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What is ConvertItSearch?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that ConvertItSearch 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.
This particular one is a search hijacker and uses web push notifications. It also adds advertisements to your search results in the form of recommended searches.

recommendations.png

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

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

and these changed settings:

warning5.png

How did ConvertItSearch 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 ConvertItSearch?

Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted 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 ConvertItSearch?

  • No, Malwarebytes removes ConvertItSearch completely.
  • If you have allowed the notifications you can read here how to disable them.

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 Malwarebytes Browser Guard, and the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the ConvertItSearch hijacker. It would have blocked their website, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.


 

protection1.png

 

Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:


 

CHR Notifications: Default -> hxxps://get.convertitsearch.com
CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://feed.convertitsearch.com/?q={searchTerms}&publisher=convertitsearch&barcodeid=577290000000000
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> ConvertItSearch
CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://api.convertitsearch.com/suggest/get?q={searchTerms}
CHR Extension: (ConvertItSearch) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cdfbocoencgihhaeefgbikgkohjpkdbn [2021-02-12]

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\cdfbocoencgihhaeefgbikgkohjpkdbn\1.1.0_0
       Adds the file manifest.json"="2/12/2021 9:03 AM, 2120 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cdfbocoencgihhaeefgbikgkohjpkdbn\1.1.0_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="2/12/2021 9:03 AM, 6255 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="7/21/2020 11:16 AM, 2049 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cdfbocoencgihhaeefgbikgkohjpkdbn\1.1.0_0\images
       Adds the file logo-white-text.png"="7/21/2020 11:16 AM, 0 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cdfbocoencgihhaeefgbikgkohjpkdbn\1.1.0_0\images\icons
       Adds the file 128x128.png"="2/12/2021 9:03 AM, 7167 bytes, A
       Adds the file 16x16.png"="2/12/2021 9:03 AM, 624 bytes, A
       Adds the file 64x64.png"="2/12/2021 9:03 AM, 3363 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cdfbocoencgihhaeefgbikgkohjpkdbn\1.1.0_0\scripts
       Adds the file background.js"="7/21/2020 11:16 AM, 514626 bytes, A
       Adds the file sitecontent.js"="7/21/2020 11:16 AM, 77 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cdfbocoencgihhaeefgbikgkohjpkdbn
       Adds the file 000003.log"="2/12/2021 9:03 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="2/12/2021 9:03 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="2/12/2021 9:03 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="2/12/2021 9:03 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="2/12/2021 9:03 AM, 41 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\_crx_cdfbocoencgihhaeefgbikgkohjpkdbn
       Adds the file ConvertItSearch.ico"="2/12/2021 9:03 AM, 195478 bytes, A
       Adds the file ConvertItSearch.ico.md5"="2/12/2021 9:03 AM, 16 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "cdfbocoencgihhaeefgbikgkohjpkdbn"="REG_SZ", "84EFAE078E5DD9FACEE1849459296F79590565412D49E832F159538D32F17115"

Malwarebytes log:
 

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 2/12/21
Scan Time: 9:12 AM
Log File: 16c177d8-6d0a-11eb-b43a-080027235d76.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.3.0.98
Components Version: 1.0.1157
Update Package Version: 1.0.37005
License: Premium

-System Information-
OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: {username}-PC\{username}

-Scan Summary-
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Scan Initiated By: Manual
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 233156
Threats Detected: 12
Threats Quarantined: 12
Time Elapsed: 2 min, 19 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|cdfbocoencgihhaeefgbikgkohjpkdbn, Quarantined, 15231, 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\cdfbocoencgihhaeefgbikgkohjpkdbn, Quarantined, 15231, 799722, , , , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\CDFBOCOENCGIHHAEEFGBIKGKOHJPKDBN, Quarantined, 15231, 799722, 1.0.37005, , ame, , , 

File: 9
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 15231, 799722, , , , , 0C96BB358CB70874D4F193D81D941AD6, DD5A48AECE783379C9EDE06A4C1D8C8A04C29E70C6FFF4D958D3592C02C439CF
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 15231, 799722, , , , , 7ACA655856B97E9BBA1A6A52AF5D11B1, 38A4B7DE6AD92ECEE090E78A4E139D2929FC81D379B4B7F7D68098D940D486A9
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cdfbocoencgihhaeefgbikgkohjpkdbn\000003.log, Quarantined, 15231, 799722, , , , , BFD0A630859D3BC542F078513002347A, 19E2F03537C36DF7568A66A1EF778A7009337FF98E6779EEAEC88BF6BA50778B
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cdfbocoencgihhaeefgbikgkohjpkdbn\CURRENT, Quarantined, 15231, 799722, , , , , 46295CAC801E5D4857D09837238A6394, 0F1BAD70C7BD1E0A69562853EC529355462FCD0423263A3D39D6D0D70B780443
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cdfbocoencgihhaeefgbikgkohjpkdbn\LOCK, Quarantined, 15231, 799722, , , , , , 
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cdfbocoencgihhaeefgbikgkohjpkdbn\LOG, Quarantined, 15231, 799722, , , , , CB2607F733082B525901A79A347044B1, AA10F771DBA4A22EA8EBC04D19CEC200CE6224BA900380B83807698A3FC8251E
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\cdfbocoencgihhaeefgbikgkohjpkdbn\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 15231, 799722, , , , , 5AF87DFD673BA2115E2FCF5CFDB727AB, F9D31B278E215EB0D0E9CD709EDFA037E828F36214AB7906F612160FEAD4B2B4
Adware.SearchEngineHijack.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\CDFBOCOENCGIHHAEEFGBIKGKOHJPKDBN\1.1.0_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, 15231, 799722, 1.0.37005, , ame, , BA88184F4F4C9257A2B773EF37015D09, 957F5C779E4C8941785044DEB0F268C43077792DD844D17E3D1146B00CF0561F
PUP.Optional.PushNotifications, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 14952, 846248, 1.0.37005, , ame, , 7ACA655856B97E9BBA1A6A52AF5D11B1, 38A4B7DE6AD92ECEE090E78A4E139D2929FC81D379B4B7F7D68098D940D486A9

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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