What is Weather Forecast Alerts?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Weather Forecast Alerts is a browser hijacker. These so-called "hijackers" 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.
Weather Forecast Alerts is a member of the Spigot family as described in the blogpost Spigot browser hijackers.
How do I know if my computer is affected by Weather Forecast Alerts?
You may see these browser extensions/add-ons:


and this altered default search provider:

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

these warnings during install:



and this new startpage in the affected browser(s):

How did Weather Forecast Alerts get on my computer?
Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was downloaded from their site.
How do I remove Weather Forecast Alerts?
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.
- If you are using Chrome, you may have to remove the Extension manually under Settings > More Tools > Extensions. Remove the checkmark and click on the bin behind the Weather Forecast Alerts entry.
- If your browsers have been hijacked, you should read our Restore Browser page. You can read there how to fix additional browser redirect methods.
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 Weather Forecast Alerts hijacker. It would have warned you before the hijacker could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.
and it blocks traffic to some of their domains:
Technical details for experts
Possible signs in a FRST log:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = hxxp://search.searchwfa.com/?source=unknown-bb8&uid=4fd16a1b-cc85-4510-8a6a-868ac384fd31&uc=20170831&ap=appfocus5&i_id=weather__1.30 SearchScopes: HKCU -> DefaultScope {9351B432-8D1E-42E1-A839-C2CDE60408A6} URL = hxxp://search.searchwfa.com/s?source=unknown-bb8&uid=4fd16a1b-cc85-4510-8a6a-868ac384fd31&uc=20170831&ap=appfocus5&i_id=weather__1.30&query={searchTerms} SearchScopes: HKCU -> {9351B432-8D1E-42E1-A839-C2CDE60408A6} URL = hxxp://search.searchwfa.com/s?source=unknown-bb8&uid=4fd16a1b-cc85-4510-8a6a-868ac384fd31&uc=20170831&ap=appfocus5&i_id=weather__1.30&query={searchTerms} FF Homepage: hxxp://search.searchwfa.com?uid=c67e3171-e3cc-444f-a692-ceaa1910bbd6&uc=20170831&ap=appfocus5&source=unknown&page=homepage&implementation_id=weather_0.0.9 FF Extension: Weather - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\x82gpani.default-1491393116824\Extensions\@Weather.xpi [2017-08-31] CHR Extension: (Weather Forecast Alerts) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced [2017-08-31] C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\{28e56cfb-e30e-4f66-85d8-339885b726b8} Weather Forecast Alerts (HKCU\...\{28e56cfb-e30e-4f66-85d8-339885b726b8}) (Version: 3.1.0.2 - Cloud Installer)Most significant changes made by the installers:
File system details [View: All details] (Selection) --------------------------------------------------- Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0 Adds the file background.js"="11/10/2016 4:16 PM, 15308 bytes, A Adds the file contentscript.js"="11/10/2016 4:16 PM, 1238 bytes, A Adds the file icon.png"="8/31/2017 10:24 AM, 16341 bytes, A Adds the file manifest.json"="8/31/2017 10:24 AM, 1395 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\_locales\en Adds the file messages.json"="8/31/2017 10:24 AM, 279 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\_metadata Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="8/31/2017 10:24 AM, 1176 bytes, A Adds the file verified_contents.json"="11/10/2016 4:16 PM, 2783 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\css Adds the file description.css"="11/10/2016 4:16 PM, 1008 bytes, A Adds the file popup.css"="11/10/2016 4:16 PM, 95 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\html\popup Adds the file description.html"="11/10/2016 4:16 PM, 269 bytes, A Adds the file popup.html"="11/10/2016 4:16 PM, 214 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\js Adds the file userNewTab.js"="11/10/2016 4:16 PM, 2499 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\js\popup Adds the file popup.js"="11/10/2016 4:16 PM, 796 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\newtab Adds the file newtab.html"="11/10/2016 4:16 PM, 190 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced Adds the file 000003.log"="8/31/2017 10:24 AM, 271 bytes, A Adds the file CURRENT"="8/31/2017 10:24 AM, 16 bytes, A Adds the file LOCK"="8/31/2017 10:24 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file LOG"="8/31/2017 10:24 AM, 184 bytes, A Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="8/31/2017 10:24 AM, 41 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\{28e56cfb-e30e-4f66-85d8-339885b726b8} Adds the file Uninstall.exe"="8/31/2017 10:30 AM, 267832 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\x82gpani.default-1491393116824\extensions Adds the file @Weather.xpi"="8/31/2017 10:33 AM, 49831 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\x82gpani.default-1491393116824\features\{cc3ed442-9b87-46e0-b710-c963786b0a19} Adds the file [email protected]"="8/31/2017 10:34 AM, 8945 bytes, A Adds the file [email protected]"="8/31/2017 10:34 AM, 9974 bytes, A Adds the file [email protected]"="8/31/2017 10:34 AM, 44954 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\x82gpani.default-1491393116824\jetpack\@Weather\simple-storage Adds the file store.json"="8/31/2017 10:34 AM, 329 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\Desktop Adds the file WeatherForecastAlerts.exe"="8/31/2017 10:29 AM, 616152 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main] "Start Page" = REG_SZ, "http://search.searchwfa.com/?source=unknown-bb8&uid=4fd16a1b-cc85-4510-8a6a-868ac384fd31&uc=20170831&ap=appfocus5&i_id=weather__1.30" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes] "DefaultScope" = REG_SZ, "{9351B432-8D1E-42E1-A839-C2CDE60408A6}" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{9351B432-8D1E-42E1-A839-C2CDE60408A6}] "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Search" "SuggestionsURL"="REG_SZ", "https://ie.search.yahoo.com/os?appid=ie8&command={searchTerms}" "URL"="REG_SZ", "http://search.searchwfa.com/s?source=unknown-bb8&uid=4fd16a1b-cc85-4510-8a6a-868ac384fd31&uc=20170831&ap=appfocus5&i_id=weather__1.30&query={searchTerms}" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{28e56cfb-e30e-4f66-85d8-339885b726b8}] "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Weather Forecast Alerts" "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "3.1.0.2" "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\{28e56cfb-e30e-4f66-85d8-339885b726b8}\" "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "Cloud Installer" "UninstallDialog"="REG_DWORD", 1 "UninstallEngineID"="REG_SZ", "{9351B432-8D1E-42E1-A839-C2CDE60408A6}" "UninstallHomepage"="REG_SZ", "http://search.searchwfa.com/?source=unknown-bb8&uid=4fd16a1b-cc85-4510-8a6a-868ac384fd31&uc=20170831&ap=appfocus5&i_id=weather__1.30" "UninstallImpression"="REG_SZ", "http://imp.searchwfa.com/impression.do?source=unknown-bb8&sub_id=20170831&useragent=Mozilla%2F5.0+(Windows+NT+6.1%3B+WOW64%3B+Trident%2F7.0%3B+rv%3A11.0)+like+Gecko&traffic_source=appfocus5&user_id=4fd16a1b-cc85-4510-8a6a-868ac384fd31&implementation_id=weather__1.30&event={exEvent}" "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\{28e56cfb-e30e-4f66-85d8-339885b726b8}\Uninstall.exe" /uninstall"Malwarebytes scan log:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 8/31/17 Scan Time: 10:48 AM Log File: 3962891c-8e29-11e7-b862-080027750297.json Administrator: Yes -Software Information- Version: 3.2.2.2018 Components Version: 1.0.186 Update Package Version: 1.0.2694 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: 317383 Threats Detected: 39 Threats Quarantined: 39 Time Elapsed: 1 min, 45 sec -Scan Options- Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Disabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Detect PUM: Detect -Scan Details- Process: 0 (No malicious items detected) Module: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Key: 2 PUP.Optional.Spigot, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\{28e56cfb-e30e-4f66-85d8-339885b726b8}, Delete-on-Reboot, [633], [373879],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\SEARCHSCOPES\{9351B432-8D1E-42E1-A839-C2CDE60408A6}, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [368913],1.0.2694 Registry Value: 1 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\SEARCHSCOPES\{9351B432-8D1E-42E1-A839-C2CDE60408A6}|URL, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [368913],1.0.2694 Registry Data: 1 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\MAIN|START PAGE, Replace-on-Reboot, [1921], [373048],1.0.2694 Data Stream: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folder: 14 PUP.Optional.LocalWeatherPro, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\x82gpani.default-1491393116824\jetpack\@Weather\simple-storage, Delete-on-Reboot, [2680], [351474],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.LocalWeatherPro, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\X82GPANI.DEFAULT-1491393116824\JETPACK\@WEATHER, Delete-on-Reboot, [2680], [351474],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\{28E56CFB-E30E-4F66-85D8-339885B726B8}, Delete-on-Reboot, [633], [373878],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\_locales\en, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\html\popup, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\_metadata, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\js\popup, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\_locales, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\newtab, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\html, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\css, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\js, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\HOOKKLGBMGFFGEEFBNHHNBMCOBHCGCED, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 File: 21 Trojan.TechSupportScam, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\X82GPANI.DEFAULT-1491393116824\EXTENSIONS\@WEATHER.XPI, Delete-on-Reboot, [77], [351507],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\LOCAL STORAGE\http_weatherforecastalerts.com_0.localstorage, Delete-on-Reboot, [633], [376102],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\LOCAL STORAGE\http_weatherforecastalerts.com_0.localstorage-journal, Delete-on-Reboot, [633], [376102],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.LocalWeatherPro, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\x82gpani.default-1491393116824\jetpack\@Weather\simple-storage\store.json, Delete-on-Reboot, [2680], [351474],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\{28e56cfb-e30e-4f66-85d8-339885b726b8}\Uninstall.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [633], [373878],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\HOOKKLGBMGFFGEEFBNHHNBMCOBHCGCED\2.0_0\BACKGROUND.JS, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\css\description.css, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\css\popup.css, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\html\popup\description.html, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\html\popup\popup.html, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\js\popup\popup.js, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\js\userNewTab.js, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\newtab\newtab.html, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\_locales\en\messages.json, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\contentscript.js, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\icon.png, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hookklgbmgffgeefbnhhnbmcobhcgced\2.0_0\manifest.json, Delete-on-Reboot, [1921], [362981],1.0.2694 PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\X82GPANI.DEFAULT-1491393116824\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [1921], [361537],1.0.2694 Adware.Agent, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\WEATHERFORECASTALERTS.EXE, Delete-on-Reboot, [227], [421878],1.0.2694 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