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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is PDFConverterSearch4Free?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that PDFConverterSearch4Free 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 PDFConverterSearch4Free?

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



and these warnings during install:









and this changed setting:



How did PDFConverterSearch4Free 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 PDFConverterSearch4Free?

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 PDFConverterSearch4Free?

• No, Malwarebytes removes PDFConverterSearch4Free 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 Browser Guard, as well as Malwarbytes Premium would have protected you against the PDFConverterSearch4Free 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://get.pdfconvertersearch4free.com
CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://feed.pdfconvertersearch4free.com/?q={searchTerms}&publisher=pdfconvertersearch4free&barcodeid=579870000000000
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> PDFConverterSearch4Free
CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://api.pdfconvertersearch4free.com/suggest/get?q={searchTerms}
CHR Extension: (PDFConverterSearch4Free) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\jmogbdeelhhdhbcdfblpclejnlidoikf [2020-10-21]

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\jmogbdeelhhdhbcdfblpclejnlidoikf\1.1.0_0
       Adds the file manifest.json"="10/21/2020 9:08 AM, 2216 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\jmogbdeelhhdhbcdfblpclejnlidoikf\1.1.0_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="10/21/2020 9:08 AM, 6255 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="9/1/2020 2:34 PM, 2049 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\jmogbdeelhhdhbcdfblpclejnlidoikf\1.1.0_0\images
       Adds the file logo-white-text.png"="9/1/2020 2:34 PM, 0 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\jmogbdeelhhdhbcdfblpclejnlidoikf\1.1.0_0\images\icons
       Adds the file 128x128.png"="10/21/2020 9:08 AM, 3274 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16x16.png"="10/21/2020 9:08 AM, 544 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64x64.png"="10/21/2020 9:08 AM, 1653 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\jmogbdeelhhdhbcdfblpclejnlidoikf\1.1.0_0\scripts
       Adds the file background.js"="9/1/2020 2:34 PM, 514592 bytes, A
       Adds the file sitecontent.js"="9/1/2020 2:34 PM, 77 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\jmogbdeelhhdhbcdfblpclejnlidoikf
       Adds the file 000003.log"="10/21/2020 9:08 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="10/21/2020 9:08 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="10/21/2020 9:08 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="10/21/2020 9:08 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="10/21/2020 9:08 AM, 41 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\_crx_jmogbdeelhhdhbcdfblpclejnlidoikf
       Adds the file PDFConverterSearch4Free.ico"="10/21/2020 9:08 AM, 169156 bytes, A
       Adds the file PDFConverterSearch4Free.ico.md5"="10/21/2020 9:08 AM, 16 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "jmogbdeelhhdhbcdfblpclejnlidoikf"="REG_SZ", "A6ECC60A11D55C2EE6005466CFA01D3AABCDBCCA728D0CFC546B83C7AA0D4F55"

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 10/21/20
Scan Time: 9:33 AM
Log File: a7298b52-136f-11eb-a59f-080027235d76.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.2.1.89
Components Version: 1.0.1070
Update Package Version: 1.0.31728
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: 231820
Threats Detected: 12
Threats Quarantined: 12
Time Elapsed: 2 min, 29 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
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|jmogbdeelhhdhbcdfblpclejnlidoikf, Quarantined, 15231, 799722, , , , , , 

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 2
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Sync Extension Settings\jmogbdeelhhdhbcdfblpclejnlidoikf, Quarantined, 15231, 799722, , , , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\JMOGBDEELHHDHBCDFBLPCLEJNLIDOIKF, Quarantined, 15231, 799722, 1.0.31728, , ame, , , 

File: 9
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 15231, 799722, , , , , 89816F12318E34328FBBC3BA9970EB8B, A1093332DCD17460196CCCE7F65473A8B7D3B286577FBA40B2742E21816D0F5E
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 15231, 799722, , , , , 482A9E6B6D3AEC867ADFF5F1AA3EA14F, E5CBD6E7F72BAF4955122B0C48D8ED7F305DF08DD52AEE44B3D97FFB3857EBFC
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\jmogbdeelhhdhbcdfblpclejnlidoikf\000003.log, Quarantined, 15231, 799722, , , , , 69B6CF723FC42530F8C17F87D85F3C67, C93ECE1CD394B9B31B2F79412D809C1BAC11C03D550BE7DCC7921C388AC2B1B1
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\jmogbdeelhhdhbcdfblpclejnlidoikf\CURRENT, Quarantined, 15231, 799722, , , , , 46295CAC801E5D4857D09837238A6394, 0F1BAD70C7BD1E0A69562853EC529355462FCD0423263A3D39D6D0D70B780443
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\jmogbdeelhhdhbcdfblpclejnlidoikf\LOCK, Quarantined, 15231, 799722, , , , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\jmogbdeelhhdhbcdfblpclejnlidoikf\LOG, Quarantined, 15231, 799722, , , , , 0562C2A6067DCD93BE0C10380439FE37, 481422CDA77586B97B03A4FDE22B6931EA29A4EBE602AACA79FD9519C474E3A1
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\jmogbdeelhhdhbcdfblpclejnlidoikf\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 15231, 799722, , , , , 5AF87DFD673BA2115E2FCF5CFDB727AB, F9D31B278E215EB0D0E9CD709EDFA037E828F36214AB7906F612160FEAD4B2B4
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\JMOGBDEELHHDHBCDFBLPCLEJNLIDOIKF\1.1.0_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, 15231, 799722, 1.0.31728, , ame, , 10FA033C54B7D405043BD60EC0DD1AF3, 9F42CB1ACF2C9AF4CA8A4C093D7C4D4D80CC8876584511C9A7A0FD41864960FD
PUP.Optional.PushNotifications, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 14951, 858871, 1.0.31728, , ame, , 482A9E6B6D3AEC867ADFF5F1AA3EA14F, E5CBD6E7F72BAF4955122B0C48D8ED7F305DF08DD52AEE44B3D97FFB3857EBFC

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.