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Removal instructions for Neurowise


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What is Neurowise?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Neurowise is a browser hijacker. These so-called "hijackers" alter your startpage or searchscopes so that the effected browser visits their site or one of their choice. This one also displays advertisements.

How do I know if my computer is effected by Neurowise?

This is how the first screen of the installer looks:

main.png

And you may see these toolbars/add-ons:

warning1.png

warning2.png

or this entry in your list of installed programs:

warning4.png

How did Neurowise get on my computer?

Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was bundled with other software.

How do I remove Neurowise?

Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this potentially unwanted application.

  • Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to your desktop.
  • Double-click mbam-setup-version.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
  • At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to the following:
    • Enable free trial of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium
    • Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
  • Then click Finish.
  • If an update is found, you will be prompted to download and install the latest version.
  • Once the program has loaded, select Scan now. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
  • When the scan is complete , make sure that everything is set to "Quarantine", and click Apply Actions.
  • Reboot your computer if prompted.
Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Neurowise?
  • No, but for a full removal of the Firefox add-on you will need Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 2.00 beta or newer.
How would the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware help protect me?

We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.

As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware would have protected you against the Neurowise hijacker. It would have warned you before the browser helper object could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

protection1.png

Technical details for experts

Signs in a HijackThis log:

O2 - BHO: neurowise - {d08ab008-0647-4784-8e2c-5769cd4a7c3a} - C:\Program Files\neurowise\neurowisebho.dllO23 - Service: Update neurowise - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\neurowise\updateneurowise.exe
Alterations made by the installer:

File system details  ---------------------------------------------    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\neurowise       Adds the file 7za.exe"="8/8/2014 1:28 AM, 536064 bytes, A       Adds the file neurowise.ico"="8/10/2014 9:36 PM, 1150 bytes, A       Adds the file neurowiseBHO.dll"="8/10/2014 9:36 PM, 250144 bytes, A       Adds the file neurowiseUninstall.exe"="8/16/2014 10:40 AM, 241449 bytes, A       Adds the file updateneurowise.exe"="8/10/2014 9:36 PM, 323360 bytes, A       Adds the file updateneurowise.InstallState"="8/16/2014 10:40 AM, 5012 bytes, A    In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\extensions       Adds the file {fe651286-52a1-461b-a17a-f258b4b81968}.xpi"="8/10/2014 9:36 PM, 7695 bytes, ARegistry details  ------------------------------------------    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{1AA60054-57D9-4F99-9A55-D0FBFBE7ECD3}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "BA25AC93-9992-4394-AA66-20925D73DB35"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "1FCF9F53-528E-42D8-A70B-28B6433906BE"       "id"="REG_SZ", "242"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{d08ab008-0647-4784-8e2c-5769cd4a7c3a}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "neurowise"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{d08ab008-0647-4784-8e2c-5769cd4a7c3a}\InprocServer32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\neurowise\neurowisebho.dll"       "ThreadingModel"="REG_SZ", "Apartment"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{d08ab008-0647-4784-8e2c-5769cd4a7c3a}\Programmable]    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{d08ab008-0647-4784-8e2c-5769cd4a7c3a}\TypeLib]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{724dd777-5654-4d06-b3bc-c2ff56615998}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{d08ab008-0647-4784-8e2c-5769cd4a7c3a}\Version]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "1.0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{E693A372-A8D4-4CBD-B011-66358BEA2F48}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "IneurowiseBHO"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{E693A372-A8D4-4CBD-B011-66358BEA2F48}\ProxyStubClsid]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{E693A372-A8D4-4CBD-B011-66358BEA2F48}\ProxyStubClsid32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{E693A372-A8D4-4CBD-B011-66358BEA2F48}\TypeLib]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{724DD777-5654-4D06-B3BC-C2FF56615998}"       "Version"="REG_SZ", "1.0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{724DD777-5654-4D06-B3BC-C2FF56615998}\1.0]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "neurowiseIEClientLib"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{724DD777-5654-4D06-B3BC-C2FF56615998}\1.0\0\win32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\neurowise\neurowisebho.dll"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{724DD777-5654-4D06-B3BC-C2FF56615998}\1.0\FLAGS]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{724DD777-5654-4D06-B3BC-C2FF56615998}\1.0\HELPDIR]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\neurowise"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\updateneurowise_RASAPI32]       "ConsoleTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "EnableConsoleTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "EnableFileTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "FileDirectory"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "%windir%\tracing"       "FileTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "MaxFileSize"="REG_DWORD", 1048576    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\updateneurowise_RASMANCS]       "ConsoleTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "EnableConsoleTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "EnableFileTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "FileDirectory"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "%windir%\tracing"       "FileTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "MaxFileSize"="REG_DWORD", 1048576    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{d08ab008-0647-4784-8e2c-5769cd4a7c3a}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "neurowise"       "NoExplorer"="REG_DWORD", 1    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\neurowise]       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\neurowise\neurowise.ico"       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "neurowise"       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "2014.08.10.192812"       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 1089       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "mailto:support@neurowise.info"       "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\neurowise"       "InstallTime"="REG_SZ", "2014-08-16 10:40:37"       "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1       "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "neurowise"       "QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\neurowise\neurowiseuninstall.exe /S"       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\neurowise\neurowiseuninstall.exe"       "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", "http://neurowise.info/support"       "URLUpdateInfo"="REG_SZ", "http://neurowise.info"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\neurowise]       "iid"="REG_SZ", "def_neurowise"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\neurowise\Chrome]       "sgc"="REG_SZ", "true"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\neurowise\Firefox]       "sff"="REG_SZ", "false"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\neurowise\Internet Explorer]       "sie"="REG_SZ", "false"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\eventlog\Application\Update neurowise]       "EventMessageFile"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\EventLogMessages.dll"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Update neurowise]       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Update neurowise"       "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1       "FailureActions"="REG_BINARY, ......................       "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, ""C:\Program Files\neurowise\updateneurowise.exe""       "ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem"       "Start"="REG_DWORD", 2       "Type"="REG_DWORD", 16    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Approved Extensions]       "{D08AB008-0647-4784-8E2C-5769CD4A7C3A}"="REG_BINARY, ............    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{D08AB008-0647-4784-8E2C-5769CD4A7C3A}]       "Flags"="REG_DWORD", 1024       "VerCache"="REG_BINARY, ......................    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{D08AB008-0647-4784-8E2C-5769CD4A7C3A}\iexplore]       "Blocked"="REG_DWORD", 1       "Count"="REG_DWORD", 2       "Flags"="REG_DWORD", 0       "NavTimeArray"="REG_BINARY, ....................       "Time"="REG_BINARY, .....)..       "Type"="REG_DWORD", 3    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\neurowise]       "id"="REG_SZ", "2014-08-16 10:40:37"       "iid"="REG_SZ", "def_neurowise"       "is"="REG_SZ", "def_neurowise"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\neurowise\Chrome]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "9E9BD890-D56A-4B07-9D4E-CFE6AEB73356"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\neurowise\Firefox]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "A3D5FC1F-6BFC-4693-8DF0-A5D103A78869"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\neurowise\Internet Explorer]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "00EF372F-98C7-472D-A4BB-B18350543DF1"
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malwarewww.malwarebytes.orgScan Date: 8/16/2014Scan Time: 10:47:23 AMLogfile: mbamNeurowise.txtAdministrator: YesVersion: 2.00.2.1012Malware Database: v2014.08.16.02Rootkit Database: v2014.08.15.01License: FreeMalware Protection: DisabledMalicious Website Protection: DisabledSelf-protection: DisabledOS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1CPU: x86File System: NTFSUser: MalwarebytesScan Type: Threat ScanResult: CompletedObjects Scanned: 255382Time Elapsed: 3 min, 52 secMemory: EnabledStartup: EnabledFilesystem: EnabledArchives: EnabledRootkits: DisabledHeuristics: EnabledPUP: EnabledPUM: EnabledProcesses: 1PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, C:\Program Files\neurowise\updateneurowise.exe, 3304, Delete-on-Reboot, [5ee409bec6b5f3432951158f12ef51af]Modules: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Keys: 14PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\Update neurowise, Quarantined, [5ee409bec6b5f3432951158f12ef51af], PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{d08ab008-0647-4784-8e2c-5769cd4a7c3a}, Quarantined, [c67cdee997e42115cbaef0b458a912ee], PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\TYPELIB\{724dd777-5654-4d06-b3bc-c2ff56615998}, Quarantined, [c67cdee997e42115cbaef0b458a912ee], PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\INTERFACE\{E693A372-A8D4-4CBD-B011-66358BEA2F48}, Quarantined, [c67cdee997e42115cbaef0b458a912ee], PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXPLORER\BROWSER HELPER OBJECTS\{D08AB008-0647-4784-8E2C-5769CD4A7C3A}, Quarantined, [c67cdee997e42115cbaef0b458a912ee], PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\SETTINGS\{D08AB008-0647-4784-8E2C-5769CD4A7C3A}, Quarantined, [c67cdee997e42115cbaef0b458a912ee], PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\STATS\{D08AB008-0647-4784-8E2C-5769CD4A7C3A}, Quarantined, [c67cdee997e42115cbaef0b458a912ee], PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{D08AB008-0647-4784-8E2C-5769CD4A7C3A}\INPROCSERVER32, Quarantined, [c67cdee997e42115cbaef0b458a912ee], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}, Quarantined, [083a3b8c2f4c64d2711f3d67a75b8779], PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\neurowise, Quarantined, [46fc25a2b9c2b383e97ac41d3dc57f81], PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\neurowise, Quarantined, [2022b4138eed330384e034ad3fc340c0], PUP.Optional.GlobalUpdate.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MOZILLAPLUGINS\@staging.google.com/globalUpdate Update;version=10, Quarantined, [62e0b01780fb02345ce6f353dd27c53b], PUP.Optional.GlobalUpdate.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MOZILLAPLUGINS\@staging.google.com/globalUpdate Update;version=4, Quarantined, [182a497e3e3dd1655ae954f263a1dd23], PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\neurowise, Quarantined, [c57d25a2eb9032048ed77170da28aa56], Registry Values: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Data: 0(No malicious items detected)Folders: 1PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, C:\Program Files\neurowise, Delete-on-Reboot, [46fc25a2b9c2b383e97ac41d3dc57f81], Files: 8PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, C:\Program Files\neurowise\updateneurowise.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [5ee409bec6b5f3432951158f12ef51af], PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, C:\Program Files\neurowise\neurowiseBHO.dll, Quarantined, [c67cdee997e42115cbaef0b458a912ee], PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\Neurowise.exe, Quarantined, [8fb317b0225973c3d078e16f2bd53ec2], PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\extensions\{fe651286-52a1-461b-a17a-f258b4b81968}.xpi, Quarantined, [81c1daedb1ca3afcea711cc11de52cd4], PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, C:\Program Files\neurowise\neurowise.ico, Quarantined, [46fc25a2b9c2b383e97ac41d3dc57f81], PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, C:\Program Files\neurowise\7za.exe, Quarantined, [46fc25a2b9c2b383e97ac41d3dc57f81], PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, C:\Program Files\neurowise\neurowiseUninstall.exe, Quarantined, [46fc25a2b9c2b383e97ac41d3dc57f81], PUP.Optional.Neurowise.A, C:\Program Files\neurowise\updateneurowise.InstallState, Quarantined, [46fc25a2b9c2b383e97ac41d3dc57f81], Physical Sectors: 0(No malicious items detected)(end)
As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware could have protected your computer against this threat.

We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):

  • Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
  • Malware Execution Prevention
Save yourself the hassle and get protected.
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