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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Search Inspired?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Search Inspired 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. This one also displays advertisements.

How do I know if my computer is affected by Search Inspired?

You may see this entry in your list of installed Chrome extensions:



and these warnings during install:







you will see this icon in your Chrome menu-bar:



and this changed setting:



How did Search Inspired get on my computer?

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



but it was also available in the webstore:



How do I remove Search Inspired?

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 Search Inspired?

• No, Malwarebytes removes Search Inspired completely.

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 Search Inspired hijacker. we block the site that spreads the extensions.

Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://searchinspired.com/results.php?p=3000&v=400&q={searchTerms}&source=default
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> Search Inspired
CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://searchinspired.com/gjson.php?q={searchTerms}
CHR Extension: (Search Inspired) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mnigdddmfgclhdagodnlljdnhkmcimpm [2018-06-18]

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mnigdddmfgclhdagodnlljdnhkmcimpm\1.2_0
       Adds the file background.js"="5/31/2018 7:08 PM, 88 bytes, A
       Adds the file manifest.json"="6/18/2018 9:19 AM, 1850 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mnigdddmfgclhdagodnlljdnhkmcimpm\1.2_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="6/18/2018 9:19 AM, 136 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="5/31/2018 7:33 PM, 1531 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mnigdddmfgclhdagodnlljdnhkmcimpm\1.2_0\icons
       Adds the file icon128.png"="6/18/2018 9:19 AM, 13610 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "mnigdddmfgclhdagodnlljdnhkmcimpm"="REG_SZ", "8224AC44B6BEC0F73CDD4069BD48A00B7065BB0174AFC3487EB1862BF76530F0"

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 6/18/18
Scan Time: 11:27 AM
Log File: e00f122c-72d9-11e8-a3ee-080027235d76.json
Administrator: Yes

-Software Information-
Version: 3.3.1.2183
Components Version: 1.0.262
Update Package Version: 1.0.5526
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: 238869
Threats Detected: 11
Threats Quarantined: 11
Time Elapsed: 2 min, 59 sec

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

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

Module: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Key: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Value: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 4
PUP.Optional.SearchInspired.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mnigdddmfgclhdagodnlljdnhkmcimpm\1.2_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [14420], [532282],1.0.5526
PUP.Optional.SearchInspired.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mnigdddmfgclhdagodnlljdnhkmcimpm\1.2_0\icons, Quarantined, [14420], [532282],1.0.5526
PUP.Optional.SearchInspired.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mnigdddmfgclhdagodnlljdnhkmcimpm\1.2_0, Quarantined, [14420], [532282],1.0.5526
PUP.Optional.SearchInspired.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\MNIGDDDMFGCLHDAGODNLLJDNHKMCIMPM, Quarantined, [14420], [532282],1.0.5526

File: 7
PUP.Optional.SearchInspired.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [14420], [532282],1.0.5526
PUP.Optional.SearchInspired.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [14420], [532282],1.0.5526
PUP.Optional.SearchInspired.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\MNIGDDDMFGCLHDAGODNLLJDNHKMCIMPM\1.2_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, [14420], [532282],1.0.5526
PUP.Optional.SearchInspired.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mnigdddmfgclhdagodnlljdnhkmcimpm\1.2_0\icons\icon128.png, Quarantined, [14420], [532282],1.0.5526
PUP.Optional.SearchInspired.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mnigdddmfgclhdagodnlljdnhkmcimpm\1.2_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [14420], [532282],1.0.5526
PUP.Optional.SearchInspired.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mnigdddmfgclhdagodnlljdnhkmcimpm\1.2_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [14420], [532282],1.0.5526
PUP.Optional.SearchInspired.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mnigdddmfgclhdagodnlljdnhkmcimpm\1.2_0\background.js, Quarantined, [14420], [532282],1.0.5526

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.