Is "malware-remove ..." safe to use?

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by Laurie, Apr 3, 2010.

  1. Laurie

    Laurie Private E-2

    Hello!

    I received an email that links to a private message sent to me on a forum at http://www.merchant-account-services.org and wonder if anyone can tell me if the virus check they recommend is to be trusted. Here's the message:

    Spam sending from your computer was detected.
    We highly recommend you to check your computer and perform online virus check at our site immediately: http://malware-remove.webcindario.com/online-scanner/
    If you do not pass this test we will have to delete your account and forward a complaint to your ISP with attached log file (your IP address, etc.).
    ----------------------------------------------------
    Forum Administration www.merchant-account-services.org

    The anti-virus software on my computer has not found any problems.

    Should I run the software they suggest?

    Thanks very much!
     
    Laurie, Apr 3, 2010
    #1
  2. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Welcome to Major Geeks!

    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 aother 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.
    ​
     
    TimW, Apr 3, 2010
    #2
  3. Laurie

    Laurie Private E-2

    Greetings Tim,

    I have read (and in the past used) the info/steps provided on this great site. For now, though, I just wondered if anyone had heard of problems on www.merchant-account-services.org or from the scanning service they recommend here <snip>

    In short, I wonder if they might be spreading a virus via that malware removal link.

    If I decide to check for malware, I'll definitely use the links and info offered here at Major Geeks.

    Thanks!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 4, 2010
    Laurie, Apr 3, 2010
    #3
  4. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    I am very leary of using any links provided by an outside source that states you are infected. If you are getting these messages, then your best course of action would be to do our steps. I have left that link in your messages, but I would not advise you to use it.

    This is not my test machine, so I do not go to sites that could possibly be infected.

    Merchant account services sounds like a credit card servicing agency. "Sounds like" is the operative words. It could be a spoof.
     
    TimW, Apr 3, 2010
    #4
  5. Laurie

    Laurie Private E-2

    Thanks, Tim.

    And of course I would not want anyone to test the link. I should have been more clear and asked if anyone has read about problems with that website, etc. I tried some Googling but didn't find anyone complaining about it.

    You are right that it is a website about credit cards. However, I can't remember how I came across it though (if our merchant account folks told me about it or if I found it surfing the web).

    In any case, thanks for the helpful advice.
     
    Laurie, Apr 3, 2010
    #5
  6. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    I opened the web link, it is definitely not somewhere you want to go or trust!! As I said, if you want to do our procedures to see if you have become infected, I will be happy to review them.
     
    TimW, Apr 4, 2010
    #6
  7. Laurie

    Laurie Private E-2

    Oh dear. Hope it didn't cause your computer any trouble.

    I got a username and password there 6-9 months ago, used the site once and never had trouble until this recent occurrence.

    I was thinking to unsubscribe but now it seems it would not be safe to close the account and would be best to simply never return to the site even though they are likely to continue to send messages.

    I'll make a start on some of the MG procedures and see what happens. Not sure if I'll do them all; as I recall, it's quite complicated to do them all.

    Many thanks!
     
    Laurie, Apr 4, 2010
    #7
  8. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    The only things you need to do is to download the scanning tools and run them so that you have these logs to attach:

    SAS
    MBAM
    RootRepeal --> if it runs
    ComboFix
    C:\MGlogs.zip
     
    TimW, Apr 5, 2010
    #8
  9. Laurie

    Laurie Private E-2

    Do the scanning tools all work with 64-bit Windows 7 computers? The computer is nearly new (had it for just a few months). Thanks.
     
    Laurie, Apr 5, 2010
    #9
  10. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    No....only SAS, MBAM and MGTools will work.
     
    TimW, Apr 5, 2010
    #10

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