Search Bars, Icons, etc...

jf8201 · Sep 2, 2005

I've been working on getting spyware/malware removed from my parents computer for some time now and was getting no where. A friend at our IT department sent me here. I have followed all the instructions on the "READ ME FIRST...." post as well as read the post on hijack logs files. (Granted it was at the beginning of this week that I did/read those.) It's ceased hijacking the home page (or at least spybot hasn't been telling me something's trying to). My problem lies in these search bars that keep popping up in/with IE, icons on my desktop, the screen flickering, and telling me it found new hardware when I know good and well nothing new has been attached to it for months.

There are 2 search bars I want to get rid of and seem to be 2 parts of the same problem. There is one along the top of the IE window with a text box to "search" with as well as bunch of tabs with a word on each one. The word change based on the site I am viewing.

The other seach bar is along the bottom of my screen right above the taskbar and loads with IE. It isn't attached to IE; what I mean is, I can close IE, and it will remain open. It has 6 links and 6 drop down boxes and a text box to "search" for things. It does have a red x one would think would close it, but the x does not. The only way to get rid of the 2nd bar is to go into task manager and close the duplicate iexplorer.exe process. This search bar covers up the bottom 1 inch above the taskbar and is always on top.

The reason why I think the 2 bars are part of the same problem is because after I close the 2nd iexplorer.exe process, the process will reapper (if IE is open), but the 2nd bar doesn't come back. If I close the new iexplorer.exe process again, the tabs will temporarily go away but come back when the process reappears a second or two later.

The 2nd problem may or may not be related, I don't know, but there will appear on the desktop anywhere from 1-5 icons named various things (Casino, Tune up PC, Buy Drugs, etc...). The names are quite similar to the 2nd search bar links/drop down boxes. They will randomly change their names and locations.

As far as the screen flickering, it's not that the whole screens comes in and out of view, but that it doesn't line up. Like if you were to divide up the screen into 1/2 inch horizontal sections, some of those parts would move back and forth a few pixals on the screen very quickly for a few seconds.

The new hardware wizard sometimes comes up and sometimes not. This time it didn't, but it always says something about a remote help session being found. That's not the exact wording (I wasn't thinking and didn't write that down), but I'd probably recognize it if I heard it.

If someone could give me a hand with this, it would be greatly appreciated.

--jf8201

chaslang · Sep 3, 2005

Sounds like you may have a LOP infection. If you have Messenger Plus 3 (or any version of it) installed, uninstall it. Note this is not to be confused with MSN Messenger which is written by Microsoft.

Please follow the steps below excactly:

- 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).

jf8201 · Sep 4, 2005

The scan was run as requested, and the file is attached.

Messenger Plus 3 was uninstalled the few months ago when I started this process. I checked to make sure no one put it back, and it was still gone.

Thank you again,
jf8201

chaslang · Sep 4, 2005

Messenger Plus 3 probably was the root of your infection.

You need to disable Spybot - Search & Destroy's TeaTimer.exe as it may get in our way. Do that now while I look at the rest of your log.

To disable TeaTimer, run Spybot and click Mode and select Advanced Mode. Then click Tools and select Resident. Now in the right window pane, uncheck TeaTimer.
Also while this is open, in the left column now select IE Tweaks and then in the right pane make sure all the Miscellaneous locks are unchecked.
Now quit Spybot!

chaslang · Sep 4, 2005

Okay! After disabling Teatimer, continue with the below steps.

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).

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:
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.dzbohhlnsoi.com/Ju_QmiDnwWoZoL10DVqdv2/S7CblwBMtdsqAZ_0LKBW0tfJZMr821AYlop0MGAl/.html
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\blank.htm
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = localhost
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Mags dog build grid] C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Htm Copy Mags Dog\tick 4.exe
O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel present
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://online.nnu.edu
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.windowsupdate.com

After clicking Fix, exit HJT.
Boot into safe mode and use Windows Explorer to delete:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Htm Copy Mags Dog <--- the whole folder

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.

jf8201 · Sep 5, 2005

Yup! Everything's gone! Thank you very much. Your help is greatly appreciated.

--jf8201

chaslang · Sep 5, 2005

Your welcome, but you really should post the follow up HJT log just to make sure.

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Search Bars, Icons, etc...

jf8201 Private E-2

chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

jf8201 Private E-2

Attached Files:

hijackthis-20050904.txt

chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

jf8201 Private E-2

chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

Log in or Sign up

Search Bars, Icons, etc...

jf8201 Private E-2

chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

jf8201 Private E-2

Attached Files:

hijackthis-20050904.txt

chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

jf8201 Private E-2

chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

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