Asware.Ghokswa Quarantined and Removed but Returning

[NLS100]

So, repeated scans with Malwarebyte always return adware.ghokswa. Chrome browser indicates its out of date and will not update.  Following the trails, Registry entries for Ghokswa, many.

So heeding the warnings not to follow instructions in other threads posting here for assistance.

Standing by for instructions to proceed.

 

Best Regards

NLS100

[NLS100]

Requested Scan files posted as follows

 

FRST.txt, Additions.txt, shortcut.txt and Malwarebytes Threat Scan logs

Sorry for the delay but the Malwarebytes scan has been running for almost 90 minutes. 23 threats detected, related to Adware.Ghokswa and Chrome.  Chrome is also indicating that my version of Chrome cannot be updated.   I am also getting profile errors related to "earlier version of Chrome installed".

Primarily use Chrome as the default browser and rarely use Edge(installed)  or Firefox (not installed).

 

Thanks

Addition.txt

FRST.txt

MbamScanLog Threats.txt

Shortcut.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Hello @NLS100 and

Please follow the advice from the following topic and let me know if that helps or not and we'll go from there.

 

Thanks, Ron

 

[NLS100]

So, I deleted installed versions of Chrome and Chrome Canary using uninstall, then reloaded a fresh version of Google Chrome. 

Then followed the steps indicated in the email your referred, installed Adware, deleted a few minor items four  and reran scans again.  All came back clean.

After that ran Malwarebytes again and that scan came back clean.

Could this have been due to having Canary installed and having that reported back as adware.Ghokswa? Or perhaps picked up when I downloaded Canary?

Apparently all of Ghokswa references have now been removed from my system since they are no longer being reported back by MalwareBytes.

Will continue scanning and then see if Ghokswa returns.

Thanks for your help.

[AdvancedSetup]

It may simply have been a specific setting in Chrome that was not apparent to access for removal or change. When you uninstalled it removed the preferences, etc and I assume you did not have Chrome Sync enabled to bring it back.

We can and probably should at least scan your system though to make sure nothing else going on. If you like me to check, please run the following.

 

 

Please run the following steps and post back the logs as an attachment when ready.

STEP 01

• If you're already running Malwarebytes 3 then open Malwarebytes and check for updates. Then click on the Scan tab and select Threat Scan and click on Start Scan button.
• If you don't have Malwarebytes 3 installed yet please download it from here and install it.
• Once installed then open Malwarebytes and check for updates. Then click on the Scan tab and select Threat Scan and click on Start Scan button.
• Once the scan is completed click on the Export Summary button and save the file as a Text file to your desktop or other location you can find, and attach that log on your next reply.
• If Malwarebytes won't run then please skip to the next step and let me know on your next reply.

STEP 02

Please download AdwCleaner by Malwarebytes and save the file to your Desktop.

• Right-click on the program and select Run as Administrator to start the tool.
• Accept the Terms of use.
• Wait until the database is updated.
• Click Scan Now.
• When finished, please click Clean & Repair.
• Your PC should reboot now if any items were found.
• After reboot, a log file will be opened. Copy its content into your next reply.

 

RESTART THE COMPUTER Before running Step 3

STEP 03
Please download the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop.

Note: You need to run the version compatible with your system. You can check here if you're not sure if your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit

• Double-click to run it. When the tool opens, click Yes to disclaimer.
• Press the Scan button.
• It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please attach it to your reply.
• The first time the tool is run, it also makes another log (Addition.txt). If you've, run the tool before you need to place a check mark here.
• Please attach the Additions.txt log to your reply as well.

 

Thanks

Ron

 

[NLS100]

Ok. All run and results posted below.  Seems like no recurrence of Ghokswa.  Thanks.  Will keep monitoring.

 

Best Regards

NLS10

Addition.txt

AdwCleaner[C01].txt

AdwCleaner[S01].txt

FRST.txt

Mbam10102018.txt

Roguekiller 1010218.txt

Shortcut.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Please uninstall Java. You're running an old compromised version.

Then run the following fix.

Please download the attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop.
NOTE. It's important that both files, FRST or FRST64 and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.

NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on this particular machine. Running this on another machine may cause damage to your operating system.

Run FRST or FRST64 and press the Fix button just once and wait.
If the tool needs a restart please make sure you let the system restart normally and let the tool complete its run after restart.
The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt). Please attach or post it to your next reply.

Note: If the tool warned you about an outdated version please download and run the updated version.

fixlist.txt

 

Thanks, Ron

 

 

[AdvancedSetup]

Due to the lack of feedback, this topic is closed to prevent others from posting here.

If you need this topic reopened, please send a Private Message to any one of the moderating team members. Please include a link to this topic with your request.

This applies only to the originator of this topic. Other members who need assistance please start your own topic in a new thread.

Thanks