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What is Reading Cursors?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Reading Cursors is a potentially unwanted program that behaves like adware.
This particular one adds advertisements at the top of your Google search results.

How do I know if my computer is affected by Reading Cursors?

You may see these warnings during install:

warning1.png

warning2.png

this icon in your Chrome menu-bar:

icons.png

and this entry in your list of installed Chrome extensions:

main.png

Despite the claim on their website that there is a compatible extension for Firefox, you'll see this warning when you try to install it:

FFfail.png

How did Reading Cursors get on my computer?

Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was downloaded from the webstore:

webstore.png

after a redirect from their website:

website.png

How do I remove Reading Cursors?

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 Reading Cursors?

  • No, Malwarebytes removes Reading Cursors completely.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes help protect me?

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

As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the Reading Cursors adware. It would have warned you about their website, giving you a chance to stop before it became too late.
 

protection2.png


Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

CHR Extension: (Reading Cursors) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac [2019-06-12]

Significant changes 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\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0
       Adds the file 128.png"="6/12/2019 9:16 AM, 1774 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16.png"="6/12/2019 9:16 AM, 555 bytes, A
       Adds the file 48.png"="6/12/2019 9:16 AM, 1872 bytes, A
       Adds the file background.js"="5/15/2019 2:50 PM, 3145 bytes, A
       Adds the file jquery-3.3.1.slim.js"="5/7/2019 10:12 AM, 313918 bytes, A
       Adds the file manifest.json"="6/12/2019 9:16 AM, 1281 bytes, A
       Adds the file page.js"="5/15/2019 11:19 AM, 1979 bytes, A
       Adds the file popup.html"="5/7/2019 10:12 AM, 451 bytes, A
       Adds the file popup.js"="5/7/2019 10:12 AM, 1764 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0\_locales\en
       Adds the file messages.json"="6/12/2019 9:16 AM, 145 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="6/12/2019 9:16 AM, 4129 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="5/15/2019 2:19 PM, 2283 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac
       Adds the file 000003.log"="6/12/2019 9:17 AM, 493 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="6/12/2019 9:17 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="6/12/2019 9:17 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="6/12/2019 9:17 AM, 185 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="6/12/2019 9:17 AM, 41 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac"="REG_SZ", "AFE740E14B34461CAEE3BDB4653E6B935C1081D21CC954CD99C840BE2A069901"

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 6/12/19
Scan Time: 9:28 AM
Log File: bac70f72-8ce3-11e9-b52c-00ffdcc6fdfc.json

-Software Information-
Version: 3.7.1.2839
Components Version: 1.0.586
Update Package Version: 1.0.11008
License: Premium

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

-Scan Summary-
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Scan Initiated By: Manual
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 236181
Threats Detected: 26
Threats Quarantined: 26
Time Elapsed: 6 min, 28 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: 1
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 6
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Local Extension Settings\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0\_locales\en, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0\_locales, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\LJDHBMPGJONIIPCEOLIMMOGFINBCOFAC, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008

File: 19
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\000003.log, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\CURRENT, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\LOCK, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\LOG, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\LJDHBMPGJONIIPCEOLIMMOGFINBCOFAC\0.0.6_0\BACKGROUND.JS, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0\_locales\en\messages.json, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0\128.png, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0\16.png, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0\48.png, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0\jquery-3.3.1.slim.js, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0\manifest.json, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0\page.js, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0\popup.html, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008
PUP.Optional.ResultSpark.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\ljdhbmpgjoniipceolimmogfinbcofac\0.0.6_0\popup.js, Quarantined, [14643], [689255],1.0.11008

Physical Sector: 0
(No malicious items detected)

WMI: 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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