PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo is Malwarebytes’ detection name for a family of browser hijackers that redirect the searches on affected browsers through searchalgo.com.
Users may see the search settings in their browser have been altered:
These search hijackers are typically Chrome extensions and sometimes Firefox add-ons that are promoted as either enhanced privacy searches or specialized search engines (music, movies, and games).
PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo is usually installed by the user, but under false pretences.
Malwarebytes protects users from PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo by blocking the sites that promote them.
Malwarebytes can detect and remove PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo without further user interaction.
A Malwarebytes log of removal will look similar to this:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 8/16/18 Scan Time: 11:00 AM Log File: d9709bfd-a132-11e8-b916-00ffdcc6fdfc.json Administrator: Yes -Software Information- Version: 3.5.1.2522 Components Version: 1.0.391 Update Package Version: 1.0.6367 License: Premium -System Information- OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 CPU: x64 File System: NTFS User: {computername}\{username} -Scan Summary- Scan Type: Threat Scan Scan Initiated By: Manual Result: Completed Objects Scanned: 251900 Threats Detected: 75 Threats Quarantined: 75 Time Elapsed: 3 min, 37 sec -Scan Options- Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Enabled 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: 18 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons download, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\notification, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons hover, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons_tabs, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\button, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\_locales\en, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\Plus\css, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\Plus\img, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\_locales, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\Plus\js, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\icons, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\Plus, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\js, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\CBIEIBOBPEFAOBHFNCPIMJIMBIJPLEBE, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 File: 57 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\CBIEIBOBPEFAOBHFNCPIMJIMBIJPLEBE\1.0.3_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\icons\38.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\icons\icon128.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\icons\icon16.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\button\btn_save.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\button\btn_save_hover.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons\big_icon.jpg, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons\icon128.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons\icon16.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons\icon_19x19.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons\icon_38x38.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons\small_icon.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons download\btn.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons download\btn_hover.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons download\frame.jpg, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons download\v.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons hover\danger.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons hover\delete.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons hover\folder.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons hover\frame.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons hover\pause.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons hover\play.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons hover\referrer.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons hover\refresh.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons hover\remove.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons hover\safe.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons hover\stop.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons_tabs\delete.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons_tabs\filter.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons_tabs\folder.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons_tabs\search.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\icons_tabs\settings.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\notification\open_folder.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\notification\pause.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\notification\show_download.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\images\notification\show_file.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\js\background.js, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\js\jquery.min.js, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\js\main.js, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\js\popup.js, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\js\search.js, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\Plus\css\style.css, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\Plus\img\close.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\Plus\img\dislike.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\Plus\img\like.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\Plus\img\logo.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\Plus\img\share.png, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\Plus\js\jquery.min.js, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\Plus\js\main.js, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\Plus\index.html, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\_locales\en\messages.json, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\popup.css, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 PUP.Optional.SearchAlgo.Generic, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe\1.0.3_0\popup.html, Quarantined, [14297], [443230],1.0.6367 Physical Sector: 0 (No malicious items detected) WMI: 0 (No malicious items detected) (end)
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.
Chrome extensions:
beebhkphfnalnhgeiclfaaeefplgmkok
bglaifdlahmallgalncjpcdbhfbiehmj
bjhknobaiffeioiokpkedlplggnafcic
cbieibobpefaobhfncpimjimbijplebe
dmfdjkfpljiniadicampijngdedfppfh
einjjjcdbfelnfmcohhegakmellljihi
jdjknidaaaegggmblkdoeplmbgnfegcl
honmjepgemgnpinmejdbknnkhioohdko
nbbngnmfaihobnkapbhpcpbeiajklmnk
nhcmomngmjhpmkgikdcdoeoldbenjfdn
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