MGTools doesn't produce any logs

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by argaman, Nov 24, 2009.

  1. argaman

    argaman Private E-2

    I "inherited" a disused laptop from my folks, and am now trying to clean it up -- the deeper I look, the more junk I find.

    Two issues:

    1. In the process of working through the XP "Read& Run" page, I did fine with SAS, MBA, CF and RR. Logs attached. When I ran MGTools as directed, it seems to have unzipped properly (I have the C\MGTools folder full of goodies), but doesn't seem to have really run properly.
    A dark screen (presumably, a DOS shell or something) pops up for an instant, disappears -- and then nothing else. In particular, there are no logs. I've tried all the fixes on the "Using MGTools" page (re-install .NET, for example), but to no avail.

    2. Actually, reading around in various forums has suggested the possibility that this machine may be simply too deeply compromised to be worth fixing. Things done on it include browsing with an out-of-date browser and a non-updated system. Maybe a complete reinstallation is in order.
    This particular machine is a Dell with the "phantom partition" which is supposed to reset the disk drive to the way it was when the machine shipped. I wonder if this is desirable, or if it is just a way of "feeling better" without actually cleaning things up.

    Any advice is appreciated.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. argaman

    argaman Private E-2

    OK, another reboot and MGTools now produces logs. Progress, but the main questions still stand.
    Any advice appreciated.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Hi there and welcome, I am currently reviewing your logs and will get back to you with a set of instructions as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience during this time.

    Kes13!
     
  4. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    1. Please disable all anti-virus and anti-spyware programs while we do the following (re-enable when you are finished):

    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:

    After clicking Fix exit HJT.

    2. 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::
    
    File::
    c:\windows\Kgibew.dat
    c:\windows\Kvafafiley.bin
    c:\windows\_delis32.ini
    
    
    • 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.

    3. 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).
    • C:\WINDOWS\Temp
    • C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Local Settings\temp

    4. 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 and also attach the log from Combofix.

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

    argaman Private E-2

    Kes13!

    First off, I want to thank you for your time and attention, and to say loud and clear how much respect I have for what you and your fellows do -- and how you do it. Not only that, but MG has a great environment, and I appreciate the warm welcome.

    Here are the results:

    1. HJT ran fine.

    2. CF was a little less clean. I had thought I'd turned everything off (AV, Firewall, etc), but then it turned out I was wrong. I then killed the Defense+ part of Comodo, and things seemed to run OK.

    Oddly, CF then opened up a window and complained that it couldn't work on a system that wasn't at least [ME? 2000? -- I don't remember], but this makes no sense, since I'm running XP (SP3). Then it went ahead and ran (seemingly) fine, up to and including running the script and then rebooting.

    On reboot, everything again seemed to be going OK, until an installer window popped open -- something innocuous that I never succeeded in completely uninstalling, which keeps asking for its installation disk. At this point, the CF window open stalled. It was the 3M window trying to produce a log. I waited for it for 15 minutes before deciding it was completely hung.

    The upshot of the whole thing is that I think CF ran OK, but it produced no log in the end (it was supposed to be in the root registry of c:\, right?)

    3. In the TEMP folders, I could delete almost everything, including stuff made today.

    4. MG logs attached.

    So far, no evident problems with the machine, but my real worry is that there is something very deeply compromised here, something that I can't find that requires a re-installation.

    Btw, is there any name for the kinds of stuff that we found here on the last round, just so that I know what we're dealing with?

    Once again, thanks for all your time and effort -- you guys are real heroes!
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Yes, it is supposed to be there. But I can tell from your newfiles.log that the files I wanted deleted were indeed deleted and quarantined by combofix.

    Your logs are clean :)

    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" /u
        • Notes: The space between the combofix" and the /u, 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 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:
     
  7. argaman

    argaman Private E-2

    Kes13!
    After a week of barely being on the machine, I've finally gotten a chance to implement the clean-ups you recommended. Thanks a billion.
    One thing on which you didn't express an opinion: Given how compromised this system might be (a very stern warning on the matter is linked to by the "How to protect yourself from malware" sticky: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc512587.aspx), is the work you've guided me through deep enough? Or was this warning out of date, or am I just panicky?
    Once again, thanks for everything!
     
  8. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    There were no signs of password stealers keyloggers or backdoor trojans in your logs. So you're all clean and no need to panic:)
     

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