Browser Hijack (MSIE8 and FF)

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by Rix999, Jun 27, 2011.

  1. Rix999

    Rix999 Private E-2

    Firstly, thank you for looking at this - your assistance is much appreciated. I think I have followed your instructions correctly - apologies if I haven't.

    A couple of weeks ago this PC displayed a warning box (titled "PC Performance and Stability anlysis report") which I understand is the Windows XP recovery Virus. The start menu and desktop icons had vanished.

    I manually removed some registry entries as advised on various sites.
    The start menu and icons returned and the PC boots as normal.

    Since then the PC has had its browsers (both MSIE8 and FF) hijacked. Clicking on the results of any google search causes the browser to display apparently random pages.

    I do not know if this is directly related to the earlier virus.

    Avira Premium has reported (and apparently removed) a Trojan TR/Kazy.438476
    MBAM and Spybot have both apparently removed several problems.
    All three tools were run in safe mode.

    The browsers remain hijacked.
    I am trying to fix this remotely using uvnc and can re-boot in safe mode if required.

    Some further information which has appeared since doing the above.
    Spybot's Bad URL blocker has "detected 2 URL's that are known as a malicious resource".
    The URL's are hxxp://click.mygeek.com/presults.jsp?partner
    Identified as: Virtumonde

    I have run SuperAntiSpyware, MBAM, ComboFix and MGlogs
    Rootrepeal would start running and then cause the PC to re-boot.
    Thanks
    Rix
     

    Attached Files:

  2. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Please download and save the below tool from Grinler @ bleepingcomputer to your Desktop or anywhere else you can find it ( if the Desktop is not showing )

    http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/grinler/unhide.exe

    Now run it. Now see if you can find the items that seemed to be missing?

    I see you have TDSSKiller installed, but it looks like you didn't run it. Please do and attach the log to your next reply.

    * 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 code box into it (make sure you scroll all the way down in the code box to get all lines selected ):
    Code:
    KILLALL::
    
    File::
    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\17489700
    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\~17489700
    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\~17489700r
    
    
    * 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.
    If it asks you to overide the previous file with the same name, click YES.
    * 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.

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

    Then attach the below log:

    • C:\MGlogs.zip

    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!
     
  3. Rix999

    Rix999 Private E-2

    Tim
    Thanks for your prompt reply. As you will see from my original post I had already restored the missing icons.

    You spotted that TDSSKiller was installed.
    When I first installed TDSSkiller it would not run - even though I had renamed it. After posting my original message (but BEFORE getting your reply) I re-ran it and it found Rootkit.Win32.TDSS.tdl3.

    This seemed to have stopped the browser hijack so I ran Avira Premium and it found TR/PSW.Zbot.3551.

    I have re-booted several times and the PC appears to be ok.
    I re-ran TDSSKiller and I did not find anything.

    I attach both TDSSKiller logs (the one that fund the Trojan and one afterwards which returned zero detections).

    Since doing the above I have received your reply.

    I thought it still worth going through your steps.

    I have disabled Avira in accorance with your instructions however, Grinler was unable to restore the start menu icons beyond the folder name (ie. the start menu folders are there but they are empty). The Desktop icons are all ok.

    When ComboFix ran it said Avira was still running (even though all guards were disabled and the umbrella down).

    Running ComboFix seems to cause the PC to re-boot.

    When the PC restarts, the ComboFix cmd window is displayed with the message "Preparing Log Report. Do not run any programs until ComboFix has finished."
    I attach the results in ComboFix.txt.

    I also attach the results of MGlogs.

    Many thanks
    Rix
     

    Attached Files:

  4. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Please Disable Spybot's TeaTimer --> Should have been done as per the R&R instructions! It is probably why the last fix didn't take.

    * Run Spybot and click Mode
    * Select Advanced Mode.
    * Then click Tools and select Resident.
    * Now in the right window pane, uncheck TeaTimer.
    * Also while this is open, in the left column now select IE Tweaks
    * and then in the right pane make sure all the Miscellaneous locks are unchecked.
    * Now quit Spybot!

    You can restore the defaults for the Start Menu, Accessories and Administrative Tools as follows:



    Now download The Avenger by Swandog469, and save it to your Desktop.

    * Extract+ avenger.exe from the Zip file and save it to your desktop

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

    * Run avenger.exe by double-clicking on it.
    * -Do not change any check box options!!
    * Copy everything in the Quote box below, and paste it into the Input script here: part of the window:

    * Now click the Execute button.
    * Click Yes to the prompt to confirm you want to execute.
    * Click Yes to the Reboot now? question that will appear when Avenger finishes running.
    * Your PC should reboot, if not, reboot it yourself.
    * A log file from Avenger will be produced at C:\avenger.txt and it will popup for you to view when you login after reboot.

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

    Then attach the below log:

    • C:\MGlogs.zip
    • C:\Avenger.txt

    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!
     
  5. Rix999

    Rix999 Private E-2

    Thanks for your reply.
    I did actually disable TeaTimer but, when ComboFix caused the reboot, TeaTimer restarted.

    I have disabled Teatimer and Avira.
    I have run Avenger and MGTools.
    The logs are attached.

    Accrestore has restored the Accessories group but all other groups are Empty.

    Still no sign of the browsers being hijacked again.

    Thanks for your help.
    Rix
     

    Attached Files:

  6. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Your logs are clean. Any remaining issue should be addressed in the software forums.

    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 real time protection. They do not use any significant amount of resources ( except a little disk space ) until you run a scan.We recommend them for doing backup scans when you suspect a malware infection.
    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 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:


    Malware removal from a National Chain = $149
    Malware removal from MajorGeeks = $0

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    Buy Discounted Software @ Majorgeeks Store. Giveaways Too!

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  7. Rix999

    Rix999 Private E-2

    All done. Many thanks for your help and patience.
    Rix
     
  8. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    You are quite welcome. Safe surfing. :)
     

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