HiJacked? Skype the vulnerability??

Hello...and thanks in advance!

I would like to start by asking if Skype is a big security risk and if it is, do you know of a safer alternative? My ex husbabd works in China and my daughter uses it to talk with him.

My problems began with a web camera malfunction (logitech quick cam) with a recording device failure while trying to initiate the Skype program. After attempting to restart it with more failures, I checked the task manager and found DEVLDR32.exe that I do not remember seeing before. I attempted to end task and it just kept reappearing. Then my CTRL+ALT+Delete stopped working to open the task manager. I ran Ad Aware and my PC Cillin immediately, neither finding anything. Ad Aware would not update, and it had been more than 24 hours since my last scan. I went to the device manager, after reading conflicting information that the DEVLDR32 could be corrupt, and attempted to disable the two Creative Lab Sound Devices. My entire system shut down immediately and rebooted both times after two attempts so I uninstalled the two Creative Lab devices. The DEVLDR32 disappeared for good, Ad Aware update immediately, as did my PC Cillin, and the Ad Aware scan immediately found 16 items. I also got immediate automatic Windows update. My mouse is double clicking everything, opening everything under the sun, and web pages unusually slow. I also noted that when I restarted, it took forever for everything to start up (a big change) and my PC Cillin was the last and the slowest item to start. I then got multiple Internet Explorer unspecified errors with shut down of IE. I also received an error for Quick Cam Album Database on startup which is a file I do not recognize either.

I have followed all the direction on the READ&RUN ME FIRST page as well as other scans I use regularly on my PC.

IN SAFE MODE: AVG Free Edition, AVG Anti Spyware, CCleaner, Spybot, AdAware, MIcrosoft Malicious Software Remover Tool, all finding nothing except 1 tracking cookie in Ad Aware.

In DIAGNOSTIC MODE: CWShredder which found MSConfig variant

IN NORMAL MODE: Microsoft Wondows Defender, Online Bit Defender and Panda Online Scan, and the getrunkey.bat and shownew.bat. Finally I ran HiJackThis.

The reports are attached: (others in next post)

Thanks a million!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Leslie in the "burgh

 

The next three scans attached

 

Just a quick update....not sure if this is important or not, but after installing FireFox, my pages are loading right back at normal speed. Internet Explorer is still dragging, thought.

 

I don't know much about skype but I used to use it and as far as I am aware it is perfectly safe.

DEVLDR32.exe is installed as part of creatives drivers.

I can't see any malware in your logs, only one line that is a little odd.

Run HijackThis. Click the 'Do a system scan only' button.

Place a checkmark in the box next to the following lines:

Click on the 'Fix checked' button. Wait for HijackThis to finish; close HijackThis.


Have you tried removing skype, reinstalling your souncard and webcam drivers then reinstalling skype ?

 

Thanks for the response, Matt. I did as you requested. My computer is still dreadfully slow, though. The FireFox initial improvement was very short lived.

SHould I post a new log or anything else?

Thanks again!
Leslie in the 'Burgh

 

I should have mentioned that in June of this year, I lost my entire hard drive and had to replace it after a similar Skype malfunction, so it just has me worried. There was no saving anything.

Have a great day eveyone!
Leslie

 

I don't think your problems are malware related. You could try posting in the software forum and see if anyone there can help you speed things up.

I notice you are running Trend Micro. Is this paid for or a trial?

 

It's the paid version. I just popped in here because my mouse is driving me NUTS! I can't single click anything and files are opening everywhere. Thanks for you help, Matt. Is there any concern about the Trend Micro??

 

Not a major concern. If it had been a trial I would have recomended removing it and going with one of the free (often far better) alternatives.

I'd still go ahead and ask in the software forum.