Cleaning a used computer - its infected

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by Off White, Feb 18, 2012.

  1. Off White

    Off White Private E-2

    I'm having a Craigslist adventure, having purchased a cheap computer for my office person to use in my business. Something tipped me that the PO may not have been all that tidy, I don't know if it was the username Crystalrock, the half dozen bit torrent source movies left on the drive, or the software that didn't fit the user profile like a complete Adobe creative suite or MS Office 2007 Enterprise.

    Anyway, looking at the drive revealed toolbar jive like MyWebSearch and FunWebProducts, so I cleaned out the motley assortment of AV and utilities, and installed Eset AV 5. A scan turned up 23 items, so I set about the Read And Run Me First protocol. Each step seems to have turned things up, including Vundo.

    Of note, Root Repeal wouldn't run, so I've attached the logs from when I started the program and when I tried to run it.

    I didn't get a system disk, so a clean OS install isn't really an option.

    thanks for your help
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Off White

    Off White Private E-2

    Here's the rest of the logs
     

    Attached Files:

  3. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You still have components of Authentium AntiVirus installed. This should have been fully removed before installing ESET. I will give you instructions below for removing leftovers.



    Run C:\MGtools\analyse.exe by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista or Win 7, 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:

    R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.startsearcher.com
    O2 - BHO: (no name) - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - (no file)
    O9 - Extra button: Run IMVU - {d9288080-1baa-4bc4-9cf8-a92d743db949} - (no file)
    O23 - Service: vseamps - Authentium, Inc - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Authentium\AntiVirus5\vseamps.exe
    O23 - Service: vsedsps - Authentium, Inc - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Authentium\AntiVirus5\vsedsps.exe
    O23 - Service: vseqrts - Authentium, Inc - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Authentium\AntiVirus5\vseqrts.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.
    • If ComboFix tells you it has expired or need to be updated to a new version, make sure you allow it to update.
    • 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.

    If after running Combofix you discover none of your programs will open up because you recieve the following error: Illegal operation attempted on a registry key that has been marked for deletion then you will need to reboot your computer which will normally fix this problem.

    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista or Win7, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator).

    Then attach the below logs:
    • C:\ComboFix.txt
    • C:\MGlogs.zip
    Are you have any malware problems ?
     
  4. Off White

    Off White Private E-2

    I've followed your instructions and attached the two logs.

    I haven't actually used the computer enough to know if I'm experiencing any malware issues, I just purchased it used on craigslist. Scans revealed infections, and I want to get it cleaned up before I install Quickbooks and start using it for my company finances and doing any online banking.

    Should I be concerned that Root Repeal won't run?

    Should I run an alternative scan for rootkits like GMER?

    Thanks for your help, you folks are both brilliant and amazing.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Well unless you say otherwise now, I will assum all is good because your logs are clean.
    .

    No! This is quite common.

    Not necessary unless you are still having malware problems.


    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 or Win 7, 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:
     
  6. Off White

    Off White Private E-2

    Thanks, over and out.
     
  7. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You're welcome. Surf safely!
     

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