Removal instructions for Anywhere Search

[Metallica]

What is Anywhere Search?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Anywhere Search 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 also a browser NewTab.

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

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



these changed settings:





You may have noticed these warnings during install:







How did Anywhere Search get on my computer?

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



How do I remove Anywhere Search?

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 Anywhere Search?

• No, Malwarebytes removes Anywhere Search completely.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes help protect me?

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

Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

 

CHR NewTab: Default ->  Active:"chrome-extension://hboldpniicbdhlfcejjlkdgnbppiaajn/my.html"
CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://anywheresearch.com/?id=26&keyword={searchTerms}
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> Anywhere Search
CHR Extension: (Anywhere Search) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hboldpniicbdhlfcejjlkdgnbppiaajn [2021-11-08]

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\hboldpniicbdhlfcejjlkdgnbppiaajn\1.0.7_0
       Adds the file code.js"="4/30/2021 6:43 PM, 51 bytes, A
       Adds the file manifest.json"="11/8/2021 12:48 PM, 1516 bytes, A
       Adds the file my.html"="4/30/2021 6:43 PM, 174 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hboldpniicbdhlfcejjlkdgnbppiaajn\1.0.7_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="11/8/2021 12:48 PM, 918 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="7/14/2021 8:47 PM, 2173 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hboldpniicbdhlfcejjlkdgnbppiaajn\1.0.7_0\image
       Adds the file 128.png"="11/8/2021 12:48 PM, 1121 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16.png"="11/8/2021 12:48 PM, 270 bytes, A
       Adds the file 32.png"="11/8/2021 12:48 PM, 488 bytes, A
       Adds the file 48.png"="11/8/2021 12:48 PM, 837 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64.png"="11/8/2021 12:48 PM, 913 bytes, A
       Adds the file Thumbs.db"="3/14/2021 12:26 AM, 7168 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "hboldpniicbdhlfcejjlkdgnbppiaajn"="REG_SZ", "6C7DAF8E4E4BDD906F7FD4D631CBE2D8A268517B32591ECEEF707A15EC8F82A5"

Malwarebytes log:
 

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 11/8/21
Scan Time: 12:58 PM
Log File: 25c0309e-408b-11ec-919d-080027235d76.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.4.10.144
Components Version: 1.0.1499
Update Package Version: 1.0.46966
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: 246956
Threats Detected: 5
Threats Quarantined: 5
Time Elapsed: 1 min, 17 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.SearchEngineHijack, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|hboldpniicbdhlfcejjlkdgnbppiaajn, Quarantined, 332, 995470, , , , , , 

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 1
PUP.Optional.SearchEngineHijack, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\HBOLDPNIICBDHLFCEJJLKDGNBPPIAAJN, Quarantined, 332, 995470, 1.0.46966, , ame, , , 

File: 3
PUP.Optional.SearchEngineHijack, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 332, 995470, , , , , CC5D7431C68DDF152F02C9FADA5FECCE, BE4F69166992EF75FD2E7A1B6B7E9BF6399DDB538E916C9D3B21F9B83BB95498
PUP.Optional.SearchEngineHijack, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 332, 995470, , , , , E1CBD9E419132BB8B32D36F5C2441FEF, F622574A998ABAF11FA196E8BC03FF15D0651839502180CF3C680E7BECE063B4
PUP.Optional.SearchEngineHijack, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\HBOLDPNIICBDHLFCEJJLKDGNBPPIAAJN\1.0.7_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, 332, 995470, 1.0.46966, , ame, , BAF2CA3429120FE175C1A3184C14FFF1, 92A0242553775B2A6FD93D950116805915A90DC26849FDBFA4BACA6456015677

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.