Reoccurring PUP

[anchorman529]

I keep getting a notice that 36 items (PUP.Optional.Spigot.Generic) have been blocked. It has been 5 days in a row. I quarantine them, then delete them. Theykeep showing up every day as identified? How can I permanently remove them. I saw a similar post and followed the instructions to download and run FRST and attach the two log files. They are attached. Let me know what to do next.

Addition.txt FRST.txt

[Maurice Naggar]

Hi @anchorman529    

My name is Maurice.  I will be helping and guiding you.

 

I understand that this pc has recurring P U P detections.

We need to see the actual Malwarebytes for Windows logs.

We need to get information from this machine in order to have the proper detail to help you forward.
 NOTE: The tools and the information obtained is safe and not harmful to your privacy or your computer, please allow the programs to run if blocked by your system.

    Download Malwarebytes Support Tool
    
    
    Once the file is downloaded, open your Downloads folder/location of the downloaded file
    Double-click mb-support-1.4.0.615.exe to run the report
        You may be prompted by User Account Control (UAC) to allow changes to be made to your computer. Click Yes to consent.
        
    Place a checkmark next to Accept License Agreement and click Next
    You will be presented with a page stating, "Get Started!"

    Do NOT use the button “Start repair” !
    Click the Advanced tab on the left column
    
    Click the Gather Logs button
    
    A progress bar will appear and the program will proceed with getting logs from your computer
   
    Upon completion, click a file named mbst-grab-results.zip will be saved to your Desktop. Click OK
    Please attach the ZIP file in your next reply.

Thank you.

Maurice

 

[anchorman529]

Ok, file ismbst-grab-results.zip attached.

[Maurice Naggar]

Thanks for the support tool report.  Lets please have patience on the following cleanup attempts.  Lets start first, with a couple of steps.

[ 1 ]

go to https://www.google.com/settings/chrome/sync and sign into your account.
Scroll down until you see the "reset sync" button and click on the button
At the prompt click on "Ok".

 

[ 2 ]

I would suggest to download, Save, and then run Malwarebytes ADWCLEANER.

Please close Chrome and all other open web browsers after you have saved the Adwcleaner and before you start Adwcleaner.

 

Please download the current release for Malwarebytes AdwCleaner from here:
https://downloads.malwarebytes.com/file/adwcleaner

 

Go to the folder where you saved Adwcleaner. Double click Adwcleaner to start it.

At the prompt for license agreement, review and then click on I agree.

 

You will then see a main screen for Adwcleaner. ( if you do not see it right away, minimized the other open windows, so you can see Adwcleaner).

Then click on Dashboard button.

Click the blue button "Scan Now".

 

allow it a few minutes to finish the Scan.

 

You should then see a screen showing "Scan results".

Review what is listed. If something is listed that you know for sure is safe, then for that line, click the check-box on the left so that it is un-checked.

(NOTE, clicking the small right pointed little arrow, will cause the screen to refresh & show all line items . )

 

When ready, click on the button "Clean and repair".

If prompted to restart then click on "Clean & Restart Now".

 

When You see screen with "Your cleanup is complete", click on the View Log file button.

It should then show as a open window in your text editor ( normally Notepad).

Do a File >> Save As, given it a unique name and Save to your Desktop or some other permanent folder.

 

Kindly provide a copy of that run report. Attach it with reply.

 

When done with Adwcleaner, click the X button to Exit out.

Thank you.

 

[anchorman529]

OK, I followed the instructions and the log file is attached.

Waiting for any further instructions.

AdwCleaner[C00].txt

[Maurice Naggar]

Thank you for the Adwcleaner report.   That is a good run.

 

Let's do one new run with Malwarebytes for Windows.

Start Malwarebytes.

Click Settings. Click Protection tab & scroll down to Scan options.

On the section "Potential Threat Protection"
look down at the one "Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs)" look and make sure it is set to
"Always detect PUPS ".

and

look down at the one "Potential Unwanted Modifications (PUM)" look and make sure it is set to
"Always detect PUM ".

and
scroll all the way down to the section Automatic Quarantine
On the line "Automatically quarantine detected malware" be sure it is ON



Then once all set there, click on SCAN button
Then insure Threat scan has a check mark. Then click Start scan.
Review the results list.
Then I would suggest you make sure all lines have a check mark

To that end, if you click the very top left checkbox you can force all detected lines ( if any are detected)  to be selected for removal. Be sure each line is checked.

Then you can proceed to click on the blue button Quarantine selected.

Let me know how it goes.
In Malwarebytes.
Click the Reports button ( on the left )
Look for the "Scan Report" that has the most recent Date and time.

When located, click the check box for it and click on View Report.
Then click the Export button at the bottom left.
Then select Text File (*.txt)

Put in a name for that file and remember where the file is created.

Then attach that file with your email.   and Be sure to tell me, How is the situation now at this point?
Thank you.

[anchorman529]

Ran the scan with Malwarebytes and it found 29 items. Before today it was finding 36 items every time the scan ran.

Log file is attached.Scan0624.txt

[Maurice Naggar]

Hi,

Thanks for the scan report.  The tagged items are due to  a Chrome extension, Earth And Satelite Maps.

That is what the location of the tagged elements points to.

Lets get the "Earth And Satelite Maps" extension removed from the Chrome browser.

Start Chrome.

Look on the upper top right and click on the 3 dots ( or dashes) menu icon of Chrome ( top bar). 

Then click on More Tools > then click on EXTENSIONS.

 

Look for Earth And Satelite Maps

then if you see on its right a blue color slider, click or slide it to the left so that it is dimmed to grey color ( turned off)

Then click on REMOVE with your mouse.

 

That ought to take care of it. Keep me advised.

Sincerely,

[anchorman529]

I found the Earth and Satellite Maps extension. The On/Off slider was already in the Off position. I removed the extension and then performed a Malwarebytes scan. The scan came back clean with nothing found. I performed another scan this morning just to be sure, and there were no threats detected.

Thank you very much for your help.

-Tom

[Maurice Naggar]

Hi,  That is great.   I am very glad to help.   You are welcome.

Allow me to relay some safety best practices, before closing the case.

Safer practices & malware prevention:
Follow best practices when browsing the Internet, especially on opening links coming from untrusted sources.
First rule of internet safety: slow down & think before you "click".
Free games & free programs are like "candy". We do not accept them from "strangers".

Never open attachments that come with unexpected ( out of the blue ) email no matter how enticing.
Never open attachments from the email itself. Do not double click in the email. Always Save first and then scan with antivirus program.

Never click links without first hovering your mouse over the link and seeing if it is going to an odd address ( one that does not fit or is odd looking or has typos).

 

Pay close attention when installing 3rd-party programs. It is important that you pay attention to the license agreements and installation screens when installing anything off of the Internet. If an installation screen offers you Custom or Advanced installation options, it is a good idea to select these as they will typically disclose what other 3rd party software will also be installed.
Take great care in every stage of the process and every offer screen, and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next".

Use a Standard user account rather than an administrator-rights account when "surfing" the web.
See more info on Corrine's SecurityGarden Blog http://securitygarden.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_7.html
Dont remove your current login. Just use the new Standard-user-level one for everyday use while on the internet.


Check in at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com 
Windows Update and install any Important Updates offered.

Make certain that Automatic Updates is enabled.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12373/windows-update-faq

Keep your system and programs up to date. Several programs release security updates on a regular basis to patch vulnerabilities. Keeping your software patched up prevents attackers from being able to exploit them to drop malware.

For other added tips, read "10 easy ways to prevent malware infection"

..

If you have any questions at this time, just let me know.

All best wishes to you.

Sincerely,

Maurice

[AdvancedSetup]

Glad we could help.

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