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Removal instructions for Shopping Assistant

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What is Shopping Assistant?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Shopping Assistant is a browser hijacker. These so-called "hijackers" alter your startpage or searchscopes so that the effected browser visits their site or one of their choice. This one also displays advertisements.

How do I know if my computer is effected by Shopping Assistant?

This is how the setup screen looks:

main.png

And you may see these toolbars/add-ons:

warning1.png

warning2.png

or this entry in your list of installed software:

warning4.png

How did Shopping Assistant get on my computer?

Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was bundled with other software.

How do I remove Shopping Assistant?

Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.

  • Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to your desktop.
  • Double-click mbam-setup-version.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
  • At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to the following:
    • Enable free trial of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium
    • Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
  • Then click Finish.
  • If an update is found, you will be prompted to download and install the latest version.
  • Once the program has loaded, select Scan now. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
  • When the scan is complete , make sure that everything is set to "Quarantine", and click Apply Actions.
  • Reboot your computer if prompted.
Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Shopping Assistant?
  • No, but for a full removal of the Firefox add-on you will need Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 2.00 beta or newer.
How would the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 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 Anti-Malware would have protected you against the Shopping Assistant hijacker. It would have warned you before the browser helper object could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

protection1.png

Technical details for experts

Signs in a HijackThis log:

O2 - BHO: Shopping Assistant - {4f873e90-52a7-4ebf-9619-2f3052ebbd12} - C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant\ShoppingAssistantbho.dllO23 - Service: Update Shopping Assistant - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant\updateShoppingAssistant.exe
Alterations made by the installer:

File system details  ---------------------------------------------    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant       Adds the file 0"="7/3/2014 10:31 AM, 223 bytes, A       Adds the file 7za.exe"="6/26/2014 8:04 PM, 536064 bytes, A       Adds the file ShoppingAssistant.FirstRun.exe"="6/26/2014 10:37 PM, 1123632 bytes, A       Adds the file ShoppingAssistant.ico"="6/26/2014 10:36 PM, 1150 bytes, A       Adds the file ShoppingAssistantBHO.dll"="6/26/2014 10:36 PM, 250160 bytes, A       Adds the file ShoppingAssistantUninstall.exe"="7/3/2014 10:31 AM, 240450 bytes, A       Adds the file updateShoppingAssistant.exe"="6/26/2014 10:36 PM, 318768 bytes, A       Adds the file updateShoppingAssistant.InstallState"="7/3/2014 10:31 AM, 5012 bytes, A    In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\extensions       Adds the file {bffe2d03-034a-4771-b92e-56bcceb43aef}.xpi"="6/26/2014 10:36 PM, 10856 bytes, ARegistry details  ------------------------------------------    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{1AA60054-57D9-4F99-9A55-D0FBFBE7ECD3}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "6DA01FAA-CA07-4ACE-8207-ACD58C54E8C9"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "F17988B1-0976-4DB2-B213-B0551244C0C0"       "id"="REG_SZ", "262"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4f873e90-52a7-4ebf-9619-2f3052ebbd12}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "Shopping Assistant"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4f873e90-52a7-4ebf-9619-2f3052ebbd12}\InprocServer32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant\ShoppingAssistantbho.dll"       "ThreadingModel"="REG_SZ", "Apartment"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4f873e90-52a7-4ebf-9619-2f3052ebbd12}\Programmable]    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4f873e90-52a7-4ebf-9619-2f3052ebbd12}\TypeLib]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{f3185f5f-fa55-4d4d-9e2b-b98ced6fe36c}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4f873e90-52a7-4ebf-9619-2f3052ebbd12}\Version]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "1.0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{C0AD1805-78CF-4BD6-9FD6-9B2D28CFCB13}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "IShoppingAssistantBHO"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{C0AD1805-78CF-4BD6-9FD6-9B2D28CFCB13}\ProxyStubClsid]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{C0AD1805-78CF-4BD6-9FD6-9B2D28CFCB13}\ProxyStubClsid32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{C0AD1805-78CF-4BD6-9FD6-9B2D28CFCB13}\TypeLib]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{F3185F5F-FA55-4D4D-9E2B-B98CED6FE36C}"       "Version"="REG_SZ", "1.0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{F3185F5F-FA55-4D4D-9E2B-B98CED6FE36C}\1.0]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "ShoppingAssistantIEClientLib"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{F3185F5F-FA55-4D4D-9E2B-B98CED6FE36C}\1.0\0\win32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant\ShoppingAssistantbho.dll"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{F3185F5F-FA55-4D4D-9E2B-B98CED6FE36C}\1.0\FLAGS]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{F3185F5F-FA55-4D4D-9E2B-B98CED6FE36C}\1.0\HELPDIR]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\ShoppingAssistant_RASAPI32]       "ConsoleTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "EnableConsoleTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "EnableFileTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "FileDirectory"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "%windir%\tracing"       "FileTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "MaxFileSize"="REG_DWORD", 1048576    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\ShoppingAssistant_RASMANCS]       "ConsoleTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "EnableConsoleTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "EnableFileTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "FileDirectory"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "%windir%\tracing"       "FileTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "MaxFileSize"="REG_DWORD", 1048576    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\updateShoppingAssistant_RASAPI32]       "ConsoleTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "EnableConsoleTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "EnableFileTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "FileDirectory"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "%windir%\tracing"       "FileTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "MaxFileSize"="REG_DWORD", 1048576    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\updateShoppingAssistant_RASMANCS]       "ConsoleTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "EnableConsoleTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "EnableFileTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "FileDirectory"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "%windir%\tracing"       "FileTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "MaxFileSize"="REG_DWORD", 1048576    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{4f873e90-52a7-4ebf-9619-2f3052ebbd12}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "Shopping Assistant"       "NoExplorer"="REG_DWORD", 1    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Shopping Assistant]       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant\ShoppingAssistant.ico"       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Shopping Assistant"       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "2014.06.26.203648"       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 2182       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "mailto:support@shoppingassistantapp.com"       "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant"       "InstallTime"="REG_SZ", "2014-07-03 10:31:37"       "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1       "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "Shopping Assistant"       "QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant\ShoppingAssistantuninstall.exe /S"       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant\ShoppingAssistantuninstall.exe"       "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", "http://shoppingassistantapp.com/support"       "URLUpdateInfo"="REG_SZ", "http://shoppingassistantapp.com"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Shopping Assistant]       "iid"="REG_SZ", "def_ShoppingAssistant"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Shopping Assistant\Chrome]       "sgc"="REG_SZ", "true"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Shopping Assistant\Firefox]       "sff"="REG_SZ", "false"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Shopping Assistant\Internet Explorer]       "sie"="REG_SZ", "false"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\eventlog\Application\Update Shopping Assistant]       "EventMessageFile"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\EventLogMessages.dll"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Update Shopping Assistant]       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Update Shopping Assistant"       "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1       "FailureActions"="REG_BINARY, ......................       "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, ""C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant\updateShoppingAssistant.exe""       "ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem"       "Start"="REG_DWORD", 2       "Type"="REG_DWORD", 16    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Approved Extensions]       "{4F873E90-52A7-4EBF-9619-2F3052EBBD12}"="REG_BINARY, ............    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{4F873E90-52A7-4EBF-9619-2F3052EBBD12}]       "VerCache"="REG_BINARY, ......................    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Shopping Assistant]       "id"="REG_SZ", "2014-07-03 10:31:37"       "iid"="REG_SZ", "def_ShoppingAssistant"       "is"="REG_SZ", "def_ShoppingAssistant"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Shopping Assistant\Chrome]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "A4E393A8-AFA4-4235-94E6-3AF342145979"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Shopping Assistant\Firefox]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "7DA32FC2-2D1D-4550-AFC4-C0AEE10AFA44"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Shopping Assistant\Internet Explorer]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "1C69E760-CCF7-468A-A167-6B4FC751FBDF"
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malwarewww.malwarebytes.orgScan Date: 7/3/2014Scan Time: 10:36:41 AMLogfile: mbamShoppingAssistant.txtAdministrator: YesVersion: 2.00.2.1012Malware Database: v2014.07.03.01Rootkit Database: v2014.07.01.01License: FreeMalware Protection: DisabledMalicious Website Protection: DisabledSelf-protection: DisabledOS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1CPU: x86File System: NTFSUser: MalwarebytesScan Type: Threat ScanResult: CompletedObjects Scanned: 236307Time Elapsed: 2 min, 45 secMemory: EnabledStartup: EnabledFilesystem: EnabledArchives: EnabledRootkits: DisabledHeuristics: EnabledPUP: EnabledPUM: EnabledProcesses: 1PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant\updateShoppingAssistant.exe, 316, Delete-on-Reboot, [e934ecafcab155e1b16f45503ec3b64a]Modules: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Keys: 10PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\Update Shopping Assistant, Quarantined, [e934ecafcab155e1b16f45503ec3b64a], PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{4f873e90-52a7-4ebf-9619-2f3052ebbd12}, Quarantined, [24f9efac017ad066120d0f860df4b54b], PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\TYPELIB\{f3185f5f-fa55-4d4d-9e2b-b98ced6fe36c}, Quarantined, [24f9efac017ad066120d0f860df4b54b], PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\INTERFACE\{C0AD1805-78CF-4BD6-9FD6-9B2D28CFCB13}, Quarantined, [24f9efac017ad066120d0f860df4b54b], PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXPLORER\BROWSER HELPER OBJECTS\{4F873E90-52A7-4EBF-9619-2F3052EBBD12}, Quarantined, [24f9efac017ad066120d0f860df4b54b], PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\SETTINGS\{4F873E90-52A7-4EBF-9619-2F3052EBBD12}, Quarantined, [24f9efac017ad066120d0f860df4b54b], PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\STATS\{4F873E90-52A7-4EBF-9619-2F3052EBBD12}, Quarantined, [24f9efac017ad066120d0f860df4b54b], PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{4F873E90-52A7-4EBF-9619-2F3052EBBD12}\INPROCSERVER32, Quarantined, [24f9efac017ad066120d0f860df4b54b], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}, Quarantined, [f7263f5c3a41f640bd89ee967a8827d9], PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\Shopping Assistant, Quarantined, [fd20bcdf4a31162098c2ae02f30fe719], Registry Values: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Data: 0(No malicious items detected)Folders: 1PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant, Delete-on-Reboot, [fd20bcdf4a31162098c2ae02f30fe719], Files: 11PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant\updateShoppingAssistant.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [e934ecafcab155e1b16f45503ec3b64a], PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant\ShoppingAssistantBHO.dll, Quarantined, [24f9efac017ad066120d0f860df4b54b], PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\1b9faa297a823f9f46fbebabb048d290076e52271759ed7772f3d6d1e5f050d6.exe, Quarantined, [8994455644374fe7fc24fd980ef325db], PUP.Optional.InstallCore, C:\Users\{username}\Downloads\googleupdatersetup.exe, Quarantined, [7ca1b2e93a414bebcc05afd574902fd1], PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant\ShoppingAssistant.ico, Quarantined, [fd20bcdf4a31162098c2ae02f30fe719], PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant\0, Quarantined, [fd20bcdf4a31162098c2ae02f30fe719], PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant\7za.exe, Quarantined, [fd20bcdf4a31162098c2ae02f30fe719], PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant\ShoppingAssistant.FirstRun.exe, Quarantined, [fd20bcdf4a31162098c2ae02f30fe719], PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant\ShoppingAssistantUninstall.exe, Quarantined, [fd20bcdf4a31162098c2ae02f30fe719], PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, C:\Program Files\Shopping Assistant\updateShoppingAssistant.InstallState, Quarantined, [fd20bcdf4a31162098c2ae02f30fe719], PUP.Optional.ShoppingAssistant.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\extensions\{bffe2d03-034a-4771-b92e-56bcceb43aef}.xpi, Quarantined, [938a1487ec8fe84e74eab4fc69996a96], Physical Sectors: 0(No malicious items detected)(end)
As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 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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