Remove Evernote virus (Removal Guide)

Evernote virus is a set of cyber infections and scams that try impersonate a legitimate application

Evernote virus

Evernote virus, which is also known as Evernote Web virus, is a term used for cyber infections that can get into user devices by pretending to be an official Evernote app, published by a trustworthy company^[1]. The service is designed initially to take notes and organize to-do tasks and has over 1.5 million downloads on Google Play.^[2]

It turns out, scammers are using the name of this legitimate company to trick computer users into thinking that they are using a browser extension, while in reality, the malicious version is being installed. Evernote Web virus uses the same name as the real Chrome extension, so it can be very hard to identify whether you are infected or not.

Besides the fake Evernote version, security researchers also recently uncovered a security vulnerability inside the Evernote Web Clipper Extension for Chrome under the code name CVE-2019-12592.^[3] It allows hackers to hijack the Chrome Web browser and harvest sensitive user data like cookies, login credentials, and other private information.

Name	Evernote virus
Type	Malware, software vulnerability
Associated CVE	CVE-2019-12592
Malicious version dropped by	Multiplug potentially unwanted program
Risk factors	Sensitive data exposure to bad actors, money loss, other malware infections
Elimination	To remove the malicious version of Evernote, scan your device with reputable security software
Recovery	After you delete the malicious application, scan your device with Fortect Intego to fix virus damage

Evernote virus dropped by a potentially unwanted program Multiplug

Reportedly,^[4] Evernote virus, which is a fake version of the official app, s distributed with the help of Multiplug (a potentially unwanted program), which is digitally signed by Sergei Ivanovich Drozdov, who claims to be an open source developer.

This PUP manages to insert the deceptive browser extension to Comodo Dragon^[5], Torch, and Google Chrome browsers. Upon the infiltration, Multiplug PUP drops the following files into the host browser extension folder:

content.js
lsdb.js
manifest.json
WJA4Pkzixj3.js

Thanks to the inserted JavaScript code, as well as the tricks that Multiplug PUP uses, the fake extension receives a name “Evernote Web,” which can trick users into believing the app is legitimate. While the Evernote virus does not show any symptoms of the infection, there is a small hint that shows discrepancies – when visiting Chrome://extensions page, click on the “visit website” button next to the Evernote Web extension – it will bring you nowhere.

Evernote virus extension loads a content script into every Internet website that the victim visits, and as a result, the user receives a virtual layer of various web advertisements in a variety of different forms – banners, pop-up and pop-under ads, in-text links and more.

Evernote virus termination

These ads can lead you to highly insecure Internet sites, especially those that promote spyware and malware programs^[6]. You should not blame Evernote firm for these ads – it has nothing to do with with the legitimate Evernote app. Instead, you should remove Evernote Web fake extension using a tutorial that we have prepared, or run a system scan with an anti-spyware program for automatic Evernote removal.

For malware termination, we suggest using reputable security applications which should delete the Evernote virus without troubles. Additionally, you should also scan your device with Fortect Intego to restore it to the previous state and remove virus damage.

In most of the cases, such ads appear right after installing some free application without checking what is hiding inside it. As we have already mentioned, Multiplug can easily be involved in the distribution of Evernote web adware.

When inside and active, the fake Evernote virus may not only cause unwanted ads during your browsing. It can also be set to track your browsing habits and redirect you to affiliate websites. While there is no guarantee that each of such sites is safe, you should be very careful with 'ads by Evernote web,' 'brought to you by Evernote web,' 'Evernote web ads' and similar pop-up notifications.

The vulnerability allows hackers remote code execution

There is no doubt that third-party extensions are useful features used by many users worldwide, as they make the browsing smoother and provide useful functionality. However, letting the unknown code to enter your browser and potentially make changes to the way it operates is much more dangerous than most people think.

It is true that various extensions often require additional permissions to better take care of the tasks they are designed to do. However, when a critical software vulnerability like CVE-2019-12592 gets involved, things get much worse, as even the most private data like banking details might be stolen by cybercriminals.

To exploit the vulnerability, hackers would have to perform the following steps:

Redirect the user to a malicious website with the help of the installed adware, or a malicious link on social media.
The malicious site secretly loads legitimate iframe tags of the particular websites.
The vulnerability then allows the malicious payload to be inserted into all iframes contexts.
Malicious payload allows hackers to steal cookies, credentials, and perform user actions.

The researchers who discovered the vulnerability at Guardio^[7] reported the issue to Evernote, and Evernote Web Clipper extension was immediately patched. To avoid this version of Evernote virus, please make sure you run 7.11.1 (or later) version of the application.

Evernote virus CVE-2019-12592 flaw

Watch out for the malicious versions of the application

The malicious app's hijack^[8] happens without user's knowledge because this fake browser extension arrives alongside Multiplug software. You can accidentally agree to install these programs when installing a free application that you downloaded from the Internet.

In general, potentially unwanted programs are distributed with a help of software developers that seek to increase their income by adding various extensions, plugins and add-ons to their popular free products in exchange for money. That's why we must recommend you to be very careful when downloading such free programs as download managers, PDF creators and video streaming software to your computer because each of them can be filled with optional components.

If you want to check what programs are you installing on your computer, make sure you read End User License Agreement. In addition, if you see no suspicious information, you should select Custom or Advanced installation settings of the freeware^[9].

After that, you should follow each of installation steps carefully and opt out of all unknown third-party programs. If you think that this program might be hiding in your PC system, you should follow a guide below and fix it. Leaving this PUP may increase the risk of infecting your PC with malware.

Remove the bogus Evernote Web app and patch Evernote Web Clipper Extension

Evernote virus is one of those programs that may trick you into visiting unsafe websites or make you install questionable programs on your computer. To avoid that, you must remove Evernote Web virus and make sure the app you are using is legitimate. You can find the helpful removal guide that we have written below. However, an even easier method to complete Evernote Web removal is to scan the system with anti-malware application and let it clean the system for you.

Besides making sure that the malicious version of the application is terminated, you also need to take care of Evernote Web Clipper Extension that is designed for Google Chrome. The browser checks for all the installed browser plugins updates automatically, although just to be sure, you should check if the Evernote extension is version 7.11.1 or later.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.

Remove the unwanted program:

In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:

Select Go > Go to Folder.
Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
Pick Manage Add-ons.
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:

Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
Select Internet Options.
In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:

Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
Under Browsing history, click Delete...
Select relevant fields and press Delete.

Reset Internet Explorer:

Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
Select Reset.
In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
Click Remove.

Clear cookies and other browser data:

Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
Then find On startup section.
Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
Select Details tab.
Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and site data:

Click on Menu and go to Settings.
Select Privacy, search and services.
Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
Under Time range, pick All time.
Select Clear now.

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

Click on Menu and select Settings.
On the left side, pick Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values.
Confirm with Reset.
This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
Select Add-ons.
In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.

Reset the homepage:

Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
Choose Settings.
Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

Click Menu and pick Settings.
Go to Privacy & Security section.
Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
Click on Clear Data...
Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

Click on Menu and pick Settings.
Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
Click Clear data.

Change your homepage:

Click menu and choose Settings.
Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

Click on Menu and select Settings.
In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
Confirm with Reset settings.

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.

Clear history and website data:

Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

Reset Safari:

Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.

How to remove Evernote virus

Evernote virus is a set of cyber infections and scams that try impersonate a legitimate application

Evernote virus dropped by a potentially unwanted program Multiplug

The vulnerability allows hackers remote code execution

Watch out for the malicious versions of the application