temp file mystery

i've recently removed a load of what i guess was spyware from my system - a dell laptop running windows xp. almost all of the problems seem to be gone except for one: my c:\windows\temp directory is filled with millions of folders named with numbers that are something like fifteen digits long. if i delete them, they immediately come back. searches always get hung up on this temp file because they must scan through a seemingly limitless number of files. this makes proper virus scanning difficult. anyone know what the story is? also, how does one get rid of the messages which appear on startup reminding one of missing malware files that were deleted? thank you to anyone who can help!

 

Download CCleaner

Reboot into Safe Mode, run the first 2 scans only!

After doing this, reboot into normal mode and attach a HJT log to confirm your system is clean!

Download HijackThis 1.99.1

 

okay. well, i couldn't scan the temp folder, because ccleaner would just run forever. so i did everything except the temp folder. here is the log file, and the missing file messages are gone:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 1:06:31 AM, on 4/10/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

C:\Documents and Settings\revolution\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 2 for hijackthis.zip\HijackThis.exe

thanks!!

pete.

 

You need to let CCleaner run and empty that TEMP folder because everything in it is bad and wasting space.

Scan with HJT and have it fix these entries, be sure you close ALL browsers or else your wasting your time:

R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing

O23 - Service: Network Security Service ( 11Fßä#·ºÄÖ`I) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\apiiv32.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Fused Socks5 Server - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\System32\s5host.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: SNMP Trap Service (SNMPTRAP) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\snmptrap.exe (file missing)

FINAL STEP

Reset Web Settings & Default Security Settings:


To Reset Web Settings:
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.

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


To Default Security Settings:
Right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Security Tab and click Default Level for Internet, Local Intranet, Trusted Sites, and Restricted Sites.


Are you having any further problems?

 

i haven't run ccleaner again, yet, but i'll give it a shot. but i have deleted the temp folder before in DOS: c:\windows\temp del *.* they always come back. also, the apiiv32 and snmptrap entries can't seem to be fixed by HJT. i check them, click fix, then click scan again and there they are. otherwise, though, there are no problems. internet explorer is back to normal. microsoft antispyware, by the way, was very very helpful in fixing all my problems. anyway, if you think of anything else, please let me know. and thanks very much again for your time.

 

You need to let CCleaner clean that for you, nothing else!

NOW:
Click Start > Run > type services.msc and Click OK

Locate Network Security Service ( 11Fßä#·ºÄÖ`I) and RightClick on it to bring up the Service Properties Window.
First: Stop the service by clicking the Stop Button.
Next: Disable it by changing the Startup Type to Disabled and click Apply

Locate Fused Socks5 Server and RightClick on it to bring up the Service Properties Window.
First: Stop the service by clicking the Stop Button.
Next: Disable it by changing the Startup Type to Disabled and click Apply

NEXT:
Reboot into Safe Mode, scan with HJT and if those three O23 entries come back have HJT fix them.

Reboot into Normal Mode and attach a current HJT log.

 

done, done, and done. here is the log file:
Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 1:12:47 PM, on 4/12/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\DefWatch.exe
c:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7Debug\mdm.exe
C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\SavRoam.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\Rtvscan.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\hkcmd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\carpserv.exe
C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Manager\ViewMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Twain_32\fjscan32\FjtwSetup.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\Program Files\BroadJump\Client Foundation\CFD.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\VPTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasServ.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasDtServ.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\HijackThis.exe

O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\System32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CARPService] carpserv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ViewMgr] C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Manager\ViewMgr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [FJTWAIN Setup] C:\WINDOWS\Twain_32\fjscan32\FjtwSetup.exe /Station
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BJCFD] C:\Program Files\BroadJump\Client Foundation\CFD.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [vptray] C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\VPTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [gcasServ] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasServ.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &AIM Search - res://C:\Program Files\AIM Toolbar\AIMBar.dll/aimsearch.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Viewpoint Search - res://C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Toolbar\ViewBar.dll/CXTSEARCH.HTML
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe
O9 - Extra button: Related - {c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\WINDOWS\web\related.htm
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Show &Related Links - {c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\WINDOWS\web\related.htm
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.windowsupdate.com
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.c...ls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1112904921490
O16 - DPF: {74D05D43-3236-11D4-BDCD-00C04F9A3B61} (HouseCall Control) - http://a840.g.akamai.net/7/840/537/2004061001/housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/xscan53.cab
O16 - DPF: {B38870E4-7ECB-40DA-8C6A-595F0A5519FF} (MsnMessengerSetupDownloadControl Class) - http://messenger.msn.com/download/MsnMessengerSetupDownloader.cab
O16 - DPF: {B40B74C9-C9B3-445C-9397-EC8285292947} (WebImageFX.WIFXLoader) - http://www.revolutionprep.com/webimagefx/webimagefx.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: SearchList = usc.edu
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: SearchList = usc.edu
O18 - Protocol: ms-help - {314111C7-A502-11D2-BBCA-00C04F8EC294} - c:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Help\hxds.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: igfxcui - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\igfxsrvc.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: NavLogon - C:\WINDOWS\System32\NavLogon.dll
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Password Validation (ccPwdSvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccPwdSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec AntiVirus Definition Watcher (DefWatch) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\DefWatch.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service (iPodService) - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: SAVRoam (SavRoam) - symantec - C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\SavRoam.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Network Drivers Service (SNDSrvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec AntiVirus - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\Rtvscan.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs LLC - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe



thanks!

pete.

 

Please EXTRACT HijackThis from the ZIP File to a Safer location. Here's how:

To create a new folder:
Click START > My Computer > Local Disc C: > Program Files
Now, RightClick on an Empty Area and select New > Folder & name it HijackThis and ENTER

To Extract HijackThis:
Now, Right Click your HijackThis ZIP File and select Extract All > Next > and browse to your newly created HijackThis Folder
(C:\Program Files\HJT) and click Next.

Now run HJT from there. Please save your HJT Log as a .txt File and attach it via the "Manage Attachments" tool in the Additional Options section when you post.

The reason HJT needs its own safe folder is so that backups will be safely preserved. That way, if a mistake is made in the removal process, the mistakenly deleted entry can be restored.


Was you able to disable those services? Did those entries come back in Safe Mode? If so, did you fix them?

 

the laptop is no longer in my possession. but anyway, those entries didn't come back in safe mode, so i didn't fix them. thank you so much for your help. the temp file problem is gone.

 

Okay!

You should see this article on How to Protect yourself from malware!