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Removal instructions for BrowseStudio


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What is BrowseStudio?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that BrowseStudio is a browser hijacker. These so-called "hijackers" manipulate your browser(s), for example to change your startpage or searchscopes, so that the affected browser visits their site or one of their choice. This one also displays advertisements.

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

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 BrowseStudio get on my computer?

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

How do I remove BrowseStudio?

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 BrowseStudio?
  • 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 BrowseStudio 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: BrowseStudio - {1e9e0e98-4ab7-40b0-a0ce-69105c1b7c92} - C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio\BrowseStudiobho.dllO23 - Service: Update BrowseStudio - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio\updateBrowseStudio.exe
Alterations made by the installer:

File system details  ---------------------------------------------    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio       Adds the file 7za.exe"="10/29/2014 9:22 PM, 536064 bytes, A       Adds the file BrowseStudio.FirstRun.exe"="11/4/2014 10:24 PM, 1596656 bytes, A       Adds the file BrowseStudio.ico"="11/4/2014 10:22 PM, 1150 bytes, A       Adds the file BrowseStudiobho.dll"="11/10/2014 3:29 PM, 250608 bytes, A       Adds the file BrowseStudioUninstall.exe"="11/4/2014 10:26 PM, 259072 bytes, A       Adds the file updateBrowseStudio.exe"="11/4/2014 10:22 PM, 523504 bytes, A       Adds the file updateBrowseStudio.InstallState"="11/10/2014 3:29 PM, 5012 bytes, A    In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\extensions       Adds the file {fb8ad9ac-0635-499f-95f3-5971816c65da}.xpi"="11/4/2014 10:22 PM, 9089 bytes, ARegistry details  ------------------------------------------    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\BrowseStudio]       "iid"="REG_SZ", "def_BrowseStudio"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\BrowseStudio\Chrome]       "sgc"="REG_SZ", "true"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\BrowseStudio\Firefox]       "sff"="REG_SZ", "false"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\BrowseStudio\Internet Explorer]       "sie"="REG_SZ", "false"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{1AA60054-57D9-4F99-9A55-D0FBFBE7ECD3}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "428B431B-39A8-48E0-A2BE-0AFB71C67F8B"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{1e9e0e98-4ab7-40b0-a0ce-69105c1b7c92}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "BrowseStudio"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{1e9e0e98-4ab7-40b0-a0ce-69105c1b7c92}\InprocServer32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio\BrowseStudiobho.dll"       "ThreadingModel"="REG_SZ", "Apartment"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{1e9e0e98-4ab7-40b0-a0ce-69105c1b7c92}\Programmable]    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{1e9e0e98-4ab7-40b0-a0ce-69105c1b7c92}\TypeLib]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{b8f74fd2-41c2-4e1c-8941-d70b0bc59ff0}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{1e9e0e98-4ab7-40b0-a0ce-69105c1b7c92}\Version]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "1.0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "432ADE2E-3DBB-4150-BB8F-5BC654FF5C95"       "id"="REG_SZ", "276"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{E5A65627-A3CF-44FD-AD64-3F593BD02924}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "IBrowseStudioBHO"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{E5A65627-A3CF-44FD-AD64-3F593BD02924}\ProxyStubClsid]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{E5A65627-A3CF-44FD-AD64-3F593BD02924}\ProxyStubClsid32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{E5A65627-A3CF-44FD-AD64-3F593BD02924}\TypeLib]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{B8F74FD2-41C2-4E1C-8941-D70B0BC59FF0}"       "Version"="REG_SZ", "1.0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{B8F74FD2-41C2-4E1C-8941-D70B0BC59FF0}\1.0]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "BrowseStudioIEClientLib"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{B8F74FD2-41C2-4E1C-8941-D70B0BC59FF0}\1.0\0\win32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio\BrowseStudiobho.dll"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{B8F74FD2-41C2-4E1C-8941-D70B0BC59FF0}\1.0\FLAGS]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{B8F74FD2-41C2-4E1C-8941-D70B0BC59FF0}\1.0\HELPDIR]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\BrowseStudio_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\BrowseStudio_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\Tracing\updateBrowseStudio_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\updateBrowseStudio_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\{1e9e0e98-4ab7-40b0-a0ce-69105c1b7c92}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "BrowseStudio"       "NoExplorer"="REG_DWORD", 1    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\BrowseStudio]       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio\BrowseStudio.ico"       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "BrowseStudio"       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "2014.11.04.212032"       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 2844       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "mailto:support@browsestudio.com"       "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio"       "InstallTime"="REG_SZ", "2014-11-10 15:29:26"       "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1       "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "BrowseStudio"       "QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio\BrowseStudiouninstall.exe /S"       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio\BrowseStudiouninstall.exe"       "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", "http://browsestudio.com/support"       "URLUpdateInfo"="REG_SZ", "http://browsestudio.com"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Update BrowseStudio]       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Update BrowseStudio"       "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1       "FailureActions"="REG_BINARY, ......................       "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, ""C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio\updateBrowseStudio.exe""       "ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem"       "Start"="REG_DWORD", 2       "Type"="REG_DWORD", 16    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\BrowseStudio]       "id"="REG_SZ", "2014-11-10 15:29:26"       "iid"="REG_SZ", "def_BrowseStudio"       "is"="REG_SZ", "def_BrowseStudio"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\BrowseStudio\Chrome]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "E27B548A-D725-4C87-91EB-51FC60E3635A"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\BrowseStudio\Firefox]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "EB5D733B-D40D-4789-8027-3A58A10A7045"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\BrowseStudio\Internet Explorer]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "B68A70C1-6E1C-483A-8993-4F38BDB70038"
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malwarewww.malwarebytes.orgScan Date: 11/10/2014Scan Time: 3:31:55 PMLogfile: mbamBrowseStudio.txtAdministrator: YesVersion: 2.00.3.1025Malware Database: v2014.11.10.04Rootkit Database: v2014.11.08.01License: FreeMalware Protection: DisabledMalicious Website Protection: DisabledSelf-protection: DisabledOS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1CPU: x86File System: NTFSUser: MalwarebytesScan Type: Threat ScanResult: CompletedObjects Scanned: 274906Time Elapsed: 3 min, 26 secMemory: EnabledStartup: EnabledFilesystem: EnabledArchives: EnabledRootkits: DisabledHeuristics: EnabledPUP: EnabledPUM: EnabledProcesses: 2PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio\updateBrowseStudio.exe, 6580, Delete-on-Reboot, [e834cc6e95e7ba7c868d17ca1be65da3]PUP.Optional.Sambreel.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio\BrowseStudio.FirstRun.exe, 7492, Delete-on-Reboot, [a577f842b4c8de58d5acc8a57a8716ea]Modules: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Keys: 10PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\Update BrowseStudio, Quarantined, [e834cc6e95e7ba7c868d17ca1be65da3], PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{1e9e0e98-4ab7-40b0-a0ce-69105c1b7c92}, Quarantined, [ee2ec37791eb93a315fd4c95bb4629d7], PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\TYPELIB\{b8f74fd2-41c2-4e1c-8941-d70b0bc59ff0}, Quarantined, [ee2ec37791eb93a315fd4c95bb4629d7], PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\INTERFACE\{E5A65627-A3CF-44FD-AD64-3F593BD02924}, Quarantined, [ee2ec37791eb93a315fd4c95bb4629d7], PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXPLORER\BROWSER HELPER OBJECTS\{1E9E0E98-4AB7-40B0-A0CE-69105C1B7C92}, Quarantined, [ee2ec37791eb93a315fd4c95bb4629d7], PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{1E9E0E98-4AB7-40B0-A0CE-69105C1B7C92}\INPROCSERVER32, Quarantined, [ee2ec37791eb93a315fd4c95bb4629d7], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}, Quarantined, [0a12b5857408fb3b1623d418996908f8], PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\BrowseStudio, Quarantined, [9e7e9aa0027ad066e238feab976d41bf], PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, HKCU\SOFTWARE\BrowseStudio, Quarantined, [57c5251583f9da5c021988219173867a], PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\BrowseStudio, Quarantined, [5ac22416463658dee7cbd4594cb7eb15], Registry Values: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Data: 0(No malicious items detected)Folders: 1PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio, Delete-on-Reboot, [5ac22416463658dee7cbd4594cb7eb15], Files: 9PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio\updateBrowseStudio.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [e834cc6e95e7ba7c868d17ca1be65da3], PUP.Optional.Sambreel.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio\BrowseStudio.FirstRun.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [a577f842b4c8de58d5acc8a57a8716ea], PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio\BrowseStudiobho.dll, Quarantined, [ee2ec37791eb93a315fd4c95bb4629d7], PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\5871934b271a3afbf06b84a2b7237a103261d0cf1b3fb437e81763bf48aa23bc.exe, Quarantined, [0a127cbe2a5289ada398d18c11ef6c94], PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\extensions\{fb8ad9ac-0635-499f-95f3-5971816c65da}.xpi, Quarantined, [b16ba09a2a523afc79a48524b153d927], PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio\7za.exe, Quarantined, [5ac22416463658dee7cbd4594cb7eb15], PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio\BrowseStudio.ico, Quarantined, [5ac22416463658dee7cbd4594cb7eb15], PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio\BrowseStudioUninstall.exe, Quarantined, [5ac22416463658dee7cbd4594cb7eb15], PUP.Optional.BrowseStudio.A, C:\Program Files\BrowseStudio\updateBrowseStudio.InstallState, Quarantined, [5ac22416463658dee7cbd4594cb7eb15], 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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