What is Special Search Option?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Special Search Option is a potentially unwanted prgram (PUP) that behaves like adware and a search hijacker. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing.
How do I know if my computer is affected by Special Search Option?
You may see these warnings during install:
this entry in your list of installed Programs and Features:
these new browser extensions:
and changes to your browsers' settings that vary with the type of browser:
How did Special Search Option get on my computer?
Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was installed by a bundler.
How do I remove Special Search Option?
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.
- No, Malwarebytes removes Special Search Option completely.
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 Special Search Option adware. It would have blocked the installer before it became too late.
Technical details for experts
Possible signs in FRST logs:
() C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ThetaSoftQZO\ThetaSoftQZO.exe HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = hxxps://us.search.yahoo.com/yhs/web?hspart=omr&hsimp=yhs-001&type=863124029¶m1={param1} SearchScopes: HKCU -> DefaultScope {1711FC25-F05A-40CE-B859-A0C1CF01FD18} URL = hxxps://us.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hspart=omr&hsimp=yhs-001&type=863124029¶m1={param2}&p={searchTerms} SearchScopes: HKCU -> {1711FC25-F05A-40CE-B859-A0C1CF01FD18} URL = hxxps://us.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hspart=omr&hsimp=yhs-001&type=863124029¶m1={param3}&p={searchTerms} FF Homepage: Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default -> hxxps://us.search.yahoo.com/yhs/web?hspart=omr&hsimp=yhs-001&type=863124029¶m1={param4} FF NewTab: Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default -> hxxps://us.search.yahoo.com/yhs/web?hspart=omr&hsimp=yhs-001&type=863124029¶m1={param5} FF NewTabOverride: Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default -> Enabled: {1e5e51a8-e7e9-4fe1-a683-462422abe05d} FF SearchPlugin: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\searchplugins\Yahoo power search.xml [2019-01-10] FF HKCU\...\Firefox\Extensions: [{1e5e51a8-e7e9-4fe1-a683-462422abe05d}] - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\FireFox\specialsearchoffer-1.1.1-an+fx.xpi FF Extension: (SpecialSearchOffer) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\FireFox\specialsearchoffer-1.1.1-an+fx.xpi [2019-01-10] CHR HomePage: Default -> homepage.ssoextension.com CHR NewTab: Default -> Active:"chrome-extension://mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc/ntp.html" CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxp://search.ssoextension.com/s?q={searchTerms} CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> ssoextension.com CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxp://suggest.ssoextension.com/suggest?q={searchTerms} CHR Extension: (SpecialSearchOption) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc [2019-01-10] CHR HKCU\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\Extensions\...\Chrome\Extension: [mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc] - hxxps://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc R2 ThetaSoftQZO; C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ThetaSoftQZO\ThetaSoftQZO.exe [1253968 2019-01-05] () SSOption (HKLM-x32\...\ThetaSoft) (Version: 2.0.9.1 - ThetaSoft.)Significant changes made by the installer:
File system details [View: All details] (Selection) --------------------------------------------------- Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ThetaSoftQZO Adds the file ThetaSoftQZO.exe"="1/5/2019 4:30 PM, 1253968 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\ThetaSoft Adds the file uninstall.exe"="1/10/2019 8:25 AM, 151990 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\1.1.0_0 Adds the file analytics.js"="9/14/2018 11:58 AM, 384 bytes, A Adds the file background.html"="9/14/2018 11:59 AM, 295 bytes, A Adds the file background.js"="9/14/2018 12:42 PM, 5076 bytes, A Adds the file manifest.json"="1/10/2019 8:31 AM, 1736 bytes, A Adds the file nanoajax.min.js"="9/14/2018 11:51 AM, 685 bytes, A Adds the file ntp.html"="9/14/2018 11:59 AM, 220 bytes, A Adds the file ntp.js"="9/14/2018 12:42 PM, 226 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\1.1.0_0\_metadata Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="1/10/2019 8:31 AM, 709 bytes, A Adds the file verified_contents.json"="9/14/2018 11:54 AM, 2192 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\1.1.0_0\images Adds the file icon128.png"="1/10/2019 8:31 AM, 9802 bytes, A Adds the file icon32.png"="1/10/2019 8:31 AM, 1838 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc Adds the file 000003.log"="1/10/2019 8:31 AM, 1777 bytes, A Adds the file CURRENT"="1/10/2019 8:31 AM, 16 bytes, A Adds the file LOCK"="1/10/2019 8:31 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file LOG"="1/10/2019 8:31 AM, 184 bytes, A Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="1/10/2019 8:31 AM, 41 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox Adds the file specialsearchoffer-1.1.1-an+fx.xpi"="1/10/2019 8:25 AM, 26292 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\searchplugins Adds the file Yahoo power search.xml"="1/10/2019 8:25 AM, 3668 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SSO] "tm"="REG_DWORD", 1547105132 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\ThetaSoft] "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "SSOption" "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "2.0.9.1" "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "ThetaSoft." "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\ThetaSoft\uninstall.exe" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SSO] "c"="REG_SZ", "NL" "ci"="REG_SZ", "863124029" "gid"="REG_SZ", "e1b02140e0ed43bca81de6a62d96ecc6" "Ticket"="REG_SZ", "skBqGwWq/3NXEGniMhJVyTr46X3uSTnG4mA0IxeCiQqaj7qspEGhtqSfbFnevdsmR81ZRwjEde9mnk+eInN1lh9ya6hX7QX89l928Dz0Wa4=" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\ThetaSoftQZO] "Description"="REG_SZ", "ThetaSoftQZO" "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "ThetaSoftQZO" "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1 "FailureActions"="REG_BINARY, ............d...d...d. "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ThetaSoftQZO\ThetaSoftQZO.exe -service" "ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem" "Start"="REG_DWORD", 2 "Type"="REG_DWORD", 16 "WOW64"="REG_DWORD", 1 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\ThetaSoftQZO\Security] "Security"="REG_BINARY, ........0................p...."......................... ................................... [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc] "path"="REG_SZ", "https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc" "update_url"="REG_SZ", "http://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings] "mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc"="REG_SZ", "3E92DC46EC9AD070228AD1019A9CE554C39E42C8ED5158CDB13FCA6A56EDD376" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main] "Start Page" = REG_SZ, "https://us.search.yahoo.com/yhs/web?hspart=omr&hsimp=yhs-001&type=863124029¶m1={param4} [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes] "DefaultScope" = REG_SZ, "{1711FC25-F05A-40CE-B859-A0C1CF01FD18}" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{1711FC25-F05A-40CE-B859-A0C1CF01FD18}] "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Yahoo powered search" "FaviconURL"="REG_SZ", "http://storage.stgbssint.com/Images/Search/searchImages/mag.jpg" "SuggestionsURL_JSON"="REG_SZ", "https://search.yahoo.com/sugg/chrome?output=fxjson&appid=crmas&command={searchTerms}" "TopResultURLFallback"="REG_SZ", "https://us.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hspart=omr&hsimp=yhs-001&type=863124029¶m1={param1}&p={searchTerms}" "URL"="REG_SZ", "https://us.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hspart=omr&hsimp=yhs-001&type=863124029¶m1={param2}&p={searchTerms}" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla\Firefox\extensions] "{1e5e51a8-e7e9-4fe1-a683-462422abe05d}"="REG_SZ", "C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\FireFox\specialsearchoffer-1.1.1-an+fx.xpi"Malwarebytes log:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 1/10/19 Scan Time: 8:40 AM Log File: 0dfa29c4-14ab-11e9-9920-00ffdcc6fdfc.json -Software Information- Version: 3.6.1.2711 Components Version: 1.0.482 Update Package Version: 1.0.8706 License: Premium -System Information- OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 CPU: x64 File System: NTFS User: {computername}\{username} -Scan Summary- Scan Type: Threat Scan Scan Initiated By: Manual Result: Completed Objects Scanned: 236174 Threats Detected: 42 Threats Quarantined: 42 Time Elapsed: 2 min, 49 sec -Scan Options- Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Enabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Detect PUM: Detect -Scan Details- Process: 1 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\COMMON FILES\THETASOFTQZO\THETASOFTQZO.EXE, Quarantined, [223], [622070],1.0.8706 Module: 1 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\COMMON FILES\THETASOFTQZO\THETASOFTQZO.EXE, Quarantined, [223], [622070],1.0.8706 Registry Key: 3 PUP.Optional.WinYahoo.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\SEARCHSCOPES\{1711FC25-F05A-40CE-B859-A0C1CF01FD18}, Quarantined, [226], [622079],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\EXTENSIONS\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\ThetaSoftQZO, Quarantined, [223], [622070],1.0.8706 Registry Value: 4 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\EXTENSIONS|{1E5E51A8-E7E9-4FE1-A683-462422ABE05D}, Quarantined, [223], [622080],1.0.8706 PUP.Optional.WinYahoo.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\SEARCHSCOPES\{1711FC25-F05A-40CE-B859-A0C1CF01FD18}|URL, Quarantined, [226], [622079],1.0.8706 PUP.Optional.WinYahoo.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\SEARCHSCOPES\{1711FC25-F05A-40CE-B859-A0C1CF01FD18}|TOPRESULTURLFALLBACK, Quarantined, [226], [622079],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Registry Data: 1 PUP.Optional.WinYahoo.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\MAIN|START PAGE, Replaced, [226], [622078],1.0.8706 Data Stream: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folder: 5 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Local Extension Settings\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\1.1.0_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\1.1.0_0\images, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\1.1.0_0, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\MPICJGPAMGCNPIACDCIEFBGAHMKHHOGC, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 File: 27 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\specialsearchoffer-1.1.1-an+fx.xpi, Quarantined, [223], [622082],1.0.8706 PUP.Optional.WinYahoo, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\{profile}.default\SEARCHPLUGINS\YAHOO POWER SEARCH.XML, Quarantined, [237], [622083],1.0.8706 PUP.Optional.WinYahoo.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\{profile}.default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [226], [622076],1.0.8706 PUP.Optional.WinYahoo.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\{profile}.default\PREFS.JS, Replaced, [226], [622077],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\000003.log, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\CURRENT, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\LOCK, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\LOG, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\MPICJGPAMGCNPIACDCIEFBGAHMKHHOGC\1.1.0_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\1.1.0_0\images\icon128.png, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\1.1.0_0\images\icon32.png, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\1.1.0_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\1.1.0_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\1.1.0_0\analytics.js, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\1.1.0_0\background.html, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\1.1.0_0\background.js, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\1.1.0_0\nanoajax.min.js, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\1.1.0_0\ntp.html, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\mpicjgpamgcnpiacdciefbgahmkhhogc\1.1.0_0\ntp.js, Quarantined, [223], [622073],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\COMMON FILES\THETASOFTQZO\THETASOFTQZO.EXE, Quarantined, [223], [622070],1.0.8706 Adware.SpecialSearchOffer.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\SPECIALSEARCHOPTION.EXE, Quarantined, [223], [622071],1.0.8706 Generic.Malware/Suspicious, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\SPECIALSEARCHOPTION.EXE, Quarantined, [0], [392686],1.0.8706 Adware.SearchProvide, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [369], [500746],1.0.8706 Adware.SearchProvide, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [369], [500746],1.0.8706 Physical Sector: 0 (No malicious items detected) WMI: 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