Bad MBR - Whistler/Black Internet

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by schonad, Jul 26, 2010.

  1. schonad

    schonad Private E-2

    New to the forum. Hope my posting etiquette is acceptable. My problem is similar to this locked thread about IE pop-ups and random audio. http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=219930
    I've spent 6 hours following each step outlined in malware removal. No fix, but MBRCheck has identified known-bad code (see title). Would one of you kind-hearted Geeks please post, or re-post, any known removal instructions?

    Thanks in Advance,

    Schonad

    I ran SAS, Mbam, combofix, defogger, ccleaner, combofix, rootrepeal and mgtools. I can't find the mgtools zip log.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Welcome to Major Geeks!
    It is C:\MGlogs.zip

    We need this log to continue. Also address the below questions/warnings.


    WARNING: Do you have all important data backed up? You really should do this before continuing on to the next steps I will be posting after I see the above log since we will need to rewrite your MBR to fix this and while most times this can be done without any problem, these infections can react badly and that could result in a PC not being bootable. You really don't have much choice though since these infections are too dangerous to your security to leave on a PC.

    Also note if you have a Dell PC which uses a non-standard MBR ( or another manufacturer's who does similar to Dell) , fixing the mbr may prevent access the the Dell Restore Utility, which allows you to press a key on startup and revert your computer to a factory delivered state. There are a couple of known fixes for said condition, though the methods are somewhat advanced. If you are unwilling to take such a risk, you should not continue but you risk serious problems leaving this infection in place and thus your only other option would be to try using the Dell Restore Utility to return a factory ship state which will remove everything you additional you have put onto the PC.
     
  3. schonad

    schonad Private E-2

    chaslang - many thanks for your reply. MG log located and attached. I backup files religiously each Friday, but this infection hit just before last backup and I'm concerned about transferring it to my laptop. Any suggestions? Yes, it's a Dell Precision 390.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    As long as you only copy the data files you need and do not actually use a bootable type drive from the infected system on the laptop, you are likley okay. We cannot truly guarantee this since the impacts of this infection are not well known yet and it has been changing even over the last few weeks. If the data you need back up is important then I suggest you back it up in some fashion before we continue. You could also burn to a DVD instead of copying to your laptop.

    You have two physical drives in the PC and they both are infected and will have to have the MBR fixed. Below is the fix for the FIRST DRIVE ONLY when you are ready. You will have to repeat this on the second drive by replacing the purple 0 with a 1 for the second drive.




    Now if you wish to continue and fix the malware - please do the following:
    • Run MBRCheck.exe
    • Wait until you see the following lines:
      • Enter 'Y' and hit ENTER for more options, or 'N' to exit:
      • Options:
        [1] Dump the MBR of a physical disk to file.
        [2] Restore the MBR of a physical disk with a standard boot code.
        [3] Exit.
        Enter your choice:
    • Please push the 'Y' key and then press Enter
    • When the program asks you to Enter your choice: enter 2 to Rstore the MBR and press the Enter key
    • Now the program will ask you to "Enter the physical disk number to fix (0-99, -1 to cancel):"
      • Enter 0 and press the Enter key.
    • The program will show Available MBR codes as below
    • You need to select your version of Windows frrom the list. For example, enter 0 or 1 for XP or enter 3 for Vista.....etc. and then press Enter.
    • The program will prompt for confirmation. Type 'YES' and hit Enter.
    • Left click on the title bar (where program name and path is written). From menu chose Edit -> Select All
    • You will see all the text in the window get highlighted.
    • Hit the Enter key on your keyboard to copy all of the text into the clipboard.
    • Paste that text into Notepad, save it to your desktop as MBRfix.txt
    • Restart your PC.
    • Attach the MBRfix.txt file to your next message..
     
  5. schonad

    schonad Private E-2

    Bad MBR - IE ad pops, audio pops,

    chaslang - You are a hero to thousands of us struggling computer idiots. While your MBR edit instructions were clear, I trembled at the thought of destroying my business-in-a-box with the slip of a wayward thumb. So, I turned it over to a local pro. He, too, is impressed with your thorough helpfulness. Mission accomplished. Next step - migrating from XP to 7 for added level of prophylaxis. Bless you and your progeny.

    schonad
     
  6. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You're welcome.


    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 /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 oof 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:
     

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