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What is Search Box DS?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Search Box DS is a search 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.

How do I know if my computer is affected by Search Box DS?

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

main.png

and these warnings during install:

warning1.png

warning2.png

warning3.png

warning4.png

You will see this icon in your Chrome menu-bar:

icons.png

and this changed setting:

warning5.png

How did Search Box DS get on my computer?

Browser hijackers 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 Search Box DS?

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 Search Box DS?

  • No, Malwarebytes removes Search Box DS 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 Search Box DS hijacker. It would have blocked their website, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

 

protection2.png


Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

 

CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://feed.searchboxlive.com?st=ds&q={searchTerms}&publisher=searchboxds&barcodeid=561640000000000
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> SearchBox
CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://api.searchboxlive.com/suggest/get?q={searchTerms}
CHR Extension: (SearchBox) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj [2019-08-23]

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\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0
       Adds the file closer.js"="8/7/2018 11:31 AM, 15 bytes, A
       Adds the file manifest.json"="8/23/2019 8:53 AM, 2097 bytes, A
       Adds the file tab.html"="8/7/2018 11:31 AM, 165 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="8/23/2019 8:53 AM, 841 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="8/21/2019 9:40 AM, 2131 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0\images
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0\images\icons
       Adds the file 128x128.png"="8/23/2019 8:53 AM, 6201 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16x16.png"="8/23/2019 8:53 AM, 543 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64x64.png"="8/23/2019 8:53 AM, 2925 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0\scripts
       Adds the file background.js"="8/21/2019 9:48 AM, 32824 bytes, A
       Adds the file sitecontent.js"="8/20/2019 4:05 PM, 77 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\_crx_hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj
       Adds the file Search Box DS.ico"="8/23/2019 8:53 AM, 186207 bytes, A
       Adds the file Search Box DS.ico.md5"="8/23/2019 8:53 AM, 16 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj"="REG_SZ", "322222313B40FAE1D3310EE0605E9758DC374DF75FC506577F97A33EB4289ADA"

Malwarebytes log:
 

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 8/23/19
Scan Time: 9:03 AM
Log File: 1a75b59a-c574-11e9-8bea-00ffdcc6fdfc.json

-Software Information-
Version: 3.8.3.2965
Components Version: 1.0.613
Update Package Version: 1.0.12147
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: 236304
Threats Detected: 19
Threats Quarantined: 19
Time Elapsed: 10 min, 25 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.SearchBoxLive, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj, Quarantined, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 6
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0\images\icons, Quarantined, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0\scripts, Quarantined, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0\images, Quarantined, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0, Quarantined, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\HFBJAJCPICFPKIIIAJGGNPHIBCABKDJJ, Quarantined, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147

File: 12
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\HFBJAJCPICFPKIIIAJGGNPHIBCABKDJJ\1.0.2_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0\images\icons\128x128.png, Quarantined, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0\images\icons\16x16.png, Quarantined, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0\images\icons\64x64.png, Quarantined, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0\scripts\background.js, Quarantined, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0\scripts\sitecontent.js, Quarantined, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0\closer.js, Quarantined, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147
PUP.Optional.SearchBoxLive, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\hfbjajcpicfpkiiiajggnphibcabkdjj\1.0.2_0\tab.html, Quarantined, [14748], [723101],1.0.12147

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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