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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Download Converter Free?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Download Converter Free is a browser NewTab. These so-called "NewTabs" can 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.

How do I know if my computer is affected by Download Converter Free?

You may see this browser extension:



these warnings during install:







this new startpage:



and this new setting:



How did Download Converter Free 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 Download Converter Free?

Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.
[Mindspark only]You can use their own uninstall instructions first, but I would advise to follow the steps below anyway.

• 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 Download Converter Free?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes Download Converter Free completely.
• If your browsers have been hijacked, you should read our Restore Browser page. You can read there how to fix additional browser redirect methods.

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, as well as Browser Guard, would have protected you against the Download Converter Free hijacker. It would have warned you before the application could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

CHR NewTab: Default ->  Active:"chrome-extension://lljblhffajoobpilfjjbneoippipjmie/newtab.html"
CHR Extension: (Download Converter Free) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\lljblhffajoobpilfjjbneoippipjmie [2021-07-21]

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\lljblhffajoobpilfjjbneoippipjmie\1.2_0
       Adds the file manifest.json"="7/21/2021 11:28 AM, 945 bytes, A
       Adds the file newtab.html"="7/15/2020 4:26 PM, 462 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\lljblhffajoobpilfjjbneoippipjmie\1.2_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="7/21/2021 11:28 AM, 240 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="7/15/2020 4:42 PM, 1633 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\lljblhffajoobpilfjjbneoippipjmie\1.2_0\icons
       Adds the file logo.png"="7/21/2021 11:28 AM, 4410 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\lljblhffajoobpilfjjbneoippipjmie\1.2_0\js
       Adds the file custom.js"="7/2/2020 12:49 AM, 363 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "lljblhffajoobpilfjjbneoippipjmie"="REG_SZ", "53747473E15C98601A4B62D8CBB0FFBB089F5AA72C63A6DAB5AFD99781FF1ACB"

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 7/21/21
Scan Time: 11:35 AM
Log File: f0c690d4-ea06-11eb-9300-080027235d76.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.4.3.125
Components Version: 1.0.1387
Update Package Version: 1.0.43335
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: 257798
Threats Detected: 4
Threats Quarantined: 4
Time Elapsed: 1 min, 45 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.NewTab, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|lljblhffajoobpilfjjbneoippipjmie, Quarantined, 334, 960923, , , , , , 

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 1
PUP.Optional.NewTab, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\EXTENSIONS\lljblhffajoobpilfjjbneoippipjmie, Quarantined, 334, 960923, 1.0.43335, , ame, , , 

File: 2
PUP.Optional.NewTab, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 334, 960923, , , , , 63DD8D209106B9B6488ECDB2FC85F133, D234549F2F3AD52ACA16089883B0AFD22B4D5B7FBB3671C2E1365EEA86F9BD54
PUP.Optional.NewTab, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 334, 960923, , , , , 81985C6E0D101CDC4F7BD27B9DADFF6F, AA0620EE795D6B83489D6114DE87350A5D07E58BB3338FFE8AE8F011ED0C0791

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.