about:blank->http://www.updatesearches.com/ + AntivirusGold=Virus+desktop warnings+

If you are using msconfig to disable anything from loading at startup, run msconfig and select Normal Startup. Then reboot and continue with the below.


- Download HijackThis 1.99.1

- Unzip the hijackthis.exe file to a folder you create named C:\Program Files\HJT

- Do NOT run Hijack This from the Desktop, a temp folder, or a sub-folder of C:\Documents and Settings, or choose to run it directly from the downloaded ZIP file.

- Before running HijackThis: You must close each of the following:your web browser, e-mail client, instant messenger, and programs like notepad, wordpad, MS Word etc. And any other unnecessary running programs.

- Run HijackThis and save your log file.

- Post your log as an ATTACHMENT to your next message. (Do NOT copy/paste the log into your post).

 

Thread hijacking is considered to be just as bad as the hijacker on your PC. Please post in your own thread.

 

What version of DAP are you using? Older version contained malware.

Look in Add/Remove programs for AntivirusGold and uninstall if found.

If you are using WinXP or WinMe, make sure you have system restore disabled (per the tutorial).
For all OS types, make sure viewing of hidden files is enabled (per the tutorial).

Open Control Panel and select Add/Remove Programs look for the below programs and uninstall them if found:
Search Maid
Security IGuard
Virtual Maid

Now exit Add/Remove Programs.

NOTE: Some of the items mentioned in the below steps may or may not be there. If not found just ignore them and continue. These problems come in a variety of forms and different filenames can be used each time.

Please run HijackThis and click on the "Open the Misc Tools Section" button on the open page. Then select "Open process manager" on the left-hand side. Look for the following process (or processes) and one at a time kill them by selecting it and then click "Kill process". Then click yes.
C:\WINNT\system32\cmd.exe
C:\WINNT\popuper.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\intmonp.exe
C:\WINNT\System32\msole32.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\shnlog.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\intmon.exe

After killing all the above processes, click "Back".
Then please click "Scan" 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\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = about:blank
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://www.updatesearches.com/search.php?qq=%1
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.updatesearches.com/bar.html
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.updatesearches.com/search.php?qq=%1
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://hsremove.com/done.htm
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.updatesearches.com/search.php?qq=%1
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch = http://www.updatesearches.com/search.php?qq=%1
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = http://www.updatesearches.com/search.php?qq=%1
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = http://www.updatesearches.com/
F2 - REG:system.ini: Shell=explorer.exe, msmsgs.exe
O2 - BHO: VMHomepage Class - {FFFFFFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFFFFFFFFFA} - C:\WINNT\System32\hp57EF.tmp
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {62999427-33FC-4baf-9C9C-BCE6BD127F08} - (no file)
I do not like the looks of this next line. Do you know what it is? If not then fix it!
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [After] c:\MNet\after.vbs
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RegSvr32] C:\WINNT\System32\msmsgs.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AntivirusGold] C:\Program Files\AntivirusGold\AntivirusGold.exe /h
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Intel system tool] C:\WINNT\System32\hookdump.exe

After clicking Fix, exit HJT.
Boot into safe mode and use Windows Explorer to delete:
C:\WINDOWS\svcproc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\msmsgs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\shnlog.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\intmonp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\intmon.exe
C:\Windows\System32\helper.exe
C:\Windows\System32\ole32vbs.exe
C:\Windows\system32\msole32.exe
C:\WINNT\System32\hp57EF.tmp
C:\wp.exe
C:\wp.bmp
C:\bsw.exe
C:\Windows\sites.ini
C:\Windows\popuper.exe
C:\Program Files\Search Maid<--- the whole folder
C:\Program Files\Security IGuard<--- the whole folder
C:\Program Files\Virtual Maid<--- the whole folder
C:\Windows\System32\Log Files <--- the whole folder
C:\Program Files\AntivirusGold <--- the whole folder


If you get an error when deleting a file. Right click on the file and check to see if the read only attribute is checked. If it is, uncheck it and try again. Other wise open Task Manager and kill the process if running then delete the file.

Now run Ccleaner (installed while running the READ ME FIRST). Now if running Win XP goto c:\windows\Prefetch and delete all files in this folder.

Now reboot in normal mode and continue with the below.

Copy the contents of the Quote Box below to Notepad. Then click File and then Save As. Change the Save as Type to All Files. Name the file fixwp.reg and then click save. (make sure you save it somewhere you can find it. Saving it to your Desktop may make that easy.) Double-click on the fixwp.reg file on your desktop (or locate it with Windows Explorer and double click on it if not saved to the Desktop) and when it prompts to add to the registry say yes.

Now please download HOSTER and then follow the below steps.

• Unzip Hoster to a convenient folder such as C:\Hoster

• Run Hoster.exe, click Restore Original Hosts and then click OK.
• Click the X to exit the program.

Now post a new HJT log. And tell me how things are working.

 

Do you know what this MREG.EXE program is? There is one floating around to find keys or cracks for software. If that is what this is, you should not be using it.
c:\winnt\system32\MREG.EXE


Why are the below items running? There is no reason for a command prompt or Winword to be running. And all browsers MUST be closed before using HijackThis.
C:\WINNT\system32\cmd.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\WINWORD.EXE
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe

What are your remaining problems specifically? If you still have a locked Desktop, try the below:

Fixing Locked Desktop
Right click on your Desktop and select Properties. Then click the Desktop tab and then the Customize Desktop button. Now in the next window that comes up click the Web tab. Make sure at the bottom that Lock desktop items is unchecked. Then in the Web pages: box delete all items but My Current Home Page and make sure it is unchecked too. Then click OK. Apply. OK.

 

You log is clean now.

I still see C:\WINNT\system32\cmd.exe running! Something that you are using must need it as a backgroung process. As long you are not having any problems, we will not worry about it.

So how are things working now.

 

You're welcome. You are all clean. You should check out the below to help keep you clean:

How to Protect yourself from malware!