I may have a keylogger / remote monitor, what should I do?

I think someone I know may have purchased one of the keylogging/chat saving/ screen exposing/ spying programs that discreetly installs on my computer remotely and tracks everything I do. I know they've done it to others, and I feel they might be doing it to me too. Should I just go about the normal malware removal guide process for this, or something else?

By the way, I'm running Vista Home Premium.

 

Welcome to MajorGeeks.com!

Yes! Please follow our standard cleaning procedures:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/images/grenade.gif Run ALL the steps in this Sticky thread READ & RUN ME FIRST Before Asking for Support

• Make sure you check version numbers and get all updates.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/images/grenade.gif 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.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/images/grenade.gifAfter doing ALL of the above and you still have a problem, make sure you have booted to normal mode and run the steps in the below thread to properly use HijackThis and attach the log:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/images/grenade.gif Downloading, Installing, and Running HijackThis

• Make sure you also rename HijackThis.exe as suggested in the procedures. Use analyse.exe for the new name. This is very important due to some new infections going around..

http://www.majorgeeks.com/images/grenade.gifWhen you return to make your next post, make sure you attach the following logs and that you have run these scans in the following order too:

• CounterSpy Log - only for Windows XP, 2K, & NT users
• AVG Antispyware Log - ONLY IF NEEDED you were not able to run CounterSpy. - only for Windows XP, 2K, & NT users
• Bitdefender Log - from step 6
• Panda Scan Log - from step 6
• runkeys.txt - the log from GetRunKey.bat
• newfiles.txt - the log from ShowNew.bat
• HijackThis Log

NOTE: You can only attach 3 files in a single message so it will require that you use two messages to attach all of these logs!

 

It did not appear to find any problems with any of the scans I have done ( I skipped the online scans because I have Vista). However, earlier today my AVG Antivirus caught a couple different Trojans and stuff in some folders with Intel in the name and one with Install Shield in the name. It supposedly healed them, but I don't know. Otherwise, these scans found nothing. I'm just concerned that the spy program actually is coming through with its purpose and not being found. Anyways, here's my logs.

 

...And my HijackThis log.

 

I noticed that an infection was found on ShowNew, and my computer just seems a bit more sluggish than usual the last couple days. Maybe that's related to it? Could someone review my logs and check for possible spying tools or just any infections?

 

Try the below, not sure if they will run on Vista but try.

Download HostsXpert and then follow the below steps.

• Unzip HostsXpert.zip
  [*]It will create a folder named HostsXpert in whatever folder you extract it to.
  [*]Run HostsXpert.exe, click Restore Microsoft's Hosts File and then click OK.
  [*]Click the X to exit the program

Next, download and run this...

1. Download this file - combofix.exe
2. Double click combofix.exe & follow the prompts.
3. When finished, it will produce a log for you. Attach this log to your next reply

Note:

Do not mouseclick combofix's window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.

Download haxfix.exe and save it to your desktop.

• Double click on haxfix.exe to install haxfix. (standard installation path is c:\program Files\haxfix)
• Checkmark "Create a desktop icon"
• Click "Next"
• When the installation is completed, make sure that the checkmark "Launch HaxFix" is placed
• Click "Finish"

A red "dos window" (dos box) will open with options:
1. Make logfile
2. Run auto fix
3. Run manual fix
E. Exit Haxfix

• Select option 1. Make logfile by typing 1 and then pressing Enter
• Haxfix will start scanning the computer. When it is finished a logfile will open: haxlog.txt > (c:\haxfix.txt)
• Attach this logfile to your next message.

 

My OS was not supported for combofix or haxfix. I could only do the restore hosts function on HostsXpert. Is there anything else I can do?

 

For haxfix, right click on it and select properties. Do you have a "Compatibility" tab? If so, see if you can see it to run it as "WinXP".

Let me know!

 

I set the compatibility settings to Windows XP Service Pack 2 ( the only Windows XP setting it displayed) and the program still wouldn't run.

 

Okay, forget this for now and we will continue with the general fix. Please attach fresh logs from GetRunKey, ShowNew and HijackThis.

 

Ok here they are.

Also, ShowNew said "File not found." in the black window and GetRunkey said "Cannot find the file specified."

 

First, please disable any antivirus and/or antispy programs you have installed so they will not block this fix.

Pre-Instructions:
Please print out these instructions so that you can operate with All Browser Windows CLOSED.


Step 1:
Please look in Add/Remove Programs for the following and uninstall if found. If you get any errors just make a note and proceed.

Step 2:
Now scan with HijackThis and check the boxes for the following entries:
( Make sure ALL browser windows are closed when you click FIX )

Again, make sure ALL browser windows are closed when you click FIX.

Step 3:
Copy the contents of the below Quote Box to Notepad. Then click File and then Save As. Change the Save as Type to All Files. Name the file fixme.reg and then click save. (make sure you save it somewhere you can find it. Saving it to your Desktop may make that easy.) Then double-click on the fixme.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 in to the registry, say yes.

Step 4:
Now download The Avenger by Swandog46, 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.
• Check the 'Input script manually' box.
• Click on the magnifying glass icon.
• Copy everything in the Quote box below, and paste it in the box that opens:

• Now click the 'Done' button.
• Click on the traffic light icon and OK the prompt.
• You will be prompted to restart, OK the prompt and your PC should reboot, if not, reboot it yourself.
• A log file from Avenger will be produced at C:\avenger.txt

Step 5: Begin here after rebooting from Step 4!
Next Reset Web Settings & Default Security Settings

Note for IE 6 users:
To Reset Web Settings:
Right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK.

If you do not have an Internet Explorer icon on your Desktop, click Start, Control Panel (for some systems it may be Start, Settings, Control Panel), Internet Options, Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK

To Default Security Settings:
Right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Security Tab and click Default Level for Internet, Local Intranet, Trusted Sites, and Restricted Sites. For IE 7 users, simply click the "Reset all zones to default level" button.

Note for IE 7 users:
Select Internet Options, then the Advanced Tab and then the Reset button under Reset Internet Explorer Settings.


Step 6:
Please download ATF Cleaner by Atribune. This program does not require an installation. The executable actually runs the program.

NOTE: This program is for Windows XP and Windows 2000 only. ATF Cleaner will remove all files from the items that are checked so if you have some cookies you'd like to save. Please move them to a different directory first.

• Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.
• Under Main choose: Select All
• Click the Empty Selected button.

If you use Firefox browser

• Click Firefox at the top and choose: Select All
• Click the Empty Selected button.
  • NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.

If you use Opera browser

• Click Opera at the top and choose: Select All
• Click the Empty Selected button.
  • NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.

Click Exit on the Main ATF Cleaner menu to close the program.


Step 7:
After you have completed ALL of the above in the correct order, please attach the following logs.

• HijackThis Log
• ShowNew Log
• GetRunKey Log
• Avenger Log

Let me know of any problems you may have encountered with the above instructions and also let me know how things are running now.

 

I could not run The Avenger since I'm on Vista. Anyways, here's the other 3 logs.

Oh yeah, and I have noticed that sometimes when restarting my PC, right when it enters the desktop some window will pop up in the middle of the screen and disappear, too fast for me to see what it is. Is this something to be concerned about?

 

Yeah I've concluded that the window pops up real fast and disappears upon every startup. Suspicious... Also, when I tried to shut down just now a warning popped up saying that "Taskeng - Task Scheduler Engine Process" or something is still running and asked me if I wanted to continue shutting down.
Im worried.

I'll attach a screenshot I took of this warning.

 

Have HJT fix the below entries...

Reboot after you have completed the above.

Let me know if the problem still remains.