Adware.MyWebSearch and other issues

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by gvfbgvfb, Mar 15, 2009.

  1. gvfbgvfb

    gvfbgvfb Private E-2

    Hi, XP SP3, for a couple of months SUPER AntiSpyware has been finding:
    - Adware.MyWebSearch
    - Adware.MyWebSearch/FunWebProducts
    These didn't seem serious but every time SAS removed them they came back so I had been slowly trying various ideas suggested on the web, e.g. removing all unwanted software, without success. Yesterday morning swmbo (she who must be obeyed) was using the machine when an unknown "anti-Spyware" programme started shouting about problems. We reckonned this was enemy action so have worked through your great instructions and found:
    - Rootkit.Agent/Gen-UACFake
    At the same time it had become impossible to run SAS.

    This nasty and /FunWeb Products seem to have gone but Adware.MyWebSearch still shows in SAS. So I'm concerned that other nasties may also be lurking. Please would you have a look at the logs and help me get rid of Adware.MyWebSearch. Two versions of the SAS log, one run as part of your instructions and one after.

    Many thanks for all your work.

    John
     

    Attached Files:

  2. gvfbgvfb

    gvfbgvfb Private E-2

    Remaining logs.

    Thanks


    John
     

    Attached Files:

  3. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Please run the below procedure:

    Resetting Registry and File Permissions

    After the reboot from the above, continue with the below.


    Run this Disable/Remove Windows Messenger to remove Windows Messenger. Do not confuse Windows Messenger with MSN Messenger because they are not the same. Windows Messenger is a frequent cause of popups.

    Now we need to use ComboFix again.
    • Make sure that combofix.exe that you downloaded while doing the READ & RUN ME is on your Desktop but Do not run it!
      • If it is not on your Desktop, the below will not work.
    • Also make sure you have shut down all protection software (antivirus, antispyware...etc) or they may get in the way of allowing ComboFix to run properly.
    • Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the below quote box into it:
    • Save the above as CFscript.txt and make sure you save it to the same location (should be on your Desktop) as ComboFix.exe
    • At this point, you MUST EXIT ALL BROWSERS NOW before continuing!
    • You should have both the ComboFix.exe and CFScript.txt icons on your Desktop.
    • Now use your mouse to drag CFscript.txt on top of ComboFix.exe
    • Follow the prompts.
    • When it finishes, a log will be produced named c:\combofix.txt
    • I will ask for this log below
    Note:

    Do not mouseclick combofix's window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.


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

    Then attach the below logs:
    • C:\ComboFix.txt
    • C:\MGlogs.zip
    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!
     
  4. gvfbgvfb

    gvfbgvfb Private E-2

    Chas, followed your instructions and have attached the two logs:
    - ComboFix.txt
    - MGLogs.zip

    A couple of notes, I ran the Reset.cmd process from my personal login but wasn't sure if I have Administrator rights so re-ran it in safe mode from the Administrator login - any issues with that?

    I was a bit un-nerved running ComboFix with McAfee turned off but still connected to the internet - was that right?

    After finishing the instructions, re-booting and turning McAfee back on (using its configure options as I can't see a way to exit the McAfee programme) I re-ran SUPERAntiSpyware and it found a tracking cookie and a trojan so I've attached the log for that too.

    Around the same time McAfee blocked a PUP called PrcViewer from C:\MGTOOLS\PROCESS.EXE - I allowed it but was that right?

    No other apparent issues and the machine feels to be running faster.

    Thanks

    John
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Mar 18, 2009
  5. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    No problem.

    Yes. It is necessary because McAfee gets in the way of ComboFix running properly to remove all the malware that McAfee never does anything about. ;)

    Yes. PUP = Potentially Unwanted Program which process.exe is not.



    We have to run ComboFix one more time since a few registry entries remain that need to be removed.


    Now we need to use ComboFix
    • Make sure that combofix.exe that you downloaded while doing the READ & RUN ME is on your Desktop but Do not run it!
      • If it is not on your Desktop, the below will not work.
    • Also make sure you have shut down all protection software (antivirus, antispyware...etc) or they may get in the way of allowing ComboFix to run properly.
    • Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the below quote box into it:
    • Save the above as CFscript.txt and make sure you save it to the same location (should be on your Desktop) as ComboFix.exe
    • At this point, you MUST EXIT ALL BROWSERS NOW before continuing!
    • You should have both the ComboFix.exe and CFScript.txt icons on your Desktop.
    • Now use your mouse to drag CFscript.txt on top of ComboFix.exe
    • Follow the prompts.
    • When it finishes, a log will be produced named c:\combofix.txt
    • I will ask for this log below
    Note:

    Do not mouseclick combofix's window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.


    Then attach the new c:\combofix.txt log
     
  6. gvfbgvfb

    gvfbgvfb Private E-2

    Hi, I have run the process as instructed, afterwards McAfee objected to a process from ComboFix but I lost the name of the process, something like "RemAdmin" - sorry.

    Attached is the Combofix Log. Afterwards I re-ran SUPERAntiSpyware and it seemed to find several problems, did I do somthing wrong? Log attached.

    Thanks


    John
     

    Attached Files:

  7. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    No. Those are just items related to things we have been cleaning up. Now that ComboFix as remove some locked items, SUPERAntiSpyware may be able to find and remove things it could not remove previously. I suggest that you run one more scan with SUPERAntiSpyware and see if it still detects anything other than cookies which are not problems. If it does then attach the new log.
     
  8. gvfbgvfb

    gvfbgvfb Private E-2

    Hi, re-ran SUPERAntiSpyware and it found just one item, log attached. Hope we're okay now.

    Thanks


    John
     

    Attached Files:

  9. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Okay that is nothing important.


    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" /u
        • 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.
      • Delete the C:\combofix folder from combofix (if it exists)
    3. Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
    4. 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.
    5. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.
    6. You can delete the C:\MGtools folder and the C:\MGtools.exe file. You can also delete the C:\MGlogs.zip
    7. 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.
    8. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:
     

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