Possible Malware affecting browser and locks up PC

1. Before we continue I would like for you to use MSConfig to put this machine back into normal start up mode.

2. Ad-Aware SE Personal <--- outdated and so therefore useless, please uninstall it.

3. Please download HelpAsst_mebroot_fix.exe and save it to your desktop.
Close out all other open programs and windows.
Double click the file to run it and follow any prompts.
If the tool detects an mbr infection, please allow it to run mbr -f and shutdown your computer.
Upon restarting, please wait about 5 minutes, click Start>Run and type the following bolded command, then hit Enter.

Make sure you leave a space between helpasst and -mbrt !
When it completes, a log will open.
Please post the contents of that log.


*In the event the tool does not detect an mbr infection and completes, click Start>Run and type the following bolded command, then hit Enter.

Now, please do the Start>Run>mbr -f command a second time.
Now shut down the computer (do not restart, but shut it down), wait a few minutes then start it back up.
Give it about 5 minutes, then click Start>Run and type the following bolded command, then hit Enter.

Make sure you leave a space between helpasst and -mbrt !
When it completes, a log will open.
Please post the contents of that log.

**Important note to Dell users - fixing the mbr may prevent access the the Dell Restore Utility, which allows you to press a key on startup and revert your computer to a factory delivered state. There are a couple of known fixes for said condition, though the methods are somewhat advanced. If you are unwilling to take such a risk, you should not allow the tool to execute mbr -f nor execute the command manually, and you will either need to restore your computer to a factory state or allow your computer to remain having an infected mbr (the latter not recommended).

4. Please disable all anti-virus and anti-spyware programs while we do the following (re-enable when you are finished):

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:

After clicking Fix exit HJT.

5. SystemLook

Please download SystemLook from one of the links below and save it to your Desktop.
Download Mirror #1
Download Mirror #2

• Double-click SystemLook.exe to run it.
• Copy the content of the following codebox into the main textfield:
  
  Code:

  :filefind
  Imapi.sys

• Click the Look button to start the scan.
• When finished, a notepad window will open with the results of the scan. Please post this log in your next reply.

Note: The log can also be found on your Desktop entitled SystemLook.txt


6. Now we need to use ComboFix

• 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 needs to update to a new version, make sure you allow it to update.
• Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the below quote box. Ensure you scroll down to select ALL the lines:

Code:

KILLALL::

DirLook::
C:\WINDOWS\system32\msapps

File::
C:\WINDOWS\system32\msapps\comsrvr.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Power PC\Local Settings\Application Data\3973764749
C:\Documents and Settings\Power PC\Local Settings\Application Data\QB5w8agaB3
C:\Documents and Settings\Power PC\Local Settings\Application Data\UJ0QRjYY
C:\Documents and Settings\Power PC\Local Settings\Application Data\UsIG2
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\3973764749
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\QB5w8agaB3
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\UJ0QRjYY
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\UsIG2
C:\Documents and Settings\Power PC\Templates\QB5w8agaB3
C:\Documents and Settings\Power PC\Templates\UJ0QRjYY
C:\Documents and Settings\Power PC\Templates\UsIG2
C:\WINDOWS\system32\0
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dosomofo
c:\windows\spscti.dll
c:\documents and settings\Power PC\Application Data\MSA\mscj.exe
c:\documents and settings\Power PC\Application Data\MSA\mscjm.exe 

Folder::
C:\Documents and Settings\HelpAssistant

Registry::
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\shared tools\msconfig\startupreg\Yfoto]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\shared tools\msconfig\startupreg\mscj.exe]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\shared tools\msconfig\startupreg\mscjm.exe]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{5C255C8A-E604-49b4-9D64-90988571CECB}]

• 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.

7. Important Notice: A new version of SUPERAntiSpyware is available.

• Please uninstall your current version (this is necessary).
• Then download this SUPERAntiSpyware
• Install this new version. It may tell you that you need to reboot to complete the installation. You must reboot at this time.
• After the reboot, run SUPERAntiSpyware and immediately click the Check for Updates button to get more updates for the database.
• Now run a new full scan of your system. And attach this log later.

8. Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this and also attach the logs from running HelpAsst_mebroot_fix.exe, system look, and the new log from SAS.

9. Describe how the machine is behaving now!

 

1. what is this small file?

• C:\dummy.dummy

2. Now we need to use ComboFix again.

• 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 needs to update to a new version, make sure you allow it to update.
• Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the below quote box. Ensure you scroll down to select ALL the lines:

Code:

KILLALL::

Fcopy::
C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386\imapi.sys | C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\Imapi.sys
Folder::
c:\windows\system32\msapps
C:\Documents and Settings\HelpAssistant

• 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.

3. Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this.

4. Is the PC still running ok?

 

You did not attach anything.

 

I will get back to you with a response ASAP. I'm just checking something...

 

I knew what you meant, don't you worry

Right then, I would like for you to try deleting this below folder manually using windows explorer:

If it fails to go quietly, then you will need to complete the below using a different tool:

Now download The Avenger by Swandog469, 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.
• A log file from Avenger will be produced at C:\avenger.txt and it will popup for you to view when you login after reboot.

Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this.

 

Hi Frank.

Almost done now...

It's only from running the tools here. not to worry, you can delete them if you wish as you follow final steps.

Use windows explorer to locate and delete the below bold files:

• C:\WINDOWS\0
• C:\WINDOWS\0.log

Also delete all files in the below bold folders except ones from the current date (Windows will not let you delete the files from the current day).

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 used Pocket Killbox during your cleanup, do the below
   • Run Pocket Killbox and select File, Cleanup, Delete All Backups
3. 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.
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 in step 3 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 thru the below link:
    • How to Protect yourself from malware!

 

Kestrel13! posted an outdated boilerplate for the final instructions. The step number is 7. The complete final instructions should there be:

 

Sorry for the outdated boiler, I could have sworn I had over written it. Either way, the issues you have with those updates don't appear to be malware related so you should just post in the software forum for assistance with that. Safe surfing!

 

You're welcome! Safe surfing.