PUP.Optional.GoMusix

Short bio

PUP.Optional.GoMusix is the detection for a Chrome extension called MusicBoxSearch that hijacks the new tab and search results. This  PUP is a hijacker and part of a family of similar hijackers sometimes referred to as BLPSearch, because of the name of their default search keyword, but in this extensions case the keyword is MusicBox.

Symptoms

Users could notice their default search engine has changed to Yahoo and the presence of a new extension, visible in the Chrome menu-bar and the list of extensions.

Chrome extension

the MusicBox Search Chrome extension

icons

icon

search settings hijacked

the PUP takes over the Search engine settings oof Chrome

Source and type of infection

There are basically two ways to get this Chrome extension. One method is from the webstore. The other is by installing the extensions from sites pointed to by ad-rotators. These sites usually also offer a Firefox add-on if you happen to visit them using the Firefox browser.

webstore

also available in the webstore

website

firefox extension

Aftermath

Users that had their browsers hijacked should have a look at our Restore Browser page to see if additional measures are needed.

Protection

Malwarebytes blocks the websites that push this extension and the domains that belong to the hijackers.

website block

Malwarebytes blocks the site that pushes the extension

domain block

Malwarebytes blocks the site that the extension contacts for “search results”

Remediation

Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program without further user interaction.

  1. Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
  2. Double-click MBSetup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
  3. When your Malwarebytes for Windows installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen.
  4. Click on the Get started button.
  5. Click Scan to start a Threat Scan.
  6. Click Quarantine to remove the found threats.
  7. Reboot the system if prompted to complete the removal process.

Malwarebytes removal log

A Malwarebytes log of removal will look similar to this:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 2/6/18
Scan Time: 1:10 PM
Log File: c1eff460-0b36-11e8-9439-080027750297.json
Administrator: Yes

-Software Information-
Version: 3.3.1.2183
Components Version: 1.0.262
Update Package Version: 1.0.3881
License: Premium

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

-Scan Summary-
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 241535
Threats Detected: 52
Threats Quarantined: 52
Time Elapsed: 2 min, 29 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: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 12
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\official\onesignal, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\rateshare, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\official, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\vertical, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\GMCOGIOMGBBNMABKNLDEIKBKNAPOLPDE, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881

File: 39
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\000003.log, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\CURRENT, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\LOCK, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\LOG, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\GMCOGIOMGBBNMABKNLDEIKBKNAPOLPDE\1.0.0_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\material-icons.css, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\MaterialIcons-Regular.eot, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\MaterialIcons-Regular.ijmap, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\MaterialIcons-Regular.svg, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\MaterialIcons-Regular.ttf, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\MaterialIcons-Regular.woff, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\MaterialIcons-Regular.woff2, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\RobotoCondensed-Light.ttf, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\fonts\RobotoCondensed-Regular.ttf, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\css\style.css, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\rateshare\close.png, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\rateshare\rate.jpg, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\rateshare\rate1.png, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\rateshare\share.jpg, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\rateshare\share1.png, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\icon128.png, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\icon16.png, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\images\icon38.png, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\official\onesignal\onesignal.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\official\bootstrap.min.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\official\jquery.min.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\official\material.min.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\base.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\init.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\js\main.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\vertical\440×280.jpg, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\vertical\init.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\vertical\pop.js, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881
PUP.Optional.GoMusix.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde\1.0.0_0\popup.html, Quarantined, [8314], [450916],1.0.3881

Physical Sector: 0
(No malicious items detected)

(end)

Add an exclusion

Should users wish to keep this program and exclude it from being detected in future scans, they can add the program to the exclusions list. Here’s how to do it.

  • Open Malwarebytes for Windows.
  • Click the Detection History
  • Click the Allow List
  • To add an item to the Allow List, click Add.
  • Select the exclusion type Allow a file or folder and use the Select a folder button to select the main folder for the software that you wish to keep.
  • Repeat this for any secondary files or folder(s) that belong to the software.

Traces/IOCs

Possible signs in a FRST log:

CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxp://music.eanswers.com/go/?category=web&s=21ds&vert=music&q={searchTerms}
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> MusicBox
CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxp://sug.eanswers.com/search/index_sg.php?q={searchTerms}
CHR Extension: (MusicBox Search) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde [2018-02-06]

Domains:
superappbox.com
myfriendlyappz.com
eanswers.com

Chrome extension ID:
gmcogiomgbbnmabknldeikbknapolpde

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