2017 2:04 PM, 345719 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\(profile).default\extensions\[email protected]\META-INF
       Adds the file manifest.mf"="7/17/2017 2:04 PM, 680 bytes, A
       Adds the file mozilla.rsa"="7/17/2017 2:04 PM, 4194 bytes, A
       Adds the file mozilla.sf"="7/17/2017 2:04 PM, 121 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\(profile).default\MergeDocsOnline_ew
       Adds the file {ptb2}.sqlite"="7/17/2017 2:04 PM, 98304 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MergeDocsOnline]
       "Start Page"="REG_SZ", "http://hp.myway.com/mergedocsonline/ttab02/index.html?n={n1}&p2=^BYS^xdm130^TTAB02^nl&ptb={ptb1}&coid={coid1}"
       "UnInstallSurveyUrl"="REG_SZ", "http://@{downloadDomain}.dl.myway.com/uninstall.jhtml?surveyUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.research.net%2Fr%2FHYM%3Fc%3D{ptb1}%26ptb%3D^BYS^xdm1"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
       "Start Page" = REG_SZ, "http://hp.myway.com/mergedocsonline/ttab02/index.html?n={n1}&p2={p21}&ptb={ptb1}&coid={coid1}"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\MergeDocsOnlineTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer]
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "MergeDocsOnline Internet Explorer Homepage and New Tab"
       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "http://support.mindspark.com/"
       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc."
       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "Rundll32.exe "C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MergeDocsOnlineTooltab\TooltabExtension.dll" U uninstall:MergeDocsOnline"
       "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", "http://support.mindspark.com/"
The Malwarebytes scan log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 7/17/17
Scan Time: 2:18 PM
Log File: mbamMergeDocsOnline.txt
Administrator: Yes

-Software Information-
Version: 3.1.2.1733
Components Version: 1.0.160
Update Package Version: 1.0.2382
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: 338391
Threats Detected: 65
Threats Quarantined: 65
Time Elapsed: 1 min, 43 sec

-Scan Options-
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Disabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Enabled
PUM: Enabled

-Scan Details-
Process: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Module: 1
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\MERGEDOCSONLINETOOLTAB\TOOLTABEXTENSION.DLL, Quarantined, [284], [301125],1.0.2382

Registry Key: 1
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\MergeDocsOnlineTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [301125],1.0.2382

Registry Value: 1
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\MergeDocsOnlineTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer|PUBLISHER, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [352442],1.0.2382

Registry Data: 1
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\MAIN|START PAGE, Replace-on-Reboot, [284], [293497],1.0.2382

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 5
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\MergeDocsOnline_ew, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [240302],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\(profile).default\extensions\[email protected]\META-INF, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [302304],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\(profile).default\extensions\[email protected]\chrome, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [302304],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\EXTENSIONS\[email protected], Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [302304],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\MergeDocsOnlineTooltab, Delete-on-Reboot, [875], [356944],1.0.2382

File: 56
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\MERGEDOCSONLINETOOLTAB\TOOLTABEXTENSION.DLL, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [301125],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [319354],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [875], [356946],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\MERGEDOCSONLINE.070779E1ADB149AC8EE0A526D5423376.EXE, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [365288],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\MergeDocsOnline_ew\{ptb2}.sqlite, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [240302],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\LOCAL STORAGE\http_mergedocsonline.dl.myway.com_0.localstorage, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [240305],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\LOCAL STORAGE\http_mergedocsonline.dl.myway.com_0.localstorage-journal, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [240305],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\(profile).default\EXTENSIONS\[email protected]\INSTALL.RDF, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [302304],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\(profile).default\extensions\[email protected]\chrome\ffxtbr.jar, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [302304],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\(profile).default\extensions\[email protected]\META-INF\manifest.mf, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [302304],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\(profile).default\extensions\[email protected]\META-INF\mozilla.rsa, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [302304],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\(profile).default\extensions\[email protected]\META-INF\mozilla.sf, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [302304],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\(profile).default\extensions\[email protected]\bootstrap.js, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [302304],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\(profile).default\extensions\[email protected]\chrome.manifest, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [302304],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\(profile).default\extensions\[email protected]\chrome.manifest.restartless, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [302304],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\LOCAL STORAGE\http_mergedocsonline.dl.tb.ask.com_0.localstorage, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [240306],1.0.2382
PUP.Optional.MindSpark, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\LOCAL STORAGE\http_mergedocsonline.dl.tb.ask.com_0.localstorage-journal, Delete-on-Reboot, [284], [240306],1.0.2382

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
Save yourself the hassle and get protected.
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