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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is BestSearchConverter?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that BestSearchConverter 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 changes your default search engine and adds Search Recommendations.



How do I know if my computer is affected by BestSearchConverter?

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



and this changed setting:



You may have noticed these warnings during install:









How did BestSearchConverter 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 BestSearchConverter?

Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this search hijacker.

• 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 BestSearchConverter?

• No, Malwarebytes removes BestSearchConverter completely.

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 Malwarebytes Browser Guard, and the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the BestSearchConverter hijacker. It would have blocked their website, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://feed.bestsearchconverter.com/?q={searchTerms}&publisher=bestsearchconverter&barcodeid=585400000000000
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> BestSearchConverter
CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://api.bestsearchconverter.com/suggest/get?q={searchTerms}
CHR Extension: (BestSearchConverter) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gpgpkclmeedccjchfcebkhadnpfknnoi [2021-02-08]

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\gpgpkclmeedccjchfcebkhadnpfknnoi\1.1.0_0
       Adds the file manifest.json"="2/8/2021 9:05 AM, 2168 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gpgpkclmeedccjchfcebkhadnpfknnoi\1.1.0_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="2/8/2021 9:05 AM, 6725 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="10/25/2020 10:31 AM, 2049 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gpgpkclmeedccjchfcebkhadnpfknnoi\1.1.0_0\images
       Adds the file logo-white-text.png"="10/25/2020 10:31 AM, 0 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gpgpkclmeedccjchfcebkhadnpfknnoi\1.1.0_0\images\icons
       Adds the file 128x128.png"="2/8/2021 9:05 AM, 4438 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16x16.png"="2/8/2021 9:05 AM, 478 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64x64.png"="2/8/2021 9:05 AM, 2054 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gpgpkclmeedccjchfcebkhadnpfknnoi\1.1.0_0\scripts
       Adds the file background.js"="10/25/2020 10:31 AM, 553502 bytes, A
       Adds the file sitecontent.js"="10/25/2020 10:31 AM, 77 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\gpgpkclmeedccjchfcebkhadnpfknnoi
       Adds the file 000003.log"="2/8/2021 9:08 AM, 488 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="2/8/2021 9:05 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="2/8/2021 9:05 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="2/8/2021 9:05 AM, 183 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="2/8/2021 9:05 AM, 41 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\_crx_gpgpkclmeedccjchfcebkhadnpfknnoi
       Adds the file BestSearchConverter.ico"="2/8/2021 9:06 AM, 175551 bytes, A
       Adds the file BestSearchConverter.ico.md5"="2/8/2021 9:06 AM, 16 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "gpgpkclmeedccjchfcebkhadnpfknnoi"="REG_SZ", "39926688A2E64195FAD0D87F4BF8D69729D893603E5AB83A92F980F327A64163"

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 2/8/21
Scan Time: 9:16 AM
Log File: f72fd4a4-69e5-11eb-892a-080027235d76.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.3.0.98
Components Version: 1.0.1157
Update Package Version: 1.0.36825
License: Premium

-System Information-
OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: {username}-PC\{username}

-Scan Summary-
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Scan Initiated By: Manual
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 233136
Threats Detected: 11
Threats Quarantined: 11
Time Elapsed: 3 min, 23 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|gpgpkclmeedccjchfcebkhadnpfknnoi, Quarantined, 15232, 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\gpgpkclmeedccjchfcebkhadnpfknnoi, Quarantined, 15232, 799722, , , , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\GPGPKCLMEEDCCJCHFCEBKHADNPFKNNOI, Quarantined, 15232, 799722, 1.0.36825, , ame, , , 

File: 8
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 15232, 799722, , , , , C976D76C05235B2956CB28E9975F5172, A18AA97789F32063C4123222BFE13B6F9335DBC45E020FB0E7E49171AADDFF29
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 15232, 799722, , , , , 53358AE96A7BE867563F2DD7DC087831, 6D7157EF1FD6ECCFC8259913F2E6E926E6B0D8354B31A8DC1121BAB61BFA8C6C
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\gpgpkclmeedccjchfcebkhadnpfknnoi\000003.log, Quarantined, 15232, 799722, , , , , CC8F3BC736276C206E94FE1F21A56EE2, 39107A8A450B9FFB71E61E8F56BE8F3D423C895CA4CAB9640664D6EA896A424B
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\gpgpkclmeedccjchfcebkhadnpfknnoi\CURRENT, Quarantined, 15232, 799722, , , , , 46295CAC801E5D4857D09837238A6394, 0F1BAD70C7BD1E0A69562853EC529355462FCD0423263A3D39D6D0D70B780443
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\gpgpkclmeedccjchfcebkhadnpfknnoi\LOCK, Quarantined, 15232, 799722, , , , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\gpgpkclmeedccjchfcebkhadnpfknnoi\LOG, Quarantined, 15232, 799722, , , , , 4B3ED675EB758EBA6D68DBEFC22A3038, 5E4F55BABC2622F89EB8B6AFC7DE37522ADD9AD1B561418B0983A0797E852637
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\gpgpkclmeedccjchfcebkhadnpfknnoi\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 15232, 799722, , , , , 5AF87DFD673BA2115E2FCF5CFDB727AB, F9D31B278E215EB0D0E9CD709EDFA037E828F36214AB7906F612160FEAD4B2B4
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\GPGPKCLMEEDCCJCHFCEBKHADNPFKNNOI\1.1.0_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, 15232, 799722, 1.0.36825, , ame, , 41A897542DABDC3A2100DB68FDF222A0, FCB10A86E96B19DCEDA241B9850C1423DB2EE7FF16E41BF9CBD9E81135BF3DF9

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.