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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is GlobalSearchConverter?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that GlobalSearchConverter 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 GlobalSearchConverter?

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



and these warnings during install:







and this changed setting:



How did GlobalSearchConverter 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 GlobalSearchConverter?

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 GlobalSearchConverter?

• No, Malwarebytes removes GlobalSearchConverter 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 GlobalSearchConverter 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://install.globalsearchconverter.com
CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://feed.globalsearchconverter.com/?q={searchTerms}&publisher=globalsearchconverter&barcodeid=585370000000000
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> GlobalSearchConverter
CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://api.globalsearchconverter.com/suggest/get?q={searchTerms}
CHR Extension: (GlobalSearchConverter) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\kehbfcajkbpmompiplmodakpceicfgkc [2020-12-11]

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\kehbfcajkbpmompiplmodakpceicfgkc\1.1.0_0
       Adds the file manifest.json"="12/11/2020 9:06 AM, 2192 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\kehbfcajkbpmompiplmodakpceicfgkc\1.1.0_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="12/11/2020 9:06 AM, 6725 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="10/21/2020 10:27 AM, 2049 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\kehbfcajkbpmompiplmodakpceicfgkc\1.1.0_0\images
       Adds the file logo-white-text.png"="10/21/2020 10:27 AM, 0 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\kehbfcajkbpmompiplmodakpceicfgkc\1.1.0_0\images\icons
       Adds the file 128x128.png"="12/11/2020 9:06 AM, 7402 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16x16.png"="12/11/2020 9:06 AM, 621 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64x64.png"="12/11/2020 9:06 AM, 3447 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\kehbfcajkbpmompiplmodakpceicfgkc\1.1.0_0\scripts
       Adds the file background.js"="10/21/2020 10:27 AM, 553520 bytes, A
       Adds the file sitecontent.js"="10/21/2020 10:27 AM, 77 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\kehbfcajkbpmompiplmodakpceicfgkc
       Adds the file 000003.log"="12/11/2020 9:06 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="12/11/2020 9:06 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="12/11/2020 9:06 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="12/11/2020 9:06 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="12/11/2020 9:06 AM, 41 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\_crx_kehbfcajkbpmompiplmodakpceicfgkc
       Adds the file GlobalSearchConverter.ico"="12/11/2020 9:07 AM, 192415 bytes, A
       Adds the file GlobalSearchConverter.ico.md5"="12/11/2020 9:07 AM, 16 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "kehbfcajkbpmompiplmodakpceicfgkc"="REG_SZ", "D89C85E1A68CD5A74837C5A569BE9E1301841B9BF9D164CD66B3FF34126F803D"

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 12/11/20
Scan Time: 9:14 AM
Log File: ea6f9c12-3b88-11eb-87b8-080027235d76.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.3.0.98
Components Version: 1.0.1130
Update Package Version: 1.0.34199
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: 232222
Threats Detected: 12
Threats Quarantined: 12
Time Elapsed: 3 min, 33 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|kehbfcajkbpmompiplmodakpceicfgkc, Quarantined, 15774, 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\kehbfcajkbpmompiplmodakpceicfgkc, Quarantined, 15774, 799722, , , , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\KEHBFCAJKBPMOMPIPLMODAKPCEICFGKC, Quarantined, 15774, 799722, 1.0.34199, , ame, , , 

File: 9
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 15774, 799722, , , , , 9B650D015FEB7C504A09FB336D1AA0A0, 05B0EACC6E1FB45E24120D3E0C07BDF02BBD7F5428067CFDC45280095D91B13C
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 15774, 799722, , , , , 629DDE397E1DCB2DD061AB45B8D913A5, 693BCDCA450483721D2C3F8127663807DD9B8B042510564FF28AA171568BFC71
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\kehbfcajkbpmompiplmodakpceicfgkc\000003.log, Quarantined, 15774, 799722, , , , , 38ADBFA379FBB3FA18F797793345D607, EF1467864E90D75E66D95C50749CCCA1B11D36902961330E7F390508A03DE45B
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\kehbfcajkbpmompiplmodakpceicfgkc\CURRENT, Quarantined, 15774, 799722, , , , , 46295CAC801E5D4857D09837238A6394, 0F1BAD70C7BD1E0A69562853EC529355462FCD0423263A3D39D6D0D70B780443
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\kehbfcajkbpmompiplmodakpceicfgkc\LOCK, Quarantined, 15774, 799722, , , , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\kehbfcajkbpmompiplmodakpceicfgkc\LOG, Quarantined, 15774, 799722, , , , , 7C03329581B60F702B4CCBE4C42620F4, 4B487DE75A2B058436500F221E28C33550EF2F79201A9A2E97FF6A7B702C3C26
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\kehbfcajkbpmompiplmodakpceicfgkc\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 15774, 799722, , , , , 5AF87DFD673BA2115E2FCF5CFDB727AB, F9D31B278E215EB0D0E9CD709EDFA037E828F36214AB7906F612160FEAD4B2B4
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\KEHBFCAJKBPMOMPIPLMODAKPCEICFGKC\1.1.0_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, 15774, 799722, 1.0.34199, , ame, , 1AC2A6AE2B49D4CA4E6F478CE4467168, 22082CB20A02CE49E9DCE23A48578A7A11F2D98A50916D8F0408137612617428
PUP.Optional.PushNotifications.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 201, 832955, 1.0.34199, , ame, , 629DDE397E1DCB2DD061AB45B8D913A5, 693BCDCA450483721D2C3F8127663807DD9B8B042510564FF28AA171568BFC71

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.