Search Conduit & Other Malware

Word doc are too large. You need to just atatch the original text log file. If it is too large then just compress it into a ZIP file too attach. We need this to work up a proper fix.

Also your logs are from safe boot mode. We need logs from normal boot mode. Safe boot mode should only be used when the PC cannot run in normal boot mode. However let's get started with the below but from now on, work in normal boot mode.

Begin by emptying the quarantine folder for Malwarebytes which has gotten quite large.

Uninstall the below programs. If you do not find them or they will not uninstall, just keep going.
HomeworkSimplified Toolbar
Java(TM) 6 Update 19
ScorpionSaver
Strongvault Online Backup
VAFPlayer

Now install the current version of Sun Java from: Sun Java Runtime Environment Make sure that when you see the form asking about installing Ask Toolbar that you uncheck this.

Run C:\MGtools\analyse.exe by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista or Win 7, 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:

R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {3b86c427-928d-4b50-910c-117fa4830443} - C:\Program Files (x86)\HomeworkSimplified_7e\bar\1.bin\7eSrcAs.dll
R3 - URLSearchHook: Search Spin Toolbar - {fe02a3ef-6cd5-4dc6-8cf4-f3bcac60bc7c} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Search_Spin\prxtbSear.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: McAfee Phishing Filter - {27B4851A-3207-45A2-B947-BE8AFE6163AB} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Search Assistant BHO - {ba55677a-9449-48b2-a399-f34f2d2bf47c} - C:\Program Files (x86)\HomeworkSimplified_7e\bar\1.bin\7eSrcAs.dll
O2 - BHO: Toolbar BHO - {e0f8558f-9d61-46ec-b986-65d0302cdb08} - C:\PROGRA~2\HOMEWO~2\bar\1.bin\7ebar.dll
O2 - BHO: Search Spin - {fe02a3ef-6cd5-4dc6-8cf4-f3bcac60bc7c} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Search_Spin\prxtbSear.dll
O3 - Toolbar: HomeworkSimplified - {469f03b7-86ed-412b-a869-99c9f50bfe17} - C:\Program Files (x86)\HomeworkSimplified_7e\bar\1.bin\7ebar.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Search Spin Toolbar - {fe02a3ef-6cd5-4dc6-8cf4-f3bcac60bc7c} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Search_Spin\prxtbSear.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SMessaging] "C:\Users\Home\AppData\Local\Strongvault Online Backup\SMessaging.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\RunOnce: [CouponAlert_2pbar Uninstall] rundll32 C:\PROGRA~2\2PUNIN~1.DLL,O -3
O4 - HKLM\..\RunOnce: [ReferenceBoss_1pbar Uninstall] rundll32 C:\PROGRA~2\1PUNIN~1.DLL,O -3
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [BackupAgent] C:\Program Files (x86)\Strongvault Online Backup\BackupAgent.exe
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [SearchProtect] \SearchProtect\bin\cltmng.exe (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [SearchProtect] \SearchProtect\bin\cltmng.exe (User 'Default user')
O4 - Startup: StrongVaultApp.lnk = Home\AppData\Local\Strongvault\StrongVaultApp.exe
O23 - Service: HomeworkSimplifiedService (HomeworkSimplified_7eService) - COMPANYVERS_NAME - C:\PROGRA~2\HOMEWO~2\bar\1.bin\7ebarsvc.exe

After clicking Fix, exit HJT.

Please download OTM by Old Timer and save it to your Desktop.

• Run OTM.exe by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista, Win7 or Win8, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator).
• Copy the lines from the below codebox to the clipboard by highlighting ALL of them and pressing CTRL + C
  (or, after highlighting, right-click and choose Copy): Do not include the word Code: which is just a title line of
  the code box

Code:

:Processes
explorer.exe

:Services
HomeworkSimplified_7eService
 
:Files
C:\PROGRA~2\2PUNIN~1.DLL
C:\PROGRA~2\1PUNIN~1.DLL
C:\Program Files (x86)\Strongvault Online Backup
C:\Program Files (x86)\HomeworkSimplified_7e\bar
C:\Program Files (x86)\MyPC Backup
C:\Program Files (x86)\SearchProtect
C:\Program Files (x86)\Search_Spin
C:\Users\Home\AppData\Local\Strongvault Online Backup
C:\Users\Home\Desktop\Optimizer Pro.lnk
C:\ProgramData\Conduit
C:\ProgramData\Tarma Installer
C:\Program Files (x86)\Conduit
C:\Program Files (x86)\File Type Helper
C:\Program Files (x86)\GUME855.tmp
C:\Program Files (x86)\GUTE856.tmp
C:\Windows\tasks\GoogleUpdateTaskMachineCore.job
C:\Windows\tasks\GoogleUpdateTaskMachineUA.job
C:\Windows\tasks\MetaCrawler.job
C:\Users\Home\AppData\Local\Temp\*.*
:Reg
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670}]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{27B4851A-3207-45A2-B947-BE8AFE6163AB}]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{ba55677a-9449-48b2-a399-f34f2d2bf47c}]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{e0f8558f-9d61-46ec-b986-65d0302cdb08}]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{fe02a3ef-6cd5-4dc6-8cf4-f3bcac60bc7c}]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes]
"DefaultScope"="{6A1806CD-94D4-4689-BA73-E35EA1EA9990}"
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{09971cee-01b8-42bc-9d91-456b1faad6be}]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes]
"DefaultScope"="{6A1806CD-94D4-4689-BA73-E35EA1EA9990}"
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{09971cee-01b8-42bc-9d91-456b1faad6be}]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{0F8876BC-F4FE-444B-8473-AE8BB2E0A26B}]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{4C012F94-A728-441A-94AD-7482CC1E3770}]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{AFDBDDAA-5D3F-42EE-B79C-185A7020515B}]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{F9F29174-5FA6-4E6A-AD0B-EF3D4366DB4E}]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar]
"{469f03b7-86ed-412b-a869-99c9f50bfe17}"=-
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"BackupAgent"=-
"swg"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentVersion\Run]
"SMessaging"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentVersion\RunOnce]
"CouponAlert_2pbar Uninstall"=-
"ReferenceBoss_1pbar Uninstall"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\Wow6432Node\microsoft\windows\currentVersion\Run]
"SMessaging"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\Wow6432Node\microsoft\windows\currentVersion\RunOnce]
"CouponAlert_2pbar Uninstall"=-
"ReferenceBoss_1pbar Uninstall"=-
[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"SearchProtect"=-
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1054625306-3024784473-3723883106-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\run]
"BackupAgent"=-
"swg"=-
:Commands
[purity]
[EmptyTemp]
[start explorer]
[Reboot]

• Return to OTM, right click in the Paste List of Files/Folders to Move window (under the yellow bar
  ) and choose Paste.
• Now click the large button.
• If OTM asks to reboot your computer, allow it to do so. The report should appear in Notepad after the reboot.
• Close OTM.

Now navigate to the C:\_OTM\MovedFiles folder ( assuming your Windows drive is C). This is where your log will be
saved in the form of Date and Time mmddyyyy_hhmmss.log. Just look for the most recent .log file. Attach
this log file to your next message.

Now please download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop.

• Shut down your protection software now to avoid potential conflicts.
• Run the tool by double-clicking it. If you are using Windows Vista or Seven, right-mouse click it and select Run as Administrator.
• The tool will open and start scanning your system.
• Note: That JRT may reset your home page to a google default so you will need to restore your home page setting if this happens.
• Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system's specifications.
• On completion, a log (JRT.txt) is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.
• Attach JRT.txt to your next message.

Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista, Win7 or Win8, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator).

Then attach the below logs:

• the C:\_OTM\MovedFiles log
• the JRT.TXTlog
• C:\MGlogs.zip

Make sure you tell me how things are working now!

 

You're welcome. The below should take care of removing Strongvault and Scorpionsaver entries from the installed programs list.


Copy the bold text below to notepad. Save it as fixme.reg to your desktop. Be sure the "Save as" type is set to "all files" Once you have saved it double click it and allow it to merge with the registry.

Make sure that you tell me if you receive a success message about adding the above
to the registry. If you do not get a success message, it definitely did not work.


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

1. We recommend you keep Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for scanning/removal of malware.
3. Renable your Disk Emulation software with Defogger if you had disabled it in step 4 of the READ & RUN ME.
4. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis. If you don't see it or it will not uninstall, don't worry about it. Just move on to the next step.
5. If running Vista, Win 7 or Win 8, 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. Now goto the C:\MGtools folder and find the MGclean.bat file. Double click ( if running Vista, Win7, or Win 8 Right Click and Run As Administrator ) 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.
7. If we had you download any registry patches like fixme.reg or fixWLK.reg (or any others) and running MGclean.bat did not remove them, you can delete these files now.
8. Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
9. If you are running Win 8, Win 7, Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below to flush restore points:
   • Refer to the instructions for your WIndows version in this link: Disable And Enable System Restore​
   • What we want you to do is to first disable System Restore to flush restore points some of which could be infected.
   • Then we want you to 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!