Very Slow Firefox

But you have not finished them. See step 5. If you do not attach the logs, we cannot really fully answer your question about whether you have malware. If only some sites are slow, it is just possible that it is the sites you are accessing. But there still could be malware/junkware related issues only impacting those sites.

 

I think some of your issues were due to the junkware as seen in the logs. But you already removed that with Hitman. Other problems may be due to what you are running. I recommend that you uninstall all the IObit software ( Malware Fighter + Advanced SystemCare ) along with Spybot. They are not need and possible causing issues when installed along side the full McAfee Security Suite you have installed. And for that matter, if SUPERAntiSpyware is the paid version with protection, I would uninstall it too. Then reboot.

After reboot run the below just to be safe.

Please download OTM by Old Timer and save it to your Desktop.

• Run OTM.exe by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista, Win7 or Win8, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator).
• Copy the lines from the below codebox to the clipboard by highlighting ALL of them and pressing CTRL + C
  (or, after highlighting, right-click and choose Copy): Do not include the word Code: which is just a title line of
  the code box

Code:

:Processes
explorer.exe

:Services
Service Mgr browsepulse
:Files
C:\ProgramData\5b4b2b13-bc3c-4690-a9ac-2f28c7e74c15\plugincontainer.exe
C:\ProgramData\5b4b2b13-bc3c-4690-a9ac-2f28c7e74c15
C:\ProgramData\COMODO
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\5b4b2b13-bc3c-4690-a9ac-2f28c7e74c15
C:\Program Files (x86)\browse pulse
C:\Users\Jud\AppData\Roaming\Systweak
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\IE_ERR4WDR
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\UPDTEXE4_WDR
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\HDNINSTSCHD
C:\Users\Jud\AppData\Local\Temp\is1301533066\*
C:\Users\Jud\AppData\Local\Temp\browse pulse
C:\Users\Jud\AppData\Local\Temp\*.*

:Reg
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Service Mgr browsepulse]
:Commands
[purity]
[EmptyTemp]
[start explorer]
[Reboot]

• Return to OTM, right click in the Paste List of Files/Folders to Move window (under the yellow bar
  ) and choose Paste.
• Now click the large button.
• If OTM asks to reboot your computer, allow it to do so. The report should appear in Notepad after the reboot.
• Close OTM.

Now navigate to the C:\_OTM\MovedFiles folder ( assuming your Windows drive is C). This is where your log will be
saved in the form of Date and Time mmddyyyy_hhmmss.log. Just look for the most recent .log file. Attach
this log file to your next message.

Now please download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop.

• Shut down your protection software now to avoid potential conflicts.
• Run the tool by double-clicking it. If you are using Windows Vista or Seven, right-mouse click it and select Run as Administrator.
• The tool will open and start scanning your system.
• Note: That JRT may reset your home page to a google default so you will need to restore your home page setting if this happens.
• Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system's specifications.
• On completion, a log (JRT.txt) is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.
• Attach JRT.txt to your next message.

Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista, Win7 or Win8, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator).

Then attach the below logs:

• the C:\_OTM\MovedFiles log
• the JRT.TXT log
• C:\MGlogs.zip

Make sure you tell me how things are working now!

 

You're welcome.

Let's try to address this.

Uninstall Driver Booster 2.2 which is also part of IObit.


Run OTM.exe by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista, Win7 or Win8, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator).

• Copy the lines from the below codebox to the clipboard by highlighting ALL of them and pressing CTRL + C
  (or, after highlighting, right-click and choose Copy): Do not include the word Code: which is just a title line of
  the code box

Code:

:Processes
explorer.exe
 
:Services
0088161427771811
LiveUpdateSvc
 
:Files
C:\Program Files (x86)\IObit\Advanced SystemCare 8
C:\Program Files (x86)\IObit
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Advanced SystemCare 7
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Advanced SystemCare 8
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Driver Booster 2
C:\Windows\system32\tasks\ASC7_PerformanceMonitor
C:\Windows\system32\tasks\ASC7_SkipUac_Jud
C:\Windows\system32\tasks\ASC8_PerformanceMonitor
C:\Windows\system32\tasks\ASC8_SkipUac_Jud
C:\Windows\system32\tasks\Driver Booster Scan
C:\Windows\system32\tasks\Driver Booster SkipUAC (Jud)
C:\Windows\system32\tasks\Driver Booster SkipUAC (SYSTEM)
C:\Windows\system32\tasks\Driver Booster Update
C:\Windows\system32\tasks\SmartDefrag3_Update
 
:Commands
[purity]
[EmptyTemp]
[start explorer]
 

[Reboot]

• Return to OTM, right click in the Paste List of Files/Folders to Move window (under the yellow bar
  ) and choose Paste.
• Now click the large button.
• If OTM asks to reboot your computer, allow it to do so. The report should appear in Notepad after the reboot.
• Close OTM.

Now navigate to the C:\_OTM\MovedFiles folder ( assuming your Windows drive is C). This is where your log will be
saved in the form of Date and Time mmddyyyy_hhmmss.log. Just look for the most recent .log file. Attach
this log file to your next message.


Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode and save to your Desktop.

• Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool.
  Vista/Windows 7/8 users right-click and select Run As Administrator
• Click on the Scan button.
• AdwCleaner will begin...be patient as the scan may take some time to complete.
• After the scan has finished, click on the Report button...a logfile (AdwCleaner[R#].txt) will open in Notepad for review (where the largest value of # represents the most recent report).
• The contents of the log file may be confusing. Unless you see a program name that you know should not be removed, don't worry about it. If you see an entry you want to keep, let me know about it.
• Attach the logfile to your next next reply.
• A copy of all logfiles are saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder which was created when running the tool.

Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista, Win7 or Win8, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator).


Then attach the below logs:

• the C:\_OTM\MovedFiles log
• the AdwCleaner log
• C:\MGlogs.zip

Make sure you tell me how things are working now!

 

You have messed things up because you are now using MSconfig to control startup processes. You should not be doing this. And you were not doing this when your first logs were posted. Please put your PC into normal startup mode and then reboot. After reboot, run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat prorgam again and attach the new MGlogs.zip file. Then we will be able to cleanup remaining items.

It may no tbe a malware issue. It could be due to McAfee or possibly browser addons. If you shutdown FF and try using IE, do you have the exact same problems.

 

Don't use CCcleaner to control startups either because it inappropriately uses the same Windows registry keys that MSconfig uses. Don't use Glary Utilties either for the same reason. If you have used either Glary, CCleaner or MSconfig to control startups you need to disable them now and get me a new log. None of these programs are good startup managers and Microsoft has stated the MSconfig is not meant for this purpose. It is only meant to be a temporary debugging tool.

See the below link for additional info on this subject.

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=149804

A better tool to use which is a much more powerful startup manager is Autoruns as suggested in the above link.

 

Please check if you see the below folders and delete them if found. Your logs show all of them present.

C:\Windows\system32\tasks\ASC7_PerformanceMonitor
C:\Windows\system32\tasks\ASC7_SkipUac_Jud
C:\Windows\system32\tasks\ASC8_PerformanceMonitor
C:\Windows\system32\tasks\ASC8_SkipUac_Jud
C:\Windows\system32\tasks\SmartDefrag3_Update


Now 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.

Make sure that you tell me if you receive a success message about adding the above
to the registry. If you do not get a success message, it definitely did not work.

Now reboot your PC.


After reboot, run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista or Win7, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator).

Then attach the below logs:

• C:\MGlogs.zip

 

You're welcome.

Good job! You got rid of those folders. Now based on all that I have seen in your logs and what remains, I have to come back to something I stated in my second message ( first fix ) and that is that I was implying that the problem may not be due to malware.

I would normally suggest that you reset Firefox to defaults to see if that helps but you also stated that you have the same problems with IE. Based on this and the fact that you did not have any real serious malware and only junkware, I have to suspect that McAfee could possible be the source of your problem with slowness. I cannot say that it is absolutely the problem but it is the only thing remaining that could impact browser performance.

If we uninstall McAfee as a test to see if it is the source of the problem, do you have the installation software available to reinstall later? Before reinstalling we would first have to check that the uninstall is complete by looking at logs. Many programs like McAfee have great difficulty uninstalling properly and we have to remove all of it to verify the goal of this test.

 

Before remove McAfee and you are left without the ability to reinstall, let's see if we can stop it from running.

Did you download AutoRuns yet? If not then download it and run it. You should be able to find a lot of startup process and services related to McAfee that you can stop/disable from loading ( not delete ). Find as many as you can and disable them. Then reboot and see how things look.

You should find in AutoRuns, equivalent items for the below which were reported in HijackThis. As you can see, there are quite an excessive amount of items from McAfee.


O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [mcpltui_exe] "C:\Program Files\Common~1\McAfee\Platform\mcuicnt.exe" /platui /runkey
O4 - Global Startup: McAfee Security Scan Plus.lnk = C:\Program Files\McAfee Security Scan\3.8.150\SSScheduler.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Home Network (HomeNetSvc) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\Platform\McSvcHost\McSvHost.exes\LMS\LMS.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee SiteAdvisor Service - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\McAfee\SiteAdvisor\McSACore.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee AP Service (McAPExe) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\McAfee\MSC\McAPExe.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Activation Service (McAWFwk) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\actwiz\mcawfwk.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Security Scan Component Host Service (McComponentHostService) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\McAfee Security Scan\3.8.150\McCHSvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee CSP Service (mccspsvc) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\CSP\1.3.336.0\McCSPServiceHost.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Personal Firewall Service (McMPFSvc) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\Platform\McSvcHost\McSvHost.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee VirusScan Announcer (McNaiAnn) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\mcafee\platform\McSvcHost\McSvHost.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Scanner (McODS) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\mcafee\VirusScan\mcods.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Platform Services (mcpltsvc) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\mcafee\platform\McSvcHost\McSvHost.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Proxy Service (McProxy) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\mcafee\platform\McSvcHost\McSvHost.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Anti-Malware Core (mfecore) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\AMCore\mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Firewall Core Service (mfefire) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\SystemCore\\mfefire.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Validation Trust Protection Service (mfevtp) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\mfevtps.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: McAfee Anti-Spam Service (MSK80Service) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\Platform\McSvcHost\McSvHost.exe

 

Okay then uninstall it and then reboot. But do not reinstall it yet!!!!!. First we need to verify it is really 100% uninstalled and we need to run tests to see how things are working without it installed.

So after the uninstall of McAfee and the reboot, run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista or Win7, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator).

Then attach the below logs:

• C:\MGlogs.zip

Also test out Firefox to see how it is working. If slow then run the below and then retest

Reset Firefox to Defaults

 

And how about IE and Chrome.

Also did the problem with FF go away immediately after uninstalling McAfee or did you have to also do the Reset to Defaults?

Depends on whether you wish to retry or not. Based on all the stuff McAfee was running and the problems it caused, I would stay away from it.


ALSO NOTE: You are not following the instructions to run C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat

You are running MGtools.exe instead and that is not what I want you to do. Please delete MGtools.exe so that you do not run it again.

 

You're welcome.

Yes it is still good as you will see in the link in my final instructions.

Your logs are good now. As you can see, it is not always malware that is the problem.


If you are not having any other malware problems, it is time to do our final steps:

1. We recommend you keep Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for scanning/removal of malware.
3. Renable your Disk Emulation software with Defogger if you had disabled it in step 4 of the READ & RUN ME.
4. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis. If you don't see it or it will not uninstall, don't worry about it. Just move on to the next step.
5. If running Vista, Win 7 or Win 8, 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.
6. Now goto the C:\MGtools folder and find the MGclean.bat file. Double click ( if running Vista, Win7, or Win 8 Right Click and Run As Administrator ) 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.
7. If we had you download any registry patches like fixme.reg or fixWLK.reg (or any others) and running MGclean.bat did not remove them, you can delete these files now.
8. Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
9. If you are running Win 8, Win 7, Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below to flush restore points:
   • Refer to the instructions for your WIndows version in this link: Disable And Enable System Restore​
   • For Windows 8 and 8.1 system restore see this link: Win 8 System Restore - How to enable/disable​
   • What we want you to do is to first disable System Restore to flush restore points some of which could be infected.
   • Then we want you to Enable System Restore to create a new clean Restore Point.
10. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:
    • How to Protect yourself from malware!

 

Had you already installed Comodo? Maybe it needs to be uninstalled before this. Not sure why though. Let me take a look back at your previous logs now to see if there were any problems showing with the System Restore service. I'll get back to you!

 

I did not see any problems with System Restore in your previous logs. I suggest uninstalling Comodo, rebooting and then try to enable System Restore.

 

Hmmm! Sounds like a problem in Windows. Seems to be pretty common based on a search! Let's see if the below can help before I send you off to the Software Forum.

Be patient while doing the below. The fixes can sometimes take quite awhile to run. Especially the permissions repairs. It may be best to kick it off and goto bed or do something else. It is better not to run anything while the repairs are going on.


Download Windows Repair by Tweaking.com and unzip the contents into a newly created folder on your desktop.

• Now run Repair_Windows.exe by double clicking on it ( if you are running Vista or Win 7, use right click and select Run As Administrator)
• Now select the Start Repairs tab.
• The click the Start button.
• Create a System Restore point if prompted.
• On the next screen, click the Unselect All button to first deselect all repairs.
• Now select the following repair options:
  • Reset Registry Permissions
  • Reset File Permissions
  • Register System Files
  • Repair WMI
  • Remove Policies Set By Infections
  • Repair Windows Updates
  • Repair MSI (Windows Installer)
• Now on the lower right side check the box to Restart/Shutdown System When Finished
• Then make sure the Restart System radio button is enabled.
• Shutdown any other programs that you are running now before continuing.
• Now click the Start button.
• Be patient while the tool repairs the selected items.
• It should reboot automatically when finished. If it does not then reboot it yourself.

See if there is any change now.

 

If it is running okay now I would not run anymore repairs. You know the old saying.

 

You're welcome.

Thank you!

Surf safely.

 

Correct! It is only a tool meant to be used by malware removal experts and it is extremely old and outdated anyway. We only use it now a days to provide a little additional background data. It is extremely ineffective/un-useful by itself.

 

No I would not.

 

You're welcome. Glad to hear all is good!