Chrome unwanted google docs extension keeps reinstalling

[Ominous]

I'm dealing with a problem where I accidentally downloaded and opened a .exe file (i still have it saved) that installed something that keeps adding a google docs extension to my chrome browser.

The docs extension prevents me from doing google searches, and who knows what else in the background, until i delete it. Malwarebytes didn't detect anything out of the ordinary, even after a 5 hour deep search on all drives.

Now, I've been through many forums and I've tried many possible solutions, but none fixed it. Here's a list of what I remember:

1. Chrome account: Deactivated "sync" as suggested on one of your forums -> deleted all files from google cloud including all extensions -> Clean install of chrome -> opening chrome = Without logging in, the extension appeared again
2. Checked for unwanted apps -> couldn't find anything suspicious to delete
3. Tried Revo Uninstaller Pro and looked at Browser Extensions = Nothing is listed for chrome
4. Tried Zemana Antimalware as suggested in one of your forums -> Found 2 possible threats -> See log attached
5. I checked "%localappdata%" for any unwanted folders
6. I checked "C:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Profile 2\Extensions" -> found two unwanted folder with extensions right after the clean install of chrome
7. I checked the task scheduler on windows and didn't find anything that might cause a reinstall of the chrome file

I don't know what else to do besides a clean install of Windows, any suggestions? It has to be a local file that causes this problem, it keeps reappearing even with chrome sync off.

Many thanks,

Om

[1PW]

Hello @Ominous and :

While you are waiting for the next qualified/approved malware removal expert helper to weigh in on your topic, and even though you may have run one or more of its following procedural steps, please carefully follow the instructions within the following:

I am infected - What do I do now?

Remember, please be certain to attach (not Copy and Paste) the three (3) resultant report files in your next reply to this topic.

Thank you.

[AdvancedSetup]

Hello  and       @Ominous

 

My screen name is AdvancedSetup and I will assist you with your system issues.
 

Let's keep these principles as we proceed. Make sure to read the entire post below first.

• Please follow all steps in the provided order and post back all requested logs
• Please attach all log files to your post, unless otherwise requested
• Temporarily disable your antivirus or other security software first. Make sure to turn it back on once the scans have been completed.
• Temporarily disable Microsoft SmartScreen to download the software below if needed. Make sure to turn it back on once the scans are completed.
• Searching, detecting, and removing malware isn't instantaneous and there is no guarantee to repair every system.
• Before we start, please make sure that you have an external backup, not connected to this system, of all private data.
• Do not run online games while the case is ongoing. Do not do any free-wheeling or risky web-surfing.
• Only run the tools I guide you to use. Please don't run any other scans, download, install or uninstall any programs while I'm working with you.
• Cracked, Hacked, or Pirated programs are not only illegal but also can make a computer a malware victim. Having such programs installed is the easiest way to get infected. It is the leading cause of ransomware encryption. It is at times also a big source of current Trojan infections. If there are any on the system you should uninstall them before we proceed.
• Please be patient and stick with me until I give you the "all clear". We don't want to waste your time, please don't waste ours.
• If your system is running Discord, please be sure to Exit it while this case is ongoing.

 

To begin, please do the following so that we may take a closer look at your installation for troubleshooting. This is a report only.

NOTE: The tools and the information obtained are safe and not harmful to your privacy or your computer, please allow the programs to run if blocked by your system.

• Download the Malwarebytes Support Tool
• In your Downloads folder, open the mb-support-x.x.x.xxx.exe file
• In the User Account Control pop-up window, click Yes to continue the installation
• Run the MBST Support Tool
• In the left navigation pane of the Malwarebytes Support Tool, click Advanced
• In the Advanced Options, click Gather Logs. A status diagram displays the tool is Getting logs from your machine
• A zip file named mbst-grab-results.zip will be saved to the Public desktop, please upload that file on your next reply

Thank you

 

 

[Ominous]

Hello, attached you will find the .zip file.

mbst-grab-results.zip

[AdvancedSetup]

[ 1 ]

Please go to Control Panel, Programs, Programs and Features and uninstall the following

• Bonjour (this is not needed on Windows unless you're sharing files from Windows directly to an iPad or iPhone over the network or you're trying to connect an Apple TV to your PC)
• Java 8 Update 201 (64-bit) (old compromised software)
• Java 8 Update 201 (old compromised software)
• Java(TM) SE Development Kit 16.0.2 (64-bit) (old compromised software)
   

[ 2 ]

After correcting the Google issue, the following drivers should be installed to correct the missing device drivers. Please do not touch them right now.

==================== Faulty Device Manager Devices ============

Name: H100i v2
Description: H100i v2
Class Guid:
Manufacturer:
Service:
Problem: : The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28)
Resolution: To install the drivers for this device, click "Update Driver", which starts the Hardware Update wizard.

Name: PCI Encryption/Decryption Controller
Description: PCI Encryption/Decryption Controller
Class Guid:
Manufacturer:
Service:
Problem: : The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28)
Resolution: To install the drivers for this device, click "Update Driver", which starts the Hardware Update wizard.

 

[ 3 ]

This looks to have been installed just a few days ago. Did you install this on purpose?
AppInit_DLLs: C:\Windows\system32\sxsshell.dll => C:\Windows\system32\sxsshell.dll [620152 2022-12-29] (LIMESTONE DIGITAL LIMITED -> )

 

[ 4 ]

You have two extensions in Google Chrome that look to have been installed today. Did you install them?

CHR Extension: (Google Docs Offline) - C:\Users\hidde\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Profile 2\Extensions\ghbmnnjooekpmoecnnnilnnbdlolhkhi [2023-01-06]
CHR Extension: (Chrome Web Store Payments) - C:\Users\hidde\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Profile 2\Extensions\nmmhkkegccagdldgiimedpiccmgmieda [2023-01-06]

 

[ 5 ]

Please run the following fix

Once the fix has been completed, please attach the file FIXLOG.TXT to your next reply

 

Please download the attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop or location where you ran the Farbar FRST program 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 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.

NOTE-3: As part of this fix it will also reset the network to default settings including the firewall. If you have custom firewall rules you need to save please export or save them first before running this fix.

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
• Discord 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

 

[Ominous]

[1] Uninstalled them all

[2] Ok noted, thanks

[3] This has to be the software I accidentally installed!!! I remember swiftly seeing Limestone Digital Limited before the software closed itself and was nowhere to be found!! What do we do?

[4] I did not install those extensions, those are the ones that keep installing themselves no matter what

[5] Done, see attached

Fixlog.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Overall the log looks good. If found and fixed some issues.

Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.

 

Please run the Farbar scanner again with Admin rights. Then click on SCAN and get me both new logs and we'll review for the removal of those other items.

FRST.TXT
ADDITION.TXT

 

Thanks

 

 

 

[Ominous]

Sounds good. Attached are both files from the scan.

FRST.txt Addition.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Thank you for the logs. Please run the following

 

SecurityCheck by glax24              

I would like you to run a tool named SecurityCheck to inquire about the current security update status of some applications.

• Download SecurityCheck by glax24: https://tools.safezone.cc/glax24/SecurityCheck/SecurityCheck.exe
• If Microsoft SmartScreen blocks the download, click through to save the file
• This tool is safe.   Smartscreen is overly sensitive.
• If SmartScreen blocks the file from running click on More info and Run anyway
• Right-click  with your mouse on the Securitycheck.exe  and select "Run as administrator"  and reply YES to allow to run & go forward
• Wait for the scan to finish. It will open a text file named SecurityCheck.txt Close the file.  Attach it with your next reply.
• You can find this file in a folder called SecurityCheck, C:\SecurityCheck\SecurityCheck.txt

 

 

Thank you

 

 

[Ominous]

Done.

SecurityCheck.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Please uninstall, update, or otherwise address the following as appropriate for your system.

 

• Adobe Creative Cloud v.5.3.1.470 Warning! Download Update
• Discord v.0.0.309 Warning! Download Update
• FileZilla Client 3.45.1 v.3.45.1 Warning! Download Update
• Microsoft Teams v.1.2.00.24753 Warning! Download Update
• Spotify v.1.1.99.878.g1e4ccc6e Warning! Download Update
• TeamViewer v.15.26.4 Warning! Download Update
• WinRAR 5.90 (64-Bit) v.5.90.0 Warning! Download Update

 

Once that has been completed, please run the following 3rd party antivirus scanner just to make sure we did not miss anything.

 

 

Please run the following ESET Online Scanner and perform a Full Scan

 

Click the following link to save the installer for ESET Online Scanner

https://download.eset.com/com/eset/tools/online_scanner/latest/esetonlinescanner.exe

• It will start a download of "esetonlinescanner.exe"
• Save the file to your system, such as the Downloads folder, or else to the Desktop.
• Go to the saved file, and double click it to get started. 
• When presented with the initial ESET screen, click on "Get Started". Read and accept the Terms of use
• On the "Before we start..." screen chose if you want to send anonymous data and if you want to provide feedback or not, then click Continue
• When prompted for scan type, Click on the Full Scan button
• Enable  ( select )   the radio selection "Enable ESET to detect and quarantine potentially unwanted applications"   and click the Start scan button.
• Have patience.  The entire process may take a few hours or more.
• When the scan is completed, if something was found, it will show a screen with the number of detected items.  If so, click the button marked “View detected results”.
• Click The blue “Save scan log” to save the log and give it a name and location you remember.
• If something was removed and you know it is a false postive, you may click on the blue ”Restore cleaned files”  ( in blue, at the bottom).
• Press Continue when all done.  You should click to turn off the offer for “periodic scanning”.
• Enable "Delete application data on closing" - You do not need to submit feedback unless you want to. Simply ignore and close the program.

 

Note: If you do need to do a File Restore from ESET please follow the directions below

[KB2915] Restore files quarantined by the ESET Online Scanner version 3

https://support.eset.com/en/kb2915-restore-files-quarantined-by-the-eset-online-scanner

 

Please attach the ESET scan log you saved at the end to your next reply

 

[Ominous]

It also detected and deleted the file from [3] earlier.

ESET LOG.txt

[Ominous]

After a restart the extension no longer shows up on Chrome!!

[AdvancedSetup]

Great, glad to hear. Please go ahead and run Malwarebytes again and check for updates. Then do a new Threat scan and post back that log.

We should probably be about done here soon.

 

[AdvancedSetup]

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