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What is Maps Assist?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Maps Assist 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 Maps Assist?

You may see this browser extension:

main.png

these warnings during install:

warning1.png

warning2.png

warning3.png

this new startpage:

startpage.png

and this new setting:

warning5.png

How did Maps Assist get on my computer?

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

webstore.png

after a redirect from their website:

website.png

How do I remove Maps Assist?

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 Maps Assist?

  • No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware also removes the Firefox add-on Maps Assist.
  • 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 both Malwarebytes Browser Guard as well as the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the Maps Assist hijacker. It would have warned you before the application could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.


 

protection1.png

 

protection2.png

 

Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

 

CHR NewTab: Default ->  Active:"chrome-extension://kipfldnapokfooacjfpgdhkojgkcbocj/html/index.html"
CHR Extension: (Maps Assist) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\kipfldnapokfooacjfpgdhkojgkcbocj [2020-09-03]

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\kipfldnapokfooacjfpgdhkojgkcbocj\1.0.0.4_0
       Adds the file background.js"="8/26/2020 10:34 AM, 11955 bytes, A
       Adds the file configCommunicator.js"="8/26/2020 10:34 AM, 1270 bytes, A
       Adds the file contentScript.js"="8/26/2020 10:34 AM, 6444 bytes, A
       Adds the file manifest.json"="9/3/2020 8:50 AM, 1537 bytes, A
       Adds the file misc.js"="8/26/2020 10:34 AM, 1975 bytes, A
       Adds the file util.js"="8/26/2020 10:34 AM, 4883 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\kipfldnapokfooacjfpgdhkojgkcbocj\1.0.0.4_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="9/3/2020 8:50 AM, 1681 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="8/26/2020 11:30 AM, 2556 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\kipfldnapokfooacjfpgdhkojgkcbocj\1.0.0.4_0\distJs
       Adds the file constants.js"="8/26/2020 10:34 AM, 6306 bytes, A
       Adds the file distribution.js"="8/26/2020 10:34 AM, 2802 bytes, A
       Adds the file helper.js"="8/26/2020 10:34 AM, 24535 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\kipfldnapokfooacjfpgdhkojgkcbocj\1.0.0.4_0\html
       Adds the file index.html"="8/26/2020 10:34 AM, 161 bytes, A
       Adds the file init.js"="8/26/2020 10:34 AM, 11854 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\kipfldnapokfooacjfpgdhkojgkcbocj\1.0.0.4_0\icons
       Adds the file icon128.png"="9/3/2020 8:50 AM, 7763 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "kipfldnapokfooacjfpgdhkojgkcbocj"="REG_SZ", "422B2D1A98397E5851E0DEF86CAD88789F00739A7E46FEAA5984F9F4893B4325"

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 9/3/20
Scan Time: 9:05 AM
Log File: d96e31f8-edb3-11ea-a0fd-00ffdcc6fdfc.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.2.0.82
Components Version: 1.0.1025
Update Package Version: 1.0.29375
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: 231380
Threats Detected: 5
Threats Quarantined: 5
Time Elapsed: 5 min, 30 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.MapsAssist, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|kipfldnapokfooacjfpgdhkojgkcbocj, Quarantined, 4568, 852186, , , , , , 

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 1
PUP.Optional.MapsAssist, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\KIPFLDNAPOKFOOACJFPGDHKOJGKCBOCJ, Quarantined, 4568, 852186, 1.0.29375, , ame, , , 

File: 3
PUP.Optional.MapsAssist, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 4568, 852186, , , , , A58AD04D27BD04DD50C8C1219C2B6840, 9F0083DD42CDF7A79748862A70332383D5C2D1664BB7E51486DED93C81413AE9
PUP.Optional.MapsAssist, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 4568, 852186, , , , , 397E337E9CC07285E610502495BEE88F, D88D75A88E59504DC898CFB193712954F47E112986EFBD7B58FADD8AF04195AE
PUP.Optional.MapsAssist, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\KIPFLDNAPOKFOOACJFPGDHKOJGKCBOCJ\1.0.0.4_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, 4568, 852186, 1.0.29375, , ame, , F8D349058B5FEB7B776AE4875430AF27, EA091C6AF2D317A52EC948CED57B452398FB9E71DBA484CB2D8FDE3CF7AF51EB

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.

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