No replies to this topic

[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Tag Search?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Tag Search is adware. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing.

How do I know if my computer is affected by Tag Search?

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



these warnings during install:







and this new context menu when you select text on a website:



How did Tag Search get on my computer?

Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was downloaded from the webstore:



after a redirect from their website:



How do I remove Tag Search?

Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this adware 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 Tag Search?

• No, Malwarebytes removes Tag Search completely.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes help protect me?

We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this adware.

As you can see below, Malwarebytes Browser Guard, as well as the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the Tag Search adware. It would have blocked the installer before it became too late.

Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

CHR Extension: (Tag Search) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gdeljicacjfkikakemhlhmnnepbinpgf [2021-03-31]

Significant changes 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\gdeljicacjfkikakemhlhmnnepbinpgf\2.0_0
       Adds the file manifest.json"="3/31/2021 8:55 AM, 1115 bytes, A
       Adds the file methods.js"="12/29/2020 2:40 PM, 3980 bytes, A
       Adds the file tag.js"="12/29/2020 1:53 PM, 5252 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gdeljicacjfkikakemhlhmnnepbinpgf\2.0_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="3/31/2021 8:55 AM, 1377 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="12/29/2020 2:40 PM, 2151 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gdeljicacjfkikakemhlhmnnepbinpgf\2.0_0\image
       Adds the file 128magnifying-glass.png"="3/31/2021 8:55 AM, 8302 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16magnifying-glass.png"="3/31/2021 8:55 AM, 811 bytes, A
       Adds the file 32magnifying-glass.png"="3/31/2021 8:55 AM, 1783 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64magnifying-glass.png"="3/31/2021 8:55 AM, 3846 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gdeljicacjfkikakemhlhmnnepbinpgf\2.0_0\js_lib
       Adds the file jquery.js"="11/26/2020 6:48 PM, 86670 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gdeljicacjfkikakemhlhmnnepbinpgf
       Adds the file 000003.log"="3/31/2021 8:55 AM, 224 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="3/31/2021 8:55 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="3/31/2021 8:55 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="3/31/2021 8:55 AM, 185 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="3/31/2021 8:55 AM, 41 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "gdeljicacjfkikakemhlhmnnepbinpgf"="REG_SZ", "77BBD7C4E03E9B3360EDDE091ADDE5672DD007FAEF693ED2DAB73D6596F3E5E0"

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 3/31/21
Scan Time: 1:56 PM
Log File: 21bacf12-9218-11eb-9207-080027235d76.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.3.0.98
Components Version: 1.0.1236
Update Package Version: 1.0.38934
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: 233730
Threats Detected: 10
Threats Quarantined: 10
Time Elapsed: 2 min, 1 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
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|gdeljicacjfkikakemhlhmnnepbinpgf, Quarantined, 298, 926811, , , , , , 

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 2
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Local Extension Settings\gdeljicacjfkikakemhlhmnnepbinpgf, Quarantined, 298, 926811, , , , , , 
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\Google\Chrome\USER DATA\Default\EXTENSIONS\gdeljicacjfkikakemhlhmnnepbinpgf, Quarantined, 298, 926811, 1.0.38934, , ame, , , 

File: 7
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 298, 926811, , , , , F3153FE17CB442FF8037EBD2CE56E025, FA2554B1E9807019B15795668A7400C1B98760323549E23784FE9F557FDC125F
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 298, 926811, , , , , B65DCAF86E01EDC9EA6B5E53056973BE, ACBE02E782A9C7E6C8023A973292D903A842CA7962CA6DB900B3F024D920F5A6
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gdeljicacjfkikakemhlhmnnepbinpgf\000003.log, Quarantined, 298, 926811, , , , , BDD4E6E04A4397AF7BC83417945C8D9F, 58D42CDCE1DFA83D87E7F20945ACF4379CC9F046160E764C794C51894B83BD1F
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gdeljicacjfkikakemhlhmnnepbinpgf\CURRENT, Quarantined, 298, 926811, , , , , 46295CAC801E5D4857D09837238A6394, 0F1BAD70C7BD1E0A69562853EC529355462FCD0423263A3D39D6D0D70B780443
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gdeljicacjfkikakemhlhmnnepbinpgf\LOCK, Quarantined, 298, 926811, , , , , , 
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gdeljicacjfkikakemhlhmnnepbinpgf\LOG, Quarantined, 298, 926811, , , , , 7F612FDA0225E1D800BC5A5D4167EF19, 99DEF1E21088FB0CDA60930C8BD468BA1F5A3E8B0D54CE3B1EABEA1684207607
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gdeljicacjfkikakemhlhmnnepbinpgf\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 298, 926811, , , , , 5AF87DFD673BA2115E2FCF5CFDB727AB, F9D31B278E215EB0D0E9CD709EDFA037E828F36214AB7906F612160FEAD4B2B4

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.