Solved Chrome Omnibox redirects to Yahoo search instead of Google

[chcbkkr]

Unfortunately, I made some poor life choices and deleted the log from when I first ran AdwCleaner and removed threats, so I can't upload it to here. Please help me.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Hi,

Before we begin, I want you to have this in mind:

• 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.
• Please do not install any new software during the cleaning process other than the tools I provide for you. This can hinder the cleaning process. Please do not perform System Restore or any other restore.
• 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.
  
• All tools we use here are completely clean and do not contain any malware. If your antivirus detects them as malicious, please disable your antivirus and then continue.
• If during the process you run across anything that is not in my instructions, please stop and ask. If any tool is running too much time (few hours), please stop and inform me.
• I visit forum several times at day, making sure to respond to everyone's topic as fast as possible. But bear in mind that I have private life like everyone and I cannot be here 24/7. So please be patient with me. Also, some infections require less, and some more time to be removed completely, so bear this in mind and be patient.
• 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.

First remove Hyper - Browser from Control Panel

Pando Media Booster warning!

Pando Media Booster, which is installed (intentially or not) with some gaming tools, has been known to download/send some uncontrollable data. You can never be sure what it really downloads/uploads.

My advice is to uninstall this program. To do so:

• Press the
  
  + R on your keyboard at the same time. Type appwiz.cpl and click OK.[/*]
• Search for Pando Media Booster, right-click the entry and click Uninstall.[/*]

This is optional, but please consider it.

SpyBot S&D Warning

MVPS.org is no longer recommending SpyBot S&D due to very poor testing results (scroll down and read under Freeware Antispyware Products).
My advice is to get rid of this program. To do so:

• Press the
  
  + R on your keyboard at the same time. Type appwiz.cpl and click OK.[/*]
• Search for SpyBot, right-click the entry and click Uninstall.[/*]

This is optional, but please consider it.

***** NEXT *****​

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.

 

[chcbkkr]

The game that used Pando no longer uses it, so I've gotten rid of it. I've gotten rid of Spybot too. When I tried to uninstall Hyper - Browser, it said an error occurred, that it may have already been uninstalled, and asked if I wanted to remove it from the list to which I said yes. Does this affect anything or should I go ahead with the FRST fix?

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Very good, proceed with FRST fix.

 

[chcbkkr]

A restart was needed. After restart, I was greeted with two Windows Script Host messages saying "Cannot find script file "C:\ProgramData\Lenovo-26401.vbs"" and another saying the same for "C:\ProgramData\Lenovo-26466.vbs."

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

No problem.

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.

 

[chcbkkr]

Done.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

How is computer now?

 

[chcbkkr]

Everything seems to be normal and running fine. Chrome omnibox no longer redirects to Yahoo and is correctly completing search with Google as it should. Looks good.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Okay, then we're done here



Below you will find my thoughts about securing your machine. Go ahead through it, you will benefit from some useful advice about safe computing.

Recommended reading:
​

MUST READ - security tips: Computer Security - a short guide to staying safer online. Simple and easy ways to keep your computer safe and secure on the Internet

MUST READ - general maintenance: What to do if your Computer is running slowly?

Recommended additional software:
​

TFC - to clean unneeded temporary files.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware - to scan your system from time to time in search for malware.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Exploit - to prevent plenty of mostly exploited vulnerabilities.

McShield - to prevent infections spread by removable media.

CryptoPrevent - to secure yourself from very severe CryptoLocker infection.

Unchecky - to prevent from installing additional foistware, implemented in legitimate installations.


• The following will implement some post-cleanup procedures:

=> Please download DelFix by Xplode to your Desktop.

Run the tool and check the following boxes below;

Remove disinfection tools

Create registry backup

Purge System Restore
Click Run button and wait a few seconds for the programme completes his work.
At this point all the tools we used here should be gone. Tool will create an report for you (C:\DelFix.txt)

The tool will also record healthy state of registry and make a backup using ERUNT program in %windir%\ERUNT\DelFix
Tool deletes old system restore points and create a fresh system restore point after cleaning.



Stay safe,
TwinHeadedEagle

 

[chcbkkr]

Perfect. Thanks for everything.

 

[chcbkkr]

Except now it's back and I don't know why. I was watching a video on Youtube and decided to Google something in omnibox and was greeted by the unsightly Yahoo search and I'm so angry right now I'm gonna cry.

Malwarebytes comes up clean. I've reinstalled Chrome as well as resetted it. I've also ran Ccleaner and TFC. Please help me again? I've scanned with FRST. :C

 

[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.

 

[chcbkkr]

Still redirects to Yahoo. I've also noticed that if I change the settings in Chrome (add home button, show bookmark bar, etc), it would temporarily fix it, but if I use Ccleaner or TFC, it would come back. Resetting Chrome seems to have no effect.

Edit: I don't know what happened, but it seems to be gone now... How can I make sure that it's really gone and won't come back?

Edit 2: Ok so I needed to reinstall Internet Explorer as back up browser and had to restart. After I restarted, Chrome started redirecting to Yahoo again, but went away after I used Ccleaner to delete temp files and compact database. I don't understand why it keeps coming back and going away.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

I would like you to do this:

Let it infect Chrome, then do not use CCleaner, but Run FRST, check Addition.txt, press Scan and attach both reports.

 

[chcbkkr]

Ok it's been relatively clean for the last hour UNTIL now as Yahoo redirect is back. I've ran FRST as you've requested immediately after Yahoo showed up. However, it's 8 in the morning and I really need to go to bed so I'll have to get back to you later.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Fix with AdwCleaner

Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode and save the file to your desktop.

• Right-click on
  
  icon and select
  
  Run as Administrator to start the tool.
• Follow the prompts and click Scan.
• When finished, please click Clean.
• Upon completion, click Report. A log (AdwCleaner[S*].txt) will open.

Please include the contents of that file in your reply.

 

[chcbkkr]

I made sure Yahoo was still there before running AdwCleaner. Looks like it came out clean, but Yahoo redirect is gone now after AdwCleaner rebooted the system...

Edit: Ok it's back after 20 minutes.

Edit 2: I've just noticed that it doesn't go to the legitimate Yahoo search that is (search.yahoo.com) but rather goes to (us.yhs4.search.yahoo.com). Not sure if that matters.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Scan with ZOEK

Please download ZOEK by Smeenk and save it to your desktop (preferred version is the *.exe one)
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;
  Yahoo;a
  Yahoo;z

• 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)

Post its content into your next reply.

 

[chcbkkr]

Sorry I took so long. I've run into a problem trying to post the content of the log. The website won't let me upload the log with my reply, and the content of the log is too much. Whenever I try to paste it into my reply, my browser stops responding. What should I do?