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What is Play N Start?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Play N Start 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 affected by Play N Start?

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

main.png

and these warnings during install:

warning1.png

warning3.png

warning2.png

and you will see this icon in your Chrome menu bar:

icons.png

and this changed setting:

warning4.png

How did Play N Start get on my computer?

Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was downloaded through their website:

website.png

that redirected us to the webstore:

webstore.png

How do I remove Play N Start?

Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially 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 Play N Start?

  • No, Malwarebytes removes Play N Start completely.

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 the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the Play N Start hijacker. It would have blocked their site:
 

protection2.png


Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:
 

CHR Extension: (Play N Start) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec [2018-06-14]

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\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0
       Adds the file index.html"="5/3/2018 7:32 AM, 4382 bytes, A
       Adds the file manifest.json"="6/14/2018 11:19 AM, 1212 bytes, A
       Adds the file privacy-policy.txt"="5/3/2018 7:32 AM, 6650 bytes, A
       Adds the file terms.txt"="5/3/2018 7:32 AM, 9833 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="6/14/2018 11:19 AM, 7067 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="5/3/2018 11:30 AM, 4229 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\css
       Adds the file style.css"="4/23/2018 12:06 PM, 2065 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\icons
       Adds the file amazon.png"="4/23/2018 12:06 PM, 2395 bytes, A
       Adds the file ebay.png"="4/23/2018 12:06 PM, 2510 bytes, A
       Adds the file facebook.png"="4/23/2018 12:06 PM, 1858 bytes, A
       Adds the file instagram.png"="4/23/2018 12:06 PM, 2262 bytes, A
       Adds the file linkedin.png"="4/23/2018 12:06 PM, 2006 bytes, A
       Adds the file pinterest.png"="4/23/2018 12:06 PM, 2728 bytes, A
       Adds the file twitter.png"="4/23/2018 12:06 PM, 2159 bytes, A
       Adds the file yahoo.png"="4/23/2018 12:06 PM, 2222 bytes, A
       Adds the file youtube.png"="4/23/2018 12:06 PM, 2298 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\imgs
       Adds the file icon128.png"="6/14/2018 11:19 AM, 16102 bytes, A
       Adds the file icon16.png"="6/14/2018 11:19 AM, 877 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\js
       Adds the file ac.js"="5/3/2018 7:32 AM, 2456 bytes, A
       Adds the file loader.js"="5/3/2018 7:32 AM, 5268 bytes, A
       Adds the file new_tab.js"="5/3/2018 7:32 AM, 2687 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\js\official
       Adds the file bootstrap.min.js"="4/23/2018 12:06 PM, 35601 bytes, A
       Adds the file jquery.min.js"="4/23/2018 12:06 PM, 93099 bytes, A
       Adds the file jqueryui.min.js"="4/23/2018 12:06 PM, 228002 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\vertical
       Adds the file icon_games.png"="4/23/2018 12:06 PM, 4093 bytes, A
       Adds the file icon_movies.png"="4/23/2018 12:06 PM, 3348 bytes, A
       Adds the file icon_music.png"="4/23/2018 12:06 PM, 3785 bytes, A
       Adds the file icon_tvsport.png"="4/24/2018 2:22 PM, 23993 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec"="REG_SZ", "A482AAF76718831881A5F31F7CD66ADBC369274851E28A8CED77B1574E011386"

Malwarebytes log:
 

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 6/14/18
Scan Time: 11:28 AM
Log File: 414250b8-6fb5-11e8-b181-080027235d76.json
Administrator: Yes

-Software Information-
Version: 3.3.1.2183
Components Version: 1.0.262
Update Package Version: 1.0.5476
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: 238576
Threats Detected: 39
Threats Quarantined: 39
Time Elapsed: 2 min, 45 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: 9
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\js\official, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\vertical, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\icons, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\imgs, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\css, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\js, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\CCOBCDNCLEJMEIIOMFCPFJLMMDFLLEEC, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476

File: 30
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\CCOBCDNCLEJMEIIOMFCPFJLMMDFLLEEC\1.0.1_0\PRIVACY-POLICY.TXT, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\css\style.css, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\icons\amazon.png, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\icons\ebay.png, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\icons\facebook.png, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\icons\instagram.png, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\icons\linkedin.png, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\icons\pinterest.png, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\icons\twitter.png, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\icons\yahoo.png, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\icons\youtube.png, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\imgs\icon128.png, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\imgs\icon16.png, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\js\official\bootstrap.min.js, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\js\official\jquery.min.js, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\js\official\jqueryui.min.js, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\js\ac.js, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\js\loader.js, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\js\new_tab.js, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\vertical\icon_games.png, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\vertical\icon_movies.png, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\vertical\icon_music.png, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\vertical\icon_tvsport.png, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\index.html, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\manifest.json, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476
PUP.Optional.PlayNSearch.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ccobcdnclejmeiiomfcpfjlmmdflleec\1.0.1_0\terms.txt, Quarantined, [14268], [526129],1.0.5476

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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