What is TV Search?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that TV Search 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.
How do I know if my computer is affected by TV Search?
You may see this entry in your list of installed Chrome extensions:
this icon in the Chrome menu-bar:
this changed setting:
and these warnings during install:
How did TV Search 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 TV Search?
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.
- No, Malwarebytes removes TV Search completely.
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 TV Search hijacker. It would have blocked their website, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.
Technical details for experts
Possible signs in FRST logs:
CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://services.gettvsearch-svc.org/search/{searchTerms} CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> {searchTerms} CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://sug.gettvsearch-svc.org/sug/?s={searchTerms} CHR Extension: (SearchWeb) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke [2020-02-26]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\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke\1.0.19.1021_0 Adds the file manifest.json"="2/25/2020 2:35 PM, 2096 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke\1.0.19.1021_0\_metadata Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="2/25/2020 2:35 PM, 2709 bytes, A Adds the file verified_contents.json"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 4029 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke\1.0.19.1021_0\background Adds the file contextMenus.js"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 634 bytes, A Adds the file ext.js"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 4668 bytes, A Adds the file index.html"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 534 bytes, A Adds the file listeners.js"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 1217 bytes, A Adds the file omni.js"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 1008 bytes, A Adds the file search.js"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 847 bytes, A Adds the file settings.js"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 315 bytes, A Adds the file startup.js"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 2684 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke\1.0.19.1021_0\icons Adds the file 128.png"="2/25/2020 2:35 PM, 27714 bytes, A Adds the file 16.png"="2/25/2020 2:35 PM, 645 bytes, A Adds the file 32.png"="2/25/2020 2:35 PM, 2381 bytes, A Adds the file 48.png"="2/25/2020 2:35 PM, 4770 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke\1.0.19.1021_0\options Adds the file options.css"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 170 bytes, A Adds the file options.html"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 486 bytes, A Adds the file options.js"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 134 bytes, A Adds the file tabContent.js"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 1770 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke\1.0.19.1021_0\popup Adds the file popup.css"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 309 bytes, A Adds the file popup.html"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 643 bytes, A Adds the file popup.js"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 300 bytes, A Adds the file tabContent.js"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 1770 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke\1.0.19.1021_0\prompt Adds the file green-up-arrow.png"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 18145 bytes, A Adds the file ok-green-square.png"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 28631 bytes, A Adds the file prompt.js"="1/14/2020 9:07 PM, 3327 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke Adds the file 000003.log"="2/25/2020 2:38 PM, 876 bytes, A Adds the file CURRENT"="2/25/2020 2:35 PM, 16 bytes, A Adds the file LOCK"="2/25/2020 2:35 PM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file LOG"="2/25/2020 2:39 PM, 184 bytes, A Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="2/25/2020 2:35 PM, 41 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke Adds the file 000003.log"="2/25/2020 2:35 PM, 116 bytes, A Adds the file CURRENT"="2/25/2020 2:35 PM, 16 bytes, A Adds the file LOCK"="2/25/2020 2:35 PM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file LOG"="2/25/2020 2:39 PM, 183 bytes, A Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="2/25/2020 2:35 PM, 41 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings] "cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke"="REG_SZ", "C70C140F5FC5654DEC7DCA45BD9E40312779FF1E2150E57F0645A46C87AD6B81"Malwarebytes log:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 2/26/20 Scan Time: 8:43 AM Log File: b235d5ba-586b-11ea-afeb-00ffdcc6fdfc.json -Software Information- Version: 4.0.4.49 Components Version: 1.0.823 Update Package Version: 1.0.19840 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: 235837 Threats Detected: 17 Threats Quarantined: 17 Time Elapsed: 14 min, 32 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.TightRopeInteractive.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke, Quarantined, 15120, 792704, , , , Registry Data: 0 (No malicious items detected) Data Stream: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folder: 3 PUP.Optional.TightRopeInteractive.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Local Extension Settings\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke, Quarantined, 15120, 792704, , , , PUP.Optional.TightRopeInteractive.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke, Quarantined, 15120, 792704, , , , PUP.Optional.TightRopeInteractive.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\CNMOJBAFMEPAFJBHKHEKDIAODDEHKPKE, Quarantined, 15120, 792704, 1.0.19840, , ame, File: 13 PUP.Optional.TightRopeInteractive.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 15120, 792704, , , , PUP.Optional.TightRopeInteractive.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 15120, 792704, , , , PUP.Optional.TightRopeInteractive.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke\000003.log, Quarantined, 15120, 792704, , , , PUP.Optional.TightRopeInteractive.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke\CURRENT, Quarantined, 15120, 792704, , , , PUP.Optional.TightRopeInteractive.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke\LOCK, Quarantined, 15120, 792704, , , , PUP.Optional.TightRopeInteractive.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke\LOG, Quarantined, 15120, 792704, , , , PUP.Optional.TightRopeInteractive.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 15120, 792704, , , , PUP.Optional.TightRopeInteractive.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke\000003.log, Quarantined, 15120, 792704, , , , PUP.Optional.TightRopeInteractive.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke\CURRENT, Quarantined, 15120, 792704, , , , PUP.Optional.TightRopeInteractive.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke\LOCK, Quarantined, 15120, 792704, , , , PUP.Optional.TightRopeInteractive.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke\LOG, Quarantined, 15120, 792704, , , , PUP.Optional.TightRopeInteractive.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cnmojbafmepafjbhkhekdiaoddehkpke\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 15120, 792704, , , , PUP.Optional.TightRopeInteractive.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\CNMOJBAFMEPAFJBHKHEKDIAODDEHKPKE\1.0.19.1021_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, 15120, 792704, 1.0.19840, , 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