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Removal instructions for Flowsurf

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Started by Metallica , Dec 10 2019 09:14 AM

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#1
Metallica
Posted 10 December 2019 - 09:14 AM

Metallica

    Spyware Veteran

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

What is Flowsurf?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Flowsurf 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 Chrome extension that adds sponsored results to Google searches.

How do I know if my computer is affected by Flowsurf?

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

main.png

and these warnings during install:

warning1.png

warning2.png

you may see this notice on search result listings:

warning3.png

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

icons.png

and this menu when you use that icons:

warning5.png

How did Flowsurf 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 Flowsurf?

Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.
  • Please download Malwarebytes for Windows to your desktop.
  • Double-click MBSetup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
  • When your Malwarebytes for Windows installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen.
  • Click on the Get started button.
  • Click Scan to start a Threat Scan.
  • When the scan is finished click Quarantine to remove the found threats.
  • Reboot the system if prompted to complete the removal process.
Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Flowsurf?
  • No, Malwarebytes removes Flowsurf 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 Malwarebytes Browser Guard, and the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the Flowsurf hijacker. It would have blocked their website, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

protection2.png


protection2.png


Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

CHR Extension: (Flowsurf) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb [2019-12-10]
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\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0
       Adds the file background.js"="11/1/2019 7:26 AM, 1642 bytes, A
       Adds the file dark_theme.css"="11/7/2018 2:36 AM, 5410 bytes, A
       Adds the file features.js"="11/11/2019 12:54 AM, 15810 bytes, A
       Adds the file flowsurf128.png"="12/10/2019 9:06 AM, 7861 bytes, A
       Adds the file light_icon.css"="3/5/2019 11:25 AM, 1795 bytes, A
       Adds the file manifest.json"="12/10/2019 9:06 AM, 6484 bytes, A
       Adds the file nav.css"="11/7/2018 2:36 AM, 973 bytes, A
       Adds the file navflow_numbers.css"="11/7/2018 2:36 AM, 243 bytes, A
       Adds the file navflow_youtube.css"="11/7/2018 2:36 AM, 207 bytes, A
       Adds the file popup.html"="11/11/2019 12:55 AM, 3579 bytes, A
       Adds the file popup.js"="11/5/2019 5:16 AM, 3121 bytes, A
       Adds the file popup_screenshot.css"="11/7/2018 2:36 AM, 578 bytes, A
       Adds the file screenshot.css"="3/5/2019 11:25 AM, 469 bytes, A
       Adds the file simple-popup.js"="11/7/2018 2:36 AM, 4607 bytes, A
       Adds the file zoom.css"="11/7/2018 2:36 AM, 1137 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="12/10/2019 9:06 AM, 2286 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="11/11/2019 12:45 AM, 4659 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\images
       Adds the file darkness-icon-in-page.png"="11/7/2018 2:36 AM, 1226 bytes, A
       Adds the file logo-black-underline.svg"="11/11/2019 12:52 AM, 13190 bytes, A
       Adds the file photo-camera.png"="11/7/2018 2:36 AM, 1125 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb
       Adds the file 000003.log"="12/10/2019 9:08 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="12/10/2019 9:08 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="12/10/2019 9:08 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="12/10/2019 9:08 AM, 185 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="12/10/2019 9:08 AM, 41 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb"="REG_SZ", "590CC641DA91B81F92F46ADA2A86C372BD05711689BA11950588A1F9F1811F58"
Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 12/10/19
Scan Time: 1:55 PM
Log File: 57d7aa82-1b4c-11ea-a989-00ffdcc6fdfc.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.0.4.49
Components Version: 1.0.770
Update Package Version: 1.0.15946
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: 235360
Threats Detected: 56
Threats Quarantined: 56
Time Elapsed: 21 min, 49 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: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Value: 1
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 17
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Local Extension Settings\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\pt_BR, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\zh_TW, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\da, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\de, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\en, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\es, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\fi, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\fr, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\it, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\no, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\sv, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_metadata, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\images, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\LDGHELICFOKHCJKCMDHAGCCHHHKKAONB, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, 1.0.15946, , ame, 

File: 38
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\000003.log, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\CURRENT, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\LOCK, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\LOG, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\LDGHELICFOKHCJKCMDHAGCCHHHKKAONB\3.0.0_0\BACKGROUND.JS, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, 1.0.15946, , ame, 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\images\darkness-icon-in-page.png, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\images\logo-black-underline.svg, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\images\photo-camera.png, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\da\messages.json, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\de\messages.json, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\en\messages.json, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\es\messages.json, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\fi\messages.json, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\fr\messages.json, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\it\messages.json, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\no\messages.json, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\pt_BR\messages.json, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\sv\messages.json, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_locales\zh_TW\messages.json, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\dark_theme.css, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\features.js, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\flowsurf128.png, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\light_icon.css, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\manifest.json, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\nav.css, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\navflow_numbers.css, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\navflow_youtube.css, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\popup.html, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\popup.js, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\popup_screenshot.css, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\screenshot.css, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\simple-popup.js, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 
PUP.Optional.FlowSurf, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ldghelicfokhcjkcmdhagcchhhkkaonb\3.0.0_0\zoom.css, Quarantined, 2558, 772108, , , , 

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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