Removal instructions for PodoWeb

[Metallica]

What is PodoWeb?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that PodoWeb 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 PodoWeb?

This is how the first screen of the installer looks:

And you may see these toolbars/add-ons:

and this entry in your list of installed programs:

How did PodoWeb get on my computer?

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

How do I remove PodoWeb?

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 PodoWeb?

• 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 PodoWeb 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.

Technical details for experts

Signs in a HijackThis log:

O2 - BHO: PodoWeb - {980b8a8f-ea0b-4c24-a2e9-70635e2502e9} - C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWebbho.dllO23 - Service: Update PodoWeb - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\updatePodoWeb.exe

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details  ---------------------------------------------    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\PodoWeb       Adds the file 0"="8/24/2014 9:53 AM, 203 bytes, A       Adds the file 7za.exe"="8/15/2014 9:12 PM, 536064 bytes, A       Adds the file PodoWeb.FirstRun.exe"="8/17/2014 9:29 AM, 1123608 bytes, A       Adds the file PodoWeb.ico"="8/17/2014 9:28 AM, 1150 bytes, A       Adds the file PodoWebBHO.dll"="8/17/2014 9:28 AM, 250136 bytes, A       Adds the file PodoWebUninstall.exe"="8/24/2014 9:53 AM, 240929 bytes, A       Adds the file updatePodoWeb.exe"="8/17/2014 9:28 AM, 323352 bytes, A       Adds the file updatePodoWeb.InstallState"="8/24/2014 9:53 AM, 5012 bytes, A    In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\extensions       Adds the file {00c97d86-accb-4288-9972-6d929c1fe93a}.xpi"="8/17/2014 9:28 AM, 9078 bytes, ARegistry details  ------------------------------------------    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{1AA60054-57D9-4F99-9A55-D0FBFBE7ECD3}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "F0EC96CC-E925-419C-8D4A-745701823CD6"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "5E55CF83-7C32-4C98-A35F-2F826164B74D"       "id"="REG_SZ", "255"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{980b8a8f-ea0b-4c24-a2e9-70635e2502e9}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "PodoWeb"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{980b8a8f-ea0b-4c24-a2e9-70635e2502e9}\InprocServer32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWebbho.dll"       "ThreadingModel"="REG_SZ", "Apartment"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{980b8a8f-ea0b-4c24-a2e9-70635e2502e9}\Programmable]    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{980b8a8f-ea0b-4c24-a2e9-70635e2502e9}\TypeLib]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{b3d6b511-4d77-44db-a459-938d9e6995f7}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{980b8a8f-ea0b-4c24-a2e9-70635e2502e9}\Version]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "1.0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{AEDAB5B0-022B-465C-A88B-1E8C2FAAA5A2}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "IPodoWebBHO"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{AEDAB5B0-022B-465C-A88B-1E8C2FAAA5A2}\ProxyStubClsid]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{AEDAB5B0-022B-465C-A88B-1E8C2FAAA5A2}\ProxyStubClsid32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{AEDAB5B0-022B-465C-A88B-1E8C2FAAA5A2}\TypeLib]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{B3D6B511-4D77-44DB-A459-938D9E6995F7}"       "Version"="REG_SZ", "1.0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{B3D6B511-4D77-44DB-A459-938D9E6995F7}\1.0]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "PodoWebIEClientLib"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{B3D6B511-4D77-44DB-A459-938D9E6995F7}\1.0\0\win32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWebbho.dll"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{B3D6B511-4D77-44DB-A459-938D9E6995F7}\1.0\FLAGS]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{B3D6B511-4D77-44DB-A459-938D9E6995F7}\1.0\HELPDIR]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\PodoWeb"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\PodoWeb_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\PodoWeb_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\updatePodoWeb_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\updatePodoWeb_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\{980b8a8f-ea0b-4c24-a2e9-70635e2502e9}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "PodoWeb"       "NoExplorer"="REG_DWORD", 1    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\PodoWeb]       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWeb.ico"       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "PodoWeb"       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "2014.08.17.072851"       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 2187       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "mailto:support@podoweb.net"       "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\PodoWeb"       "InstallTime"="REG_SZ", "2014-08-24 9:53:05"       "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1       "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "PodoWeb"       "QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWebuninstall.exe /S"       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWebuninstall.exe"       "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", "http://podoweb.net/support"       "URLUpdateInfo"="REG_SZ", "http://podoweb.net"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PodoWeb]       "iid"="REG_SZ", "def_PodoWeb"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PodoWeb\Chrome]       "sgc"="REG_SZ", "true"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PodoWeb\Firefox]       "sff"="REG_SZ", "false"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PodoWeb\Internet Explorer]       "sie"="REG_SZ", "false"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Update PodoWeb]       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Update PodoWeb"       "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1       "FailureActions"="REG_BINARY, ......................       "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, ""C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\updatePodoWeb.exe""       "ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem"       "Start"="REG_DWORD", 2       "Type"="REG_DWORD", 16    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Approved Extensions]       "{980B8A8F-EA0B-4C24-A2E9-70635E2502E9}"="REG_BINARY, ............    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{980B8A8F-EA0B-4C24-A2E9-70635E2502E9}]       "VerCache"="REG_BINARY, ......................    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{980B8A8F-EA0B-4C24-A2E9-70635E2502E9}\iexplore]       "Blocked"="REG_DWORD", 2       "Count"="REG_DWORD", 2       "Flags"="REG_DWORD", 0       "Time"="REG_BINARY, .....6..       "Type"="REG_DWORD", 3    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PodoWeb]       "id"="REG_SZ", "2014-08-24 9:53:05"       "iid"="REG_SZ", "def_PodoWeb"       "is"="REG_SZ", "def_PodoWeb"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PodoWeb\Chrome]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "282D5A14-C8FB-4D00-8115-EC4CE5F5EF18"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PodoWeb\Firefox]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "F6AE978C-6987-4A53-A596-95BC5B04CB22"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PodoWeb\Internet Explorer]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "B45C36EF-FBF8-42DE-AB52-2D6A6A922149"

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malwarewww.malwarebytes.orgScan Date: 8/24/2014Scan Time: 10:01:25 AMLogfile: mbamPodoweb.txtAdministrator: YesVersion: 2.00.2.1012Malware Database: v2014.08.24.02Rootkit Database: v2014.08.21.01License: FreeMalware Protection: DisabledMalicious Website Protection: DisabledSelf-protection: DisabledOS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1CPU: x86File System: NTFSUser: MalwarebytesScan Type: Threat ScanResult: CompletedObjects Scanned: 257999Time Elapsed: 2 min, 46 secMemory: EnabledStartup: EnabledFilesystem: EnabledArchives: EnabledRootkits: DisabledHeuristics: EnabledPUP: EnabledPUM: EnabledProcesses: 1PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\updatePodoWeb.exe, 3156, Delete-on-Reboot, [aab8309a98e3f73fbcdc4c595ea3fc04]Modules: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Keys: 12PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\Update PodoWeb, Quarantined, [aab8309a98e3f73fbcdc4c595ea3fc04], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{980b8a8f-ea0b-4c24-a2e9-70635e2502e9}, Quarantined, [f36f0dbdd5a6ea4c0a8d4d581ee34cb4], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\TYPELIB\{b3d6b511-4d77-44db-a459-938d9e6995f7}, Quarantined, [f36f0dbdd5a6ea4c0a8d4d581ee34cb4], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\INTERFACE\{AEDAB5B0-022B-465C-A88B-1E8C2FAAA5A2}, Quarantined, [f36f0dbdd5a6ea4c0a8d4d581ee34cb4], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXPLORER\BROWSER HELPER OBJECTS\{980B8A8F-EA0B-4C24-A2E9-70635E2502E9}, Quarantined, [f36f0dbdd5a6ea4c0a8d4d581ee34cb4], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\SETTINGS\{980B8A8F-EA0B-4C24-A2E9-70635E2502E9}, Quarantined, [f36f0dbdd5a6ea4c0a8d4d581ee34cb4], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\STATS\{980B8A8F-EA0B-4C24-A2E9-70635E2502E9}, Quarantined, [f36f0dbdd5a6ea4c0a8d4d581ee34cb4], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{980B8A8F-EA0B-4C24-A2E9-70635E2502E9}\INPROCSERVER32, Quarantined, [f36f0dbdd5a6ea4c0a8d4d581ee34cb4], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}, Quarantined, [4f133892047752e442ccf4b7ed1560a0], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\PodoWeb, Quarantined, [3c26696123582c0ac352a744ff030ff1], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\PodoWeb, Quarantined, [df833793b0cbbd79a96d02e918eaf40c], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\PodoWeb, Quarantined, [8dd5d9f1a0db34027d9a9259ae5421df], Registry Values: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Data: 0(No malicious items detected)Folders: 1PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb, Delete-on-Reboot, [3c26696123582c0ac352a744ff030ff1], Files: 10PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\updatePodoWeb.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [aab8309a98e3f73fbcdc4c595ea3fc04], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWebBHO.dll, Quarantined, [f36f0dbdd5a6ea4c0a8d4d581ee34cb4], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\PodoWeb.exe, Quarantined, [40220dbd3d3e2d09a97e98b9ee1239c7], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\6qeoodjs.default-1401006518835\extensions\{00c97d86-accb-4288-9972-6d929c1fe93a}.xpi, Quarantined, [bda5b6143d3ed75f2a36b0355aa8bd43], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWeb.ico, Quarantined, [3c26696123582c0ac352a744ff030ff1], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\0, Quarantined, [3c26696123582c0ac352a744ff030ff1], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\7za.exe, Quarantined, [3c26696123582c0ac352a744ff030ff1], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWeb.FirstRun.exe, Quarantined, [3c26696123582c0ac352a744ff030ff1], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\PodoWebUninstall.exe, Quarantined, [3c26696123582c0ac352a744ff030ff1], PUP.Optional.PodoWeb.A, C:\Program Files\PodoWeb\updatePodoWeb.InstallState, Quarantined, [3c26696123582c0ac352a744ff030ff1], 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):

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• Malware Execution Prevention

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