please help me uninstall Browser Assistant (Realistic Media, Inc)

[meena]

Please help me uninstall Browser Assistant!! 

I am trying to eliminate all the consequences of installing PCGameNerds free desktop game emulator on my PC which runs Windows 10.  I think most of the chaos has been deleted/uninstalled.  By the way, obviously I am not too computer savvy, otherwise I would never have installed this emulator.  Anyway, one thing that I cannot seem to get rid of is Browser Assistant from Realistic Media, Inc. (aka AdwareMSIL/BrowserAssistant).  I have followed some internet instructions which advised me to make sure the extension is not in my browsers and I have done this. 

When I open the Control Panel/Programs/Programs and Features/Uninstall or Change a program, the uninstall command does not uninstall the program.  I do not get an error message, it's just that the program does not get deleted.  Any suggestions?

Kathy

[AdvancedSetup]

Hello @meena

 

Please run the following steps and post back the logs as an attachment when ready.
Temporarily disable your antivirus or other security software first. Make sure to turn it back on once the scans are completed.
Temporarily disable Microsoft SmartScreen to download software below if needed. Make sure to turn it back on once the scans are completed.
If you still have trouble downloading the software please click on Reveal Hidden Contents below for examples of how to allow the download.
 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

When downloading with some browsers you may see a different style of screens that may block FRST from downloading. The program is safe and used hundreds of times a week by many users.

Example of Microsoft Edge blocking the download

 

 

STEP 01

• If you already have Malwarebytes installed then open Malwarebytes and click on the Scan button. It will automatically check for updates and run a Threat Scan.
• 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 make sure you have it quarantine any detections it finds.
• If no detections were found click on the Save results drop-down, then the Export to TXT  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 there were detections then once the quarantine has completed click on the View report button, Then click the Export drop-down, then the Export to TXT  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 the computer restarted to quarantine you can access the logs from the Detection History, then the History tab. Highlight the most recent scan and double-click to open it. Then click the Export drop-down, then the Export to TXT  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 that the scanner would not run.

STEP 02

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

• Double-click to run the program
• Accept the End User License Agreement.
• Wait until the database is updated.
• Click Scan Now.
• When finished, if items are found please click Quarantine.
• 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 check mark here each time
• Please attach the Additions.txt log to your reply as well.
• On your next reply, you should be attaching frst.txt and additions.txt to your post, every time.

 

Thanks

[meena]

Please find requested text files attached.

v/r,

Kathy

Malwarebytes Scan Results-20210224.txt AdwCleaner[C00]-20210224.txt AdwCleaner[S00]-20210224.txt Farbar Scan Results-FRST-20210224.txt Farbar Scan Results-Addition-20210224.txt

[meena]

Also, I did not disable Windows Security Protection.  I think the only other protection I have on my PC is the Malwarebytes App.  Also, the Farbar application added Securify for Chrome to my browser extensions.  Content Verifier by Securify was previously there.

[AdvancedSetup]

Please download the attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop or location where you ran FRST from.
NOTE. It's important that both files, FRST or FRST64, and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.

Please make sure you disable any real time antivirus or security software before running this script. Once completed make sure you re-enable it.

NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on this particular machine. Running this on another machine may cause damage to your operating system that cannot be undone.

Run FRST or FRST64 and press the Fix button just once and wait.
If the tool needs a restart please make sure you let the system restart normally and let the tool complete its run after restart.
The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt) or wherever you ran FRST from. Please attach or post it to your next reply.

Note: If the tool warned you about an outdated version please download and run the updated version.

NOTE-1:  This fix will run a scan to check that all Microsoft operating system files are valid and not corrupt and attempt to correct any invalid files. It will also run a disk check on the restart to ensure disk integrity. Depending on the speed of your computer this fix may take 30 minutes or more.

NOTE-2: As part of this fix all temporary files will be removed. If you have any open web pages that have not been bookmarked please make sure you bookmark them now as all open applications will be automatically closed. Also, make sure you know the passwords for all websites as cookies will also be removed. The use of an external password manager is highly recommended instead of using your browser to store passwords.

The following directories are emptied:

• Windows Temp
• Users Temp folders
• Edge, IE, FF, Chrome and Opera caches, HTML5 storages, Cookies and History
• Recently opened files cache
• Flash Player cache
• Java cache
• Steam HTML cache
• Explorer thumbnail and icon cache
• BITS transfer queue (qmgr*.dat files)
• Recycle Bin

Important: items are permanently deleted. They are not moved to quarantine. If you have any questions or concerns please ask before running this fix.

The system will be rebooted after the fix has run.

fixlist.txt

Thanks

 

[meena]

Before I take action, here are a couple things and two questions.

I made a long MS Word document of my actions as I tried to work through the issue myself in case I created some homegrown problems.  I'll attach it as a pdf.

One of the actions on Feb 23 was to install and run Malwarebytes – it quarantined 2,187 items.  I did not make a text file at the time and they are still in quarantine.  I don't think I can save the results; I will copy some with the snipping tool and attach as a pdf so you can have a look.  All the items begin with Trojan.BrowserAssistant. 

Should I delete the quarantined items before proceeding?

Should I disable Window's Security Firewall and the Malwarebytes Privacy app?

Malwarebytes Partial Scan Results-20210223.pdf history of installing games on this PC.pdf

[meena]

When I took the initial actions, I didn’t know how to save Adware or Farbar Recovery Tool apps as advised; previous downloads automatically put a shortcut on my desktop.  Are they automatically saved elsewhere on my computer or do I need to download Farbar Recovery Tool again to take this next action?

Kathy

[AdvancedSetup]

The FRST program shows you have it located in this folder

C:\Users\Owner\Downloads

 

I would not worry too much about the Quarantine - they look to be generated from that browser junk

Please go ahead and download that FIXLIST.txt file and place it in the C:\Users\Owner\Downloads  folder and then run FRST and click the FIX button

That should remove most if not all of this unwanted item

 

[meena]

Attached please find two fixlogs generated after running FRST64.  I thought I moved the FIXLIST file to downloads but did not see it after the first run so I thought maybe I didn't move it correctly. 

I made sure to move the FIXLIST file to downloads and ran FRST64 a second time.  When I looked at downloads the FIXLIST file is no longer there and the original FIXLOG is no longer there, either.  When I look at Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features, I see that Browser Assistant is still there.

Attached are both FIXLOGs.  I re-named them so they could be identified.  Also I attached a file showing my programs

 

programs-20210225-0854.pdf Fixlog-first run on 20210225-1911.txt Fixlog-second run on 20210225-2027.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

You did it correctly. The fixlist.txt get deleted each time your run and click on FIX

Let me have you open FRST again and in the top of the Window type in the following "Browser Assistant" and then click on the Search Registry button

 

That will create a new file named:  SearchReg.txt

Please upload that on your next reply

 

[meena]

Attached please find SearchReg.txt file

 

SearchReg.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Okay, I'll try to write a script to remove these entries later tonight if I can. If not then I'll get back with you tomorrow on this.

Thanks @meena

 

[meena]

Tomorrow is just fine.  You have already been a huge encouragement.  This seemed insurmountable until you began working with me.  I appreciate your attention to my self-made problem.

Kathy

[AdvancedSetup]

Most of this behavior it was doing should be gone by now though. This other portion is just some left over junk it seems.

 

[AdvancedSetup]

Hi Kathy @meena

Please save the attached FIXLIST.TXT file as before in the same location as the FRST program. Then click the FIX button.

When done please post back the new FIXLOG.txt log file

fixlist.txt

Thanks

 

[meena]

I think I took the correct actions.  Please see attached files, FRST and Addition.

FRST.txt Addition.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Thanks @meena

Those are from clicking the SCAN button. I need you to download the FIXLIST.txt file above again and put it in the same folder as the FRST program and click the FIX button.  That will run and restart the computer.

When done there should be a new fixlog.txt file for you to upload.

Thank you

 

[meena]

Oh!!  Pardon my error.  Attached is the new fixlog.txt.

Fixlog.txt

[meena]

Beautiful!  I see that you have removed Browser Assistant from my list of programs.  I have a few more questions.

What is Microsoft Update Health Tools (Microsoft Corporation)?  I see it was installed close to the same time as Browser Assistant (Realistic Media, Inc.).  Is this related to my actions of downloading PCGameNerds free game emulator on 2/21/2021?  Attached is a pdf showing programs. 

When I look at the list of what is on my Windows (C:) drive I am wondering about the first four items:  rescuepe.txt, Reflect_Install.txt, FRST file folder, and AdwCleaner file folder.  Looks like FRST and AdwCleaner both have quarantine items.  Will they require any actions?  Attached is a pdf showing details to further explain my question.

Thank you for the time you have spent resolving my issues so far!!

Kathy

programs-20210226-0743.pdf This PC C drive-20210226-0834.pdf

[AdvancedSetup]

Hi  Kathy,

I'm not sure what these files are but you should be able to open them with Notepad and view their contents.

rescuepe.txt
Reflect_Install.txt

 

The folder FRST was created for by the FRST program. I'd like to get some files back from your system though so that I can submit them to our team for review so that we can automate this removal next time. We'll remove FRST and AdwCleaner when we're done.

 

Please save the attached file FIXLIST.TXT as before to the same location as FRST then click on the FIX button and it will make a new Zip archive file of the quarantine folders on your desktop with the Date and Time as the name. Please attach that on your next reply.

fixlist.txt

Thank you @meena

 

Please don't uninstall AdwCleaner yet but when we are ready you can see that if you scroll to the bottom there is an uninstall option.

 

[meena]

Attached please find the fixlog and the zip archive file.

Fixlog.txt 26.02.2021_16.37.14.zip

[meena]

Would you take a look at the two text files mentioned earlier and tell me if I can just delete them?  It does not look like they were part of this issue, they are related to Macrium Reflect Free Edition.  I purchased this PC last spring and perhaps the technician used them when it was set up.  The search result for Macrium in This PC is "No items match your search."  There presence may simply be a janitorial issue.

rescuepe.log Reflect_Install.log

[AdvancedSetup]

Yes, those are just logs of the installation and an error log for one of it's files.

MSI (c) (A8:3C) [10:28:14:019]: Windows Installer installed the product. Product Name: Macrium Reflect Free Edition.

You can safely delete those files.

 

Please do the following:

Right click on FRST.exe  or FRST64.exe and rename it to uninstall.exe  Then right click on uninstall.exe and select "Run as Administrator" and that will remove FRST and the FRST folder.
If you do not see the .exe appended that is because file extensions are hidden, in that case just rename FRST or FRST64 to uninstall

 

Run AdwCleaner again and go to Settings and scroll down and click on Remove AdwCleaner

Next,

Remove all System Restore Points: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/33593-delete-system-restore-points-windows-10-a.html#option2

Create clean fresh Restore Point: http://www.thewindowsclub.com/create-system-restore-point

Run Windows Disk Clean Up Utility - https://neosmart.net/wiki/disk-cleanup/

Consider the following:

Malwarebytes Browser Guard (Free) for Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/addon/malwarebytes/

Malwarebytes Browser Guard (Free) for Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/malwarebytes-browser-guar/ihcjicgdanjaechkgeegckofjjedodee

Patch My PC Home Updater , keep all your software up to date - https://patchmypc.com/home-updater#download
 

Bookmark and review the following topic to better help protect your computer data and privacy: Tips to help protect from infection

 

From there you should be good to go...

Please let me know if you have any other questions or issues.

Thank you for using Malwarebytes

 

[meena]

I took all suggested actions with the exception of Firefox as I do not use that browser and don't want to download it.

Two questions:

1.  Microsoft Update Health Tools (Microsoft Corporation) was installed close to the same time as Browser Assistant (Realistic Media, Inc.).  Is this related to my actions of downloading the PCGameNerds free game emulator on 2/21/2021 and should I delete it?  

2.  PatchMyPC shows Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Tunnel Driver - 1.0.0.0 and Malwarebytes Privacy version 2.7.0.532 have an outdated version installed.  I opened Malwarebytes Privacy and selected Check for updates.  The result was:  You have the latest version.  Are these versions the latest?

Edited February 27, 2021 by AdvancedSetup
corrected font issue

[AdvancedSetup]

I'm sorry but I have not idea about the PCGameNerds free game emulator. If you still have the program you can upload it to https://virustotal.com and have them scan it with all the various different AV scanners.

As for the Patch My PC program it is a false finding for an update on Privacy and can be ignored.