Major Problem

Without seeing some logs we have no idea if you are infected or not. And if you are infected we need to be able to determine what you are infected with. It is quite possible that some of your problems are due to a corrupted operating system.

If you can run SpywareDoctor you should be able to install and run the other programs in the READ & RUN ME. You do not have to run the in normal boot mode. That is just the preferred mode. Try to follow the below and as noted, DO NOT STOP. Try all steps all the way thru to the final scan with MGtools.

Please follow the instructions in the READ & RUN ME FIRST link given futher down and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.

• If you have problems where no tools seem to run, please try following the steps given in the below and then continue on no matter what you find. You only need to try the TDSSserv steps if having problems getting scans in the Read & Run Me First.
  • TDSSserv Non-Plug & Play Driver Disable
• If something does not run, write down the info to explain to us later but keep on going.
• Do not assume that because one step does not work that they all will not.

READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide

• After completing the READ & RUN ME and attaching your logs, make sure that you tell us what problems still remain ( if any still do )!

Helpful Notes:

1. If you run into problems trying to run the READ & RUN ME or any of the scans in normal boot mode, you can run the steps in safe boot mode but make sure you tell us what you did later when you post logs. See the below if you do not know how to boot in safe mode:
   
   • Starting your computer in Safe mode
2. If you have problems downloading on the problem PC, download the tools and the manual updates for SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes and Spybot ( links are given in the READ & RUN ME) onto another PC and then burn to a CD. Then copy them to the problem PC. You will have to skip getting updates if (and only if) your internet connection does not work. Yes you could use a flash drive too but flash drives are writeable and infections can spread to them.
3. To avoid additional delay in getting a response, it is strongly advised that after completing the READ & RUN ME you also read this sticky:
   • Don't Bump! It Only Hurts You!!!

Any additional post is a bump which will add more delay. Once you attach the logs, your thread will be in the work queue and as stated our system works the oldest threads FIRST.
​

 

Questions for you:

• Did you follow all tips?
• Did you look for TDSSserv? Your MGlogs showed you had this infection in the past.
• Did you try renaming the executable programs after installing them? I'm not referring to the installer file being renamed. I'm referring to the actual program file which would be in the installation folders under C:\Program Files
• Since you have had SAS and MBAM installed for quite some time, have you properly updated to the current versions in the READ & RUN ME. SUPERAntiSpyware must be uninstalled and then reinstalled to get the proper new program version. There update program only updates the database but not the program version.
• Are you using the current version of ComboFix as I see you also ran it in the past on 12/4/2008? You need to use the new version and you should have uninstalled the old version after you used it last time.
• Did you try running them in safe boot mode?
• Did you shut down ALL othr protection software like Spyware Doctor before trying to run them?
• Is Spyware Doctor a paid version or free trial? Is it just the antispyware program or does it include their antivirus?

Your MGlogs.zip file does not really show anything major which is why you need to get the scanners to work. MGtools is not a malware scanner. It is an information collector.

Attach the below logs from SAS and MBAM which were from the last times you ran them?

Code:

"C:\Documents and Settings\James\Application Data\SUPERAntiSpyware.com\SUPERAntiSpyware\Logs\"
Feb 16 2009  1689  "SUPERAntiSpyware Scan Log - 02-16-2009 - 01-53-43.log"
 
"C:\Documents and Settings\James\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\"
Oct 18 2008  2033  "mbam-log-2008-10-18 (01-35-44).txt"

Now download The Avenger by Swandog46, and save it to your Desktop.

• Extract avenger.exe from the Zip file and save it to your desktop
• Run avenger.exe by double-clicking on it.
• Do not change any check box options!!
• Copy everything in the Quote box below, and paste it into the Input script here: part of the window:

• Now click the Execute button.
• Click Yes to the prompt to confirm you want to execute.
• Click Yes to the Reboot now? question that will appear when Avenger finishes running.
• Your PC should reboot, if not, reboot it yourself.
• A log file from Avenger will be produced at C:\avenger.txt and it will popup for you to view when you login after reboot.

After reboot look for all of the above files we had Avenger attempt to delete. If you still see them, delete them yourself. If for some reason Avenger did not run, again try to delete these files yourself and then reboot.

Now run Ccleaner!

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:\avenger.txt
• C:\MGlogs.zip

Make sure you tell me how things are working now!

 

No you should not fix these. They are part of PC Tools Threatfire which you installed with Spyware Doctor.

No they have not. They are way way out of date and just to be safe, you need to do the below.



You are way out of date with your version of SUPERAntiSpyware.

• Please uninstall your current version (this is necessary).
• Then download this SUPERAntiSpyware
• Install this new version. It may tell you that you need to reboot to complete the installation. You must reboot at this time.
• After the reboot, run SUPERAntiSpyware and immediately click the Check for Updates button to get more updates for the database.
• Now run a new full scan of your system. And attach this new log.

Now run Malwarebytes and click the Update tab. Then click the Check for Updates button so you update to the current version of the program and database. Then run a new scan with it too. Attach the new log.

Your Spyware Doctor log shows that it has a lot of false detection issues. There is nothing wrong with ComboFix or NirCmd used by ComboFix and many other programs use it too. In addition Spyware Doctor falsely reported that it quarantine items in System Volume Information which it cannot do. This is System Restore and the only way to remove these items is to disable System Restore.


I see the below in your logs.

LiveReg (Symantec Corporation)
LiveUpdate 3.0 (Symantec Corporation)
Spy Sweeper Core

Do you have anything from Symantec or Webroot still installed?

Also you need to delete all files and subfolders in the below folders except ones from the current date (Windows will not let you delete the files from the current day).
C:\WINDOWS\temp
C:\Documents and Settings\James\Local Settings\temp

 

It is not terrible but it would not be something I would use.

When did your performance issue begin (actual date , approximately). You installed or update PC Tools on Mar 12 2009 according to your logs. Is this about when your performance issues began?

Yes many programs have similar faults. Some have much fewer false positives though.

It is ISP type software to connect to the internet. Similar to AOL. Perhaps it came installed on your PC.

Yes. See if anything is installed. Uninstall it if there is. If not, just delete their folders.

Disk defragging and registry cleaning will not really improve your performance that much. In fact I don't recommend using registry cleaners unless you are going to check every item the list by hand. Registry cleaning does not improve things that much. Basically if it improves anything, you would not even be able to notice it and it can frequently lead to problems.



Please explain what operations are slow! For example answer the below:

• Is boot up slow?
• Is shutdown slow?
• Is browsing/surfing slow?
• Is downloading slow?
• Is running any application?
• Is it also slow in safe boot mode?
• Also are any process showing in Task Manager to be using a lot of CPU time?
• Anything else slow?

 

You may not have disabled everything. You would have to have stopped the two services for Spyware Doctor and the service from Threatfire from loading. The real test to see if there is any impact is to uninstall all of it.

What I really wanted to know was CPU usage not memory use.

Let's correct a few outstanding malware issues and also remove left overs from WebRoot and also I will give you a couple other non-malware tips to improve performance.

First uninstall Windows Defender which you don't need since you have Spyware Doctor and Windows Defender for XP is not very good anyway.

Also uninstall Spy Sweeper Core if it shows up. If it does not show, it was probably embedded in the below programs. Since you say you don't use EarthLink, uninstall these:

EarthLink setup files
EarthLink Spyware Blocker

This is also adding to you performance issues.


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. None of these are malware problems they are all just unnecessary startups that you can optionally remove:
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdReg] C:\WINDOWS\UpdReg.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSPM Startup] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\isuspm.exe" -startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSScheduler] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe" -start
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [dscactivate] "C:\Program Files\Dell Support Center\gs_agent\custom\dsca.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [updateMgr] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\AdobeUpdateManager.exe" AcRdB7_0_9 -reboot 1
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ISUSPM] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\isuspm.exe" -scheduler
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe

After clicking Fix, exit HJT.



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.


Now let's get Malwarebytes updated again since you are now out of date again. Run Malwarebytes and click the Update tab. Then click the Check for Updates button so you update to the current version of the program and database. Then run a new scan with it too. Attach the new log.


Now run Ccleaner to clean out only temp files and nothing else!

Now download the current version of MGtools and save it to your root folder. Overwrite your previous MGtools.exe file with this one.

Run MGtools.exe ( Note: If using Vista make sure UAC is still disabled. Also don't double click on it, use right click and select Run As Administrator )



Now attach the below log:

• C:\ComboFix.txt
• the new Malwarebytes log
• C:\MGlogs.zip

Make sure you tell me how things are working now!

 

Please only run what I ask you to run and nothing else. When you run MBAM you are masking the problems that I need to see in the logs from ComboFix and MGtools.

I starting to feel that Spyware Doctor and Threatfire are getting in our way. The below still show up as installed:

EarthLink Spyware Blocker
Spy Sweeper Core

For us to continue, I think it would be best if you uninstall everything related to Spyware Doctor. Make sure Threatfire is removed too. Then run my previous fix again and attach new logs. DO NOT run anything else except what I request.

Sometimes malware has cause problems like this but it is not typical. I suggest that you wait until you malware is removed before worrying about it. Also it could be a driver related problem. They may need to be reinstalled. But I do see that your beep.sys driver is missing. Copy this file C:\i386\beep.sys into your C:\Windows\system32\drivers folder.

 

Yes but I only asked you to run it that one time after running ComboFix. I did not ask you to run it again after another reboot.

Let's get rid of the remains from Earthlink, Spy Sweeper and PC Tools.


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.


Now run Ccleaner to clean out only temp files and nothing else!

Now download the current version of MGtools and save it to your root folder. Overwrite your previous MGtools.exe file with this one.

Run MGtools.exe ( Note: If using Vista make sure UAC is still disabled. Also don't double click on it, use right click and select Run As Administrator )



Now attach the below log:

• C:\ComboFix.txt
• C:\MGlogs.zip

Make sure you tell me how things are working now!

 

You're welcome. Your logs are clean and according to the logs the c:\windows\rundll32.exe file does not exist.


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:
   • How to Protect yourself from malware!