Malware: upwin.co.cc/boom [affecting Firefox, mainly].

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by REVOL, Apr 11, 2010.

  1. REVOL

    REVOL Private E-2

    Greetings from Glasgow, Scotland.

    I have a problem with my horrible Advent laptop, and I wondered whether anyone might be able to help.

    The problem I have with the laptop (running Vista, 32 bit) is that I seem to have malware, though it only seems to really affect Firefox. When I try and open Firefox, I get a message from AVAST telling me ‘Network shield blocked access to malicious site: upwin.co.cc/boom/n.jpg?b=2&c=E602743B(+seemingly random character string)’.

    Firefox appears to load but doesn’t function at all. I can’t get a flashing cursor to type anything, and no links can be clicked or menus accessed. Reinstalling has no effect. Unfortunately, AVAST doesn’t find any problems when I scan, and nor has any of the other programs I’ve used. I can use Opera and Internet Explorer; just not Firefox. My laptop is also quite slow at times but I realise this could be unrelated. I would just like to get rid of whatever it’s infected with, all the same. Very occasionally I get the same warning message when using IE, but it still functions, and no scans identify any malware.

    I've had this problem for a few months, and I'm actually convinced it occurred when I downloaded spytbot, in order to see if I could get my laptop running any faster. I know I downloaded the right program, but I may have visited a couple of rogue sites before I got the right one.

    I’ve gone through all the steps in the READ & RUN ME FIRST thread. I actually first tried these in December, but didn’t get around to posting my logs. I have since uninstalled all the programs I downloaded at the time (following instructions on this site where required) and reinstalled so that I had the latest versions of each, and followed the steps again.

    This time I am about to post all my logs, and I got through all the initial ’Getting started’ steps okay, but had some problems with the cleaning procedure. Root repeal would not scan (I got an error code/message, which I have taken a note of). The other small issue was with MGTools, which I think worked okay (I have a log) but opened an error pop-up at the end of the scan.

    I’ll start posting my logs now (minus RootRepeal's as I wasn't able to get it working).

    I realise it might take a while for help, and thanks in advance for any assistance you can give. Cheers!
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Don't worry about RootRepeal. Let's do this and see if it makes any difference for you:

    If you haven't already done so, please ensure that you use msconfig to put the machine into normal start up mode.

    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 needs to update to a new version, make sure you allow it to update.
    • Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the below quote box. Ensure you scroll down to select ALL the lines:
    Code:
    
    KILLALL::
    
    Registry::
    [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{5C255C8A-E604-49b4-9D64-90988571CECB}]
    
    • 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

      http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v666/sUBs/CFScriptB-4.gif
    • 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.


    Also delete all files in the below bold folders except ones from the current date (Windows will not let you delete the files from the current day).

    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this.

    Let us know of any problems you may have encountered with the above instructions and also let me know how things are running now!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 13, 2010
  3. REVOL

    REVOL Private E-2

    Hello,

    first of all, thanks for the help, and for helping so quickly.

    There has already been an improvement, despite me messing up those steps.

    Everything was okay up to and including updating combofix. At some point (I had left the room) my laptop reboot during combofix's operation. I'm not sure whether this was intended or the machine crashed. I entered my password and immediately combofix resumed, so I let it finish before doing anything. Of course, while I had disabled AVAST, AdAware, etc. prior to running combofix, these now all started automatically so were active while it was completing it's operation.

    After combofix had finished and the log had been created, I was unable to run MGtools. When clicking on the batfile (or anything else including text files), an error popped up telling me that this related to a "registryfile that is marked for deletion".

    At this point I decided to reboot as I couldn't follow the other steps. After a reboot, I was able to get the MGlog.zip, which is attached, but at the second attempt! This is because I stupidly had User Account Control on first time round; I aborted, turned it off, rebooted, and got the log.

    I have to say, my main problem seems to be fixed, since Firefox is now running as normal. However, on loading up, I did get the same alert from AVAST telling me ‘Network shield blocked access to malicious site: upwin.co.cc/boom/n.jpg?b=2&c=...".

    Logs are attached. If nothing else, I'm happy Firefox is now usable after months of it not working at all. Thanks again.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Okay, your logs are clean. Just a couple of points I would like to raise.

    The most current version of Mozilla Firefox is 3.6.3, perhaps you could try an update. Also, you are using an older version of avast! The most current is avast5. You could update and see if that makes a difference.

    Either way, avast seems to be doing it's job by blocking.

    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 used Pocket Killbox during your cleanup, do the below
      • Run Pocket Killbox and select File, Cleanup, Delete All Backups
    3. 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.
    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 in step 3 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:
     
    REVOL likes this.
  5. REVOL

    REVOL Private E-2

    Hi,

    I've updated AVAST and Firefox, and followed all the steps. I've had that 'upwin' message once or twice since but as you say, AVAST is blocking it and and everything seems otherwise okay. Certainly much improved since I've followed the advice here.

    Thanks again for your help.
     
  6. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    When you say "loading up", are you referring to running FireFox or are you referring to when you bootup your PC and first login.

    Please run the below.



    Copy the bold text below to notepad. Save it as fixme.reg to your desktop. Be sure the "Save as" type is set to "all files" Once you have saved it double click it and allow it to merge with the registry.
    Make sure that you tell me if you receive a success message about adding the above
    to the registry. If you do not get a success message, it definitely did not work.


    Then reboot your PC and see if you still have the same problem.
     
  7. REVOL

    REVOL Private E-2

    Hi,

    when I said 'loading up' I was referring to running Firefox, everything else had seemed fine post-cleaning.

    Having followed the latest instructions below, I got the pop-up saying the registry had been successfully edited. Following a reboot, I've since opened and closed Firefox a few times and no nasty messages have been seen.

    I think my laptop seems back to normal now, which is great. :-D

    I'll endeavour to follow the 'Protect Yourself' instructions too.

    Thanks!
     
  8. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Excellent! I'm happy to hear it worked.;)
     
    REVOL likes this.

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