Solved Help with removing "Discountman"

[lovingit]

Hey Folks, I keep getting popups by this weird spyware called "discountman". When I google it, it tells me to do things I have already done like remove it from my Chrome extensions, manually delete the extensions folder from my C: drive, and scan my computer with various spyware programs (see link below). However, it goes fine for a couple of days but then somehow manages to come back. Has anyone else encountered this "discountman" bug?

I have done all 5 steps from this link
http://malwaretips.com/blogs/ads-by-discountman-removal/#uninstall
I even installed Revo Uninstaller, but it cannot find "Discountman".

Under "extension" it says C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\Extensions\chrome\ app\37.1329.1.2

But when I go to the Application folder, there is no "extensions" folder. It must be hiding somehow.
I even tried restore, but it can only go back to 6 days ago on Windows 7. Doesn't solve the issue. Anyone have success without having to reformat their hard drive?

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Hello,

Anyone have success without having to reformat their hard drive?

This isn't your PC?

 

[lovingit]

It is, I just like to know anyone eho got rid of it? None of the suggested steps from the link is working. It keeps coming back. Stubborn malware. Don't know what else to do. Help!

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Before we start please read and note the following:

• At the top of your post, please click on the "Watch thread" button and make sure to check Watch this thread...and receive email notifications. This will send an email to you as soon as I reply to your topic, allowing me to solve your problem faster.
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• Instructions I give to you are very simple and made for complete beginner to follow. That's why you need to read through my instructions carefully and completely before executing them.
• Please do not run any tools other than the ones I ask you to, when I ask you to. Some of these tools can be very dangerous if used improperly. Also, if you use a tool that I have not requested you use, it can cause false positives, thereby delaying the complete cleaning of your machine.
  
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• Please stay with me until the end of all steps and procedures and I declare your system clean. Just because there is a lack of symptoms does not indicate a clean machine. If you solved your problem yourself, set aside two minutes to let me know.
  
• Please attach all report using
  
  button below. Doing this, you make it easier for me to analyze and fix your problem.
  
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• If I don't hear from you within 3 days from this initial or any subsequent post, then this thread will be closed.

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That being told, if any evidence of illegal OS, software, cracks/keygens or any other will be revealed, any further assistance will be suspended. If you are aware that there is this kind of stuff on your machine, remove it before proceeding!
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Failure to follow these guidelines will result with closing your topic and withdrawning any assistance.

Scan with Farbar Recovery Scan Tool

Please download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop.

Note: You need to run the version compatibale with your system. If you are not sure which version applies to your system download both of them and try to run them.
Only one of them will run on your system, that will be the right version.

• Double-click to run it. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
• Press Scan button.
• It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please attach it to your reply.
• The first time the tool is run, it makes also another log (Addition.txt). Please attach it to your reply.

 

[lovingit]

I ran Farbar and here are the two reports. It did not find anything.

 

[lovingit]

I found this link
http://www.amfastech.com/2014/08/remove-keeps-coming-back-browser.html

It states that generally, the chrome extensions will exist in the following path:
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions

I am trying to manually follow each folder in sequence to get to the Extensions folder. Where is Appdata? I can go to C drive, then the "Users" folder, where "Users" is my name folder, but after that, I do not see "Appdata" folder. I see these following folder

Contact
Desktop
Downloads
Favorites
Links
My Documents
My Music
My Pictures
My Videos
Saved Games
Searches
Tracing
Video Player Picture

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Fix with Farbar Recovery Scan Tool

This fix was created for this user for use on that particular machine.

Running it on another one may cause damage and render the system unstable.

​

Download attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop:

Both files, FRST and fixlist.txt have to be in the same location or the fix will not work!

• Right-click on
  
  icon and select
  
  Run as Administrator to start the tool.
  (XP users click run after receipt of Windows Security Warning - Open File).
• Press the Fix button just once and wait.
• If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run.
• When finished FRST will generate a log on the Desktop, called Fixlog.txt.

Please attach it to your reply.

 

[lovingit]

Hopefully I did it correctly.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

How is your PC behaving now?

 

[lovingit]

It always acts fine after I delete it and run my spyware removal programs. Then ads will pop up randomly. That is when I know Discountman is back. I go to Chrome extensions, and it will be there.

So far, its ok. Knock on wood.
I have never used Farbar before.

Did you do something?

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Of course I did something. I deleted a bunch of malware from your PC. Can you run FRST fix one more time, it did not finish properly.

 

[lovingit]

I will run it again and post if it completes.
It seems to freeze when I click on "fixing".....

So for future reference, how is Farbar different than a Malewarebytes Anti-Maleware or HitmanPro where it scans and removes?

How do I generate the fixlist? Or is it different depending on the spyware?

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Farbar isn't automatic tool like MalwareBytes or HitmanPro. It all depends on the expert who writes fixlist. And it is something that needs several years to master.

 

[lovingit]

Here you go.

Thank you for helping.

So how did you know what maleware or spyware to target if I couldn't even find the name "discountman"?

 

[lovingit]

Does it look like it got rid of the maleware? Can you tell?

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Yes, malware was gone in first FRST fix. Now we just allowed FRST to finish completely with its maintenance. I told you, this is something that I have been learning for years and it can't fit into one message.