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What is SearchStreams?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that SearchStreams is adware. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing.
This particular one hijacks your search results.

How do I know if my computer is affected by SearchStreams?

You may see these warnings during install:

warning1.png

warning2.png

warning3.png

This entry in your list of installed Chrome extensions:

main.png

this icon in your browsers' menu bar:

icons.png

and this changed setting:

warning5.png

How did SearchStreams 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 SearchStreams?

Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this adware program.

  • Please download Malwarebytes for Windows to your desktop.
  • Double-click MBSetup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
  • When your Malwarebytes for Windows installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen.
  • Click on the Get started button.
  • Click Scan to start a Threat Scan.
  • When the scan is finished click Quarantine to remove the found threats.
  • Reboot the system if prompted to complete the removal process.

Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of SearchStreams?

  • No, Malwarebytes removes SearchStreams 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 SearchStreams adware. It would have blocked their domain.


 

protection1.png

 

Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

 

CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://feed.searchstreams.com/?q={searchTerms}&publisher=searchstreams&barcodeid=569870000000000
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> SearchStreams
CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://api.searchstreams.com/suggest/get?q={searchTerms}
CHR Extension: (SearchStreams) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pdgmalcknocffegnfogakhfakkhgjkdj [2020-03-23]

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\pdgmalcknocffegnfogakhfakkhgjkdj\1.1.0_0
       Adds the file manifest.json"="3/23/2020 8:52 AM, 2096 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pdgmalcknocffegnfogakhfakkhgjkdj\1.1.0_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="3/23/2020 8:52 AM, 11801 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="2/25/2020 3:11 PM, 2049 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pdgmalcknocffegnfogakhfakkhgjkdj\1.1.0_0\images
       Adds the file logo-white-text.png"="2/25/2020 3:11 PM, 0 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pdgmalcknocffegnfogakhfakkhgjkdj\1.1.0_0\images\icons
       Adds the file 128x128.png"="3/23/2020 8:52 AM, 7212 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16x16.png"="3/23/2020 8:52 AM, 585 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64x64.png"="3/23/2020 8:52 AM, 3354 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pdgmalcknocffegnfogakhfakkhgjkdj\1.1.0_0\scripts
       Adds the file background.js"="2/25/2020 3:11 PM, 998868 bytes, A
       Adds the file sitecontent.js"="2/25/2020 3:11 PM, 77 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pdgmalcknocffegnfogakhfakkhgjkdj
       Adds the file 000003.log"="3/23/2020 8:54 AM, 778 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="3/23/2020 8:52 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="3/23/2020 8:52 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="3/23/2020 8:54 AM, 184 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="3/23/2020 8:52 AM, 41 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\_crx_pdgmalcknocffegnfogakhfakkhgjkdj
       Adds the file SearchStreams.ico"="3/23/2020 8:52 AM, 189195 bytes, A
       Adds the file SearchStreams.ico.md5"="3/23/2020 8:52 AM, 16 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "pdgmalcknocffegnfogakhfakkhgjkdj"="REG_SZ", "825763FF885576CF8E3FA2AD12F43E1F5983C44D4945208DA2F8BE13EBF6055B"

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 3/23/20
Scan Time: 9:02 AM
Log File: 9b785a34-6cdc-11ea-93cc-00ffdcc6fdfc.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.1.0.56
Components Version: 1.0.835
Update Package Version: 1.0.21216
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: 234587
Threats Detected: 14
Threats Quarantined: 14
Time Elapsed: 9 min, 48 sec

-Scan Options-
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Disabled
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
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|pdgmalcknocffegnfogakhfakkhgjkdj, Quarantined, 15078, 799722, , , , 

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 2
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pdgmalcknocffegnfogakhfakkhgjkdj, Quarantined, 15078, 799722, , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\PDGMALCKNOCFFEGNFOGAKHFAKKHGJKDJ, Quarantined, 15078, 799722, 1.0.21216, , ame, 

File: 11
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 15078, 799722, , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 15078, 799722, , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pdgmalcknocffegnfogakhfakkhgjkdj\000003.log, Quarantined, 15078, 799722, , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pdgmalcknocffegnfogakhfakkhgjkdj\CURRENT, Quarantined, 15078, 799722, , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pdgmalcknocffegnfogakhfakkhgjkdj\LOCK, Quarantined, 15078, 799722, , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pdgmalcknocffegnfogakhfakkhgjkdj\LOG, Quarantined, 15078, 799722, , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pdgmalcknocffegnfogakhfakkhgjkdj\LOG.old, Quarantined, 15078, 799722, , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pdgmalcknocffegnfogakhfakkhgjkdj\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 15078, 799722, , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\PDGMALCKNOCFFEGNFOGAKHFAKKHGJKDJ\1.1.0_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, 15078, 799722, 1.0.21216, , ame, 
PUP.Optional.PushNotifications, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 216, 802150, 1.0.21216, , ame, 
PUP.Optional.PushNotifications, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 216, 802150, 1.0.21216, , ame, 

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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