PUAAdvertising:Win32/PCAppStore

[Vitan]

I imagine that I was redirected to some unwanted website a few days ago, and then, the next day, whenever I opened operagx, Windows detected this threat  PUAAdvertising:Win32/PCAppStore, and that 4 hidden folders were created with the name .opera and inside there was an installer.exe that Windows Defender automatically deleted. The folders were located at:
One in the default Downloads folder
One in the user profile folder
USERPROFILE/AppData/Local/Temp/.opera
USERPROFILE/AppData/Local/Programs/OperaGx/.opera
So I obviously got desperate and tried to use a PC restore point, and apparently everything was fine, but today it appeared again, I tried using Malwarebytes to scan and Adwcleaner, and nothing was detected.

[JSntgRvr]

@Dunkwa, please open your own topic.

@Vitan

Please do the following so that we may take a closer look at your system for any possible infections.

Do these 2 steps FIRST so that files and folders are set to SHOW, plus also, Turn OFF Windows Fast Start.
Show-Hidden-Folders-Files-Extensions
https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/299345-show-hidden-folders-files-extensions/

Disable-Fast-Startup
https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/299350-disable-fast-startup/

Then please restart the computer and do the following.

WARNING: Do Not click the Repair option under Advanced unless requested by a Malwarebytes support agent or authorized helper

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. The tool also downloads and runs a file called FRSTEnglish. Please allow it to run.
• 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 Desktop or on the hidden Public desktop (usually C:\Users\Public\Desktop), please upload that file on your next reply

[Vitan]

Thank you for your reply, here.

mbst-grab-results.zip

[JSntgRvr]

Welcome 
 
I'll be helping you with your computer.
 
Please read this post completely before beginning. If there's anything that you do not understand, please don't hesitate to ask before proceeding.
 
Please take note of the guidelines for this fix:

• Please note that I am a volunteer. I do have a family, a career, and other endeavors that may prevent immediate responses that meet your schedule. Do note that the differences in time zones could present a problem as well. Your patience and understanding will be greatly appreciated.
• First of all, the procedures we are about to perform are specific to your problem and should only be used on this specific computer.
• Do not make any changes to your computer that include installing/uninstalling programs, deleting files, modifying the registry, nor running scanners or tools of any kind unless specifically requested by me.
• Please read ALL instructions carefully and perform the steps fully and in the order they are written.
• If things appear to be better, let me know. Just because the symptoms no longer exist as before, does not mean that you are clean.
• Continue to read and follow my instructions until I tell you that your machine is clean.
• If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to ask before performing the task that I ask of you, and please wait for my reply before you proceed.
• Scanning with programs and reading the logs do take a fair amount of time. Again, your patience will be necessary. 

Let's begin... 

This fix is only to Vitan.

FRST64.exe was saved on your downloads folder as C:\Users\Pichau\Downloads\FRSTEnglish.exe

• Download the enclosed file  Fixlist.txt
• Save it in the same location FRST64.exe is saved.
• Start FRST (FRST64) with Administrator privileges
• This time around Press the Fix button and wait
• When finished, a log file (Fixlog.txt) will pop up and saved in the same location the tool was ran from.

Please attach this file in your next reply.

Temporarily disable your AntiVirus and AntiSpyware protection - instructions here.
Please visit the ESET Online Scanner website

• Click the One-Time Scan button to download the esetonlinescanner.exe file to the Desktop
• Double click esetonlinescanner.exe. then the GetStarted button.
• Accept the Terms of Use  and the Get Started again.
• Enable reccomended options, and continue.
• Select the Full scan
• Enable Eset to detect and quarantine potentially unwanted applications
• Click StartScan
• The program will begin to download it's virus database. The speed may vary depending on your Internet connection.
• When completed, the program will begin to scan. This may take several hours. Please, be patient.
• Do not do anything on your machine as it may interrupt the scan.
• When completed it'll show a list of "Threats found", click beneath it on Save to text file.... and save it as ESET log.txt on your Desktop.
• Then click Do not clean. Place a checkmark at Delete application's data on close, click Finish and close the program.

Attach the ESET log.txt report.
 
Don't forget to re-enable previously switched-off protection software!!

[Vitan]

Ok, Today I have no time to do the eset part, since I already done it in the past and I know it will take some time, so I will leave here the fixlog and tomorrow I will send you the ESET log as soon as possible, thanks.

Fixlog.txt

[JSntgRvr]

Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. That is good. Will wait for the ESET scan.

[Vitan]

Well, what it detected is just a false positive for a cracked game tool, do you think I should restore these files? Btw nothing related to Opera gx, maybe it's clean if i just don't use this navigator anymore? I don't know if it's still creating that suspicious folders because I'm afraid to open it again. 

esetlog.txt

[JSntgRvr]

All clear. How is the computer doing?

[Vitan]

I opened Opera Gx now and nothing appeared, I will use Edge for now just to make sure. I think it's ok, should I delete all tools installed? Thank you again for your help

[JSntgRvr]

Congratulations.
 
Use this application to remove tools used and their quarantined items:
 
Please download KpRm by Kernel-panik and save to your Desktop.

• Click on KpRm.exe to run the tool.

Vista/Windows 7/8/10 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.

• Put a check mark next to these items:

- Delete tools

- Create Restore Point

- Delete now

• Click the "Run" button.

• When the tool has finished, it will create and open a log report and  delete itself.

A few final recommendations:

• Recommend using a Password Manager for all websites, etc. that require a password. Never use the same password on more than one site.
• Make sure you're backing up your files
• Keep all software up to date - PatchMyPC -
• Keep your Operating System up to date and current at all times -
• Further tips to help protect your computer data and improve your privacy:
• Please consider installing the following Content Blockers for your Web browsers if you haven't done so already. This will help improve overall security

Malwarebytes Browser Guard

•   Google Chrome:
•   Microsoft Edge:
•   Mozilla Firefox:

uBlock Origin

• Google Chrome:
• Microsoft Edge:
• Mozilla Firefox:

Further reading if you like to keep up on the malware threat scene:
 
Malwarebytes
 
Bleepingcomputer
 
Hopefully, we've been able to assist you with correcting your system issues.
 
Thank you for contacting malwarebytes. Regards. 

[AdvancedSetup]

Glad we could help.

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 thread. Other members who need assistance please start your own topic in a new thread.

Please review the following to help you better protect your computer and privacy Tips to help protect from infection

Thank you