possible help assistant virus

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by chrisTM, Mar 28, 2010.

  1. chrisTM

    chrisTM Private E-2

    Hello all.
    I'm trying to clean a friend's computer. It is now running normally. This xp pro system was apparently compromised by remote email attack that hijacked it and sent mass spam via AMS, Tunnelier, FEE, and Validator. The logon passwords were compromised and I was forced to blank the Administrator account using NT Password Reset to access the Windows system. The owner apparently ran Combo-fix before I saw the system.I have immobilized/removed the offending software, including the most of the nasties from the Documents and Settings and some of the Registry, and hardened all settings. I am now left with a couple of inactive, unknown user accounts, an inactive account titled AntiNoob((, the large Help Assistant, and the active accounts. Avira, MBAM, and Eset Online scanners have been used to clean an assortment of trojans, bots, and a keylogger from the system, so you may want these logs as opposed/in addition to what I run per the forum rules. Please let me know. Attached is the initial helpasst -mbrt log. Thanks for your able help. chrisTM
     

    Attached Files:

  2. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Welcome to Major Geeks!

    If you are still having malware problems and require our help, lease follow the instructions in the below link:

    READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide


    and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.
    • **** If something does not run, write down the info to explain to us later but keep on going. ****
    • Do not assume that because one step does not work that they all will not. MGtools will frequently run even when all other tools will not.

    • After completing the READ & RUN ME and attaching your logs, make sure that you tell us what problems still remain ( if any still do )!
    Helpful Notes:
    1. If you run into problems trying to run the READ & RUN ME or any of the scans in normal boot mode, you can run the steps in safe boot mode but make sure you tell us what you did later when you post logs. See the below if you do not know how to boot in safe mode:
    2. If you have problems downloading on the problem PC, download the tools and the manual updates for SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes ( links are given in the READ & RUN ME) onto another PC and then burn to a CD. Then copy them to the problem PC. You will have to skip getting updates if (and only if) your internet connection does not work. Yes you could use a flash drive too but flash drives are writeable and infections can spread to them.
    3. If you cannot seem to login to an infected user account, try using a different user account (if you have one) in either normal or safe boot mode and running only SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes while logged into this other user account. Then reboot and see if you can log into the problem user account. If you can then run SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, ComboFix and MGtools on the infected account as requested in the instructions.
    4. To avoid additional delay in getting a response, it is strongly advised that after completing the READ & RUN ME you also read this sticky:
    Any additional post is a bump which will add more delay. Once you attach the logs, your thread will be in the work queue and as stated our system works the oldest threads FIRST.
     
  3. chrisTM

    chrisTM Private E-2

    Hello all.

    Here are the SAS and MBAM logs. They are basically clean. I'll be glad to send the dirty logs from the day before, if you are interested. Once again, thanks for your help.

    chrisTM out.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. chrisTM

    chrisTM Private E-2

    Finally,

    Here are the MGtools and RootRevealer logs. If the Combofix log in the Mgtools zip is not the correct one, I have the dedicated one if you need it. Even though this machine seems to be running smoothly, I am concerned about the likelihood of it becoming hijacked again because of the irregular, inactive user accounts that currently remain. Thanks again for your help.

    chrisTM out,
     

    Attached Files:

  5. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Looks like the MBR infection has been removed.

    The account appear to be gone based on your logs You should just cleanup the folders from unwanted accounts. Your logs show the above User Account folders. I assume the ones in purple are the ones you wish to remove. The ones in blue are system accounts but you can delete the HelpAssistant folder since it is not required.
    Code:
    "C:\Documents and Settings\"
    ADMINI~1      Jan 30 2010              "Administrator"
    [B][COLOR=purple]ADMINS        Feb 10 2010              "admins"[/COLOR][/B]
    [B][COLOR=blue]ALLUSE~1      Feb 16 2007              "All Users"[/COLOR][/B]
    [B][COLOR=purple]ANTINO~1      Mar 28 2010              "AntiNoob))"[/COLOR][/B]
    [B][COLOR=blue]DEFAUL~1      Feb 16 2007              "Default User"[/COLOR][/B]
    [B][COLOR=blue]HELPAS~1      Jan 27 2010              "HelpAssistant"[/COLOR][/B]
    [B][COLOR=blue]LOCALS~1      Feb 17 2007              "LocalService"[/COLOR][/B]
    [B][COLOR=blue]NETWOR~1      Feb 17 2007              "NetworkService"[/COLOR][/B]
    [B][COLOR=purple]SCAR          Mar 24 2010              "SCAR"[/COLOR][/B]
    USER          Feb 17 2007              "user"
    [COLOR=purple][B]USER1         Mar 28 2010              "user1"[/B][/COLOR]
    

    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. Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
    4. If we had you download any registry patches like fixme.reg or fixWLK.reg (or any others), you can delete these files now.
    5. 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.
    6. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.
    7. 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.
    8. If you are running Win 7, Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:
      • Refer to the cleaning procedures pointed to by step 6 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.
    9. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:
     
  6. chrisTM

    chrisTM Private E-2

    Thanks so much for your help. I will delete the offenders as soon as I can. Have a great day.

    chrisTM out.
     
  7. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You're welcome. Surf safely!
     
  8. chrisTM

    chrisTM Private E-2

    I made it back to my brother's computer last night. After performing the program cleanup, I purged system restore and ran MBAM in quick mode, with negative results. About this time, his Windows Defender auto scan ran also with negative results. I rebooted and the offenders seemed to be gone. I then set a new restore point. The size of the Help Assistant file did not seem to change either way. I then included included the Help Assistant/Local Settings/Temporary Internet Files folder as a CCleaner custom folder to clean it and not as much came off as what appeared to have been scanned by MBAM, but at least Help Assistant did not grow, as others have experienced. My hardened firewall settings held up as well. I do know that I did much more cleanup and disinfection prior to applying your steps, so maybe that helped the success of the removal. I'll monitor the system over time for any unusual Help Assistant activity, and really, thanks so much for your help.

    chrisTM
     
  9. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You can delete the HelpAssistant folder using the below.



    Now download The Avenger by Swandog46, and save it to your Desktop.
    • Extract avenger.exe from the Zip file and save it to your desktop
    • Run avenger.exe by double-clicking on it.
    • Do not change any check box options!!
    • Copy everything in the Quote box below, and paste it into the Input script here: part of the window:
    • Now click the Execute button.
    • Click Yes to the prompt to confirm you want to execute.
    • Click Yes to the Reboot now? question that will appear when Avenger finishes running.
    • Your PC should reboot, if not, reboot it yourself.
    Check to see that the folder is now gone after the reboot.
     

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