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What is Free Up Memory?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Free Up Memory is an adfraud tool. These adfraud applications earn money by connecting affected machines to websites in a way that makes the advertiser think you viewed their ads, when in reality you didn't.
Even though you may feel there is no harm in it for you, these PUPs may compromise your security and use your resources.

How do I know if my computer is affected by Free Up Memory?

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

main.png

this icon in your browsers' menu-bar:

icons.png

this screen if you click the icon:

warning5.png

and these warnings during install:

warning1.png

warning2.png

warning3.png

How did Free Up Memory get on my computer?

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

webstore.png

after a redirect from their advertisement:

website.png

How do I remove Free Up Memory?

Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted extension.

  • 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 Free Up Memory?

  • No, Malwarebytes removes Free Up Memory completely.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes help protect me?

We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this potentially unwanted program.

As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the Free Up Memory adfraud tool. It would have blocked their domain, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

 

protection1.png


Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

 

CHR Extension: (Free Up Memory) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof [2019-07-26]

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\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0
       Adds the file app.js"="7/3/2019 1:37 PM, 4593 bytes, A
       Adds the file background.html"="7/2/2019 4:59 PM, 183 bytes, A
       Adds the file func.js"="7/3/2019 1:30 PM, 1508 bytes, A
       Adds the file manifest.json"="7/26/2019 8:51 AM, 1102 bytes, A
       Adds the file menu.html"="7/2/2019 6:26 PM, 2762 bytes, A
       Adds the file menu.js"="7/2/2019 6:37 PM, 3000 bytes, A
       Adds the file styles.css"="7/2/2019 3:45 PM, 2090 bytes, A
       Adds the file suspended.css"="7/3/2019 10:01 AM, 94 bytes, A
       Adds the file suspended.html"="7/3/2019 10:10 AM, 303 bytes, A
       Adds the file suspended.js"="7/3/2019 1:38 PM, 891 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="7/26/2019 8:51 AM, 11958 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="7/3/2019 1:23 PM, 3552 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\icons
       Adds the file 128.png"="7/26/2019 8:51 AM, 5947 bytes, A
       Adds the file cancel.svg"="7/2/2019 12:28 PM, 329 bytes, A
       Adds the file clock.svg"="7/2/2019 12:28 PM, 337 bytes, A
       Adds the file reload.svg"="7/2/2019 12:28 PM, 516 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\img
       Adds the file logo@2x.png"="7/2/2019 2:15 PM, 9912 bytes, A
       Adds the file suspended.png"="7/2/2019 5:08 PM, 6977 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\libs
       Adds the file jquery.mswitch.css"="7/2/2019 3:17 PM, 1151 bytes, A
       Adds the file jquery.mswitch.js"="7/2/2019 5:40 PM, 3043 bytes, A
       Adds the file jquery-1.12.4.js"="7/2/2019 12:57 PM, 293430 bytes, A
       Adds the file jquery-ui.css"="7/2/2019 12:56 PM, 35973 bytes, A
       Adds the file jquery-ui.js"="7/2/2019 12:57 PM, 520714 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof
       Adds the file 000003.log"="7/26/2019 8:51 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="7/26/2019 8:51 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="7/26/2019 8:51 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="7/26/2019 8:51 AM, 184 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="7/26/2019 8:51 AM, 41 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof"="REG_SZ", "40D90A9F11DBA28A14234CF32C9730ED0FA1115B1E0690A737ABE0E56556194A"

Malwarebytes log:
 

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 7/26/19
Scan Time: 9:13 AM
Log File: d036a54e-af74-11e9-9a02-00ffdcc6fdfc.json

-Software Information-
Version: 3.7.1.2839
Components Version: 1.0.586
Update Package Version: 1.0.11726
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: 236526
Threats Detected: 39
Threats Quarantined: 39
Time Elapsed: 5 min, 50 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.FreeUpMemory, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 7
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\icons, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\libs, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\img, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Local Extension Settings\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\EXTENSIONS\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726

File: 31
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\icons\128.png, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\icons\cancel.svg, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\icons\clock.svg, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\icons\reload.svg, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\img\logo@2x.png, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\img\suspended.png, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\libs\jquery-1.12.4.js, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\libs\jquery-ui.css, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\libs\jquery-ui.js, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\libs\jquery.mswitch.css, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\libs\jquery.mswitch.js, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\app.js, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\background.html, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\func.js, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\manifest.json, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\menu.html, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\menu.js, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\styles.css, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\suspended.css, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\suspended.html, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\1.1_0\suspended.js, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\000003.log, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\CURRENT, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\LOCK, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\LOG, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\LOG.old, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\pjdjnlbnfpbheicpcnaeadccbdghajof\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726
PUP.Optional.FreeUpMemory, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [2595], [712262],1.0.11726

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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