SettingsModifier:Win32/PossibleHostsFileHijack

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by joelfrost, Jun 16, 2007.

  1. joelfrost

    joelfrost Private E-2

    My wife got a message over Windows Live Messenger that said something about "Are these pcitures of you?" or something like that. Well she clicked the link and all hell broke loose.

    We now have a problem with a file that is screwing with the hosts file, and not letting us change any of our settings on our computer.

    We have Windows Live OneCare for Anti-Virus. It is up to date. It will find the file and when it finds it is says that it has found "SettingsModifier:Win32/PossibleHostsFileHijack"

    I have ran Ad-ware SE Personal. It finds some problems with some stuff and removes it. Also I have ran Ewido Anti-Spyware and it hasn't changed anything.

    I have tried to find some help on all forums I can find. This one got the closest, but didn't quite address what I needed. I found one site that talked about a HOSTER.EXE program that will restore a default HOSTS file. I ran that and it found a lot more than I could see upon reviewing HOSTS file. So now it has a normal hosts file. I am pretty much at a loss of knowing what to do. Can anyone coach me through this?
     
  2. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Welcome to Majorgeeks!

    Please follow our standard cleaning procedures which are necessary for us to provide you support. Also there are steps included for installing, running, and posting HijackThis logs as attachments.
    • Run ALL the steps in this Sticky thread READ & RUN ME FIRST Before Asking for Support
    • Make sure you check version numbers and get all updates.
    • Very Important: Make sure you tell us the results from running the tutorial...was anything found? Were you unable to complete any of the scans?...Were you unable to download any of the tools?...Did you do the on-line scans as suggested? etc.
    • After doing ALL of the above you still have a problem make sure you have booted to normal mode and run the steps in the below link to properly use HijackThis and attach a log:
    Make sure you also rename HijackThis.exe as suggested in the procedures. Use analyse.exe for the new name. This is very important due to some new infections going around.
    • When you return to make your next post, make sure you attach the following logs and that you have run these scans in the following order too:
      • CounterSpy
      • AVG Antispyware log - ONLY IF NEEDED you were not able to run CounterSpy
      • Bitdefender - from step 6
      • Panda Scan - from step 6
      • runkeys.txt - the log from GetRunKey.bat
      • newfiles.txt - the log from ShowNew.bat
      • HijackThis
    NOTE: You can only attach 3 files in a single message so it will require that you use two messages to attach all of these logs!
     
  3. joelfrost

    joelfrost Private E-2

    Alright. I followed the READ AND RUN ME FIRST guide and I had several issues due to this virus along the way. I intend to let you know all the problems I had along the way. I have attached the first three documents here.

    MSCONFIG - When I tried to run MSCONFIG it would open for a second or so, and then it would automatically close. So I started up in Safe mode and I was able to do what you asked. Nothing changed when I restarted in Normal mode again.

    Step 1 - Done

    Step 2 - This virus changes your settings. Everytime I would enable "Show hidden files" it would turn it back off again. I can see the hidden files for a few seconds, but then it will hide them again, or if I changes folders at all it would automatically hide them again.

    Step 3 - Done

    Step 4 - Downloaded all programs: GetRunKey, ShowNew, Spybot, Counterspy, AVG Antispyware, HijackThis

    Step 5 - Done

    Step 6A - BitDefender and Panda Activescan done

    Step 6B - GetRunKey and ShowNew batch files ran and logs saved

    Step 6C - HijackThis will not run. When I enter the "c:\program files\hijackthis" folder the explorer window closes automatically. I tried renaming the hijackthis.exe file from another computer and it still closed the explorer window. Finally I exctraced the hijackthis.exe to a different folder. Then I could rename the file. When I launched Analyse.exe it opened and immediately closed.

    Now I am responding posting the logs. Let me know what you think. I really appreciate your help.

    FYI... Windows OneCare detects a virus on the computer, but when you go to the onecare sit to learn more about it, there is no information. Basically Microsoft is aware that the virus exists, but has not gotten around to fixing it yet.

    Also... I don't know if I explained that at first this virus also hijacked the hosts file and was dead-ending any virus scanning website. I got rid of that junk, but the hijacking of my settings and various other things is still in place.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. joelfrost

    joelfrost Private E-2

    Here are the last three files that you requested. Thank you.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. joelfrost

    joelfrost Private E-2

    FYI again... I just thought that you should know this. It appears that the virus is sent through messenger. An infected computer send a message out to all its contacts. The message looks like this

    those ur pics?

    Well when you click on the hyperlink it takes you to a site and you download the virus, and then you send it to everyone on your contact list, and it is then their problem as well. That is what I know. I just thought I would tell you everything so that you can help me. I have seen a few other posts on other parts of the internet and none of them realize what they have. They just do some quick stuff, and they aren't realizing that it is totally hijacking their settings too.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 31, 2007
  6. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Please use add/remove programs to uninstall:
    J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 10"
    J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 6"
    J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 9
    MarketResearch

    Please copy the bold text below to notepad. Save it as fixME.reg to your desktop. Be sure the "Save as" type is set to "all files" Once you have saved it double click it and allow it to merge with the registry.

    Now download The Avenger by Swandog469, and save it to your Desktop.

    * Extract avenger.exe from the Zip file and save it to your desktop
    * Run avenger.exe by double-clicking on it.
    * Check the 'Input script manually' box.
    * Click on the magnifying glass icon.
    * Copy everything in the Quote box below, and paste it in the box that opens:

    * Now click the 'Done' button.
    * Click on the traffic light icon and OK the prompt.
    * You will be prompted to restart, OK the prompt and your PC should reboot, if not, reboot it yourself.
    * A log file from Avenger will be produced at C:\avenger.txt

    Attach new logs for:
    GetRUn
    ShowNew
    HJT ---- you should be able to run it now...let me know.
     
  7. joelfrost

    joelfrost Private E-2

    I have uninstalled the following:
    J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 10"
    J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 6"
    J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 9

    When I tried to run the fixME.reg it gave me an error. I made a picture file of the error message and I am attaching it to this post.

    I installed and ran the Avenger.exe file. I also ran GetRunKey.bat and the ShowNew.bat. I am going to attach all those logs to this post.

    Good news, HijackThis worked. I am attaching that to the post as well.

    It is looking good. I can now open MSconfig and change folder options. It looks like everything is cured. I will update you in a few days. Thank you so much for your help.
     

    Attached Files:

  8. joelfrost

    joelfrost Private E-2

    Here are the two additional logs you requested. If this comes back up I will contact you again.

    Is there a donation center that I can go to so that I can donate to you guys? I really appreciate this. Thank you.
     

    Attached Files:

  9. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Did you save it as "all files" type?

    You are far from done!
    Please use add/remove programs to uninstall:
    MarketResearch

    Use windows explorer to find and delete:
    C:\Documents and Settings\User\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\winlogon.lnk
    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\PopCap

    Run 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:

    Please copy the bold text below to notepad. Save it as fixME.reg to your desktop. Be sure the "Save as" type is set to "all files" Once you have saved it double click it and allow it to merge with the registry.

    * Run avenger.exe by double-clicking on it.
    * Check the 'Input script manually' box.
    * Click on the magnifying glass icon.
    * Copy everything in the Quote box below, and paste it in the box that opens:
    * Now click the 'Done' button.
    * Click on the traffic light icon and OK the prompt.
    * You will be prompted to restart, OK the prompt and your PC should reboot, if not, reboot it yourself.
    * A log file from Avenger will be produced at C:\avenger.txt

    Now attach new logs for:

    * GetRunKey
    * ShowNew
    * HJT
    * Avenger
     
  10. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

  11. joelfrost

    joelfrost Private E-2

    Sorry it has been a while. Work got busy. I am back with you now.

    I did everything you asked. I am posting the logs. I am also posting the error that Windows gives me when I try to run the fixME.reg file that you have me create. I did as you asked and I selected "All Files" for the save as type. Any more ideas?
     

    Attached Files:

  12. joelfrost

    joelfrost Private E-2

    Here are the other two log files
     

    Attached Files:

  13. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member


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