The ol' Google redirect problem

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by Brinnyunlimited, Apr 24, 2011.

  1. Brinnyunlimited

    Brinnyunlimited Private E-2

    I have the persistent search engine redirect problem where, whenever I click on a link brought up in a search, it'll take me to some random advertising site instead. These have been pretty diverse: anything from furniture shops, to low budget airlines, to ebay on a few occassions. This happens in Firefox or IE.

    What's more, while I'm browsing the web, now and again a new link will open in a new tab next to the one I'm currently browsing in - again with a random advertising site.

    I've also noticed that I get the dreaded "blue screen of death" quite often when I'm trying to use programmes. One in particular is ComboFix. Everytime I try and run it my laptop will shut itself down, usually with a message such as "internal power error" or "bad pool caller."

    So, I followed the steps in the "fixing google redirection/hijacking" thread. Downloaded TDSSKiller, but it didn't work (got an error message).
    Renamed the file to a .com as advised, still didn't work.

    I then followed all the steps in the "removing malware" thread and got logs for all steps except combofix (I can't use it, as described earlier). You'll notice that superantispyware found trojans on my computer, but the problem persists even after their removal. Same thing happens when I use SpyBot.

    If anyone could help me get my laptop in proper working order again I would be very grateful!

    Thanks in advance!
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Brinnyunlimited

    Brinnyunlimited Private E-2

    Also, I'm not sure if this is relevent to the problem in question but I often get a pop-up in windows saying "host services for windows stopped working"

    clicking on "view problem details" results in the following:

    Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
    Application Name: svchost.exe
    Application Version: 6.0.6001.18000
    Application Timestamp: 47918b89
    Fault Module Name: ntdll.dll
    Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
    Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a7a6
    Exception Code: c000071b
    Exception Offset: 00088ed9
    OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3
    Locale ID: 2057
    Additional Information 1: 0e02
    Additional Information 2: b21b56b606e7544720668ce364087082
    Additional Information 3: 0e02
    Additional Information 4: b21b56b606e7544720668ce364087082

    Read our privacy statement:
    http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=50163&clcid=0x0409
     
  3. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    I am not seeing any malware on your system. However, I want you to run this:

    Please also download MBRCheck to your desktop

    • Double click MBRCheck.exe to run (vista and Win 7 right click and select Run as Administrator)
    • It will show a Black screen with some information that will contain either the below line if no problem is found:
      • Done! Press ENTER to exit...

    • Or you will see more information like below if a problem is found:
      • Found non-standard or infected MBR.
      • Enter 'Y' and hit ENTER for more options, or 'N' to exit:

    • Either way, just choose to exit the program at this point since we want to see only the scan results to begin with.
    • MBRCheck will create a log named similar to MBRCheck_07.16.10_00.32.33.txt which is random based on date and time.
    • Attach this log to your next message.
     
  4. Brinnyunlimited

    Brinnyunlimited Private E-2

    Hi TimW, many thanks for you speedy reply!

    I did get the "Found non-standard or infected MBR" message. Attached is the log as requested.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    We can first try having MBRCheck fix it, since you can't run TDSSKiller.

    Do you have all important data backed up? You really should do this before continuing since we will need to rewrite your MBR to fix this and while most times this can be done without any problem, these infections can react badly and that could result in a PC not being bootable. You really don't have much choice though since these infections are too dangerous to your security to leave on a PC.

    Also note if you have a Dell PC which uses a non-standard MBR ( or another manufacturer's who does similar to Dell) , fixing the mbr may prevent access the the Dell Restore Utility, which allows you to press a key on startup and revert your computer to a factory delivered state. There are a couple of known fixes for said condition, though the methods are somewhat advanced. If you are unwilling to take such a risk, you should not continue but you risk serious problems leaving this infection in place and thus your only other option would be to try using the Dell Restore Utility to return a factory ship state which will remove everything you additional you have put onto the PC.


    Now if you wish to continue and fix the malware - please do the following:

    * Run MBRCheck.exe
    * Wait until you see the following lines:
    o Enter 'Y' and hit ENTER for more options, or 'N' to exit:
    o Options:
    [1] Dump the MBR of a physical disk to file.
    [2] Restore the MBR of a physical disk with a standard boot code.
    [3] Exit.
    Enter your choice:

    * Please push the 'Y' key and then press Enter
    * When the program asks you to Enter your choice: enter 2 to Restore the MBR and press the Enter key
    * Now the program will ask you to "Enter the physical disk number to fix (0-99, -1 to cancel):"
    o Enter 0 and press the Enter key.
    * The program will show Available MBR codes as below

    * You need to select your version of Windows from the list. For example, enter 0 or 1 for XP or enter 3 for Vista.....etc. and then press Enter.
    * The program will prompt for confirmation. Type 'YES' and hit Enter.
    * Left click on the title bar (where program name and path is written). From menu chose Edit -> Select All
    * You will see all the text in the window get highlighted.
    * Hit the Enter key on your keyboard to copy all of the text into the clipboard.
    * Paste that text into Notepad, save it to your desktop as MBRfix.txt
    * Restart your PC.
    * Attach the MBRfix.txt file to your next message..

    Now please re-run MBRCheck.exe and attach that log also.
     
  6. Brinnyunlimited

    Brinnyunlimited Private E-2

    I do appreciate your swift replies! As requested I have added the two logs.
     

    Attached Files:

  7. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    It didn't fix it. Do you have your installation disc?
     
  8. Brinnyunlimited

    Brinnyunlimited Private E-2

    For windows? Unfortunately not. This is an acer machine, so all I have is the option to restore to factory settings, no installation disc was supplied.
     
  9. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Sigh, let's try having you do this:
    Create this disc:
    Vista and Win7 Recovery disc

    Once you have created it, go into the bios and set the cd/dvd drive to first boot device. Put the disc into the drive and reboot. You want to go into the Command Prompt where you will type this:
    Take not that there is a space after the .exe and the /fixmbr.
     
  10. Brinnyunlimited

    Brinnyunlimited Private E-2

    Ok thanks. I'll have to pick up some blank cds next time I'm out, I shall update you with my progress in a day or two.

    Many thanks.
     
  11. Brinnyunlimited

    Brinnyunlimited Private E-2

    Hi TimW

    I followed your advice and made a Windows recovery disc and followed your instructions and as of yet, I have not encountered any of the previous problems I had mentioned. Is there any further steps I need to take?
     
  12. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Run a new scan with MBRcheck and attach the log for TimW to look at. ;)
     
  13. Brinnyunlimited

    Brinnyunlimited Private E-2

    Thanks!

    Here you go...
     

    Attached Files:

  14. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Good job. That fixed it.

    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 real time protection. They do not use any significant amount of resources ( except a little disk space ) until you run a scan.We recommend them for doing backup scans when you suspect a malware infection.
    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 of 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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  15. Brinnyunlimited

    Brinnyunlimited Private E-2

    Thank you! I very much appreciate what you've done for me. Everything seems back to normal now, so thanks again,

    All the best!
     
  16. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Good to know!! And you are most welcome! ;)
     

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