Can't get rid of this bugger.

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by John Ret., May 31, 2005.

  1. John Ret.

    John Ret. Private E-2

    Hi,

    I am running XP pro using ie. My homepage is stuck to www.updatesearches.com and won't let me on hotmail and various other sites.

    I scanned my hard drives numerous times with AVG, Ad Aware, Spyware Blaster and HiJack This. However, I still have this problem.

    When using HiJack this, the files are recognised and I try to fix them, but when I do another scan immediatly after they are still there.

    Please help and see attached!
     
  2. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Fisrt, download Nail/Bolder/Aurora Remover 0.3.1 Beta and save it to its own folder like c:\ABIremover

    - Now extract the abiremover.exe file from the ZIP file into the folder you created but do not run the EXE yet.

    - Reboot into Safe Mode with no network suppost and do not run anything else but what I tell you to run!

    - Run the ABIRemover.exe, press install, wait (explorer window will disapear)

    - When it finishes just reboot into normal mode and continue with the below.


    - Run ALL the steps in this Sticky thread READ ME FIRST BEFORE ASKING FOR SUPPORT: Basic Spyware, Trojan And Virus RemovalMake sure you check version numbers and get all updates.

    - Very Important: Make sure you tell us the results from running the tutorial...was anything found? Were you unable to complete any of the scans?...Were you unable to download any of the tools?...Did you do the on-line scans as suggested? etc.


    After doing ALL of the above you still have a problem make sure you have booted to normal mode and run the steps 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).
     
  3. John Ret.

    John Ret. Private E-2

    Followed your advice, but can't see that much has happened :(

    (see attached)
     

    Attached Files:

  4. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You need to run ALL steps of the READ ME FIRST. You could not have run them that quickly and I see no signs of the online scans being run.

    What happen when you ran the Nail/Bolder/Aurora removal tool?

    Note: Browsers ( C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE ) must be shut down before using HijackThis.
     
  5. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Your OS and IE versions are way out of date. You must update after we fix your curren problems.

    Please remember to ALWAYS exit ALL browsers ( C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe ) before running HijackThis. Not doing so can make it impossible to fix certain problems.

    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.



    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:\WINDOWS\System32\msole32.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\System32\shnlog.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\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 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
    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/
    O2 - BHO: VMHomepage Class - {FFFFFFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFFFFFFFFFA} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\hpD261.tmp


    After clicking Fix, exit HJT.
    Boot into safe mode and use Windows Explorer to delete:
    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:\WINDOWS\System32\hpD261.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


    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.
     
  6. John Ret.

    John Ret. Private E-2

    Bloody excellent!

    (I think)

    this is my latest HJT logfile, is everything ok?!
     

    Attached Files:

  7. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You HJT log is clean but youhave the below issues:

    - you are still running HJT from the ZIP file which is a bad idea:
    C:\Documents and Settings\John\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 1 for hijackthis.zip\HijackThis.exe

    - you seem to be missing lots of typical startup programs. Why is so little running? Very unusual!
    - you have no antivirus or firewall applications installed

    - your OS and IE versions are way out of date.


    You need to complete the steps in the below thread:

    How to Protect yourself from malware!
     
    Last edited: May 31, 2005

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