Very sneaky browser hijacker and protection nobbler (XP 64)

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by Bravus, Mar 19, 2011.

  1. Bravus

    Bravus Private E-2

    Hi Guys, and thanks in advance for your help.

    Firefox started being hijacked today - a new tab opening on searches, redirected to the usual hodgepodge of dodgy search aggregators, shopping sites and bogus virus protection software.

    I tried to run SuperAntiSpyware, it it wouldn't run: splash screen for a second and then nothing, no matter what I tried, including re-downloading and installing. It showed up as a process but just didn't do anything.

    Ran AVG and it didn't find anything, then tried Trend Micro's online HouseCall scan, which also didn't find anything.

    Malwarebytes found a couple of minor corrupted game files.

    Clearly it wasn't resolved, so only then did I get serious and start going through your procedure.

    Removed old Java and updated, removed any other dodgy bits and pieces that had appeared (Searchqu and Facemoods).

    Re-downloaded and installed SuperAntiSpyware but again it wouldn't run. The portable version ran, though, and didn't find anything. Apparently since it found nothing this version did not create a log.

    Malwarebytes ran and found one thing - log attached.

    I didn't run Combofix because I have XP Pro 64 and it says it only does 32 bit XP - let me know if it's safe and I should do it.

    Avoided RootRepeal for the same reason.

    MGTools, when I tried to run it, created the folder and unzipped the files and so on, but didn't run the batch files, so no log from it at the moment either. If you want me to run the .bat files manually please let me know which ones.

    I really *did* try hard to run through the XP Malware cleaning page and do everything - unable, not unwilling.

    Thanks,

    D
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Bravus

    Bravus Private E-2

    Oh, the other thing I neglected to mention was that when I got no joy with SuperAntiSpyware (the first time, before starting your procedure) I attempted to install Windows Defender but it kept stopping prior to completion complaining about whether I had permission to start processes. (I did.) I suspect this might be a further part of the malware's attempts to nobble antivirus and antispyware software. It's not installed because it was impossible to install.
     
  3. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Yes I want you to run Combofix as it IS compatible. log retrievable @ C:\combofix.txt

    Then I want you to run the below:

    Go to TDSSKiller and Download TDSSKiller.zip to your Desktop

    • Extract its contents to your Desktop so that you have TDSSKiller.exe directly on your Desktop and not in any subfolder of the Desktop.
    • Now double click the TDSSkiller.exe file to run it ( if using Vista or Windows 7 do not double click on it but rather, right click and select Run As Administrartor.
    • Allow the application to run and a window will open showing that it is TDSSkiller from Kaspersky
    • Click Start scan
    • It will run rather quickly and will notify you of whether anything is found or not.
    • Follow the instructions to delete/quarantine if asks you what to do when if finds something.
    Whether an infection is found or not, a log file should be created on your C: drive ( or whatever drive you boot from) in the root folder named something like TDSSKiller.2.1.1_27.12.2009_14.17.04_log.txt which is based on the program version # and date and time run. Please attach this log to your next reply. (See: HOW TO: Attach Items To Your Post )

    Download OTL to your desktop.

    • Double click on the icon to run it. Make sure all other windows are closed and to let it run uninterrupted.
    • Vista and Windows 7 users Right-click OTL and choose Run as Administrator)
    • When the window appears, underneath Output at the top change it to Minimal Output.
    • Check the boxes beside LOP Check and Purity Check.
    • Click the Run Scan button. Do not change any settings unless otherwise told to do so. The scan wont take long.

    When the scan completes, it will open two notepad windows. OTL.Txt and Extras.Txt. These are saved in the same location as OTL.

    Attach both of these logs into your next reply.
     
  4. Bravus

    Bravus Private E-2

    OK, tried to run ComboFix. It opened a short progress bar that ran for a short then vanished and that was it - no permissions stuff, no DOS-type windows, no log created.

    Ran TDSSKiller - it didn't find anything. Log attached.

    Ran OTL. Logs attached.

    PS The browser, which I had open to read this forum and download the tools, was hijacked once during the process.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Ahh I see you're on windows 2003 hence why Combofix wont run.

    If FaceMoods appears in your add/remove programs then please uninstall it.

    Tell me or show me with a screenshot exactly what is contained within these folders please.

    • C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{3276BE95_AF08_429F_A64F_CA64CB79BCF6}
    • C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{CD649BED-8A0E-48BE-B3B6-0F5055BED534}

    We need to run an OTL Fix

    • Right-click OTL.exe And select " Run as administrator " to run it. If Windows UAC prompts you, please allow it.
    • Copy and Paste the following code into the Image textbox. Do not include the word Code

    Code:
    :otl
    IE - HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://start.facemoods.com/?a=ws&s={searchTerms}&f=4
    FF - prefs.js..keyword.URL: "http://start.facemoods.com/results.php?f=5&a=ws&q="
    O2 - BHO: (CescrtHlpr Object) - {64182481-4F71-486b-A045-B233BD0DA8FC} - C:\Program Files (x86)\facemoods.com\facemoods\1.4.17.3\bh\facemoods.dll (facemoods.com BHO)
    O3 - HKLM\..\Toolbar: (Searchqu Toolbar) - {7FF99715-3016-4381-84CE-E4E4C9673020} -  File not found
    O3 - HKLM\..\Toolbar: (facemoods Toolbar) - {DB4E9724-F518-4dfd-9C7C-78B52103CAB9} - C:\Program Files (x86)\facemoods.com\facemoods\1.4.17.3\facemoodsTlbr.dll (facemoods.com)
    O4:[b]64bit:[/b] - HKLM..\Run: [Alcmtr] C:\WINDOWS\ALCMTR.EXE (Realtek Semiconductor Corp.)
    O4:[b]64bit:[/b] - HKLM..\Run: [AlcWzrd] C:\WINDOWS\ALCWZRD.EXE (RealTek Semicoductor Corp.)
    O4 - HKLM..\Run: [facemoods] C:\Program Files (x86)\facemoods.com\facemoods\1.4.17.3\facemoodssrv.exe (facemoods.com)
    O6 - HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer: NoActiveDesktop = 1
    O20 - Winlogon\Notify\ungzpw: DllName - ungzpw.dll -  File not found
    O30 - LSA: Authentication Packages - (C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\urqQkkLe) -  File not found
    
    :files
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\urqQkkLe.dll
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\ungzpw.dll
    
    @Alternate Data Stream - 97 bytes -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\TEMP:667565EE
    @Alternate Data Stream - 239 bytes -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\TEMP:2DF93164
    @Alternate Data Stream - 238 bytes -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\TEMP:341C1FBD
    @Alternate Data Stream - 226 bytes -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\TEMP:609CAC7C
    @Alternate Data Stream - 221 bytes -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\TEMP:5B09C4D9
    @Alternate Data Stream - 218 bytes -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\TEMP:7EC01D6D
    @Alternate Data Stream - 216 bytes -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\TEMP:8DD20B4A
    @Alternate Data Stream - 214 bytes -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\TEMP:C0913157
    @Alternate Data Stream - 207 bytes -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\TEMP:78ADFF54
    @Alternate Data Stream - 193 bytes -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\TEMP:16B49C20
    @Alternate Data Stream - 192 bytes -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\TEMP:A1D3FEF0
    @Alternate Data Stream - 188 bytes -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\TEMP:831C6B2D
    @Alternate Data Stream - 155 bytes -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\TEMP:C47E54BB
    @Alternate Data Stream - 121 bytes -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\TEMP:DFC5A2B2
    @Alternate Data Stream - 113 bytes -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\TEMP:AFB24B00
    @Alternate Data Stream - 109 bytes -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\TEMP:A8ADE5D8
    @Alternate Data Stream - 102 bytes -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\TEMP:627B7F7C
    
    :commands
    [EMPTYTEMP]
    [RESETHOSTS]
    [REBOOT]
    • Then click the Run Fix button at the top.
    • Click Image.
    • OTL may ask to reboot the machine. Please do so if asked.
    • The report should appear in Notepad after the reboot. ATTACH that report in your next reply.

    Are you now able to run MGTools?

    Tell me if the redirects persist or not.
     
  6. Bravus

    Bravus Private E-2

    Thanks very much. I'm at the office for the next 8 hours or so but will do that when I got home.

    Weird that it's presenting (in the logs I presume) as Windows 2003, because it's definitely XP Professional 64-bit.
     
  7. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Oh my bad. The title of the thread was telling me that too!! Was just digging deep and couldn't see the woods for the trees. :) The info in the header of the OTL log is wrong about your OS then. Post the logs when you get chance and I'll review them next time I log in. Don't forget to tell me the contents of those folders.
     
  8. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    FYI: Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is in fact an edition of Windows Server 2003. Both Windows Server 2003 x64 and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition use identical kernels and are built based on the same code bases.

    ComboFix only supports x64 on Vista and Windows 7.
     
  9. Bravus

    Bravus Private E-2

    OK, here goes!

    Facemoods was not there in Add/Remove because I removed it yesterday in the initial cleanup: you're probably seeing detritus it left behind.

    In C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{3276BE95_AF08_429F_A64F_CA64CB79BCF6} there are two folders, x64 and x86. Within each is another folder of the same name and versions of the files DIFxAPI.dll, DifXInstall64.exe, GEARAspiWDM.inf and gearaspiwdmx64.cat (that's the version from the x64 folder, in the other one the first 64 is replaced by 32 and the second by 86). In the subfolders in each case are GEARAspi.dll and GEARAspiWDM.sys, with the addition of GEARAspi64.dll in the x64 one.

    Hope that's clear - can do screenshots if it's easier to understand. I do see the 'GEAR Driver Installer for x64 and x86' in Add/Remove Programs... let me know whether I should uninstall it, I don't think it's regularly used.

    In C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{CD649BED-8A0E-48BE-B3B6-0F5055BED534} there is an x64 folder, which again contains an x64 subfolder. In the top level x64 folder the files are DIFxAPI.dll, DifXInstall64.exe,DIFxInstallLog.txt, EARAspiWDM.inf and gearaspiwdmx64.cat.

    Looks like that might be from the same app.

    Ran the OTL fix and have attached the log.

    Will try to run MGTools in a sec, but will post this now to avoid losing it.
     

    Attached Files:

  10. Bravus

    Bravus Private E-2

    OK, MGTools ran flawlessly, log attached.
     

    Attached Files:

  11. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Thanks Chas!

    Download HostsXpert and then follow the below steps.
    • Unzip HostsXpert.zip
    • It will create a folder named HostsXpert in whatever folder you extract it to.
    • Run HostsXpert.exe by double clicking on it.
    • Click the Make Writeable? button. (if you only see a Make Read-Only selection, it is already writeable so skip this button).
    • Click Restore Microsoft's Hosts File and then click OK.
    • Click the X to exit the program

    Please disable all anti-virus and anti-spyware programs while we do the following (re-enable when you are finished):

    Run C:\MGtools\analyse.exe by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista, 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:

    • O20 - Winlogon Notify: hspdam3 - hspdam3.dll (file missing)

    NOTE: HJT may popup an error about the AppInit_DLLs line. Ignore it and click OK to continue.

    After clicking Fix exit HJT.


    Check in C:\Windows and C:\windows\system32 and check to see if hspdam3.dll exists or not. Let me know.

    Use windows explorer to delete the below folders:

    C:\Documents and Settings\Parents\Application Data\facemoods.com
    C:\Program Files (x86)\facemoods.com
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Searchqu Toolbar

    What are you currently using for antivirus?

    Now you must tell us, do the redirects persist or not?
     
  12. Bravus

    Bravus Private E-2

    Ran HostsXpert with no problems.

    Ran HJT and fixed the relevant entry.

    No sign of hpsdam3.dll in C:\Windows and there is no c:\Windows32 folder on this machine.

    Deleted the relevant folders.

    Had been using AVG for antivirus but removed it during the process because it conflicts with some of the steps, and is also very 'heavy' in terms of processes running in the background. Might move to Avast! after we get the machine clean, but any other suggestions are very welcome.

    I was about to say the redirects have stopped, but then got one just now to some Chicago auto warehouse or something (broken link). So no, we still seem to be getting redirects.

    I'll do a little more testing, just with random searches and such, to see what happens.

    Thanks again for all your help and patience!
     
  13. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    • Does Internet Explorer redirect also?
    • Does it occur in safe mode with networking?
    • Do you use a router?

    It very well could be your router... There is a little button on the bottom ( on most models ) to reset it to factory settings. Do that. You may then need to go back into it to set any special setting that you may have set up originally. But do that first and see if that doesn't take care of it.

    You can test this theory by connecting directly to your modem and if the redirects stop, then you know it is the router that is infected.

    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. (Right click and run as admin if using Vista or Windows7) Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this.
     
  14. Bravus

    Bravus Private E-2

    OK, here are the steps I tried and the results:

    1. Try to provoke Firefox to be redirected: couldn't make it happen.
    2. Try IE (which we never ever use): couldn't make it happen.
    3. Given that, didn't try rebooting into Safe Mode with Networking at this point.
    4. Reset the modem/router. (Will need to re-set up security settings on that.)

    Ran GetLogs.bat and attached that log here.

    Looking good so far, thanks so much. Will post again if there are any further redirects.
     

    Attached Files:

  15. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Ok well let a day or so go by and then report back because you will need to follow final steps if all is still well. :)
     
  16. Bravus

    Bravus Private E-2

    OK, still good so far after a couple of days. Looks like you've saved us! Thanks again.

    You mentioned some final wrap-up steps?
     
  17. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Yes indeed. And glad to hear all is well again.

    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 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 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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