Kevin,
Thanks for your help. I've had a new development since I submitted this topic/issue.
Yesterday morning (5/26) after I started up my PC (from Off, not hibernation), PC no longer had issue with Search Engage hijack of my Chrome browser. The only thing I had done in between submitting topic and morning of 5/26 was to run Google Chrom Clean Up tool to reset the browser.
HOWEVER, a new pop-up emerged late Monday PM. It is a Windows product key verification request. I've attached screen capture of the pop up. It seemed suspicious since the logo in title bar was MSFT nor anything I recognized and the Support Helpline was a 844 number. I called MSFT support about the pop-up. They were worthless (as expected). Both the techs I spoke with just tried to get me to migrate to Windows 10 and didn't even address my questions about whether or not this is a legit pop up, how I could determine if it was, or if the 844-651-8850 number was a legit MSFT support number.
Anyway, I think this pop up is a scam. I googled PK verification scams and 844- support line scams and uncovered a lot of articles inidicating this is likely adware/malware scam.
I went ahead ran the scans you listed above and have attached the log files. One issue did occur. When I tried to run the MWB scan the first time after changing settings as you requested, MWB choked and failed to run the scan. It worked after I restarted my PC. I ran all 3 scans straight through after this last restart after MBW failed.
I've uploaded the following 6 files
- RKill 04262016
- MWB_log_04262016
- FRST_log_04272016
- FRST_log_04272016_no.2 (came from the single scan run)
- Screen capture: MWB fail
- Screen capture: MSFT Product Key verification pop-up window
I look forward to your reply on next steps.
Thanks very much for your patient help.
Regards,
Thomas
FRST_log04272016_Addition.txt
FRST_log04272016_no.2_Addition.txt
MWB_log_04262016.txt
Rkill_04262016.txt