ZoneAlarm Extreme Security AV Update Fails

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by RunForReal, Jan 14, 2012.

  1. RunForReal

    RunForReal Private E-2

    Laptop: Conpaq Presario,
    OS: Windows XP - up to date
    RAM: 1/2 GB
    Firewall: ZoneAlarm Extreme Security - paid version
    Real time: formerly SuperAntispyware Pro trial version
    Java: up to date
    I Use: CCleaner
    I Use: PC tools Registry Mechanic to clean the registry.

    The primary symptom is that the ZoneAlarm anitvirus update fails, even after uninstalling and reinstalling ZoneAlarm from scatch. The uninstall/reinstall process was preformed twice; both before, and after running all of the tools listed in the Windows XP cleaning procedure.

    Also the system runs very slow.

    Both SuperAntipyware and MalwareBytes update their virus definitions OK.

    There are no other obvious symptoms.

    My best guess: The root is infected.

    Attaching all log files, some as zip files because of the 4 file limitation. Note that I have multiple complete scans of SuperAntispyware and MalwareBytes. This could be of some use in determiniing "persistance" of some spyware.

    Mark
     

    Attached Files:

  2. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You are using extremely outdated copies of the cleaning software. You should have uninstalled ComboFix last time you were here. And this time you should have downloaded the current version and run a scan with it.

    Your PC is slow because you have about 1/4 of the recommended amount of memory to properly run XP SP3 and other software that you are running.

    This is not recommended >>>> "PC tools Registry Mechanic to clean the registry"

    In most cases, registry cleaning eventually if not immediately creates more problems than it solves. Often it breaks he ability to perform Windows Updates and it may even have cause you problems with ZoneAlarm updating.



    Here are my suggestions.
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. Now download the current versions of ComboFix and MGtools from the below links and save them to your Desktop. DO NOT RUN THEM YET.
    4. Uninstall ALL of the below
      • Registry Mechanic
      • SUPERAntiSpyware
      • ZoneAlarm ( uninstall ALL of it )
      • PC Tune-Up
      • J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 11
      • Java(TM) 6 Update 14
      • Java(TM) SE Development Kit 6 Update 23
      • Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment 6 Update 1
    5. Reboot your PC
    6. After reboot do the below and avoid doing any surfing. Just come here to follow the below instructions.
    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:

    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] C:\Program Files\Hp\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe ARM] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe"
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe"
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
    O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
    O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Google Update] "C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe" /c
    O8 - Extra context menu item: &Search - ?s=100000343&p=ZKman000&si=&a=nZqlQnBO9MyDhP2ulDRs8A&n=2010032319

    After clicking Fix, exit HJT.




    Now we need to use ComboFix to remove a bunch of malware files.
    • 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.

    If after running Combofix you discover none of your programs will open up because you recieve 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.

    Make sure your PC is physically connect to the internet ( user cable to your PC is plugged in ) before doing the below. Last time it looked like you disconnected it which is not requested in our instructions.

    Now run MGtools.exe ( Note: If using Vista or Win7, make sure UAC is still disabled. Also don't double click on it, use right click and select Run As Administrator )


    Now attach the below logs ( only attach what we ask. DO NOT make your own ZIP files )
    • C:\ComboFix.txt
    • C:\MGlogs.zip
    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!

    If everything seems okay, reinstall your ZoneAlarm software. Don't install anything else. Just ZoneAlarm. Then see how things are running after installing it. Try a reboot roo.
     
  3. RunForReal

    RunForReal Private E-2

    "Your PC is slow because you have about 1/4 of the recommended amount of memory to properly run XP SP3 and other software that you are running."
    - I will upgrade the memory to 2 GB if possible.

    "In most cases, registry cleaning eventually if not immediately creates more problems than it solves. Often it breaks he ability to perform Windows Updates and it may even have cause you problems with ZoneAlarm updating"
    - I did not know this, but it seems that large numbers of registry errors are also a problem. Any compromise possible?

    To the issue at hand:

    I downloaded new revisions of GMtools and combofix as requested (to the desktop).

    I performed all of the requested operations including uninstalling
    o Registry Mechanic
    o SUPERAntiSpyware
    o ZoneAlarm ( uninstall ALL of it )
    o PC Tune-Up
    o J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 11
    o Java(TM) 6 Update 14
    o Java(TM) SE Development Kit 6 Update 23

    and checking and thus eliminatiing:

    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] C:\Program Files\Hp\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe ARM] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe"
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe"
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
    O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
    O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Google Update] "C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe" /c
    O8 - Extra context menu item: &Search - ?s=100000343&p=ZKman000&si=&a=nZqlQnBO9MyDhP2ulDRs8A&n=2010032319

    via C:\GMtools\analyse.exe

    I accidently ran GMtools by itself before running analyse.exe.

    I dragged the txt scrip file (text shown below) over combofix, which updated itself as part of the run process.

    ClearJavaCache::
    KILLALL::
    Driver::
    gusvc
    File::
    C:\Documents and Settings\User\Templates\dfc.exe
    C:\Documents and Settings\User\Templates\gxl.exe
    C:\Documents and Settings\User\Templates\q2504g6be8f26r3hqg5a6ts07hq8nxp3sx11mgyk6
    C:\Documents and Settings\User\Templates\qiv.exe
    C:\Documents and Settings\User\Templates\qsi.exe
    C:\Documents and Settings\User\Templates\rei.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\Tasks\GoogleUpdateTaskUserS-1-5-21-725345543-261903793-2147061141-1003Core.job
    C:\WINDOWS\Tasks\GoogleUpdateTaskUserS-1-5-21-725345543-261903793-2147061141-1003UA.job
    C:\WINDOWS\Tasks\RMSchedule.job
    C:\WINDOWS\Tasks\RMSmartUpdate.job

    Note: I had to uninstall MalwareBytes completely to get combofix to run. I believe that this was needed to allow combofix to stop the running processes.

    Since I have not re-installed ZoneAlarm or any other antivirus programs, I am not able to report on how anything is going. The wireless connection to the internet is disabled currently.

    I need to make a decision on a firewall, real time antivirus protection, and supplemental antivirus protection going forward. I may try another firewall other then ZoneAlarm, since you are not impressed with its performance.

    I am attaching a third log file, hijackthis-2.log, which is the result of running analyze.exe (in scan mode) at the very end of this process.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Not needed.

    You did not tell me how things are working.

    You should delete the below left over folders now from the software we uninstalled:
    c:\program files\Zone Labs
    c:\windows\system32\Zonelabs
    c:\documents and settings\User\Application Data\Registry Mechanic
    c:\program files\Common Files\PC Tools
    c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\PC Tools


    You either did not run ComboFix properlye with the CFScript.txt file or you ran MGtools before ComboFix. Your logs show nothing was fixed from the ComboFix step. I think the problem is that you did not obtain a new log from MGtools as requested because the dates inside this last MGlogs.zip are from Jan 15th not Jan 16th. You need to follow the instuctions for getting an NEW log and attach it.
     

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