Spyware Infection, Internet Explorer Issue

Hello again!

This computer was having several problems with trojans. Upon loading Windows, "Windows Disk Recovery" would open and begin installing, claiming that there were bad sectors of the hard drive and that a tool could be purchased to remedy the situation. All of the user files were hidden and the task manager was disabled.

Your procedures fixed almost all of the problems, except that when I load Internet Explorer, a prompt to install "Microsoft Word 2002" opens and needs to be disabled three times in a row before I can use Internet Explorer. This doesn't seem to be a hijack because it's still opening the appropriate homepage and isn't redirecting.

Windows also says it's not genuine, but it's hard to tell if that itself is genuine.
No matter, I have a key for it but I don't want to put it in until this computer is relatively safe.

This computer is running Windows XP Professional 32-bit, SP2.


Thanks for your help!

 

MGLogs

 

Hi D3adly,

Did you have Microsoft Office installed prior to this infection? If not, try to remove the below from Add/Remove Programs.

• Microsoft Word 2002

If you were successful in in removing this, see if the installer issue persists to pop-up when you load IE. If it does persists, let me know in your next message. Also keep me informed about the WGAballon running if the below steps don't correct it.

Please download Disable/Remove Windows Messenger by Doug Knox to your desktop.
See the download links under this icon:

• Double-click MessengerDisable.exe
• Place a check-mark in Uninstall Windows Messenger
• Click Apply
• Click Exit

Now download GooredFix by jpshortstuff to your desktop.
See the download links under this icon:

• Ensure all Firefox windows are closed.
• To run the tool, double-click it (XP), or right-click and select Run As Administrator (Vista/Win 7).
• When prompted to run the scan, click Yes.
• GooredFix will check for infections, and then a log will appear.
• Please attach the GooredFix.txt log to your next reply (it can be found on your desktop). (How to attach items to your post)

Now we need to make use of ComboFix by sUBs

• 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.
• Shut down all protection software (antivirus, antispyware...etc) or they may get in the way of allowing ComboFix to run properly.
• Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the below code box into Notepad:

Code:

[COLOR="DarkRed"]KillAll::[/COLOR]
[COLOR="DarkRed"]DirLook::[/COLOR]
C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\{7148F0A6-6813-11D6-A77B-00B0D0142040}
[COLOR="DarkRed"]FireFox::[/COLOR]
FF - ProfilePath - c:\documents and settings\User\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\r91kqviz.default\
FF - prefs.js: network.proxy.http - 127.0.0.1
FF - prefs.js: network.proxy.http_port - 58364
[COLOR="DarkRed"]File::[/COLOR]
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\16572196
[COLOR="DarkRed"]Folder::[/COLOR]
C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\vghd
[COLOR="DarkRed"]RegLock::[/COLOR]
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-436374069-162531612-725345543-1003\Software\SecuROM\!CAUTION! NEVER A OR CHANGE ANY KEY*]
"??"=hex:cc,de,cc,cf,1f,bd,3b,7f,c7,57,79,da,66,40,b5,2b,09,25,c5,8d,4f,2e,5d,
   35,94,dc,51,e7,a5,25,42,82,70,0a,7b,49,12,a3,71,85,10,72,05,49,c6,dc,43,de,\
"??"=hex:cb,3d,e7,5d,4d,79,2e,ce,62,3a,27,75,fd,fc,68,5b
.
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-436374069-162531612-725345543-1003\Software\SecuROM\License information*]
"datasecu"=hex:07,03,8d,8f,2c,dc,8d,23,83,5a,2c,35,89,88,73,a3,92,88,8c,d5,ca,
   af,da,06,1e,f5,d9,3b,52,8a,95,15,2a,d8,70,6c,73,35,de,c5,41,1a,11,84,2b,a5,\
"rkeysecu"=hex:cf,fd,36,ed,8f,83,8f,67,d5,d5,68,a4,04,da,e7,c7

• 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.
  
• This shall launch ComboFix.
  Note: Do not mouse-click ComboFix's window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.
• Allow ComboFix to update itself if prompted.
• When it finishes, a log will be produced at C:\ComboFix.txt
  Note: If after running ComboFix you discover none of your programs will open up because you receive the following error: Illegal operation attempted on a registry key that has been marked for deletion then you will need to reboot your computer which will normally fix this problem.
• Attach this log to your next message. (How to attach items to your post)

Now run C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat by double-clicking it (Vista and Win7 right-click and select Run as Administrator)
Then attach C:\MGlogs.zip to your next message. (How to attach items to your post)
Notes:

• This will automatically update all the logs inside MGlogs.zip
• Make sure you click Accept on the License Agreement from Trend Micro HiJackThis - v2.0.4 twice if prompted.

LET ME KNOW HOW THE PC IS RUNNING AFTER YOU HAVE COMPLETED THESE STEPS​

Also let me know if you are experiencing any issues with hidden/missing desktop icons, start menu, quick launch, anything missing?​

 

Thank you for the quick response!

The logs are attached.

The PC is running well, Microsoft Word 2002 is no longer popping up after I uninstalled it. The only thing that is still there is the WGA Balloon, which makes me think it's legit.

Start menu items are all there, everything is great!

 

Yes it is a legit process. Some malware will re-trigger this. I think in your case, this is also what has happened.I've always just re-entered the product key (after malware removal) and it would go away. So I would recommend you go ahead and re-enter your product key now as your latest logs are clean.

If it still does not go away, I was doing some reading, and it seems like this program in Add/Remove Programs may also be the culprit:

• OGA Notifier 2.0.0048.0

Good to hear

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. Go back to step 6 oof the READ ME and renable your Disk Emulation software with Defogger if you had disabled it.
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 if it present
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 pointed to by step 7 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.
10. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:
    • How to Protect yourself from malware!