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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is BestConverterSearch?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that BestConverterSearch 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 BestConverterSearch?

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



and these warnings during install:









and this changed setting:



How did BestConverterSearch 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 BestConverterSearch?

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 BestConverterSearch?

• No, Malwarebytes removes BestConverterSearch 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 BestConverterSearch 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.bestconvertersearch.com
CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://feed.bestconvertersearch.com/?q={searchTerms}&publisher=bestconvertersearch&barcodeid=579650000000000
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> BestConverterSearch
CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://api.bestconvertersearch.com/suggest/get?q={searchTerms}
CHR Extension: (BestConverterSearch) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\phgoncnbnoaglppfjhaplpaojgadfhmo [2020-11-16]

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\phgoncnbnoaglppfjhaplpaojgadfhmo\1.1.0_0
       Adds the file manifest.json"="11/16/2020 9:10 AM, 2168 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\phgoncnbnoaglppfjhaplpaojgadfhmo\1.1.0_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="11/16/2020 9:10 AM, 6255 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="9/2/2020 8:29 AM, 2049 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\phgoncnbnoaglppfjhaplpaojgadfhmo\1.1.0_0\images
       Adds the file logo-white-text.png"="9/2/2020 8:29 AM, 0 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\phgoncnbnoaglppfjhaplpaojgadfhmo\1.1.0_0\images\icons
       Adds the file 128x128.png"="11/16/2020 9:10 AM, 4611 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16x16.png"="11/16/2020 9:10 AM, 536 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64x64.png"="11/16/2020 9:10 AM, 2267 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\phgoncnbnoaglppfjhaplpaojgadfhmo\1.1.0_0\scripts
       Adds the file background.js"="9/2/2020 8:29 AM, 514556 bytes, A
       Adds the file sitecontent.js"="9/2/2020 8:29 AM, 77 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\phgoncnbnoaglppfjhaplpaojgadfhmo
       Adds the file 000003.log"="11/16/2020 9:12 AM, 795 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="11/16/2020 9:10 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="11/16/2020 9:10 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="11/16/2020 9:10 AM, 184 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="11/16/2020 9:10 AM, 41 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\_crx_phgoncnbnoaglppfjhaplpaojgadfhmo
       Adds the file BestConverterSearch.ico"="11/16/2020 9:10 AM, 179568 bytes, A
       Adds the file BestConverterSearch.ico.md5"="11/16/2020 9:10 AM, 16 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "phgoncnbnoaglppfjhaplpaojgadfhmo"="REG_SZ", "09C781FF0F67E3366D91BDAFF1FA4CDB2403BC5C3DF8CCD794906081D9EA5B4C"

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 11/16/20
Scan Time: 9:18 AM
Log File: 4d1c0f34-27e4-11eb-952b-080027235d76.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.2.3.96
Components Version: 1.0.1104
Update Package Version: 1.0.32966
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: 231989
Threats Detected: 12
Threats Quarantined: 12
Time Elapsed: 3 min, 13 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|phgoncnbnoaglppfjhaplpaojgadfhmo, Quarantined, 15585, 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\phgoncnbnoaglppfjhaplpaojgadfhmo, Quarantined, 15585, 799722, , , , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\PHGONCNBNOAGLPPFJHAPLPAOJGADFHMO, Quarantined, 15585, 799722, 1.0.32966, , ame, , , 

File: 9
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 15585, 799722, , , , , 9B1018EB37CA894E788FF653D3F7DCBD, 9AF4E536E766C3B39FA2A7B7287BF51B0A055B919A5EA1DF44D577533A191219
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 15585, 799722, , , , , 6CD5F68D9AC65B2B01577C362D057913, 12B2070DDC722362FEBC48B15FC68DF66FB4E2D749FFCB9727F5B09D629C5BC3
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\phgoncnbnoaglppfjhaplpaojgadfhmo\000003.log, Quarantined, 15585, 799722, , , , , 778A9672702F9A0EB7A78878DB8FE330, 57526C85127B73BF7A7D710B19C5813F5D057F34E4C072BF7AA01BBF74F74017
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\phgoncnbnoaglppfjhaplpaojgadfhmo\CURRENT, Quarantined, 15585, 799722, , , , , 46295CAC801E5D4857D09837238A6394, 0F1BAD70C7BD1E0A69562853EC529355462FCD0423263A3D39D6D0D70B780443
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\phgoncnbnoaglppfjhaplpaojgadfhmo\LOCK, Quarantined, 15585, 799722, , , , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\phgoncnbnoaglppfjhaplpaojgadfhmo\LOG, Quarantined, 15585, 799722, , , , , B55368F2923B6537E3AA2B3BC2003FF2, E42F66A2386157EE053F259CF39248426C9B6F2CB0C6F0B55584EFCED5A50F14
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\phgoncnbnoaglppfjhaplpaojgadfhmo\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 15585, 799722, , , , , 5AF87DFD673BA2115E2FCF5CFDB727AB, F9D31B278E215EB0D0E9CD709EDFA037E828F36214AB7906F612160FEAD4B2B4
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\PHGONCNBNOAGLPPFJHAPLPAOJGADFHMO\1.1.0_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, 15585, 799722, 1.0.32966, , ame, , 5D60B5C5898B618E1386A4C49D354F8F, E8D5830515F73F01B2140034A2DA03F4E2C85CA09D079158DF238E54139C2CA1
PUP.Optional.PushNotifications, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 203, 846248, 1.0.32966, , ame, , 6CD5F68D9AC65B2B01577C362D057913, 12B2070DDC722362FEBC48B15FC68DF66FB4E2D749FFCB9727F5B09D629C5BC3

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.