Browser hijacked, help with READ ME results

[TresaNL]

Hello all,

Search results on both Firefox and IE are redirected to random sites, mostly search engines and some site about website surveys. I tried the READ ME process, but was unable to run the RootRepeal. I have the logs from the others available. I have the Vista 32bit system if that helps. I am a beginner and desperately need help. Thanks in advance!

[TresaNL]

I hope I'm going about this the right way. I have edited my post to attach the logs (I thought I had to wait for a response?). I could not run RootRepeal due to an error message and I am having trouble locating the MGTools logs. As I said before, I am a beginner and I am having some trouble with this.

[dr.moriarty]

Hello, TresaNL

The MGLogs.zip is located directly under your C: directory.

Once you attach it - you will be in our work queue, where the oldest threads are worked first.

Thanks!
dr.m

[TresaNL]

Thanks! I located the file and attached it.

[dr.moriarty]

Got 'em all now -- please give me time to review them and work up a fix, which will be posted in our queue order.

dr.m

[dr.moriarty]

Hello, TresaNL

You are malware-free, but I have some important things for you to do.

You are running original barebones Vista and it already has 2 Service Pack updates out. This is a major security risk!

Another major problem - you have two anti-virus programs installed: Avast! and Norton Internet Security. You need to uninstall ONE of them immediately.


A. Uninstalling Norton
Run the below tool > re-boot > then run it again
Norton Removal Tool (SymNRT) 2009.0.5.26

B. Uninstalling Avast!
avast uninstall utility

How to uninstall our software using aswClear.exe:

1. Download aswClear.exe on to your desktop
2. Start Windows in Safe Mode
3. Open (execute) the uninstall utility
4. If you installed avast! in a different folder than the default, browse for it. (Note: Be careful! The content of any folder you choose will be deleted!)
5. Click REMOVE
6. Restart your computer

Comment: This is an outdated piece of software - Browser Hijack Blaster 1.0

Step 1:
Please look in Add/Remove Programs for the following and uninstall if found. If you get any errors just make a note and continue on.

Viewpoint

Step 2:
Using Windows Explorer - navigate to and delete these folders:

• c:\programdata\WildTangent
• c:\program files\Viewpoint
• c:\programdata\Viewpoint

Step 3:
Open CCleaner - select "Cleaner" > "Run Cleaner" <---use this function ONLY!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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 /u, it must be there.
     • This will uninstall ComboFix and also reset hidden files and folders settings back to Windows defaults.
3. Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
4. If we had you download any registry patches like fixme.reg or fixWLK.reg (or any others), you can delete these files now.
5. 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.
6. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.
7. 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.
8. If you are running Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:
   • Refer to the cleaning procedures in step 3 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.
9. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:
   • How to Protect yourself from malware!

Safe surfing!

[TresaNL]

Thanks for the help. My computer actually crashed the day after your last post, and I ended up doing a system recovery. I was able to start over fresh which turned out to be the best thing!

[dr.moriarty]

Sorry to hear that - make sure that you properly secure and update your restored OS.

Safe surfing!