PUP.Optional.BrowseFox is Malwarebytes' detection name for a large family of adware that uses different methods of browser hijacking and monetizing to get their message across.
BrowseFox adware is usually installed by a bundler, but they do create sites and offer them as separate downloads. The bundled installer is usually different from the official one. The bundled installers require arguments for a full installation and are sometimes even aware of running on a virtual machine, both to hinder researchers.
Malwarebytes can detect and remove PUP.Optional.BrowseFox without further user interaction.
A Malwarebytes log of removal will look similar to this:
Malwarebytes Anti-Malwarewww.malwarebytes.orgScan Date:5/13/2016Scan Time:9:10AMLogfile:mbamSearchExpanse.txtAdministrator:YesVersion:2.2.1.1043Malware Database:v2016.05.13.02Rootkit Database:v2016.05.06.01License:PremiumMalware Protection:DisabledMalicious Website Protection:EnabledSelf-protection:EnabledOS:Windows 7Service Pack 1CPU:x64File System:NTFSUser:{username}Scan Type:Threat ScanResult:CompletedObjects Scanned:310877Time Elapsed:8min,8secMemory:EnabledStartup:EnabledFilesystem:EnabledArchives:EnabledRootkits:EnabledHeuristics:EnabledPUP:EnabledPUM:EnabledProcesses:0(Nomalicious items detected)Modules:0(Nomalicious items detected)Registry Keys:6PUP.Optional.Yontoo,HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\CLSID\{99415057-7C50-439D-AA20-02D83C071B61},Quarantined,[91d58154adec1026ab21fb4e9a68ac54],PUP.Optional.Yontoo,HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\CLSID\{99415057-7C50-439D-AA20-02D83C071B61},Quarantined,[91d58154adec1026ab21fb4e9a68ac54],PUP.Optional.Yontoo,HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\CLSID\{F83D1872-D9FF-47F8-B5A0-49CC51E24EE8},Quarantined,[a0c6884d8c0d9a9cb815a3a646bc4db3],PUP.Optional.Yontoo,HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\CLSID\{F83D1872-D9FF-47F8-B5A0-49CC51E24EE8},Quarantined,[a0c6884d8c0d9a9cb815a3a646bc4db3],PUP.Optional.BrowseFox,HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\Search Expanse,Quarantined,[6cfa72636a2fc2749854903b59a8e818],PUP.Optional.Yontoo,HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\SearchExpanse,Quarantined,[26402ca9b5e4310585ab557e33d02ed2],Registry Values:0(Nomalicious items detected)Registry Data:0(Nomalicious items detected)Folders:2PUP.Optional.Yontoo,C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Expanse,Quarantined,[8ed832a39efb49edfdf99c049072956b],PUP.Optional.Yontoo,C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Expanse\Extensions,Quarantined,[8ed832a39efb49edfdf99c049072956b],Files:4PUP.Optional.BrowseFox,C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\SearchExpance.exe,Quarantined,[f86e24b19108d85efeee9d2e08f9a65a],PUP.Optional.BrowseFox,C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Expanse\Uninstaller.exe,Quarantined,[6cfa72636a2fc2749854903b59a8e818],PUP.Optional.Yontoo,C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Expanse\7za.exe,Quarantined,[8ed832a39efb49edfdf99c049072956b],PUP.Optional.Yontoo,C:\Program Files (x86)\Search Expanse\Extensions\firefox@www.searchexpanse.com.xpi,Quarantined,[8ed832a39efb49edfdf99c049072956b],Physical Sectors:0(Nomalicious 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.
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