Can't Kill Multiple Open Internet Ports

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by Virtual Madness, Sep 21, 2011.

  1. Virtual Madness

    Virtual Madness Private E-2

    Hi guys,

    I’m new to the Forum, so please be gentle…

    Okay, I’m hoping the Techie genius of all time ends up reading this to help me out with a mind-boggling problem. I’m not a novice, but I’m not an expert either when it comes to Hardware/Software and the nuts and bolts of it all, but I can find my way around okay, at least I thought I could.

    A few months ago, my hard disk failed in my laptop (it was about 10-years old!), so I used dd rescue (via a Linux Live CD) to recover as much as possible to an external hard drive (my normal back-up method was about 2-weeks out-of-date annoyingly, so I needed to recover documents etc).

    I bought a new hard disk and re-installed everything (Windows XP SP3 and other programs relevant to my everyday needs), along with customization of settings etc. Everything was hunky dory and back to normal for a while, but then, after visiting a well known ‘Cash Back’ website on a particular occasion, I noticed that iexplore.exe ‘hung’ in Task Manager. I could visit other websites, such as a well-known auction site amongst others, and wouldn’t see the problem i.e. after closing the browser (IE8 in this instance), iexplore.exe would end as you would expect.

    Initially thinking it was a virus, spyware or malware etc. I ran just about every scan I could find (using both commercial, freeware and even on-line scan packages), but couldn’t find a single thing/infection. I then tried using Mozilla Firefox and Opera Browsers, just to see how they would react. Exactly the same problem/outcome i.e. okay with a majority of websites, but not when visiting the cash back website where I first noticed the problem (it’s started happening with other websites I’m visiting now).

    Process Explorer, Task Kill, UVK and even the Windows cmd prompt cannot kill the ‘hanging’ .exe file – it’s a reboot situation to clear it. I’ve re-set and re-installed IE8, ran ComboFix, HJT and loads more, but just can’t find the problem. Emsisoft’s ASquared also confirms weird behaviour with the open ports i.e. before visiting the websites that cause the problem, the open ports are as you would expect – when I visit one of the websites that cause the issue, many (sometimes 20+) instances of iexplore.exe ports will open, cmd prompt ‘netstat –a’ doesn’t show anything out of the ordinary either. Oh by the way, when I submit the results on-line to Emsisoft ASquared, it comes back with results confirming that malicious programs use a certain port that I seem to have open, but the malicious type and port that’s open, changes every single time I submit a scan – it’s completely random.

    After many, many nights of head scratching, I’m simply lost with this one – yes, I’ve disabled all add-on’s (regardless of browser type) and tried to browse with the bare bones (in IE8, Mozilla Firefox and Opera), but the same problem occurs - the browser will hang and nothing will kill it except for a reboot.

    Oh and last night as a last ditch attempt, I reset and even went on to flash the firmware of the BT Business Broadband 2wire 2700HGV Hub – no change, the problem continues in the same manner as before.

    Sorry for the long-winded post, but it’s a bit of background info. for the genius I’m hoping will ultimately end up resolving this for me - if he’s out there listening?

    Many thanks in advance,
    Virtual Madness.
     
  2. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    I might have to refer you to the software forum but for now follow these procedures and let's take a more in depth look.

    Please read ALL of this message including the notes before doing anything.

    Pleases follow the instructions in the below link:

    READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide


    and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.
    • **** If something does not run, write down the info to explain to us later but keep on going. ****
    • Do not assume that because one step does not work that they all will not. MGtools will frequently run even when all other tools will not.

    • After completing the READ & RUN ME and attaching your logs, make sure that you tell us what problems still remain ( if any still do )!
    Helpful Notes:

    1. If you run into problems trying to run the READ & RUN ME or any of the scans in normal boot mode, you can run the steps in safe boot mode but make sure you tell us what you did later when you post logs. See the below if you do not know how to boot in safe mode:
    2. If you have problems downloading on the problem PC, download the tools and the manual updates for SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes ( links are given in the READ & RUN ME) onto another PC and then burn to a CD. Then copy them to the problem PC. You will have to skip getting updates if (and only if) your internet connection does not work. Yes you could use a flash drive too but flash drives are writeable and infections can spread to them.
    3. If you cannot seem to login to an infected user account, try using a different user account (if you have one) in either normal or safe boot mode and running only SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes while logged into this other user account. Then reboot and see if you can log into the problem user account. If you can then run SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, ComboFix and MGtools on the infected account as requested in the instructions.
    4. To avoid additional delay in getting a response, it is strongly advised that after completing the READ & RUN ME you also read this sticky:
    Any additional post is a bump which will add more delay. Once you attach the logs, your thread will be in the work queue and as stated our system works the oldest threads FIRST.
     
  3. Virtual Madness

    Virtual Madness Private E-2

    Logs as requested - I followed the instructions exactly, but the problem (as per the title bar), still exists...

    Look forward to hearing from you!

    Best regards,
    Virtual Madness
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Virtual Madness

    Virtual Madness Private E-2

    MGTools zip, as requested.

    Look forward to hearing from you!

    Best regards,
    Virtual Madness
     

    Attached Files:

  5. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Not seeing much to do. You need to immediately uninstall one of these two antivirus though!!

    Symantec Endpoint Protection
    Microsoft Security Essentials


    Delete these old AVG folders:

    C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\AVG
    C:\Documents and Settings\virtual madness\Application Data\AVG
    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\AVG10
    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\AVG Security Toolbar

    I want you to run TDSSKiller so refer to the below for how to do so.

    TDSSkiller - How to run


    Please also download MBRCheck to your desktop
    • Double click MBRCheck.exe to run (vista and Win 7 right click and select Run as Administrator)
    • It will show a Black screen with some information that will contain either the below line if no problem is found:
      • Done! Press ENTER to exit...
    • Or you will see more information like below if a problem is found:
      • Found non-standard or infected MBR.
      • Enter 'Y' and hit ENTER for more options, or 'N' to exit:
    • Either way, just choose to exit the program at this point since we want to see only the scan results to begin with.
    • MBRCheck will create a log named similar to MBRCheck_07.16.10_00.32.33.txt which is random based on date and time.
    • Attach this log to your next message. (See: HOW TO: Attach Items To Your Post )
     
  6. Virtual Madness

    Virtual Madness Private E-2

    Hi Kestrel13!

    I've done as you asked - I uninstalled Microsoft Security Essentials and decided to stay with Symantec Endpoint Protection for antivirus.

    I also uninstalled those left over AVG Folders.

    TDSS Killer Log attached.
    MBRCheck Log attached.

    I'm pleased my initial thoughts were right and that I don't appear to have an infected system! So what on earth could be causing the browser process to hang after closing the window (with multiple open internet ports) and then refuse to be terminated by any means (Command Prompt, Task Manager, Process Explorer, UVK)? As I mentioned before, it doesn't matter if it's IE8, Mozilla Firefox or Opera (with or without add-ons), they all react in the same way...the process just hangs after trying to close it!?!

    There's something weird going on - hence the request for help :)

    I'm sure we'll get there in the end, I just need you guys to help me along the way, as I've run out of ideas.

    Look forward to hearing from you ref. the next step.

    Best regards,
    Virtual Madness.
     

    Attached Files:

  7. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Hi there. Those logs are clean too. You can ask about your issues in the software forum. :)

    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 (If we renamed it please rename it back to Combofix.exe.
      • "%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:
     
  8. Virtual Madness

    Virtual Madness Private E-2

    Hi Kestrel 13!

    Thanks for all your help anyway - let's hope the Software guys can crack it...

    Kind regards,
    Virtual Madness
     
  9. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Yes I hope so too! Sorry, It just isn't my area of expertise. ;) Safe surfing.
     

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