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Removal instructions for Burst Search

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Started by Metallica , Jul 07 2020 04:15 AM

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#1
Metallica
Posted 07 July 2020 - 04:15 AM

Metallica

    Spyware Veteran

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Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Burst Search?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Burst Search is a search hijacker that changes Chrome policies. 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 Burst Search?

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

main.png

and these changed settings:

managed.png

warning5.png

You may have noticed these warnings during install:

warning1.png

warning2.png

warning3.png

How did Burst Search get on my computer?

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

webstore.png

but the ones that change the policies are part of certain bundlers.

How do I remove Burst 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.
Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Burst Search?
  • No, Malwarebytes removes Burst Search 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, as well as the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the Burst Search hijacker. It would have blocked their website, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

protection2.png


Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

CHR HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google: Restriction <==== ATTENTION
CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://find.burstsearch.com/?q={searchTerms}
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> Burst
CHR Extension: (Burst) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh [2020-07-07]
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\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh\1.4_0
       Adds the file answ.txt"="7/1/2020 2:28 PM, 4041 bytes, A
       Adds the file manifest.json"="7/7/2020 9:22 AM, 1697 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh\1.4_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="7/7/2020 9:22 AM, 3381 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="7/1/2020 2:35 PM, 2308 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh\1.4_0\image
       Adds the file 128.png"="7/7/2020 9:22 AM, 2587 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16.png"="7/7/2020 9:22 AM, 563 bytes, A
       Adds the file 32.png"="7/7/2020 9:22 AM, 1190 bytes, A
       Adds the file 48.png"="7/7/2020 9:22 AM, 1714 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64.png"="7/7/2020 9:22 AM, 1746 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh\1.4_0\js
       Adds the file background.js"="7/1/2020 2:34 PM, 3277 bytes, A
       Adds the file jquery-2.2.4.js"="3/27/2020 8:37 PM, 257286 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh\1.4_0\options
       Adds the file options.html"="7/1/2020 2:31 PM, 2271 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh
       Adds the file 000003.log"="7/7/2020 9:22 AM, 61 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="7/7/2020 9:22 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="7/7/2020 9:22 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="7/7/2020 9:24 AM, 184 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="7/7/2020 9:22 AM, 41 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh
       Adds the file 000003.log"="7/7/2020 9:22 AM, 51 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="7/7/2020 9:22 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="7/7/2020 9:22 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="7/7/2020 9:24 AM, 183 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="7/7/2020 9:22 AM, 41 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Chromium\ExtensionInstallForcelist]
       "1"="REG_SZ", "ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh;https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallForcelist]
       "1"="REG_SZ", "ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh;https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh"="REG_SZ", "A896BBFAB15F8A2B6AAC19561EFC3D95C6A13E5ECD43765D71498682C1D7F196"
Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 7/7/20
Scan Time: 9:35 AM
Log File: 761d30de-c024-11ea-a046-00ffdcc6fdfc.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.1.2.73
Components Version: 1.0.976
Update Package Version: 1.0.26535
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: 232126
Threats Detected: 19
Threats Quarantined: 19
Time Elapsed: 4 min, 54 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: 3
PUP.Optional.SearchHijack.Generic.ChrPRST, HKLM\SOFTWARE\POLICIES\GOOGLE\CHROME\ExtensionInstallForcelist|1, Quarantined, 15168, 828115, , , , 
PUP.Optional.SearchHijack.Generic.ChrPRST, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\POLICIES\GOOGLE\CHROME\ExtensionInstallForcelist|1, Quarantined, 15168, 828115, , , , 
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh, Quarantined, 309, 837825, , , , 

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 3
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Local Extension Settings\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh, Quarantined, 309, 837825, , , , 
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh, Quarantined, 309, 837825, , , , 
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\EXTENSIONS\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh, Quarantined, 309, 837825, 1.0.26535, , ame, 

File: 15
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 309, 837825, , , , 
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 309, 837825, , , , 
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh\000003.log, Quarantined, 309, 837825, , , , 
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh\CURRENT, Quarantined, 309, 837825, , , , 
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh\LOCK, Quarantined, 309, 837825, , , , 
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh\LOG, Quarantined, 309, 837825, , , , 
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh\LOG.old, Quarantined, 309, 837825, , , , 
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 309, 837825, , , , 
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh\000003.log, Quarantined, 309, 837825, , , , 
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh\CURRENT, Quarantined, 309, 837825, , , , 
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh\LOCK, Quarantined, 309, 837825, , , , 
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh\LOG, Quarantined, 309, 837825, , , , 
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\ppihhpfnpapdlfpjgkkkjkoiebdndfoh\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 309, 837825, , , , 
PUP.Optional.SearchHijack.Generic.ChrPRST, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\PPIHHPFNPAPDLFPJGKKKJKOIEBDNDFOH\1.4_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, 15194, 828115, 1.0.26535, , ame, 
PUP.Optional.BurstSearch, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 309, 837824, 1.0.26535, , 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.
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