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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is SearchYA?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that SearchYA 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 SearchYA?

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 these changed settings:





How did SearchYA get on my computer?

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



after a redirect from their website:



How do I remove SearchYA?

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 SearchYA?

• No, Malwarebytes removes SearchYA 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 Browser Guard, as well as the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the SearchYA hijacker. It would have blocked their website, giving you a chance to stop before it became too late.

Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

CHR Notifications: Default -> hxxps://install.search-ya.com
CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://feed.search-ya.com/?q={searchTerms}&publisher=searchya&barcodeid=568630000000000
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> SearchYA
CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://api.search-ya.com/suggest/get?q={searchTerms}
CHR Extension: (SearchYA) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hleencoclkeflkjlikhldjhafcpdgjjd [2020-02-19]

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\hleencoclkeflkjlikhldjhafcpdgjjd\1.0.0_0
       Adds the file manifest.json"="2/19/2020 8:59 AM, 2032 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hleencoclkeflkjlikhldjhafcpdgjjd\1.0.0_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="2/19/2020 8:59 AM, 6135 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="1/20/2020 10:15 AM, 1921 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hleencoclkeflkjlikhldjhafcpdgjjd\1.0.0_0\images\icons
       Adds the file 128x128.png"="2/19/2020 8:59 AM, 4365 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16x16.png"="2/19/2020 8:59 AM, 544 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64x64.png"="2/19/2020 8:59 AM, 2224 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hleencoclkeflkjlikhldjhafcpdgjjd\1.0.0_0\scripts
       Adds the file background.js"="1/20/2020 10:15 AM, 513853 bytes, A
       Adds the file sitecontent.js"="1/20/2020 10:15 AM, 77 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\_crx_hleencoclkeflkjlikhldjhafcpdgjjd
       Adds the file SearchYA.ico"="2/19/2020 8:59 AM, 178477 bytes, A
       Adds the file SearchYA.ico.md5"="2/19/2020 8:59 AM, 16 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "hleencoclkeflkjlikhldjhafcpdgjjd"="REG_SZ", "0DD3C99E34CC2F160E4CD8AE8CF7CA1EF12BD63E355675C19850F799320FDE5B"

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 2/19/20
Scan Time: 9:09 AM
Log File: 1e3656fe-52ef-11ea-9658-00ffdcc6fdfc.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.0.4.49
Components Version: 1.0.823
Update Package Version: 1.0.19438
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: 235896
Threats Detected: 8
Threats Quarantined: 8
Time Elapsed: 3 min, 6 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.SearchYa, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|hleencoclkeflkjlikhldjhafcpdgjjd, Quarantined, 411, 791984, , , , 

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 1
PUP.Optional.SearchYa, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\HLEENCOCLKEFLKJLIKHLDJHAFCPDGJJD, Quarantined, 411, 791984, 1.0.19438, , ame, 

File: 6
PUP.Optional.SearchYa, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 411, 791984, , , , 
PUP.Optional.SearchYa, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 411, 791984, , , , 
PUP.Optional.SearchYa, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\HLEENCOCLKEFLKJLIKHLDJHAFCPDGJJD\1.0.0_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, 411, 791984, 1.0.19438, , ame, 
PUP.Optional.PushNotifications, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 217, 789466, 1.0.19438, , ame, 
PUP.Optional.PushNotifications, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 217, 789466, 1.0.19438, , ame, 
PUP.Optional.PushNotifications, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 217, 789466, 1.0.19438, , ame, 

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.