Internet search and AV software not working

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by white feather, Dec 28, 2009.

  1. white feather

    white feather Private E-2

    I had a "Security Tool" pop up while on the internet a few days ago. I don't recall what website I was on at the time, I had been searching for info on astrophotography. I closed Internet Explorer and called a friend for advice and he recommended SuperAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes. He told me to install both and that I may need to run each multiple times, which I did. The "Security Tool" seemed to be gone, but searches wouldn't work in Internet Explorer and Symantic wouldn't do a scan. My Favorites in Internet Explorer work fine, but a search results in nothing, just a blank window.

    Then I was directed to this forum. I've gone through the READ & RUN ME FIRST instructions and attached the log files. The SuperAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes logs are clean since I had already ran each multiple times. I have included the original logs (mb_log_1.txt and SAS_Log_1.txt) as well as the logs from the READ & RUN ME FIRST instructions (mb_log_2.txt and SAS_Log_2.txt).

    Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. white feather

    white feather Private E-2

    Here are the other logs. Thanks.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Welcome to Major Geeks!

    Please 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 by double clicking on it.
    • Click the Make Writeable? button. (if you only see a Make Read-Only selection, it is already writeable so skip this button).
    • Click Restore Microsoft's Hosts File and then click OK.
    • Click the X to exit the program
    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:

    O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll (file missing)
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RealTray] C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe SYSTEMBOOTHIDEPLAYER
    O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background

    After clicking Fix, exit HJT.

    Run this Disable/Remove Windows Messenger to remove Windows Messenger. Do not confuse Windows Messenger with MSN Messenger because they are not the same. Windows Messenger is a frequent cause of popups.

    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 has expired or need to be updated to a new version, make sure you allow it to update.
    • Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the below quote box into it:
    • 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
    • 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.

    Now let's flush the Java Cache
    • Click Start > Settings > Control Panel
    • Double click the Java icon (be patient, it may take a while to open)
    • Now click the General tab and under the Temporary Internet File area
    • Click the Settings button and then click the Delete Files... button.
    • In the next popup click OK.
    If you have multiple Java plugin icons in Control Panel follow the above to clear all their caches.


    Now let's flush the FireFox Cache
    To flush your FireFox Cache:
    • click Tools
    • select Options
    • select Privacy
    • in the section labeled Private Data click Clear Now
    Now let's flush the Internet Explorer Cache
    To flush your Internet Explorer Cache:
    • click Tools
    • Internet Options
    • Now on the General tab and click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too
    • Click OK.
    • When it finishes Click OK.
    Now run Ccleaner!


    Now run Ccleaner. Only use the Run Cleaner button. Do not run anything else on any other forms.

    Now download the current version of MGtools and save it to your root folder. Overwrite your previous MGtools.exe file with this one.

    Run MGtools.exe ( Note: If using Vista make sure UAC is still disabled. Also don't double click on it, use right click and select Run As Administrator )

    Now attach the below log:
    • C:\ComboFix.txt
    • C:\MGlogs.zip
    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!
     
  4. white feather

    white feather Private E-2

    Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

    Searches are working. Symantic is still disabled, but maybe I need to reinstall it or something else. Is there a particular anti virus software you recommend?

    The requested logs are attached.

    Thanks again, I really appreciate your help.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You're welcome. Your logs are clean.

    Yes I would suggest uninstalling and then running the below removal tool:


    Norton Removal Tool (SymNRT)



    Then decide whether you want to reinstall Symantec of try one of the free programs mention in the link at the end of my below final instructions.



    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. Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
    4. If we had you download any registry patches like fixme.reg or fixWLK.reg (or any others), you can delete these files now.
    5. 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.
    6. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.
    7. 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.
    8. If you are running Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:
      • Refer to the cleaning procedures pointed to by step 6 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.
    9. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:
     
  6. white feather

    white feather Private E-2

    Thank you for all of your help.

    I have gone through the final steps, unintalled Symantic, and installed Avast and Comodo Firewall. Everything seems to be working great.

    Thanks again.
     
  7. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You're welcome. Surf safely!
     

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