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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is VideosSearches?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that VideosSearches 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 VideosSearches?

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



and these warnings during install:









and this changed setting:



How did VideosSearches 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 VideosSearches?

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 VideosSearches?

• No, Malwarebytes removes VideosSearches 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 would have protected you against the VideosSearches 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.videos-searches.com
CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://feed.videos-searches.com/?q={searchTerms}&publisher=videossearches&barcodeid=573570000000000
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> VideosSearches
CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://api.videos-searches.com/suggest/get?q={searchTerms}
CHR Extension: (VideosSearches) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cghhceodiapmphkmijeghidkgiopbffb [2020-10-26]

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\cghhceodiapmphkmijeghidkgiopbffb\1.1.0_0
       Adds the file manifest.json"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 2115 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cghhceodiapmphkmijeghidkgiopbffb\1.1.0_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 6255 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="6/1/2020 4:16 PM, 2049 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cghhceodiapmphkmijeghidkgiopbffb\1.1.0_0\images
       Adds the file logo-white-text.png"="6/1/2020 4:16 PM, 0 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cghhceodiapmphkmijeghidkgiopbffb\1.1.0_0\images\icons
       Adds the file 128x128.png"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 10724 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16x16.png"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 720 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64x64.png"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 4296 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cghhceodiapmphkmijeghidkgiopbffb\1.1.0_0\scripts
       Adds the file background.js"="6/1/2020 4:16 PM, 514611 bytes, A
       Adds the file sitecontent.js"="6/1/2020 4:16 PM, 77 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cghhceodiapmphkmijeghidkgiopbffb
       Adds the file 000003.log"="10/26/2020 8:58 AM, 812 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 183 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 41 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\_crx_cghhceodiapmphkmijeghidkgiopbffb
       Adds the file VideosSearches.ico"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 199257 bytes, A
       Adds the file VideosSearches.ico.md5"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 16 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "cghhceodiapmphkmijeghidkgiopbffb"="REG_SZ", "B4F598E9590CDF6D46106E257EB2D828C3C68095C767215470BB9EE96C649BFF"

Malwarebytes log:

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cghhceodiapmphkmijeghidkgiopbffb\1.1.0_0
       Adds the file manifest.json"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 2115 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cghhceodiapmphkmijeghidkgiopbffb\1.1.0_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 6255 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="6/1/2020 4:16 PM, 2049 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cghhceodiapmphkmijeghidkgiopbffb\1.1.0_0\images
       Adds the file logo-white-text.png"="6/1/2020 4:16 PM, 0 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cghhceodiapmphkmijeghidkgiopbffb\1.1.0_0\images\icons
       Adds the file 128x128.png"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 10724 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16x16.png"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 720 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64x64.png"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 4296 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cghhceodiapmphkmijeghidkgiopbffb\1.1.0_0\scripts
       Adds the file background.js"="6/1/2020 4:16 PM, 514611 bytes, A
       Adds the file sitecontent.js"="6/1/2020 4:16 PM, 77 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cghhceodiapmphkmijeghidkgiopbffb
       Adds the file 000003.log"="10/26/2020 8:58 AM, 812 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 183 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 41 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\_crx_cghhceodiapmphkmijeghidkgiopbffb
       Adds the file VideosSearches.ico"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 199257 bytes, A
       Adds the file VideosSearches.ico.md5"="10/26/2020 8:56 AM, 16 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "cghhceodiapmphkmijeghidkgiopbffb"="REG_SZ", "B4F598E9590CDF6D46106E257EB2D828C3C68095C767215470BB9EE96C649BFF"

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.