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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Business Connect Ads?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Business Connect Ads is adware. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing.

How do I know if my computer is affected by Business Connect Ads?

You may see these warnings during install:





and these proxy settings:




How did Business Connect Ads get on my computer?

Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was installed by a bundler.

How do I remove Business Connect Ads?

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 Business Connect Ads?

• No, Malwarebytes removes Business Connect Ads completely.

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 would have protected you against the Business Connect Ads adware. It would have blocked the installer before it became too late.

Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

(The Privoxy team - www.privoxy.org) C:\Windows\{username}-pc\oxy.exe
(businessconnetads.com) C:\Windows\{username}-pc\RuntimeBroker.exe
ProxyEnable: [S-1-5-21-1350903546-318028887-1286703239-1003] => Proxy is enabled.
ProxyServer: [S-1-5-21-1350903546-318028887-1286703239-1003] => 127.0.0.1:8118
R2 RuntimeBroker; C:\Windows\{username}-pc\RuntimeBroker.exe [569344 2018-04-19] (businessconnetads.com) [File not signed]
R2 Telephone; C:\Windows\{username}-pc\oxy.exe [373248 2016-01-22] (The Privoxy team - www.privoxy.org) [File not signed]
C:\Windows\{computername}

C:\Windows\{computername}\mgwz.dll

Significant changes made by the installer:

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Windows\{username}-pc
       Adds the file config.txt"="3/29/2016 3:52 AM, 407 bytes, A
       Adds the file default.action"="2/7/2016 6:40 PM, 21 bytes, A
       Adds the file default.filter"="4/19/2018 10:26 AM, 117 bytes, A
       Adds the file mgwz.dll"="1/22/2016 5:15 PM, 86528 bytes, A
       Adds the file oxy.exe"="1/22/2016 5:15 PM, 373248 bytes, A
       Adds the file oxy.log"="5/3/2018 8:33 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file RuntimeBroker.exe"="4/19/2018 10:32 AM, 569344 bytes, A
       Adds the file uninstall.bat"="9/10/2016 5:02 AM, 215 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{49DE4A1A-98AD-416F-8E34-08C99470CDC4}]
       "uuid"="REG_SZ", "86E244235c503b7"
       "Version"="REG_SZ", "2.65"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\RuntimeBroker]
       "Description"="REG_SZ", "Helps protect users from Runtime Errors"
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "RuntimeBroker"
       "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "C:\Windows\{username}-pc\RuntimeBroker.exe"
       "ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem"
       "Start"="REG_DWORD", 2
       "Type"="REG_DWORD", 16
       "WOW64"="REG_DWORD", 1
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Telephone]
       "Description"="REG_SZ", "Provides Telephony API (TAPI) support for programs that control telephony devices on the local computer and, through the LAN, on servers that are also running the service."
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Telephone"
       "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "C:\Windows\{username}-pc\oxy.exe --service"
       "ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem"
       "Start"="REG_DWORD", 2
       "Type"="REG_DWORD", 16
       "WOW64"="REG_DWORD", 1
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings]
       "ProxyEnable
        REG_DWORD, 0 ==> REG_DWORD, 1
       "ProxyServer"="REG_SZ", "127.0.0.1:8118"

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 5/3/18
Scan Time: 8:49 AM
Log File: 1fa31a25-4e9e-11e8-bb66-080027235d76.json
Administrator: Yes

-Software Information-
Version: 3.3.1.2183
Components Version: 1.0.262
Update Package Version: 1.0.4960
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: 247334
Threats Detected: 16
Threats Quarantined: 16
Time Elapsed: 3 min, 21 sec

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

-Scan Details-
Process: 1
Adware.Privoxy, C:\WINDOWS\{computername}\OXY.EXE, Quarantined, [3062], [385808],1.0.4960

Module: 1
Adware.Privoxy, C:\WINDOWS\{computername}\OXY.EXE, Quarantined, [3062], [385808],1.0.4960

Registry Key: 4
PUM.Optional.ProxyHijacker, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\NLASVC\PARAMETERS\INTERNET\MANUALPROXIES, Quarantined, [7162], [-1],0.0.0
PUM.Optional.ProxyHijacker, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\Telephone, Quarantined, [7162], [-1],0.0.0
PUM.Optional.ProxyHijacker, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\RuntimeBroker, Quarantined, [7162], [-1],0.0.0
Adware.Privoxy, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\TELEPHONE, Quarantined, [3062], [385808],1.0.4960

Registry Value: 7
PUM.Optional.ProxyHijacker, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|PROXYSERVER, Quarantined, [7162], [250493],1.0.4960
PUM.Optional.ProxyHijacker, HKU\S-1-5-18\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|PROXYENABLE, Quarantined, [7162], [-1],0.0.0
PUM.Optional.ProxyHijacker, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|PROXYENABLE, Quarantined, [7162], [-1],0.0.0
PUM.Optional.ProxyHijacker, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|PROXYENABLE, Quarantined, [7162], [-1],0.0.0
PUM.Optional.ProxyHijacker, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|PROXYSERVER, Quarantined, [7162], [-1],0.0.0
PUM.Optional.ProxyHijacker, HKU\.DEFAULT\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|PROXYENABLE, Quarantined, [7162], [-1],0.0.0
Adware.Privoxy, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\TELEPHONE|IMAGEPATH, Quarantined, [3062], [385808],1.0.4960

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 0
(No malicious items detected)

File: 3
PUM.Optional.ProxyHijacker, C:\WINDOWS\{computername}\oxy.exe, Quarantined, [7162], [-1],0.0.0
PUM.Optional.ProxyHijacker, C:\WINDOWS\{computername}\RuntimeBroker.exe, Quarantined, [7162], [-1],0.0.0
Adware.Privoxy, C:\WINDOWS\{computername}\OXY.EXE, Quarantined, [3062], [385808],1.0.4960

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.