smartnewtab.com popping up randomly

[ssahai]

Hi, I have got the same problem, and thankfully I found your post so I am now trying out the solutions. Just wanted to add that I tried Kaspersky and AVG deep scans before coming to this site and they both failed to find anything that could fix it.

What software would you recommend to avoid getting infected in this way again? I'm running Windows10, with Kaspersky Internet Security installed recently. I think the malware was installed during the brief gap after my McAfee subscription expired and I bought Kaspersky, so the malware was already on the system when I installed Kaspersky.

Could you say if Kaspersky or AVG would have stopped the malware installation, given that they both failed to find the malware once it was installed?

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Hello,


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

Note: You need to run the version compatible 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.

 

[ssahai]

here are the files requested.thanks

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Scan with ZOEK

Please download ZOEK by Smeenk and save it to your desktop.
Temporary disable your AntiVirus and AntiSpyware protection - instructions here.

• Right-click on
  
  icon and select
  
  Run as Administrator to start the tool.
• Wait patiently until the main console will appear, it may take a minute or two.
• In the main box please paste in the following script:
  

  createsrpoint;
  autoclean;
  emptyclsid;
  emptyalltemp;
  ipconfig /flushdns >>"%temp%\log.txt";b

• Make sure that Scan All Users option is checked.
• Push Run Script and wait patiently. The scan may take a couple of minutes.
• When the scan completes, a zoek-results logfile should open in notepad.
• If a reboot is needed, it will be opened after it. You may also find it at your main drive (usually C:\ drive)

Upload it in your next reply.

 

[ssahai]

here it is.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

How is your PC behaving now?

 

[ssahai]

Sorry I was away for a few days on a business trip. Have used the browser only for a short while since fixing but the problem seems to have gone away for now. Thanks for the help.

Any suggestions on which antivirus/malware protection to install for prevention, rather than having to cure again next time?