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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Startpage Tasks?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Startpage Tasks is adware. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing.
This particular one creates Scheduled Tasks that open a browser window to an ad-rotator site at set intervals.
The site that will be opened is added as an argument to the Scheduled Task.
Note that the name of the Scheduled Task contains the letters in the argument.

How do I remove Startpage Tasks?

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.

Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Startpage Tasks?

• No, Malwarebytes removes Startpage Tasks completely.
• This PUP creates some scheduled tasks. You can read here how to check for and, if necessary, remove Scheduled Tasks.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes help protect me?

We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this adware.

As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes blocks their domains:

Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

 C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\bltopncomhohoj
 C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\dzopercomjhar

Task: {279F95D4-D989-4C6D-931B-A883966304EA} - System32\Tasks\bltopncomhohoj => Chrome.exe bltopn.com/hohoj
Task: {C920FE83-1B95-4C76-9AC5-E0B7F51ACB47} - System32\Tasks\dzopercomjhar => Firefox.exe dzoper.com/jhar

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 1/9/18
Scan Time: 8:31 AM
Log File: 17bab22e-f50f-11e7-85bd-080027750297.json
Administrator: Yes

-Software Information-
Version: 3.3.1.2183
Components Version: 1.0.262
Update Package Version: 1.0.3654
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: 246460
Threats Detected: 10
Threats Quarantined: 10
Time Elapsed: 6 min, 2 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: 6
PUP.Optional.StartPage, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TREE\BLTOPNCOMHOHOJ, Quarantined, [39], [474793],1.0.3654
PUP.Optional.StartPage, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{279F95D4-D989-4C6D-931B-A883966304EA}, Quarantined, [39], [474793],1.0.3654
PUP.Optional.StartPage, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\LOGON\{279F95D4-D989-4C6D-931B-A883966304EA}, Quarantined, [39], [474793],1.0.3654
PUP.Optional.StartPage, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TREE\DZOPERCOMJHAR, Quarantined, [39], [475864],1.0.3654
PUP.Optional.StartPage, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{C920FE83-1B95-4C76-9AC5-E0B7F51ACB47}, Quarantined, [39], [475864],1.0.3654
PUP.Optional.StartPage, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\LOGON\{C920FE83-1B95-4C76-9AC5-E0B7F51ACB47}, Quarantined, [39], [475864],1.0.3654

Registry Value: 2
PUP.Optional.StartPage, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{279F95D4-D989-4C6D-931B-A883966304EA}|PATH, Quarantined, [39], [474794],1.0.3654
PUP.Optional.StartPage, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{C920FE83-1B95-4C76-9AC5-E0B7F51ACB47}|PATH, Quarantined, [39], [475863],1.0.3654

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 0
(No malicious items detected)

File: 2
PUP.Optional.StartPage, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TASKS\BLTOPNCOMHOHOJ, Quarantined, [39], [474793],1.0.3654
PUP.Optional.StartPage, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TASKS\DZOPERCOMJHAR, Quarantined, [39], [475864],1.0.3654

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.