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What is Pine Tree?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Pine Tree is a browser 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 one also displays advertisements.

How do I know if my computer is effected by Pine Tree?

You may see these browser extensions/add-ons:

warning1.png

warning2.png

or this entry in your list of installed programs:

warning4.png

How did Pine Tree get on my computer?

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

How do I remove Pine Tree?

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

  • 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 all Threats are selected, and click Remove Selected.
  • Restart your computer when prompted to do so.
Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Pine Tree?
  • No, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware removes Pine Tree completely.
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 Pine Tree 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

Technical details for experts

Signs in a HijackThis log:

O2 - BHO: Pine Tree 1.0.0.7 - {198925f1-49b9-47f6-8a88-7c1fd063c99a} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\PineTreebho.dll
Possible signs in FRST logs:

 () C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\bin\utilPineTree.exe BHO-x32: Pine Tree 1.0.0.7 -> {198925f1-49b9-47f6-8a88-7c1fd063c99a} -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\PineTreebho.dll [2015-05-05] (Pine Tree) FF Extension: Pine Tree 1.0.1 - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\Extensions\{875d4351-368a-4323-83aa-9e7e179f96d5}.xpi [2015-07-29] R2 Util Pine Tree; C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\bin\utilPineTree.exe [473328 2015-07-29] () C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine TreePine Tree (HKLM\...\Pine Tree) (Version: 2015.07.29.060502 - Pine Tree) <==== ATTENTION
Alterations made by the installer:

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)---------------------------------------------------    Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree       Adds the file {875d4351-368a-4323-83aa-9e7e179f96d5}.xpi"="7/28/2015 7:44 PM, 6410 bytes, A       Adds the file PineTree.ico"="7/29/2015 8:12 AM, 1150 bytes, A       Adds the file PineTreebho.dll"="5/5/2015 10:51 AM, 269040 bytes, A       Adds the file PineTreeUninstall.exe"="7/29/2015 8:12 AM, 248136 bytes, A    Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\bin       Adds the file utilPineTree.exe"="7/29/2015 9:03 AM, 473328 bytes, A       Adds the file utilPineTree.InstallState"="7/29/2015 1:18 PM, 5012 bytes, ARegistry details [View: All details] (Selection)------------------------------------------------    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "F5871A79-DE19-451D-98FD-5E712B2A0E26"       "{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}"="REG_SZ", "{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}"       "id"="REG_SZ", "332"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{93F3510A-24C2-46C4-8D69-963EA6F7C83C}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "IPineTree"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{93F3510A-24C2-46C4-8D69-963EA6F7C83C}\ProxyStubClsid32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{93F3510A-24C2-46C4-8D69-963EA6F7C83C}\TypeLib]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{938F2D7E-0345-44EE-8DCD-0CD2E0F4792C}"       "Version"="REG_SZ", "1.0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{938F2D7E-0345-44EE-8DCD-0CD2E0F4792C}\1.0]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "PineTreeIEClientLib"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{938F2D7E-0345-44EE-8DCD-0CD2E0F4792C}\1.0\0\win32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\PineTreebho.dll"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{938F2D7E-0345-44EE-8DCD-0CD2E0F4792C}\1.0\FLAGS]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{938F2D7E-0345-44EE-8DCD-0CD2E0F4792C}\1.0\HELPDIR]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{198925f1-49b9-47f6-8a88-7c1fd063c99a}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "Pine Tree 1.0.0.7"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{198925f1-49b9-47f6-8a88-7c1fd063c99a}\InprocServer32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\PineTreebho.dll"       "ThreadingModel"="REG_SZ", "Apartment"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{198925f1-49b9-47f6-8a88-7c1fd063c99a}\Programmable]    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{198925f1-49b9-47f6-8a88-7c1fd063c99a}\TypeLib]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{938f2d7e-0345-44ee-8dcd-0cd2e0f4792c}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{198925f1-49b9-47f6-8a88-7c1fd063c99a}\Version]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "1.0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "F5871A79-DE19-451D-98FD-5E712B2A0E26"       "{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}"="REG_SZ", "{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}"       "id"="REG_SZ", "332"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Interface\{93F3510A-24C2-46C4-8D69-963EA6F7C83C}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "IPineTree"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Interface\{93F3510A-24C2-46C4-8D69-963EA6F7C83C}\ProxyStubClsid32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Interface\{93F3510A-24C2-46C4-8D69-963EA6F7C83C}\TypeLib]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{938F2D7E-0345-44EE-8DCD-0CD2E0F4792C}"       "Version"="REG_SZ", "1.0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Pine Tree]       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\PineTree.ico"       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Pine Tree"       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "2015.07.29.060502"       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 737       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "mailto:support@pinetreeinfo.com"       "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree"       "InstallTime"="REG_SZ", "2015-07-29 13:18:31"       "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1       "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "Pine Tree"       "QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\PineTreeuninstall.exe /S"       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\PineTreeuninstall.exe"       "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", "http://pinetreeinfo.com/support"       "URLUpdateInfo"="REG_SZ", "http://pinetreeinfo.com"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{198925f1-49b9-47f6-8a88-7c1fd063c99a}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "Pine Tree 1.0.0.7"       "NoExplorer"="REG_DWORD", 1    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Pine Tree]       "iid"="REG_SZ", "dq"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Pine Tree\Chrome]       "sgc"="REG_SZ", "true"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Pine Tree\Firefox]       "sff"="REG_SZ", "false"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Pine Tree\Internet Explorer]       "sie"="REG_SZ", "false"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\EventLog\Application\Util Pine Tree]       "EventMessageFile"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\EventLogMessages.dll"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Util Pine Tree       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Util Pine Tree"       "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1       "FailureActions"="REG_BINARY, ......................       "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\bin\utilPineTree.exe""       "ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem"       "Start"="REG_DWORD", 2       "Type"="REG_DWORD", 16       "WOW64"="REG_DWORD", 1    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Pine Tree]       "id"="REG_SZ", "2015-07-29 13:18:31"       "iid"="REG_SZ", "dq"       "is"="REG_SZ", "dqp1nl"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Pine Tree\Chrome]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "18152535-D766-40C7-81FC-777319C3E194"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Pine Tree\Firefox]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "71BA41FA-00A5-4CDE-B553-14069DFC95D9"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Pine Tree\Internet Explorer]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "32E87011-2424-4496-9CA9-9FA20FDFD86B"
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malwarewww.malwarebytes.orgScan Date: 7/29/2015Scan Time: 1:33 PMLogfile: mbamPineTree.txtAdministrator: YesVersion: 2.1.8.1057Malware Database: v2015.07.29.02Rootkit Database: v2015.07.29.01License: PremiumMalware Protection: DisabledMalicious Website Protection: DisabledSelf-protection: DisabledOS: Windows 8.1CPU: x64File System: NTFSUser: {username}Scan Type: Threat ScanResult: CompletedObjects Scanned: 344543Time Elapsed: 31 min, 31 secMemory: EnabledStartup: EnabledFilesystem: EnabledArchives: EnabledRootkits: EnabledHeuristics: EnabledPUP: EnabledPUM: EnabledProcesses: 1PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\bin\utilPineTree.exe, 1484, Delete-on-Reboot, [691de2057b0ff83e6602561ca3629b65]Modules: 2PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\PineTreebho.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [b1d5ba2d404a72c4e7812250788d7987], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\PineTreebho.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [b1d5ba2d404a72c4e7812250788d7987], Registry Keys: 18PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\Util Pine Tree, Quarantined, [691de2057b0ff83e6602561ca3629b65], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\CLSID\{198925f1-49b9-47f6-8a88-7c1fd063c99a}, Quarantined, [b1d5ba2d404a72c4e7812250788d7987], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\TYPELIB\{938f2d7e-0345-44ee-8dcd-0cd2e0f4792c}, Quarantined, [b1d5ba2d404a72c4e7812250788d7987], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\INTERFACE\{93F3510A-24C2-46C4-8D69-963EA6F7C83C}, Quarantined, [b1d5ba2d404a72c4e7812250788d7987], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\INTERFACE\{93F3510A-24C2-46C4-8D69-963EA6F7C83C}, Quarantined, [b1d5ba2d404a72c4e7812250788d7987], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\INTERFACE\{93F3510A-24C2-46C4-8D69-963EA6F7C83C}, Quarantined, [b1d5ba2d404a72c4e7812250788d7987], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\TYPELIB\{938f2d7e-0345-44ee-8dcd-0cd2e0f4792c}, Quarantined, [b1d5ba2d404a72c4e7812250788d7987], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\TYPELIB\{938f2d7e-0345-44ee-8dcd-0cd2e0f4792c}, Quarantined, [b1d5ba2d404a72c4e7812250788d7987], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXPLORER\BROWSER HELPER OBJECTS\{198925F1-49B9-47F6-8A88-7C1FD063C99A}, Quarantined, [b1d5ba2d404a72c4e7812250788d7987], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\CLSID\{198925F1-49B9-47F6-8A88-7C1FD063C99A}, Quarantined, [b1d5ba2d404a72c4e7812250788d7987], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\SETTINGS\{198925F1-49B9-47F6-8A88-7C1FD063C99A}, Quarantined, [b1d5ba2d404a72c4e7812250788d7987], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\STATS\{198925F1-49B9-47F6-8A88-7C1FD063C99A}, Quarantined, [b1d5ba2d404a72c4e7812250788d7987], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}, Quarantined, [6d194d9a4743f54185b8e8dda55dc43c], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}, Quarantined, [6d194d9a4743f54185b8e8dda55dc43c], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}, Quarantined, [6d194d9a4743f54185b8e8dda55dc43c], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\Pine Tree, Quarantined, [d6b0e2058bff85b178f0c7ab37ce19e7], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\Pine Tree, Quarantined, [72145c8bb2d8cb6b8f7a2ee6887bb54b], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\Pine Tree, Quarantined, [7016dd0a6a2001350a0045cf2cd7bc44], Registry Values: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Data: 0(No malicious items detected)Folders: 3PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree, Delete-on-Reboot, [7e0822c5612964d264f37d8842c10df3], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\bin, Delete-on-Reboot, [7e0822c5612964d264f37d8842c10df3], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\Pine Tree, Quarantined, [30569e499af01d192038b4519370b749], Files: 9PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\bin\utilPineTree.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [691de2057b0ff83e6602561ca3629b65], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\PineTreebho.dll, Quarantined, [b1d5ba2d404a72c4e7812250788d7987], PUP.Optional.BundleInstaller.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\Setup.exe.exe, Quarantined, [c0c6e007a2e8a1954cd34f7959a8ed13], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\PineTreeUninstall.exe, Quarantined, [d6b0e2058bff85b178f0c7ab37ce19e7], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\72506fc4-ba91-48ec-9032-590b27a0f97c\pinetreesetup.exe, Quarantined, [295d5790602a60d686e2b8baca3b08f8], Trojan.Dropper, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\766c0240-9075-4c1c-a295-ef766a8889b2\setup.exe, Quarantined, [f88efdeacbbfc86e163698e955ac926e], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\PineTree.ico, Quarantined, [7e0822c5612964d264f37d8842c10df3], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\{875d4351-368a-4323-83aa-9e7e179f96d5}.xpi, Quarantined, [7e0822c5612964d264f37d8842c10df3], PUP.Optional.PineTree.A, C:\Program Files (x86)\Pine Tree\bin\utilPineTree.InstallState, Quarantined, [7e0822c5612964d264f37d8842c10df3], 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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