Strange Firefox/IE behaviour - malware?

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by sgregg, Mar 10, 2011.

  1. sgregg

    sgregg Private E-2

    Firefox (and IE, although I don't use it) have both been playing up over the last week or so - mainly refusing to open specific websites or download some files (or even acknowledge that there are files present to download). I ran through the malware removal guide, and a couple of items were detected and removed - however the problems are continuing. Could someone have a look at the log files and let me know if there's anything still on my machine that needs removing?

    Thanks.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. sgregg

    sgregg Private E-2

    ...and here's the last log file.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Welcome to Major Geeks!

    It does not look like your current problems are due to malware but there are a few items to cleanup from an infection you had in December 2010. So let's finish them off.



    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 has expired or need to be updated to a new version, make sure you allow it to update.
    • Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the below quote box into it:
    • 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.

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



    Then attach the below logs:
    • C:\ComboFix.txt
    • C:\MGlogs.zip
    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!

    Are far as your inability to access certain sites, have you double check to make sure that you are not being blocked by your AV or firewall?
     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2011
  4. sgregg

    sgregg Private E-2

    Here are the two logs. I'm still having the same problems with Firefox (haven't checked IE), even when my anti-virus and firewall are disabled.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. sgregg

    sgregg Private E-2

    I don't know if this is related (or in any way indicative of malware) but I've just realised something's a bit screwy with my Java installation.

    I had Java 6v23 installed, but add/remove programs also had two listings for IBM 32-Bit Runtime Environment for Java 2, v1.4.2. One of these listings has a change/remove button (which doesn't work - when I click on it the program isn't removed) while the other one doesn't, with the result that I can't uninstall either of them.

    Do you think this is likely to be part of the problem, or something that I need to resolve?
     
  6. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    What are the exact sites you cannot connect to?

    Also have you tried running IE and FireFox with Add-Ons disabled to see what happens?

    Also one more test, do you have a router in between your PC and your cable/DSL modem? If yes, try bypassing the router temporarily to see if anything changes.
     
  7. sgregg

    sgregg Private E-2

    I'll answer your questions in reverse order (as the first one has the most complex answer).

    I don't have a router to bypass.

    I've tried disabling all add-ons (and running Firefox in safe mode) but it doesn't make any difference.

    I first noticed the problem when I tried to browse jobs.guardian.co.uk - I entered my details in the search boxes and got a list of jobs. However when I clicked on specific jobs it wouldn't open a page with the details, but instead gave me a page with a message reading "Page not found" (and it does this for every job). When I try on other computers, the specific job advert opens. There are similar problems on other webpages, but this is probably the easiest one to explain...
     
  8. sgregg

    sgregg Private E-2

    Actually I've just realised that this isn't the full picture - the problem only occurs when I use the 'location' box on that website. When I don't filter the search results by location, I don't have any problems opening them. However on other computers I can use the location box to filter the results without any difficulties.

    This is sounding less like malware and more like a software fault (although which software could be at fault and affect both Firefox and IE the same way is a mystery to me)...
     
  9. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Does your cable/DSL modem actually act as a router/switch and does it have a firewall? Power cycle the modem and see if there is any change.

    Your problems are not due to malware. They are due to software on your PC, in your modem, or something to do with settings on your PC. Possibly like a popup blocker or simiar.
     
  10. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Yes that was what I said in my first message ( message # 3 in this thread ).
     
  11. sgregg

    sgregg Private E-2

    Thanks for your help with the cleanup, and for looking at the log files - I greatly appreciate the help and advice.
     
  12. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You're welcome.

    Since 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.
    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:
     

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