Google Hijacker

I have to hard drives on my Dell 9200 Dimension Desktop. A "C" drive and a secondary "E" drive. Last night the blue screen of death came up saying that one of the hard drives had become compromised. On re-boot the blue screen came up again and would not allow windows to start up. I shut off the "E" drive in BIOS and then Windows booted normally. However, a Google/Yahoo hijacker is now in place.

I have run all of the pre-requisite steps, but links that are brought up by Google or Yahoo search are still redirected to another site or loop back to the search.



Message 1 of 2

 

Message 2 of 2 for remainder of attachments

 

Hi! Welcome to Major Geeks!

I am reviewing your logs. Please be patient as there is a lot of information to review

 

Goto the below link and follow the instructions for running TDSSKiller from Kaspersky

• TDSSkiller - How to run

Be sure to attach your log from TDSSKiller

Also please also download MBRCheck to your desktop

• Double click MBRCheck.exe to run (vista and Win 7 right click and select Run as Administrator)
• It will show a Black screen with some information that will contain either the below line if no problem is found:
  • Done! Press ENTER to exit...
• Or you will see more information like below if a problem is found:
  • Found non-standard or infected MBR.
  • Enter 'Y' and hit ENTER for more options, or 'N' to exit:
• Either way, just choose to exit the program at this point since we want to see only the scan results to begin with.
• MBRCheck will create a log named similar to MBRCheck_07.16.10_00.32.33.txt which is random based on date and time.
• Attach this log to your next message. (See: HOW TO: Attach Items To Your Post )

 

I tried running TDSSKiller (following the instructions precisely) the other day and now, and it will not run. Nothing happens. I renamed it per the instructions and still nothing. I have any anti-virus and anti-spyware software off and still nothing.

I have not run the second part of your instructions yet, figuring I should wait until tdsskiller works

 

Skip TDSSKiller for now, try running MBRCheck.exe

Post the results of the log as an attachment here

 

Ok, here is the MBRCheck log.

Thanks.

 

We need to replace your Master Boot Record (MBR) with a clean copy first because yours has been infected.

Do you have your boot CD? Let's try this.

You need to use your Windows XP CD to boot to the Recovery Console and run the fixmbr to clear a Master Boot Record infection that you have.

You can read the below to help you do this:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654

After running the fixmbr command then boot back to normal mode Windows and try running TDSSkiller now. Then attach the log. Also explain if you are still having any malware problems.

 

Unfortunately, I didn't get very far. I put in the Windows XP CD and typed in the command, which was not found. Attached is the error message.

The two files on the CD are "Win XP Startup Install Disk Maker.EXE" and "WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe"

 

You must boot off the CD after you insert it in your CD/DVD drive.

1. Insert the CD
2. Reboot your computer
3. At the DELL Splash screen, press F12
4. This takes you to the Boot Menu
5. Select CD/DVD Rom from the selection by using the Down / up arrows
6. PRESS Enter have you have selected the CD/DVD Rom drive.
7. You'll hear the CD spinning up, be ready to press ANY key when you see the following message:

When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you must access from the Recovery Console.

When you are prompted, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.

Now type in FIXMBR
It will warn you that replacing the MBR can be dangerous.
Press Y To proceed
It should say Operation completed successfully
Type exit

Now reboot your computer

 

After you complete the above, rerun MBRCheck.exe and attempt to run TDSSKILLER.exe again.

Post both logs here please

 

The frustration is mounting...I booted with the boot disk, hit f12 and got the error message 'select boot device not available'. A neighbor created this boot disc for me last year and I'm wondering if he ever tested it.

 

Okay I started up the computer without the boot disc and hit setup and hit 'R' to get into the Recovery Console and ran FIXMBR.

I think was able to run TDSSKILLER...attached is the log.

Thanks!

 

Hey, the google links are now working!!! woo-hooooooo

 

This is good news

Please be patient as I prepare another fix for you

Also, rerun MBRcheck.exe and upload the log it produces here as well please

 

Even better news, my 'E' drive which was not working (windows couldn't boot until I shut it off) is now accessable again and working.

Here's the MBRCheck log.

 

Your latest MBRcheck log shows that the MBR is now clean

Now we need to use ComboFix again to remove some more malware

• Make sure that combofix.exe that you downloaded while doing the READ & RUN ME is on your Desktop but Do not run it!
  • If it is not on your Desktop, the below will not work.
• Also make sure you have shut down all protection software (antivirus, antispyware...etc) or they may get in the way of allowing ComboFix to run properly.
• If ComboFix tells you it has expired or need to be updated to a new version, make sure you allow it to update.
• Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the below quote box into it:

• Save the above as CFscript.txt and make sure you save it to the same location (should be on your Desktop) as ComboFix.exe
• At this point, you MUST EXIT ALL BROWSERS NOW before continuing!
• You should have both the ComboFix.exe and CFScript.txt icons on your Desktop.
• Now use your mouse to drag CFscript.txt on top of ComboFix.exe
  
• Follow the prompts.
• When it finishes, a log will be produced named c:\combofix.txt
• I will ask for this log below

Note:

Do not mouseclick combofix's window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.

If after running Combofix you discover none of your programs will open up because you recieve the following error: Illegal operation attempted on a registry key that has been marked for deletion then you will need to reboot your computer which will normally fix this problem.
Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista or Win7, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator).

Then attach the below logs:

• C:\ComboFix.txt
• C:\MGlogs.zip

 

Done...attached are the two requested logs.

 

Thanks, hang tight, preparing another fix for you

 

Do you know what this is? I wanted to delete it but I want to make sure it's not something you were aware of. DO NOT attempt to open it if you don't know what this belongs to.

Now we need to use ComboFix again to remove some more malware

• Make sure that combofix.exe that you downloaded while doing the READ & RUN ME is on your Desktop but Do not run it!
  • If it is not on your Desktop, the below will not work.
• Also make sure you have shut down all protection software (antivirus, antispyware...etc) or they may get in the way of allowing ComboFix to run properly.
• If ComboFix tells you it has expired or need to be updated to a new version, make sure you allow it to update.
• Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the below quote box into it:

• Save the above as CFscript.txt and make sure you save it to the same location (should be on your Desktop) as ComboFix.exe
• At this point, you MUST EXIT ALL BROWSERS NOW before continuing!
• You should have both the ComboFix.exe and CFScript.txt icons on your Desktop.
• Now use your mouse to drag CFscript.txt on top of ComboFix.exe
  
• Follow the prompts.
• When it finishes, a log will be produced named c:\combofix.txt
• I will ask for this log below

Note:

Do not mouseclick combofix's window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.

If after running Combofix you discover none of your programs will open up because you recieve the following error: Illegal operation attempted on a registry key that has been marked for deletion then you will need to reboot your computer which will normally fix this problem.
Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista or Win7, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator).

Then attach the below logs:

• C:\ComboFix.txt
• C:\MGlogs.zip

Also, let me know how the computer is running after you've completed the above steps in your next post

 

Hi..I have no idea what c:\sh4ldr\shldr.mbr is.

Attached are the two requested logs. :cool

 

Please use Explorer to navigate and delete the following folders

Let me know if you were successful deleting these folders or not.

How is the computer running now?

 

I deleted both files with no problem. The computer is running great!

Thanks!

 

You are welcome

If you are not having any other malware problems, it is time to do our final steps:

1. We recommend you keep SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for scanning/removal of malware. Unless you purchase them, they provide no protection. They do not use any significant amount of resources ( except a little disk space ) until you run a scan.
2. If we had you use ComboFix, uninstall ComboFix (This uninstall will only work as written if you installed ComboFix on your Desktop like we requested.)
   • Click START then RUN and enter the below into the run box and then click OK. Note the quotes are required
   • "%userprofile%\Desktop\combofix" /uninstall
     • Notes: The space between the combofix" and the /uninstall, it must be there.
     • This will uninstall ComboFix and also reset hidden files and folders settings back to Windows defaults.
3. Go back to step 6 oof the READ ME and renable your Disk Emulation software with Defogger if you had disabled it.
4. Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
5. If we had you download any registry patches like fixme.reg or fixWLK.reg (or any others), you can delete these files now.
6. If running Vista, it is time to make sure you have reenabled UAC by double clicking on the C:\MGtools\enableUAC.reg file and allowing it to be added to the registry.
7. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.
8. Goto the C:\MGtools folder and find the MGclean.bat file. Double click on this file to run this cleanup program that will remove files and folders
   related to MGtools and some other items from our cleaning procedures.
9. If you are running Win 7, Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:
   • Refer to the cleaning procedures pointed to by step 7 of the READ ME
     for your Window version and see the instructions to Disable System Restore which will flush your Restore Points.
   • Then reboot and Enable System Restore to create a new clean Restore Point.
10. After doing the above, you should work through the below link:
    • How to Protect yourself from malware!

 

Okay, I have a problem...I just noticed that sub folders that were under 'my documents' are gone... 'my pictures', 'my video', 'downloads', etc... I believe that is all that is missing, but I did have files in those folders.

I noticed it after I had uninstalled combofix and re-enabled disk emulation. Any clues?

 

The malware may have hidden them.

Please download and save the below tool from Grinler @ bleepingcomputer to your Desktop or anywhere else you can find it ( if the Desktop is not showing )

http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/grinler/unhide.exe

Now run it. Now see if you can find your Documents

 

Phew, that worked :cool

I've removed everything you mentioned in the last step as well.

I did notice some things processing a little slowly..such as opening the control panel..but web browsing is fine and programs are working fine.

 

That's good

Ok

Hrm, I would say this is normal. Control Panel especially Add/Remove programs takes a little while to load. How long are you having to wait for Control Panel to open up?

 

I know the Add/Remove always takes a bit to open, but usually the control panel itself opens pretty quickly. It's taking a few minutes. If that's the worst thing wrong that's fine :cool

 

Another issue...my USB ports that weren't already being used aren't working. Tried to upload photos and it is not recognizing the camera.

 

This isn't malware related. Please visit the Software forums for help with your USB ports / Camera