Browser Redirecting

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by WoodyAutumn, May 18, 2010.

  1. WoodyAutumn

    WoodyAutumn Private E-2

    Greetings!

    My browsers, both Firefox and IE keep being redirected to bad ad sites and to websites that have pop-ups appearing -- telling me that my computer is infected.

    Here is what happened: On May 5, 2010. I received an email from a neighbor who lives on my street. The email had nothing in the subject line and the body of the email only contained a link to a file stored on RapidShare.com. I clicked this link and downloaded a file named "2010.exe" to my desktop. I then scanned this file alone with McAfee. McAfee did not detect any infection and so I double-clicked and ran the 2010.exe. I thought the file would be OK to run since McAfee did not detect anything wrong with it. I should have known better but I still did it anyway. As a result, my computer became infected.

    My McAfee Security Suite is provided by my ISP (AT&T/Yahoo DSL). After, realizing that my PC was infected with something, I ran a complete full scan using McAfee. It did not detect anything. So, I ran a complete full scan using Malwarebytes. Malwarebytes found a lot of stuff and quarantined it but it did not stop the browsers from redirecting. It was at this point that I searched for help and found MajorGeeks.com.

    I have done everything in the "READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide". Please see the attached files.

    One important thing to mention. When I ran Combofix, it made a restore point, installed the Recovery Console and then proceeded to do a scan. It seemed to scan for several minutes, then all of the sudden my computer restarted. No log file was created. I don't even think the scanning was done. So once, my computer was back up, I tried to run Combofix again, and again it did the same exact thing, except it did not install the Recovery Console this time (because it was already installed). However, it did restart right at the same point again.

    Please help me. Thanks!
    --
    Woody
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: May 18, 2010
  2. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Hi there and welcome. I am currently reviewing your logs and will get back to you with a set of instructions in the next post I make to you.
     
  3. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    CF2.exe <--- rename back to combofix.exe

    OTM.exe <--- Seen on your desktop. Have you been using the tool yourself or are you having help at another forum?

    Then please attach the log of all the items it removed.

    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:

    After clicking Fix exit HJT.

    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
    • 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.

    Also delete all files in the below bold folders except ones from the current date (Windows will not let you delete the files from the current day).

    Go to TDSSKiller and Download TDSSKiller.zip to your Desktop
    • Extract its contents to your Desktop so that you have TDSSKiller.exe directly on your Desktop and not in any subfolder of the Desktop.
    • Click Start > Run and copy/paste the following bold command into Run box and hit Enter.
    "%userprofile%\Desktop\TDSSKiller.exe" -v

    • Follow the instructions to type in "delete" when it asks you what to do when if finds something.
    • When done, a log file should be created on your C: drive named something like TDSSKiller.2.1.1_27.12.2009_14.17.04_log.txt which is based on the program version # and date and time run. Please attach this log to your next reply.

    Try to run combofix in safemode.

    Now in normal mode again, run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this, and do not forget to attach the log from MBAM showing what it removed.

    Let me know how the machine is behaving now.
     
  4. WoodyAutumn

    WoodyAutumn Private E-2

    Kestrel,

    I am not getting help with this issue from any other forum. I downloaded OTM.exe and I cannot remember if I ran it or not. This is the first time I have ever posted a message on any forum for assistance. I usually try to resolve most of my issues myself. However, this one was way to hard for me. It was out of my league.

    I have completed all of your instructions and I have attached all the log files including the Malwarebytes log from a previous scan that I did before deciding to get help at MajorGeeks.com.

    Combofix.exe did run in safe mode and completed by rebooting back to normal mode and creating the log files.

    There are five log files. I can only attach 4 to a message. I will post a second message with the 5th log file.

    Thank you so much for your help. You are over-the-top excellent. Thanks!
     

    Attached Files:

  5. WoodyAutumn

    WoodyAutumn Private E-2

    Please see the attached file. It is the 5th log file (MGlogs.zip).
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    1. Please go to Jotti's malware scan

    (If more than one file needs scanned they must be done separately and logs posted for each one)
    • Copy the file path in the below Code box:
      Code:
      c:\windows\IMSSU.EXE
    • At the upload site, click the browse button.
    • Next click Submit file
    • Your file will possibly be entered into a queue which normally takes less than a minute to clear.
    • This will perform a scan across multiple different virus scanning engines.
    • Important: Wait for all of the scanning engines to complete.
    • Once the scan is finished, Copy and then Paste the link in the address bar into your next reply.

    Then do the same for the below files and also let me know the results:

    Code:
    c:\windows\system\MEMOREE.DLL
    c:\windows\system\VBRUN300.DLL
    c:\windows\system\SETUPKIT.DLL
    2. Could you please get this: IMSSU.EXE into a zipped file and attach it for me in your next post? To do this, see the below:

    Please go to start > Run and paste in the following:
    log retrievable @ C:\collect.zip


    3. 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::
    
    FileLook::
    c:\windows\IMSSU.EXE
    c:\windows\system\MEMOREE.DLL
    c:\windows\system\VBRUN300.DLL
    c:\windows\system\SETUPKIT.DLL
    
    DirLook::
    c:\documents and settings\Owner\WINDOWS
    
    Registry::
    [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\security center\Monitoring\SymantecAntiVirus]
    [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\security center\Monitoring\SymantecFirewall]
    
    • 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.


    4. Run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this and also attach the collect.zip and let me know the upshot of the jotti scans.

    5. Tell me how the PC is behaving now, you didn't mention last time, but I gathered it was running well from your response? :)
     
  7. WoodyAutumn

    WoodyAutumn Private E-2

    Kestrel,

    I have completed your directions from your last reply and I have attached the logs/files that you requested and results from Jotti's scan are posted below.

    SEE JOTTI's SCAN RESULTS BELOW:

    For some reason, ComboFix.exe seems to keep disappearing from my desktop. It has done this twice. It seems to disappear right when I am getting ready to use it. :confused Could McAfee be doing this? I do have McAfee completely disabled while completing your directions but I turn it back on after I am finished. Or does ComboFix have some sort of code written into it that automatically deletes itself after some period of time? Or could there still be some sort of virus that is doing this? As of now, my last download of ComboFix.exe is still on my desktop. I am not sure if it will disappear again or not. I also noticed that after I dropped CFScript.txt onto ComboFix.exe and after ComboFix started to run that CFScript.txt also disappeared from my desktop. In this case, I think ComboFix ate CFScript.txt.

    My PC is behaving much better now. :)

    • Firefox does not seem to be redirecting anymore.
    • Firefox seems to load much faster.
    • Browsing seems faster.
    • The PC seems to boot up and load its memory-resident programs much faster.
    • Other programs seem to load much faster too.
    • I am not seeing the hourglass as much.
    Thank you for your help!
    --
    Woody
     
  8. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Don't forget this part ;)

    Yes Mcafee could be interfering. Let's just have you attach the logs for now and see what else needs doing. :)
     
  9. WoodyAutumn

    WoodyAutumn Private E-2

    Kestrel,

    Sorry,'bout that. :-o I thought I had attached the logs/files to my previous post. I am guessing that when I did a "preview" of my post before submitting it, the system somehow dumped my attachments. Anyway, here they are now.
    --
    Woody
     

    Attached Files:

  10. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    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 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:
     
  11. WoodyAutumn

    WoodyAutumn Private E-2

    Kestrel,


    • I have uninstalled, ComboFix.exe, MGTools and Hijack This.
    • I re-enabled my CD emulation using Defogger.
    • I have flushed my System Restore Points by disabling System Restore and then re-enabling it.
    • I have restarted my computer.
    • I have re-enabled McAfee.
    • I have restarted my PC.

    I could not find any uninstalls or any listing in the Add/Remove Programs for the following items:

    • Avenger.exe
    • TDSS.exe
    • RootRepeal
    I deleted the icons for those 3 programs from my desktop.

    Thank you so much for you help. I just cannot convey in words just how grateful I am.
    :clap
    --
    Thank you!
    Woody
     
  12. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Most welcome. :) Safe surfing.
     

MajorGeeks.Com Menu

Downloads All In One Tweaks \ Android \ Anti-Malware \ Anti-Virus \ Appearance \ Backup \ Browsers \ CD\DVD\Blu-Ray \ Covert Ops \ Drive Utilities \ Drivers \ Graphics \ Internet Tools \ Multimedia \ Networking \ Office Tools \ PC Games \ System Tools \ Mac/Apple/Ipad Downloads

Other News: Top Downloads \ News (Tech) \ Off Base (Other Websites News) \ Way Off Base (Offbeat Stories and Pics)

Social: Facebook \ YouTube \ Twitter \ Tumblr \ Pintrest \ RSS Feeds