Malware Removal/Google Hijack Help Requested

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by melpers, Oct 22, 2011.

  1. melpers

    melpers Private E-2

    Running Win7 64-bit Pro SP 1 w/ IE 9.

    About 4 days ago I got hit with a version of the Windows Recovery virus/malware. I was able to repair/remove some of it (I don't get the popup on load trying to scan my PC anymore), but I am still having some issues:

    - My Google search results are being hijacked, I see several redirects when clicking a result.
    - Occasionally an IE window will open trying to get me to log into LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.
    - Once I heard something playing but there was no visible window.
    - Many of my application folders under Start -> All Programs are missing.

    Initially I was infected through Firefox 7.01. The Google redirects were happening only in FF, even after going through this site's redirect fixes, so I deleted FF. I also removed Java b/c I had en error doing an update to that, but it did not change anything. The redirects then started happening in IE. Also, when FF was still installed, something was setting IE to the default browser on each reboot.

    Logs are attached in the .zip File. Most of the scan results I looked at came up clean, but the MBR check shows an issue on C:. I may have a custom MBR, but I'm not sure - my system builder has it setup so I can get into Window Setup from a boot menu.

    Also, during the SuperAntiSpyware scan, my explorer.exe crashed & came back. Once it came back, I didn't see iexplore.exe being re-loaded until after a reboot. I don't know if that might have affected the scan of that, MalwareBytes and/or ComboFix. A reboot was not requested until ComboFix ran.

    I backed up the system on my D: drive 2 days ago, so I have my data if a full reinstall is needed, though the backup may be infected. Any advice would be most appreciated.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Last edited: Oct 22, 2011
  3. melpers

    melpers Private E-2

    Done and attached. Quick test shows Google results are routing correctly. Thanks! Anything else I should do? Are those start menu links recoverable?
     

    Attached Files:

  4. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    I need you to attach the C:\MGLogs.zip separately.

    Please run this:
    Please download and save the below tool from Grinler @ bleepingcomputer to your Desktop or anywhere else you can find it ( if the Desktop is not showing )

    http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/grinler/unhide.exe

    Now run it. Now see if you can find the items that seemed to be missing?
     
  5. melpers

    melpers Private E-2

    Unhide.exe did the trick on the hidden start menu items. Attached is the MGlogs.zip.
     

    Attached Files:

  6. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Looks good. Let's just do this:

    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:
    After clicking Fix, exit HJT.

    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:


    Malware removal from a National Chain = $149
    Malware removal from MajorGeeks = $0


    Majorgeeks Geek Wear. Hats, T-Shirts, Hoodies

    MajorGeeks on FaceBook
     
  7. melpers

    melpers Private E-2

    Completed your last task & all clean up , and all seems back to normal. Thanks again, your help was very much appreciated! You are a gentleman and a scholar sir.
     
  8. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    You are most welcome. Safe surfing. :)
     

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