Google redirection fixed, but can't access anti-virus updates

Hi Folks,

The initial symptoms I noticed were Google result redirections. After running malwarebyte's and ComboFix (having read of these on another website) this seems to have been cured.

However, I cannot seem to access any anti-virus sites or their updates. e.g. I had to Spybots updates by hand; Kaspersky on-line scan fails to download it's definitions database; I can't access MS Malicious software removal tool (my initial attempt, thinking I might have conficker).

Today, I seem to be getting a lot of advertisement pop-ups.

So, I hope you can help me spot what I might do next :-/

I've attached my fresh logs, after having found you guys, and read the what to post. If you want previous logs at all, let me know.

tia

Tim

 

Spybot logs

 

And MG logs.

I'll do my best not to touch anything in case you can help soon. And, if you don't get a reply "today" then it's probably because I went to bed.

Er, this sounds like I _expect_ help - sorry - that's not how it should sound - I'm actually very grateful for you guys just from what I read already...

Tim

 

Oh yes, I updated Java too. Deleted the previous version first, and downloaded the latest one. Before doing the latest scans...

 

Welcome! to MajorGeeks.com!


Pre-Instructions:

1. First, please disable any antivirus and/or antispy programs you have installed so they will not block this fix.
   
2. Print out these instructions or save them to a text file so that you can operate with All Browser Windows CLOSED.

Step 1:

Run C:\MGtools\analyse.exe by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator). This is really HijackThis (select Do a system scan only) 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:

Again, make sure ALL browser windows are closed when you click FIX.​

Step 2:

Now we need to use ComboFix to remove a bunch of malware files.

• 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.
• 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.​

Step 3:

Default Security Settings

To Default Security Settings:
For Internet Explorer 6 users:
Click Start > Run > type inetcpl.cpl and press ENTER, when Internet Properties comes up navigate to the Security Tab and click Default Level for the following:

• Internet
• Local Intranet
• Trusted Sites
• Restricted Sites.

Click OK to exit.

For Internet Explorer 7 users:
Click Start > Run > type inetcpl.cpl and press ENTER, when Internet Properties comes up, navigate to the Security Tab and simply click the "Reset all zones to default level" button. Click OK to exit.

NOTE: If it's "grey" then it's already at the default level.​

Step 4:

Please download ATF-Cleaner by Atribune. This program does not require an installation. The executable actually runs the program.

NOTE: This program is for Windows XP and Windows 2000 only. ATF Cleaner will remove all files from the items that are checked so if you have some cookies you'd like to save. Please move them to a different directory first.

• Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.
• Under Main choose: Select All
• Click the Empty Selected button.

If you use Firefox browser

• Click Firefox at the top and choose: Select All
• Click the Empty Selected button.
  • NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.

If you use Opera browser

• Click Opera at the top and choose: Select All
• Click the Empty Selected button.
  • NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.

Click Exit on the Main ATF-Cleaner menu to close the program.​

Step 5:

Finally, run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator).

Then attach the below logs:

• C:\ComboFix.txt
• C:\MGlogs.zip

​

Let me know of any problems you may have encountered with the above instructions and also let me know how things are running now.

 

Many thanks for this advice.

I went through these steps as well as I could.

ComboFix was out of date, so ran in the REDUCED FUNCTIONALITY MODE see ComboFix2.txt.

[note that zvprt5.ini is from "Zan Image printer" which is basically a windows printer driver which I use. I removed it anyway]

I then ran Kaspersky virus removal tool, V7, which found nothing, and installed their latest anti-virus 2009. Which also found nothing though was unable to update it's virus signiature database.

Since windzfa0.sys still existed after all this, I tried running a newly downloaded ComboFix (with the CFScript)

This gave the ComboFix.txt. windzfa0.sys is still there though, without having done anything else.

Results - I still can't access/download certain key anti-virus data such as the Kaspersky update.

Here's the interesting thing though. While I was away this weekend, I took my Vista-based laptop which was also showing similar symptons. I had already done a roll-back of Vista, and I invoked the pre-installed Norton anti-
virus, and it was able to update it's database before I left, and it gave no indication of a virus. While I was away, I connected via another modem, and all seemed fine. No problem accessing anti-virus software, and no sudden
advert pop-ups. I updated the Norton database from the link on your website just to make sure, and it was fine, and found no viruses or similar. (This was how I was able to insall the latest Kaspersky stuff on my XP system - I
downloaded to my laptop while I was away, and transferred it to this machine by memory stick.)

Now I'm back here, and my laptop is showing the same symptoms as before.
no access to windows update or Kaspersky, and pop-up adverts. Even when trying to access the Kaspersky database updates from their FTP server using BulletProofFTP, it fails, apparently "Server closed control connection". This is using an anonymous login and port 21.

So, I'm deeply suspicious of the modem now. Can it have been subverted and be redirecting my web access somehow ?

It is actually my neighbor's, since my previous ISP has given me some serious problems, and I have no ADSL at present. All these problems started soon after starting to use his modem.

Nevertheless, I don't seem to be getting pop up adverts on this system now, after a little browsing (even though I can't access the anti-virus downloads). I have also noticed that the microsoft phishing-detector fails to access the phishing list server (though now I have the Kaspersky one switched on).

Wheras my laptop is, and a quick look with HijackThis indicates some suspicious entries, which I guess will be the start of another thread...

Any thoughts ?

 

Download this updated copy of ComboFix below and attach a new log.

ComboFix

 

Okay, new logs attached.

The files listed in your ComboFix script has gone.

And, I have NOT seen any unexpected advert pop-ups.

Though I still can't update Kaspersky Windows etc....

 

Your logs are clean! There is one file I'm not sure about, go to the following website and upload this file below. Once complete, post back the results.

http://virusscan.jotti.org

 

About your Kaspersky issue, are you not able to update the virus database/program or are you talking about updates from their website?

 

Hi BJ (?),

And many thanks for the "Clean" news

I scanned C:\WINDOWS\system32\winzvprt5.sys and it came up with nothing (in fact I know it is part of a printer driver I have, called "Zan", but I scanned it anyway - you never know...).

As for the Kaspersky issue. I was able to browse their website, but when it came it to trying to download their latest "Kaspersky Internet Secuirty 2009" I was presented with an "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage" page. I got hold of the software in the end on another PC on another modem, and was able to install it. But, it couldn't update its virus database (on this PC with this modem).

I had a similar problem with the Microsoft website. Failed to access the Malicious software removal tool, and the Windows updates failed.

This was happening using my neighbours WiFi modem, while my ADSL service was down. And, last week his modem seems to have decided to block my web access too - which is why you haven't heard from me before now !

Today, I have a spanking new cable modem and service. And, everything looks fine. Both my PC's have updated Windows, and their anti-viruses (Norton and Kaspersky). So, everything looks good.

But. I had a bit of bother getting Windows filesharing to work between the 2 PCs. After a bit of playing, it seems that the Kaspersky firewall on this system is blocking access. If I use the Windows Firewall, it's fine. So probably I need to change some settings in the Kaspersky firewall. So, I type http://www.kaspersky.com/ into iExplore and I get ? "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage". Oh dear ! Weird stuff. It must be something on this system, since my other PC (Vista with Norton) finds the page fine.

So, I'm investigating the firewall issue. I'm not sure where to start wrt not finding the Kaspersky website. I think I'll get it to do a system scan overnight. That will keep it happy ;-)

And, when I see my neighbour next, I will let him know to take a look at his modem...

Many thanks,

Tim

 

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

1. We recommend you keep SUPERAntiSpyware & 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" /u
     • Notes: The space between the combofix" and the /u, it must be there.
     • This will uninstall ComboFix and also reset hidden files and folders settings back to Windows defaults.
   • Delete the C:\combofix folder from combofix (if it exists)
3. If we had you run Avenger, you can delete all files related to Avenger now.
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 re-enabled 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. You can delete the C:\MGtools folder and the C:\MGtools.exe file. You can also delete the C:\MGlogs.zip
9. If you are running Windows Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, you need to follow the below:
   • Refer to the cleaning steps in the READ ME for your Windows version and see the steps 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 thru the below link:
    • How to Protect yourself from malware!