Google redirection problem

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by patrick88, Jul 28, 2011.

  1. patrick88

    patrick88 Private E-2

    Problem: links on Google search results pages redirected from the correct URL to minor search engines with their associated ads, in both Internet Explorer and Chrome browsers.

    For example, the link to YVR (Vancouver International Airport) Arrivals went instead to blekko.com in my Internet Explorer version 8.0.6001.18702; and in Chrome version 12.0.742.122 went to retrevo.com instead of to the actual YVR site.

    We suspect we got the malware about a week ago because the problem started immediately after my wife accidentally went to a bad website. We had avast! Free Antivirus running and up to date but it did not prevent the problem, and a thorough avast! scan afterwards found nothing.

    I followed steps 1 to 4 in "Fixing Google Redirection/hijacking and other redirection problems" (thread 230267) and still had problems. TDSSkiller found nothing so the log is not attached.

    Then proceeding through Windows XP Malware Removal/Cleaning Procedure (thread 139313; I have XP Home SP3) SuperAntiSpyware thought it found and quarantined a trojan "Gen-Nullo" but the redirection still continued, e.g. to clickkick.net The one thing I didn't do exactly as specified was due to time constraints I scanned C: and not the other drives which I use only for backups (though now I'm wondering if a sneaky malware could just put a tiny bit on C: and load most of itself elsewhere, so maybe I was wrong to do this.)

    After the malware arrived, all restore points prior to July 20 2011 were gone.

    Perhaps related: The redirection is a nuisance, but a greater worry is whether there might be an undetected keylogger running. Our D-Link DIR-615 router has WPA security turned on and has a hardware firewall, and Windows Firewall software is turned on, but I'm not knowledgeable enough to know if they would prevent a keylogger from sending out banking passwords and such that we type in. In respect of a possible keylogger, it worries me that the hard drive blinks twice a second constantly (which I presume will wear it out soon too), making me wonder if that's a keylogger making notes. Task Manager suggests the processes making frequent constant I/O reads are BrmfBAgS.exe (I guess for a Brother printer not currently attached), InCDSrv.exe and InCD.exe (for CD drive sitting idle), lsass.exe (Windows logon, though I read can be infected), and BpSvc.exe (I don't have Bluetooth though); and the latter 4 of these are making frequent I/O writes, which puzzles me. I don't know if I can or should block or delete these.

    The redirection problem includes that it's erratic; it doesn't occur all the time but only sometimes so I can't tell whether the problem is fixed or just sleeping. At the moment it's not acting up, but I haven't done anything that I think would cure it since it last acted up so I'm pretty sure it's still lurking somewhere.

    The 4 logs are attached; RootRepeal would not run: It froze on "Initializing, please wait..." for an hour even after turning the antivirus modules off - windows reported 'virtual memory minimum too low' and the Task Manager said PageFile topped out at 1.45 GB (the machine has 768 MB RAM) with the CPU at about 100%. I can post MBRCheck log if helpful. Thanks!
     

    Attached Files:

    patrick88, Jul 28, 2011
    #1
  2. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    If you did not deliberately set this proxy yourself then please include it in the HJT fix below:

    Please disable all anti-virus and anti-spyware programs while we do the following (re-enable when you are finished):

    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:

    R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyServer = proxy.library.ubc.ca:8000
    O2 - BHO: (no name) - Disabled:{06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - (no file)
    O2 - BHO: (no name) - Disabled:{DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - (no file)
    O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - Disabled:{E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - (no file)

    After clicking Fix exit HJT.


    FYI: No site should be placed into your TZ



    Delete this unless you know what it is: C:\Documents and Settings\OLSTEMP.TMP

    Also delete this file
    c:\windows\system32\kb16V.dll


    Please also download MBRCheck to your desktop.

    See the download links under this icon http://www.majorgeeks.com/images/dll.gif
    • Double click MBRCheck.exe to run (vista and Win 7 right click and select Run as Administrator)
    • It will show a Black screen with some information that will contain either the below line if no problem is found:
      • Done! Press ENTER to exit...
    • Or you will see more information like below if a problem is found:
      • Found non-standard or infected MBR.
      • Enter 'Y' and hit ENTER for more options, or 'N' to exit:
    • Either way, just choose to exit the program at this point since we want to see only the scan results to begin with.
    • MBRCheck will create a log named similar to MBRCheck_07.16.10_00.32.33.txt which is random based on date and time.
    • Attach this log to your next message. (See: HOW TO: Attach Items To Your Post )

    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. (Right click and run as admin if using Vista or Windows7) Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this.

    • Still having redirects?
    • Do you use a router?
    • Do you have your XP boot CD?
     
    Kestrel13!, Jul 29, 2011
    #2
  3. patrick88

    patrick88 Private E-2

    Thank you for the advice!
    I followed each of the instructions except for deleting
    c:\windows\system32\kb16V.dll
    The first time I looked for it, I believe it was not visible in Windows Explorer at all, even though I have Windows Explorer set to show all files, even hidden and system files. Then to my astonishment the next time I looked in that same folder (intending to attach kb16.com) it now WAS there, but with the icon greyed out. Trying to delete, move or rename it I got an 'access denied' message. Looking at the files via a command prompt, it's not listed at all. I tried to attach it to this post, and to zip it and attach it, but both failed. Its date of creation is about the time the problem started, which is suspicious all right. It's checked as read-only and hidden (with hidden greyed). Scanning it with avast! and Malwarebytes Anti-malware found no threats in it. I can't find any Google reference to such a filename, so I presume it isn't a necessary Windows XP Home SP3 system file. Should I try MoveOnBoot or some such to delete it?

    -I'm not having redirects today, but since they occurred inconsistently this doesn't mean the problem is gone
    -I have a D-Link DIR-615 router, with WPA and password on
    -I have the XP original CD, and another boot CD made with our backup

    My main concern is whether I might have spyware such as a keylogger. I ran all the free online scans listed, if they would run, setting them to scan all hard drives C: D: F: H:. Kaspersky's is currently offline; E-Set's was prevented by Internet Explorer as "malicious"; Panda Security ActiveScan crashed before it could download a required file 'as2stubie.cab'; F-Secure found 7 "infected files" I deleted but they were all merely tracking cookies; then Trend Micro's HouseCall found 5 "threats" which I let it 'fix' though I don't think any of them were problems; TrendMicro's RUBotted found no botnets; TrendMicro's Rootkit Buster reported 55 hidden objects (attached log TMRB00001.txt) but I didn't delete them because I think they're probably necessary Avast! files; Microsoft Safety Scanner found 2 "potentially unwanted software" which I removed though I believe both were harmless; Microsoft Fix It did not detect any defective add-ons; BitDefender's online scan caused a problem for the DrWatson Postmortem Debugger and then hung Internet Explorer; McAfee Security Scan Plus didn't seem to find anything - except the suspicious website 'McAfee' :confused

    C: is still blinking 2 - 4 times a second continuously, which is unsettling.
     

    Attached Files:

    patrick88, Jul 30, 2011
    #3
  4. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    If the redirects persist you may need to reset it to defaults, not just a soft reset but a complete reset. Then see if the problem has gone.
    Good, because if you happen to have an MBR infection which could be responsible for the redirects we will need it.

    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.
    • If ComboFix tells you it needs to update to a new version, make sure you allow it to update.
    • Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the below quote box. Ensure you scroll down to select ALL the lines:
    Code:
    KILLALL::

c:\windows\system32\kb16V.dll
C:\WINDOWS\system32\-1
C:\WINDOWS\Temp\bhgc01.tmp
C:\WINDOWS\Temp\contentDATs.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Max Anderson\Local Settings\Temp\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A83000000003}.ini
    • 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

      http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v666/sUBs/CFScriptB-4.gif

    • 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.

    If after running Combofix you discover none of your programs will open up, and you recieve the following error: "Illegal operation attempted on a registry key that has been marked for deletion". Then the answer is to REBOOT the machine, and all will be corrected.

    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. (Right click and run as admin if using Vista or Windows7) Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this.

    Let me know of any problems you may have encountered with the above instructions and also let me know how things are running now!
     
    Kestrel13!, Jul 30, 2011
    #4
  5. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Kestrel13!, Jul 30, 2011
    #5
  6. patrick88

    patrick88 Private E-2

    I did a complete router factory reset last week, didn't fix the problem.

    Attached are the ComboFix, MGtools and GMER logs.

    Running ComboFix I downloaded a week ago it said it was expired but it didn't suggest or ask to update (it just said continue or exit); eventually the computer froze at a Windows shutting down screen, but it had already made the log.

    GMER reported "GMER has found system modification caused by ROOTKIT activity." I clicked Save and saved a log, though the computer crashed shortly thereafter so had to reboot.

    Another question: Long term, if I shouldn't stop unwanted processes by using msconfig, and I don't know how to find the programs causing them, how can I stop them? Should I try to track them down using GMER?

    Haven't had any Google redirection today.
     

    Attached Files:

    patrick88, Aug 1, 2011
    #6
  7. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Yea. Combofix is now running in reduced functionality mode which is not what we want. Download a fresh copy of Combofix, overwrite the old, run the new combofix (from your desktop of course) and then: Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. (Right click and run as admin if using Vista or Windows7) Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this.
     
    Kestrel13!, Aug 1, 2011
    #7
  8. patrick88

    patrick88 Private E-2

    Sorry, tried but ran out of time; won't be able to access machine for some time.
     
    patrick88, Aug 1, 2011
    #8
  9. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    The thread will remain open. :)
     
    Kestrel13!, Aug 1, 2011
    #9
  10. patrick88

    patrick88 Private E-2

    I'm back, and the logs are attached.

    Although I'm not having the blatant browser redirection at the moment, am sporadically having numerous odd sorts of browser misbehavior e.g.:

    -opened IE8 but it immediately closed itself (upon soft rebooting it opened OK)
    -launching Google Chrome then minimizing it, it disappeared - it did not appear on the taskbar or anywhere even though Task Manager showed it still as a running application and right-clicking followed by 'switch to' on its entry in Task Manager made it re-appear
    -some valid links in emails won't open
    -some Vimeo and YouTube video boxes on a blog are blacked out
    -am getting the "You are about to view pages over a secure connection" warning at some sites like www.Majorgeeks.com that are http (not https)
    -then shortly after logging in to MajorGeeks Support Forums in IE8, got "Data Execution Prevention." "To help protect your computer Windows has closed this program" "Data Execution Prevention helps protect against damage from viruses and other security threats" (and clicking the link 'What should I do?' does nothing)
    -IE properties says it is now not currently the default web browser (though it had been, and still is the browser that opens when I click email links if they work)

    To run ComboFix I first disconnected from the internet (for security) and disabled Avast! antivirus (so Combofix.exe would run).
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Aug 21, 2011
    patrick88, Aug 21, 2011
    #10
  11. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    WinPcap 4.1.1 <--- uninstall this unless of course, you deliberately installed it yourself.

    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.
    • If ComboFix tells you it needs to update to a new version, make sure you allow it to update.
    • Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the below quote box. Ensure you scroll down to select ALL the lines:
    Code:
    KILLALL::

File::
C:\WINDOWS\system32\-1
C:\WINDOWS\system32\kb16V.dll
c:\windows\RegBootClean.exe
c:\windows\DCEBoot.exe
c:\windows\DCEBOOT.LOG
c:\windows\DCEBOOT.RST
    • 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

      http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v666/sUBs/CFScriptB-4.gif

    • 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.

    If after running Combofix you discover none of your programs will open up, and you recieve the following error: "Illegal operation attempted on a registry key that has been marked for deletion". Then the answer is to REBOOT the machine, and all will be corrected.


    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. (Right click and run as admin if using Vista or Windows7) Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this.

    Let me know of any problems you may have encountered with the above instructions and also let me know how things are running now!
     
    Kestrel13!, Aug 21, 2011
    #11
  12. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    The below are not malware. The are from TrendMicro
     
    chaslang, Aug 21, 2011
    #12
  13. patrick88

    patrick88 Private E-2

    I uninstalled WinPCap and used CFScript.txt as Kestrel13! suggested since I'm not using TrendMicro apart from occasional free online scans.

    The computer froze towards the end of the ComboFix process, but generated the attached log upon hard rebooting.
     

    Attached Files:

    patrick88, Aug 22, 2011
    #13
  14. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Download and run OTM.

    Download OTM by Old Timer and save it to your Desktop.

    Code:
    :files
C:\WINDOWS\system32\-1
C:\WINDOWS\system32\kb16V.dll

:Commands
[emptytemp]
[Reboot]
    • Return to OTM, right click in the Paste List of Files/Folders to Move window (under the yellow bar) and choose Paste.
    • Push the large http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2782/4174320048_f01c448b32_o.png button.
    • OTM may ask to reboot the machine. Please do so if asked.
    • Copy everything in the Results window (under the green bar), and paste it into notepad, save it as something appropriate and attach it into your next reply.

    NOTE: If you are unable to copy/paste from this window (as will be the case if the machine was rebooted), open Notepad (Start->All Programs->Accessories->Notepad), click File->Open, in the File Name box enter *.log and press the Enter key, navigate to the C:\_OTM\MovedFiles folder, and open the newest .log file present, and attach the contents of that document back here in your next post.

    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. (Right click and run as admin if using Vista or Windows7) Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this.
     
    Kestrel13!, Aug 22, 2011
    #14
  15. patrick88

    patrick88 Private E-2

    On running OTM.exe numerous temp files were reported as unreadable "Please run the Chkdsk utility"

    On agreeing to OTM's request to reboot, Windows froze on "Windows is shutting down..." so had to do a hard reboot.
     

    Attached Files:

    patrick88, Aug 22, 2011
    #15
  16. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    That last set of logs looks good. What malware problems remain at this point? :)
     
    Kestrel13!, Aug 22, 2011
    #16
  17. patrick88

    patrick88 Private E-2

    Many thanks for your help, your instructions were very clear. There haven't been any malware problems today!

    ps do you have any suggestions as to where I might get advice on IE8 (which my wife is forced to use) not recognizing that I've 'installed' Adobe Flash Player, or advice on how to stop our hard drive blinking four times a second?
     
    patrick88, Aug 22, 2011
    #17
  18. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Most welcome, and glad to hear it. ;)

    Possibly, although this is not topic for the malware forum. May I ask, why is you wife FORCED to use IE8? Why not upgrade to IE9 or use another browser? :confused

    Mine blinks too, it's normal, do not worry about things like that. :)
     
    Kestrel13!, Aug 23, 2011
    #18
  19. patrick88

    patrick88 Private E-2

    "ps do you have any suggestions as to where I might get advice on IE8 (which my wife is forced to use) not recognizing that I've 'installed' Adobe Flash Player?"


    Yes, it's not a malware forum topic - assuming it's not a symptom that I have one of the Flash-enabled malwares; but to answer your question she's a realtor, our real estate board uses a version of an essential online database program called MLXchange which is not compatible with any other browser than Internet Explorer :( and doesn't work with IE9 yet :( , and it has a minor (unessential) component which uses Adobe Flash that doesn't work on our computer - it just instructs us to download Flash. But after I click the link, install Flash and again get the message that it was successfully installed, nevertheless the program still thinks it's missing - somehow the Flash isn't recognized as being there. :( (In proportion to the amount I use its software, Adobe has caused me even more grief than Microsoft over the years.)




    I appreciate your help and that you're the expert and I hope you're right, but I do worry, for two reasons - first, if the hard drive never goes to sleep (it's constantly blinking 24/7 even though the computer is not being used), I fear it'll wear out and give me grief sooner than otherwise.

    Secondly, if it's continually blinking I have no dead-easy way of monitoring whether the computer is actively doing something when it shouldn't be, which could indicate keylogging or running a bot. Fortunately, you've assured me that I don't have those problems :wave
     
    patrick88, Aug 24, 2011
    #19
  20. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    You can feel free to ask any questions about outstanding issues in the software forum. :)

    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 (If we renamed it please rename it back to Combofix.exe.
      • "%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 of 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:
     
    Kestrel13!, Aug 24, 2011
    #20
  21. patrick88

    patrick88 Private E-2

    Thanks, I've gone through the final step list. (Though I've now reset the files and folders settings back to showing all files and their file extensions, and I chose not to delete the system restore points just yet.) Bye! ;)
     
    patrick88, Aug 25, 2011
    #21
  22. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Safe surfing!
     
    Kestrel13!, Aug 25, 2011
    #22

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