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Baffling Chrome fake update scare


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I am a pro I.T. guy who got spooked on my Windows 8.1 PC running Chrome recently. The machine is behind a Sophos XG firewall, runs NOD32 and MalwareBytes. It also runs Umbrella (OpenDNS).

A few days ago I was refreshing some pages like sheets.google.com and got the "Run the Repl" screen below. It was during a very busy testing phase of a site and I assumed that was part of our developers' bug pages.

Two days later the fake Chrome update appeared. I am used to fake pop-ups on funky domains, but notice in the address bar that this is appearing on legitimate URLs. Of course I didn't click it but I couldn't manage to run the developer mode to try to figure out what was on the page.

The browser closed after I started running some security software which freaked me out a bit. I ran MalwareBytes, NOD32, HitManPro Alert and the MS removal tool. None of them found anything. I have not yet run an offline scan because this machine is five years old that none of the bootable solutions seem to have drivers for.

I completely removed Chrome and all the leftover folders. My extension were all major ones like Adobe and some analytics tag checkers. from Bing and Gooel Later I re-installed Chrome which I downloaded from another PC making sure the setup file was official. I've not seen the issue since, nor has anyone else in the office reported it.

Does anyone have any clues or theories? Here are mine in random order.

  1. Our SophosXG firewall was among many that were hacked with this SQL injection. Even though we cleaned it and installed all the updates, I am paranoid that the hackers are executing some sort of man-in-the-middle attack (given the fact that my URls were legit). This seem very  unlikely but not implausible.
  2. Some freeware or open source tool on my machine has been compromised in an update, or I mistakenly downloaded a rogue copy, but as yet is not detected. I use CloudShot, Notepad++, ClassicSheell, MeshCommander, KeePass and quite a few others.
  3. At some point I carelessly installed an adware Chrome installer without realizing it. Seems unlikely given how long Chrome has been on my PC, plus nothing was ever detected as malicious.

Should I just go with my gut and wipe the machine and start over?

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  • Root Admin

Hello @igotbetta and :welcome:

Let's go ahead and scan the system and get some logs and see what we can find.

 

Please run the following steps and post back the logs as an attachment when ready.

STEP 01

  • If you're already running Malwarebytes then open Malwarebytes and check for updates. Then click on the Scan tab and select Threat Scan and click on Start Scan button.
  • If you don't have Malwarebytes installed yet please download it from here and install it.
  • Once installed then open Malwarebytes and select Scan and let it run.
  • Once the scan is completed click on the View Report button, then the Export button and save the file as a Text file to your desktop or other location you can find and attach that log on your next reply.
  • If Malwarebytes won't run then please skip to the next step and let me know in your next reply.

STEP 02

Please download AdwCleaner by Malwarebytes and save the file to your Desktop.

  • Right-click on the program and select RunAsAdmin.jpg Run as Administrator to start the tool.
  • Accept the Terms of use.
  • Wait until the database is updated.
  • Click Scan Now.
  • When finished, please click Clean & Repair.
  • Your PC should reboot now if any items were found.
  • After reboot, a log file will be opened. Attach or Copy its content into your next reply.

 

RESTART THE COMPUTER Before running Step 3

STEP 03
Please download the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop.

Note: You need to run the version compatible with your system. You can check here if you're not sure if your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit

  • Double-click to run it. When the tool opens, click Yes to disclaimer.
  • Press the Scan button.
  • It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please attach it to your reply.
  • The first time the tool is run, it also makes another log (Addition.txt). If you've, run the tool before you need to place a checkmark here.
  • Please attach the Additions.txt log to your reply as well.

 

Thanks

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Root Admin

Due to the lack of feedback, this topic is closed to prevent others from posting here.

If you need this topic reopened, please send a Private Message to any one of the moderating team members. Please include a link to this topic with your request.

This applies only to the originator of this topic. Other members who need assistance please start your own topic in a new thread.

Tips to help protect from infection

Thanks

 

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