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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is FileConverterSearches?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that FileConverterSearches 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 FileConverterSearches?

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



and these warnings during install:







and these changed settings:





How did FileConverterSearches 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 FileConverterSearches?

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 FileConverterSearches?

• No, Malwarebytes removes FileConverterSearches 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 FileConverterSearches 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.fileconvertersearches.com
CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://feed.fileconvertersearches.com/?q={searchTerms}&publisher=fileconvertersearches&barcodeid=577270000000000
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> FileConverterSearches
CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://api.fileconvertersearches.com/suggest/get?q={searchTerms}
CHR Extension: (FileConverterSearches) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pacopnfmngmkhdlmedepfmoblolhiaie [2020-11-25]

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\pacopnfmngmkhdlmedepfmoblolhiaie\1.1.0_0
       Adds the file manifest.json"="11/25/2020 9:19 AM, 2192 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pacopnfmngmkhdlmedepfmoblolhiaie\1.1.0_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="11/25/2020 9:19 AM, 6255 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="7/21/2020 11:06 AM, 2049 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pacopnfmngmkhdlmedepfmoblolhiaie\1.1.0_0\images
       Adds the file logo-white-text.png"="7/21/2020 11:06 AM, 0 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pacopnfmngmkhdlmedepfmoblolhiaie\1.1.0_0\images\icons
       Adds the file 128x128.png"="11/25/2020 9:19 AM, 3740 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16x16.png"="11/25/2020 9:19 AM, 455 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64x64.png"="11/25/2020 9:19 AM, 1863 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pacopnfmngmkhdlmedepfmoblolhiaie\1.1.0_0\scripts
       Adds the file background.js"="7/21/2020 11:06 AM, 514722 bytes, A
       Adds the file sitecontent.js"="7/21/2020 11:06 AM, 77 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pacopnfmngmkhdlmedepfmoblolhiaie
       Adds the file 000003.log"="11/25/2020 9:22 AM, 800 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="11/25/2020 9:19 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="11/25/2020 9:19 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="11/25/2020 9:19 AM, 184 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="11/25/2020 9:19 AM, 41 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\_crx_pacopnfmngmkhdlmedepfmoblolhiaie
       Adds the file FileConverterSearches.ico"="11/25/2020 9:19 AM, 173857 bytes, A
       Adds the file FileConverterSearches.ico.md5"="11/25/2020 9:19 AM, 16 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "pacopnfmngmkhdlmedepfmoblolhiaie"="REG_SZ", "755FACE43C832EDCB83B3B4D3067FC90983017923E7F744257A6FE77336E9F36"

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 11/25/20
Scan Time: 9:28 AM
Log File: 28e21c9c-2ef8-11eb-a572-080027235d76.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.2.3.96
Components Version: 1.0.1112
Update Package Version: 1.0.33388
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: 232033
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|pacopnfmngmkhdlmedepfmoblolhiaie, Quarantined, 15674, 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\pacopnfmngmkhdlmedepfmoblolhiaie, Quarantined, 15674, 799722, , , , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\PACOPNFMNGMKHDLMEDEPFMOBLOLHIAIE, Quarantined, 15674, 799722, 1.0.33388, , ame, , , 

File: 9
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 15674, 799722, , , , , 1563AF3F24B9EC24FB36A0772E45F40F, 15DA6B6D5AE33021FF1F3572B7A46B898D7BE0D51C37889B6F89BB7AB4319438
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 15674, 799722, , , , , 9184E237018A554816BC3A0780A4F463, 47792FC459665D2C5C8E48DCB4D0A4B7A65A601264970D0DF52108FA11CDB1A8
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pacopnfmngmkhdlmedepfmoblolhiaie\000003.log, Quarantined, 15674, 799722, , , , , C58D171D3D4D46F9B4931C5812D59CD7, D8A67675ED1FB9392A65D706EA06B6185DAB4C0C7CA95BAF95FE23A0AF51B66A
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pacopnfmngmkhdlmedepfmoblolhiaie\CURRENT, Quarantined, 15674, 799722, , , , , 46295CAC801E5D4857D09837238A6394, 0F1BAD70C7BD1E0A69562853EC529355462FCD0423263A3D39D6D0D70B780443
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pacopnfmngmkhdlmedepfmoblolhiaie\LOCK, Quarantined, 15674, 799722, , , , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pacopnfmngmkhdlmedepfmoblolhiaie\LOG, Quarantined, 15674, 799722, , , , , 5BA6AD4EF2F4E5E93AA309F23B15A4C8, BB38B39A58A43FB5599104D0C59CD0CE83EEABB6AD8297BA231ACA27412561BC
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pacopnfmngmkhdlmedepfmoblolhiaie\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 15674, 799722, , , , , 5AF87DFD673BA2115E2FCF5CFDB727AB, F9D31B278E215EB0D0E9CD709EDFA037E828F36214AB7906F612160FEAD4B2B4
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\PACOPNFMNGMKHDLMEDEPFMOBLOLHIAIE\1.1.0_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, 15674, 799722, 1.0.33388, , ame, , 284C794677A96C1E049B3ECEC7BE438D, 1F1E1184C4BDC864CAF62069057AF103A1C5EFB529ED55CD326BD20D7B8E9530
PUP.Optional.PushNotifications, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 203, 856479, 1.0.33388, , ame, , 9184E237018A554816BC3A0780A4F463, 47792FC459665D2C5C8E48DCB4D0A4B7A65A601264970D0DF52108FA11CDB1A8

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.