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Removal instructions for Topic Torch


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What is Topic Torch?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Topic Torch 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 affected by Topic Torch?

You may see this warning:

main.png

And you may see these toolbars/add-ons:

warning1.png

warning2.png

or this entry in your list of installed programs:

warning3.png

How did Topic Torch get on my computer?

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

How do I remove Topic Torch?

Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this rogue 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.
  • 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 Topic Torch?
  • 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 Topic Torch 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: TopicTorch - {225bfb24-8e4e-4b07-9e23-a23a686e268a} - C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorchbho.dll
Alterations made by the installer:

File system details  ---------------------------------------------    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\TopicTorch       Adds the file TopicTorch.ico"="4/9/2014 5:39 AM, 1150 bytes, A       Adds the file TopicTorchBHO.dll"="4/9/2014 5:39 AM, 249632 bytes, A       Adds the file TopicTorchUninstall.exe"="4/16/2014 7:29 AM, 240409 bytes, A    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\joxsq3f5.default\extensions       Adds the file firefox@www.topictorch.com.xpi"="4/9/2014 5:39 AM, 10874 bytes, ARegistry details  ------------------------------------------    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{1AA60054-57D9-4F99-9A55-D0FBFBE7ECD3}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "10B0F982-97C8-4DFA-AD3D-647679839C3C"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{225bfb24-8e4e-4b07-9e23-a23a686e268a}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "TopicTorch"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{225bfb24-8e4e-4b07-9e23-a23a686e268a}\InprocServer32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorchbho.dll"       "ThreadingModel"="REG_SZ", "Apartment"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{225bfb24-8e4e-4b07-9e23-a23a686e268a}\Programmable]    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{225bfb24-8e4e-4b07-9e23-a23a686e268a}\TypeLib]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{c4252659-61a9-40ae-86fe-7f112ddfe662}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{225bfb24-8e4e-4b07-9e23-a23a686e268a}\Version]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "1.0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "689EAC3E-64CB-4FC6-8422-078498D8D844"       "id"="REG_SZ", "220"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{6ED00366-F35C-4D0D-8383-D7E224C1C25C}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "ITopicTorchBHO"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{6ED00366-F35C-4D0D-8383-D7E224C1C25C}\ProxyStubClsid]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{6ED00366-F35C-4D0D-8383-D7E224C1C25C}\ProxyStubClsid32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{00020424-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{6ED00366-F35C-4D0D-8383-D7E224C1C25C}\TypeLib]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "{C4252659-61A9-40AE-86FE-7F112DDFE662}"       "Version"="REG_SZ", "1.0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{C4252659-61A9-40AE-86FE-7F112DDFE662}\1.0]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "TopicTorchIEClientLib"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{C4252659-61A9-40AE-86FE-7F112DDFE662}\1.0\0\win32]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorchbho.dll"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{C4252659-61A9-40AE-86FE-7F112DDFE662}\1.0\FLAGS]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "0"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\TypeLib\{C4252659-61A9-40AE-86FE-7F112DDFE662}\1.0\HELPDIR]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\TopicTorch"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{225bfb24-8e4e-4b07-9e23-a23a686e268a}]       "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "TopicTorch"       "NoExplorer"="REG_DWORD", 1    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\TopicTorch]       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorch.ico"       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "TopicTorch"       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "2014.04.09.033923"       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 244       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "mailto:"       "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\TopicTorch"       "InstallTime"="REG_SZ", "2014-04-16 7:29:54"       "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1       "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "TopicTorch"       "QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorchuninstall.exe /S"       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorchuninstall.exe"       "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", "http://topictorch.com/support"       "URLUpdateInfo"="REG_SZ", "http://topictorch.com"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\TopicTorch\Chrome]       "sgc"="REG_SZ", "true"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\TopicTorch\Firefox]       "sff"="REG_SZ", "false"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\TopicTorch\Internet Explorer]       "sie"="REG_SZ", "false"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Approved Extensions]       "{225BFB24-8E4E-4B07-9E23-A23A686E268A}"="REG_BINARY, ............    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Compatibility Assistant\Persisted]       "C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\TopicTorch (superweb).exe"="REG_DWORD", 1    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TopicTorch]       "id"="REG_SZ", "2014-04-16 7:29:54"       "iid"="REG_SZ", "org_TopicTorch"       "is"="REG_SZ", "org_TopicTorch"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TopicTorch\Chrome]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "EC3266B1-9EAC-4BC0-AB78-D503B9AE0D27"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TopicTorch\Firefox]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "00697BC3-126F-45E9-89FD-866E8EFFDCD3"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TopicTorch\Internet Explorer]       "ug"="REG_SZ", "1615E7B2-444B-4D3C-A297-314B5210FBD0"
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malwarewww.malwarebytes.orgScan Date: 4/16/2014Scan Time: 7:42:02 AMLogfile: mbamTopicTorch.txtAdministrator: YesVersion: 2.00.1.1004Malware Database: v2014.04.16.03Rootkit Database: v2014.03.27.01License: TrialMalware Protection: DisabledMalicious Website Protection: DisabledChameleon: DisabledOS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1CPU: x86File System: NTFSUser: MalwarebytesScan Type: Threat ScanResult: CompletedObjects Scanned: 211047Time Elapsed: 6 min, 11 secMemory: EnabledStartup: EnabledFilesystem: EnabledArchives: EnabledRootkits: DisabledShuriken: EnabledPUP: EnabledPUM: EnabledProcesses: 0(No malicious items detected)Modules: 1PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorchBHO.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], Registry Keys: 11PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{225bfb24-8e4e-4b07-9e23-a23a686e268a}, Quarantined, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\TYPELIB\{c4252659-61a9-40ae-86fe-7f112ddfe662}, Quarantined, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\INTERFACE\{6ED00366-F35C-4D0D-8383-D7E224C1C25C}, Quarantined, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXPLORER\BROWSER HELPER OBJECTS\{225BFB24-8E4E-4B07-9E23-A23A686E268A}, Quarantined, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\SETTINGS\{225BFB24-8E4E-4B07-9E23-A23A686E268A}, Quarantined, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\EXT\STATS\{225BFB24-8E4E-4B07-9E23-A23A686E268A}, Quarantined, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{225BFB24-8E4E-4B07-9E23-A23A686E268A}\INPROCSERVER32, Quarantined, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], PUP.Optional.BrowseFox.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{4AA46D49-459F-4358-B4D1-169048547C23}, Quarantined, [a360a78458231620130d0a4016ec13ed], PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\TopicTorch, Quarantined, [11f23deed3a849ed0becf177de247987], PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\TopicTorch, Quarantined, [956e3eed156691a56d8c4e1a01016b95], PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-4016700205-1717049133-1125222536-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\TopicTorch, Quarantined, [9d6660cb5c1f8aac6a8e264254ae51af], Registry Values: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Data: 0(No malicious items detected)Folders: 1PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, C:\Program Files\TopicTorch, Delete-on-Reboot, [11f23deed3a849ed0becf177de247987], Files: 5PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorchBHO.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [e51e1d0e0f6c1e18f3eb3f2da06146ba], PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\TopicTorch (superweb).exe, Quarantined, [26dda289bfbc37ff1dc1b4b84cb58c74], PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\joxsq3f5.default\extensions\firefox@www.topictorch.com.xpi, Quarantined, [55aec269bebd082e936299cf24de08f8], PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorch.ico, Quarantined, [11f23deed3a849ed0becf177de247987], PUP.Optional.TopicTorch.A, C:\Program Files\TopicTorch\TopicTorchUninstall.exe, Quarantined, [11f23deed3a849ed0becf177de247987], 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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