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Removal instructions for Incognito Searches

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Started by Metallica , Sep 10 2019 05:35 AM
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#1
Metallica
Posted 10 September 2019 - 05:35 AM

Metallica

    Spyware Veteran

  • GeekU Moderator
  • 33,101 posts
Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Incognito Searches?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Incognito Searches is a search 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 particular one is a search hijacker and uses web push notifications.

How do I know if my computer is affected by Incognito Searches?

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

main.png

and these warnings during install:

warning1.png

warning2.png

warning4.png

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

icons.png

and these changed settings:

warning5.png

warning6.png

How did Incognito Searches get on my computer?

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

webstore.png

after a redirect from their website:

website.png

How do I remove Incognito Searches?

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 Incognito Searches?
  • No, Malwarebytes removes Incognito Searches completely.
  • If you have allowed the notifications you can read here how to disable them.
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 Incognito Searches hijacker. It would have blocked their website, giving you a chance to stop before it became too late.

protection2.png


Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://feed.incognitosearches.com/?q={searchTerms}&publisher=searchprivate&barcodeid=523120000000000
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> IncognitoSearches Search
CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://api.incognitosearches.com/suggest/get?q={searchTerms}
CHR Extension: (IncognitoSearches  Search) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe [2019-09-10]
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\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0
       Adds the file closer.js"="9/13/2017 11:07 AM, 15 bytes, A
       Adds the file manifest.json"="9/10/2019 12:55 PM, 2384 bytes, A
       Adds the file popup.html"="3/7/2018 2:07 PM, 503 bytes, A
       Adds the file tab.html"="9/13/2017 11:07 AM, 165 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="9/10/2019 12:55 PM, 2449 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="1/15/2019 8:07 AM, 2829 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\images
       Adds the file incognito.png"="9/19/2017 7:26 AM, 3050 bytes, A
       Adds the file logo.png"="9/19/2017 7:26 AM, 3836 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\images\icons
       Adds the file 128x128.png"="9/10/2019 12:55 PM, 4555 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16x16.png"="9/10/2019 12:55 PM, 732 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64x64.png"="9/10/2019 12:55 PM, 3112 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\scripts
       Adds the file background.js"="1/17/2019 2:22 PM, 31931 bytes, A
       Adds the file jquery-3.3.1.min.js"="3/7/2018 2:07 PM, 86927 bytes, A
       Adds the file popup.js"="8/6/2018 7:21 AM, 660 bytes, A
       Adds the file sitecontent.js"="9/19/2017 7:26 AM, 77 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\styles
       Adds the file popup.css"="9/19/2017 7:26 AM, 561 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\_crx_ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe
       Adds the file Incognito Searches.ico"="9/10/2019 12:55 PM, 176588 bytes, A
       Adds the file Incognito Searches.ico.md5"="9/10/2019 12:55 PM, 16 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe"="REG_SZ", "8746C7C33C6120243AD74FA111D38DDA6846E445750D68D85B32AC56563A46FB"
Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 9/10/19
Scan Time: 1:05 PM
Log File: f03b4542-d3ba-11e9-92a4-00ffdcc6fdfc.json

-Software Information-
Version: 3.8.3.2965
Components Version: 1.0.613
Update Package Version: 1.0.12399
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: 235960
Threats Detected: 26
Threats Quarantined: 26
Time Elapsed: 9 min, 55 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: 1
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 7
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\images\icons, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\scripts, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\images, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\styles, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\FFIEDCNLMIKADNINEJLGHNODEPECABOE, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399

File: 18
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\images\icons\128x128.png, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\images\icons\16x16.png, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\images\icons\64x64.png, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\images\incognito.png, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\images\logo.png, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\scripts\background.js, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\scripts\jquery-3.3.1.min.js, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\scripts\popup.js, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\scripts\sitecontent.js, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\styles\popup.css, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\closer.js, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\manifest.json, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\popup.html, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ffiedcnlmikadninejlghnodepecaboe\2.1.0_0\tab.html, Quarantined, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399
PUP.Optional.IncognitoDefaultSearch, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [2392], [439436],1.0.12399

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
Save yourself the hassle and get protected.
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