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What is Twinkling Stars Background?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Twinkling Stars Background is adware and a forced Chrome extension.

How do I know if my computer is affected by Twinkling Stars Background?

You may see these warnings during install:

warning1.png

warning2.png

warning3.png

and see this entry in your list of installed Chrome extensions:

main.png

How did Twinkling Stars Background get on my computer?
Forced extensions use a typical method for distributing themselves. This particular one was also available in the webstore:

webstore.png

and through their site:

website.png

How do I remove Twinkling Stars Background?

Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this unwanted program.

  • Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
  • Double-click mb3-setup-consumer-{version}.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
  • Then click Finish.
  • Once the program has fully updated, select Scan Now on the Dashboard. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
  • If another update of the definitions is available, it will be implemented before the rest of the scanning procedure.
  • 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 Twinkling Stars Background?

  • No, Malwarebytes removes Twinkling Stars Background completely.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes help protect me?

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

We protect our customers from these extensions by blocking the sites that spread them:

protection2.png

Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

 

CHR Extension: (Twinkling Stars Background) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk [2018-06-06]

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\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0
       Adds the file background.html"="2/12/2018 3:20 PM, 671 bytes, A
       Adds the file manifest.json"="6/6/2018 8:51 AM, 1129 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="6/6/2018 8:51 AM, 5696 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="2/27/2018 11:54 AM, 2577 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\assets
       Adds the file 128.png"="6/6/2018 8:51 AM, 2842 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\css
       Adds the file option.css"="2/12/2018 3:17 PM, 38 bytes, A
       Adds the file popup.css"="2/12/2018 3:17 PM, 0 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\html
       Adds the file popup.html"="2/12/2018 3:17 PM, 438 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\js
       Adds the file background.bundle.js"="2/27/2018 11:54 AM, 2311 bytes, A
       Adds the file content.bundle.js"="2/12/2018 3:19 PM, 721 bytes, A
       Adds the file option.bundle.js"="2/12/2018 3:23 PM, 1415 bytes, A
       Adds the file popup.bundle.js"="2/12/2018 3:19 PM, 199 bytes, A
       Adds the file vendor.bundle.js"="2/27/2018 11:53 AM, 224012 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\lib
       Adds the file easel.js"="2/12/2018 3:24 PM, 179571 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk" = REG_SZ, "17575405B139A51B1066522FC8D21A2871D261D1D15E4C23F3751985901CC0C2"

Malwarebytes log:
 

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 6/6/18
Scan Time: 8:36 AM
Log File: fbff6341-6953-11e8-a5b1-080027235d76.json
Administrator: Yes

-Software Information-
Version: 3.3.1.2183
Components Version: 1.0.262
Update Package Version: 1.0.5374
License: Premium

-System Information-
OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: {computername}\{username}

-Scan Summary-
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 238715
Threats Detected: 24
Threats Quarantined: 24
Time Elapsed: 7 min, 23 sec

-Scan Options-
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Enabled
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: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 8
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\assets, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\html, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\css, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\lib, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\js, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\HODOKKOKCJMACJECBHDFFDBLNJFPDAFK, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374

File: 16
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\assets\128.png, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\css\option.css, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\css\popup.css, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\html\popup.html, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\js\background.bundle.js, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\js\content.bundle.js, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\js\option.bundle.js, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\js\popup.bundle.js, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\js\vendor.bundle.js, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\lib\easel.js, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\background.html, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hodokkokcjmacjecbhdffdblnjfpdafk\10.4.8_0\manifest.json, Quarantined, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374
Adware.ForcedExtension, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [1059], [528314],1.0.5374

Physical Sector: 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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