about:blank and HSA Infection

Hi Everybody,

I'm running Windows XP, have installed service pack 2, on a Compaq Evo N800c with a Pentium 4M.

As instructed, I have gone through the "Read me first..." basic cleaning tutorial, and have followed the first 4 steps and the two optional steps for about:blank and HSA (Only the Best) - actually, I've run through the whole process twice.

Unfortunately the problem has not gone away; it comes back as soon as I log in in normal mode and open IE. I have also downloaded HijackThis, and I can provide the log file if requested.

I have also read through the "When all else fails - Generic..." thread. I'm not a complete neophyte with computers, but I'm not really comfortable that I know what I'm doing with regards to identifying the .exe and BHO files that are causing the problems. If I could identify these files, I'm sure I could complete the rest of the process. I tried going to the sites recommended to see whether the files in my log are good or bad, but some aren't found at all.

So if anyone can give me some advice, I would appreciate it.

 

Sorry I forgot to mention before...
Most of the tools used in the "DO NOT POST UNTIL..." prodedure found items. Most of the items were Coolwebsearch related, though there were others...

Pretty much everything that was found and erased the first time through was found and erased again the second time through...so it I'm sure it's not a simple problem.

I've also noticed that the .dll files in my HJT logs are changing names each time I start the computer.

 

Yes, I've tried the online analyzers. They seemed to work good in that they identified some bad items, but also identified several items that are "possibly bad." Here's my latest HJT log file.

 

Download this trial version of Ewido Security Suite

• Install ewido security suite
• Launch ewido, there should be an icon on your desktop double-click it.
• The program will have a window come up. One of the buttons on the left is to Update. Click the Update button.and then Start the Update. The update will start and a progress bar will show the updates being installed.
• After it completes the update, click the Scanner button

Now exit Ewido. Now print the below instructions or save them locally because I want you do have no browsers opened and also have no connection to the internet (unplug your cable) while doing the below.

Okay, reboot into safe mode and follow the steps below. (If you have any problems at all trying to get into safe mode to complete these steps, just run them in normal boot mode and make sure you tell me when you come back.)

Open up Ewido and do the following:

• Click on Scanner
• Then click Settings
• Under What to Scan? Select Scan every file
• Then click OK
• Click on Complete System Scan and the scan will start.
• Let the program scan the machine

While the scan is in progress you will be prompted to clean files that are infected. Leave the defaults selections (to Remove and backup) and click OK. To save yourself some time, you can select Perform action with all infections and then click OK. With the option to scan every file, a lot of cookies will be removed.

Once the scan has completed, there will be a button located on the bottom of the screen named Save report

• Click Save report
• Save the report to your desktop or anyplace you will be able to find it to upload here.

Reboot into normal mode and reconnect to the internet.

Come back here and post the Ewido Scan Report along with a fresh HJT log.

 

OK, I ran the Ewido scan as you asked - it found 563 infections.

Upon normal startup, I got a whole bunch of errors saying that certain files couldn't be found...I'm assuming you expected that. (?)

Here are the Ewido scan report and hijackthis log taken immediately after startup, before connecting to the internet.

Thanks for helping!

 

First, please uninstall Ewido as it will block parts of this fix. Also please disable any antivirus or antispyware programs so they will not block anything we try to fix.


Now scan with HijackThis and Check the Boxes for the following:

Make sure All Browser Windows are Closed when you Click FIX.

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = res://C:\Windows\yinhl.dll/sp.html#63796
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = res://C:\Windows\yinhl.dll/sp.html#63796
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = res://C:\Windows\yinhl.dll/sp.html#63796
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = res://C:\Windows\yinhl.dll/sp.html#63796
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = res://C:\Windows\yinhl.dll/sp.html#63796
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = res://C:\Windows\yinhl.dll/sp.html#63796

R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing

O2 - BHO: Class - {8A805C25-C0B7-1426-1D24-BC93152A99CA} - C:\Windows\system32\ntqh.dll (file missing)
O2 - BHO: Class - {FED1E588-4793-5118-19AD-769C90374E90} - C:\Windows\system32\appjh32.dll (file missing)

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [javape32.exe] C:\Windows\javape32.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nettw.exe] C:\Windows\system32\nettw.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [appdn.exe] C:\Windows\appdn.exe

O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {85d1f590-48f4-11d9-9669-0800200c9a66} - %windir%\bdoscandel.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Uninstall BitDefender Online Scanner v8 - {85d1f590-48f4-11d9-9669-0800200c9a66} - %windir%\bdoscandel.exe (file missing)

O21 - SSODL: XcOiqeBWMCZHO - {C47443F3-6EDE-E959-2B49-A356ABD024CB} - C:\Windows\System32\zbz.dll (file missing)

O23 - Service: Network Security Service (NSS) ( 11Fßä#·ºÄÖ`I) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\winzn32.exe (file missing)

Again, make sure All Browser Windows are Closed when you Click FIX.

NOW:
Click Start > Run > type services.msc and Click OK

Locate Network Security Service (NSS) ( 11Fßä#·ºÄÖ`I) and RightClick on it to bring up the Service Properties Window.
First: Stop the service by clicking the Stop Button.
Next: Disable it by changing the Startup Type to Disabled and click Apply


NOW:
Please boot into Safe Mode with the Viewing of Hidden Files & Folders Enabled and navigate to and DELETE the following if they should remain:

C:\WINDOWS\yinhl.dll

C:\WINDOWS\javape32.exe

C:\WINDOWS\appdn.exe

C:\WINDOWS\System32\nettw.exe

NEXT:
Run CCleaner to clean up cookies and temp files.

Run full scans with Ad-Aware SE & Spybot S&D and have both programs fix what they find.
Note: Remember to get all updates before doing the scans.

Then, as an added precaution, Go to Start > Run and type: cleanmgr and then click OK. Make sure the boxes for these are checked:
Temporary Files
Temporary Internet Files
Recycle Bin

And Click OK.


Reboot to Normal Windows

FINAL STEP

Reset Web Settings & Default Security Settings:


To Reset Web Settings:
Right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK.

If you do not have an Internet Explorer icon on your Desktop, click Start, Control Panel (for some systems it may be Start, Settings, Control Panel), Internet Options, Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK


To Default Security Settings:
Right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Security Tab and click Default Level for Internet, Local Intranet, Trusted Sites, and Restricted Sites.

After you complete ALL of the above attach a fresh HJT log.

 

Latest HJT log file.

So far, so good.

Thanks Again!

 

Your HJT log is clean, are you having any further problems?