Can't remove malware remnants - hidden in .sys?

Download, install, and get the updates for Microsoft® Windows AntiSpyware But do not run it yet! First reboot into safe mode (with no network connectivity) and then run a full system scan. Then reboot in normal mode and continue with the below steps.

- Download HijackThis 1.99.1

- Unzip the hijackthis.exe file to a folder you create named C:\Program Files\HJT

- Do NOT run Hijack This from the Desktop, a temp folder, or a sub-folder of C:\Documents and Settings, or choose to run it directly from the downloaded ZIP file.

- Before running HijackThis: You must close each of the following:your web browser, e-mail client, instant messenger, and programs like notepad, wordpad, MS Word etc. And any other unnecessary running programs.

- Run HijackThis and save your log file.

- Post your log as an ATTACHMENT to your next message. (Do NOT copy/paste the log into your post).

 

You still have the problems present in your log. Make sure you run MS Antispyware in safe mode and run it on both the John Doe and Administrator accounts.

You should not be using Msconfig to inhibit loading of any items. It will prevent us from seeing things we may need to see. Run msconfig and select Normal Startup. Then reboot.

If you are using WinXP or WinMe, make sure you have system restore disabled (per the tutorial).
For all OS types, make sure viewing of hidden files is enabled (per the tutorial).
First look in Add/Remove programs for the below and uninstall if found:
WinTools
iSearch
SideSearch

Run HijackThis and select the following lines but DO NOT CLICK FIX until you exit all browser sessions including the one you are reading in right now:
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.popupsearches.com/sidesearch.html
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ffis] C:\WINDOWS\isrvs\ffisearch.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Desktop Search] C:\WINDOWS\isrvs\desktop.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [antiware] C:\windows\system32\elitesmr32.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinTools] C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\WinTools\WToolsA.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [sysmonnt] C:\WINDOWS\System32\sysmonnt

After clicking Fix, exit HJT.
Boot into safe mode and use Windows Explorer to delete:
C:\WINDOWS\isrvs\ffisearch.exe
C:\WINDOWS\isrvs\desktop.exe
C:\windows\system32\elitesmr32.exe <-- also look for any other file beginning with elite and ending with .exe and delete them too.
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\WinTools <--- the whole folder
C:\WINDOWS\System32\sysmonnt or sysmonnt.exe

If you get an error when deleting a file. Right click on the file and check to see if the read only attribute is checked. If it is, uncheck it and try again. Other wise open Task Manager and kill the process if running then delete the file.

Now run Ccleaner (installed while running the READ ME FIRST). Now if running Win XP goto c:\windows\Prefetch and delete all files in this folder.

Now we need to Reset Web Settings:
1) If you have an Internet Explorer icon on your Desktop, goto step 2. If not, skip to step 3.
2) Now right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK. Then skip step 3.
3) If you do not have an Internet Explorer icon on your Desktop, click Start, Control Panel (for some systems it may be Start, Settings, Control Panel), Internet Options, Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK.

Now reboot in normal mode and post a new HJT log. And tell us how things are working.

 

Please uninstall or disable all of Ad-Aware/Adwatch protections and the same for MS Antispyware. I think they may be getting in the way of fixing the problems right now. Then do the below:

- Run HijackThis and fix the below (make sure ALL browsers are closed first).
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.popupsearches.com/sidesearch.html
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ffis] C:\WINDOWS\isrvs\ffisearch.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Desktop Search] C:\WINDOWS\isrvs\desktop.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [antiware] C:\windows\system32\elitesmr32.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinTools] C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\WinTools\WToolsA.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSConfig] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\MSConfig.exe /auto
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [sysmonnt] C:\WINDOWS\System32\sysmonnt

After clicking Fix, exit HJT.
Boot into safe mode and use Windows Explorer to delete:
C:\WINDOWS\isrvs\ffisearch.exe
C:\WINDOWS\isrvs\desktop.exe
C:\windows\system32\elitesmr32.exe <-- also look for any other file beginning with elite and ending with .exe and delete them too.
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\WinTools <--- the whole folder
C:\WINDOWS\System32\sysmonnt or sysmonnt.exe

Make sure you tell me what you can find, what you do not find, and what deletes and does not delete.

Now run Ccleaner (installed while running the READ ME FIRST). Now if running Win XP goto c:\windows\Prefetch and delete all files in this folder.

Now we need to Reset Web Settings:
1) If you have an Internet Explorer icon on your Desktop, goto step 2. If not, skip to step 3.
2) Now right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK. Then skip step 3.
3) If you do not have an Internet Explorer icon on your Desktop, click Start, Control Panel (for some systems it may be Start, Settings, Control Panel), Internet Options, Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK.

Now reboot in normal mode and post a new HJT log. And tell us how things are working.

 

It's is not a corruption in the programs! It is just the programs themselves trying to do what is necessary to protect you. The problem is that when malware does find a way into your PC, the protection programs can sometimes view they changes we are trying to make to be malware. That happens because they view the registry changes as malware at work. So to get around this, it is often necessary to remove the protection so we can get our changes to work. Similarly, we sometimes need to disable protection (and items like msconfig) so we can actually see the malware at work. If the protection programs block the malware from changing things (like your home page) but do not fix the root problem, it will just keep happening.

 

By the way your log is clean! To help avoid future problems you should run all steps in the below:

How to Protect yourself from malware!

You can also re-enable Ad-Watch and MS Antispyware now.

 

It may be that Ad-Watch is saving the info somewhere. And the only way to stop may be to uninstall Ad-Aware completely (delete the folder it is installed to also). Then fix everything up and reboot to make sure it is still fixed. Then re-install Ad-Aware from scratch.

On the other hand your problem may be simply occurring because you need to answer in the opposite context. When you are blocking changes you may be blocking the changes we are making.

It may be best to do the complete uninstall of Ad-Aware and MS Antispyware. Then reboot and post a new HJT log. By now you should know what to look for. Also check to see if the files themselves reappear.

 

You're welcome.