Newbie Eager to Learn

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by bbpathd1, Mar 13, 2007.

  1. bbpathd1

    bbpathd1 Private First Class

    I need help for spyware removal. Computer is eMachines Celeron 433MHz 256K RAM
    Win 98SE, IE6. PeoplePC dial-up ISP. I could not access the internet or email; when I clicked on PeoplePC icon, the connect screen came up, modem dialed, and it opened the page like expected, but not to my homepage, but to a blank res://C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SHDOCLC.DLL/dnserror.htm.
    Other weird things: Windows was in “audit mode” as identified by Norton SystemWorks when it would not update. I tried reinstalling my PeoplePC software, but to no avail. I gave up and bought another computer a year ago. Now I want to eradicate the nasty spyware so that I can use the old computer for backup. Fighting this spyware is like fighting the devil himself—that good vs evil thing. I want to fight back and I just want to be triumphant in getting it off the PC, too!
    BTW, I also had Norton Firewall, WinPatrol, Spybot and Ad-Aware on the computer and, in all my extensive surfing for the 2+ years I could get on the internet, I tried to be careful about not visiting the wrong sites, opening attachments, and clicking links. But I got infected anyway. Also, this was a refurb computer, and I am wondering if it got something on it even before I got it. It had only 32MB RAM and was so slow it would take forever to shut down until I upgraded it. I never could defrag it--it kept restarting over and over; I realize now that means something was running in the background, only I did not know enough at the time.

    I have been working on this off and on for three weeks as I find the time. If anyone can help me, I believe you can. So thanks for your time in advance.
    To get to the gist of my questions at this point:
    1) Since I cannot access the internet, I ran other scans instead of the online ones. SpywareGuard says a BHO has been added, do I want to keep it or delete it? I think it is probably some spyware creation that is directing my Internet Explorer Search Page to new page http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch. I should delete it, right? It may be re-created anyway by some hooks, right?
    2) I ran Spysweeper in diagnostic mode safe mode and it found CWS-about blank
    with 2 traces.
    HKCR\protocols\filter\text/html\
    HKLA\software\classes\protocols\filter\text/html
    Is that the same about blank you have in your Special Removal Procedures? I don’t know yet if I am going to get that “out of memory” message when I go back to normal mode this time, so I may not be able to get a HijackThis! post. I couldn’t get a GetRunKey post for that reason. Also, I don’t think there is any Java installed on this old computer, either. So, should I go through the steps in the Special Removal Procedures for about blank right now?
    3) I am thinking I have to uninstall Spybot 1.3 before I try to install Spybot 1.4. Is that right?
     
  2. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Welcome to Majorgeeks!

    You will need to run as much of the below as is possible. The only items I forsee that you should have a problem with are the online scans since you say you cannot get online. Your problems may not even be malware but the only way we can tell is by seeing the logs requested in the READ ME.

    And to answer your questions,
    1. no you do not have an about blank hijacker based on what you posted. Those are not related to about:blank at all.
    2. yes Spybot 1.3 must be uninstalled first. Then reboot before installing 1.4
    There should be no reason for being out of memory. Shut down all unnecessary applications while running scans and obtaining logs.

    Please follow our standard cleaning procedures which are necessary for us to provide you support. Also there are steps included for installing, renaming, running, and posting HijackThis logs as attachments.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • After doing ALL of the above you still have a problem make sure you have booted to normal mode and run the steps in the below link to properly use HijackThis and attach a log:
    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.
    • When 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 - 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 - from step 6
      • Panda Scan - from step 6
      • runkeys.txt - the log from GetRunKey.bat
      • newfiles.txt - the log from ShowNew.bat
      • HijackThis
    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!
     
  3. bbpathd1

    bbpathd1 Private First Class

    Thanks for your quick reply.
    I tried to follow your steps as closely as I could. These are things I found over my attempts the last 3 weeks.
    Below I document what I tried. I tried to follow your steps as closely as I could. Skip down to the end if this is too obsessive for you, but since I don't know what might catch your eye as important, I am including it all.
    I did not see anything suspicious in Windows Task Manager.
    In Windows Explorer I wondered about folders My WebEx Documents, NetMeeting, NZSearch (I had been getting emails about travel to NewZealand), SBApps, Viewpoint folder with Viewpoint Media Player (said to be needed by Adobe in some things I’ve read), Temporary Internet files (w Vwpt subfolder), Temp, WU Temp, Installer {A4D7B764-4140-11D4-88EB-0050PA3579C0}and Install Shield Installation Information {B67F7dBE7-2FE2-458F-A738-B10832746036}. I just looked, did not try to delete anything.
    In Add/Remove Programs, I removed MSN Messenger Service 2.2—never used it. There was no Viewpoint Media Player there. Or anything else that raised my suspicion.
    Computer was already in Msconfig Normal Startup mode. I rebooted anyway.
    I had used Norton Antivirus 2004 in SystemWorks. When I clicked on View Report it said I did not have any Quarantined Items—showed 0. When I tried emptying Norton Protected Recycle Bin, it first said there are 59 protected files; I said no, clicked it again and it said 62 files! I said yes. Then I went back and there were 353 files, then 357—I said yes. Then it had 11 more. I emptied Recycle Bin.
    I had to download CCleaner to my working computer because I cannot access internet from the infected one. I copied it to a CD-- hope that was OK—and installed it on the infected one.
    I enabled viewing hidden files.
    I had to download GetRunKey and ShowNew to my working computer because I cannot access internet from the infected one. I copied both to the CD with CCleaner and installed them.
    I already had Spybot on the computer. I updated it (was surprised that it did), left SDhelper checked, fixed the bug and deleted quarantine files. But it is 1.3 not 1.4.
    I looked at Counterspy and don’t think it will run on Win 98SE. I looked at AVG Anti-Spyware and it looks like it will run on Win 98SE, but I didn’t know if it would let me download it on the working computer and then copy it to the infected one.
    I downloaded Hijack This! on the working computer and then copied it from CD to the infected one.
    After following the first sections of Read Me, I unplugged the modem and I rebooted, hitting F8 for safe mode. (This was my first time ever in safe mode.)
    I ran CCleaner and all it identified was 2 files—IE Temp Internet Files 134 bytes!
    C\Windows\ Temporary Internet Files and C\Windows\cookies\index.dat
    I ran Spybot and detected Abetterinternet, Stration.C and Numbsoft. I let it fix and I immunized.

    I came back another evening and found I still could not access the internet, so I decided to go through the same steps. This time there were 24 files being protected in Norton bin --I deleted-- and 11 items emptied from Recycle Bin. In safe mode CCleaner removed 10.09 KB with files:
    C\windows\temp\ (tilde or squiggle)DFCC73.TMP 3.00 KB,
    C\windows\temp\PeoplePConline\StationLog.txt, and
    C\windows\temp\PeoplePConline\InstallSummary.ini.
    C\windows\IOS.LOG
    C\windows\windows update.log
    C\windows\conexantSoftK56PCIModem.log
    C\windows\wininit.bak
    C\windows\NDISLOG.txt
    C\windows\Schedlog.txt
    Since I had Spysweeper already installed from 12/2005 version 4.5, I ran it and it found
    Abetterinternet (VX2 Transponder) with 2 registry keys, four traces. I quarantined and deleted quarantine files.

    I came back another evening and found I still could not access the internet, so I decided to do some more. I had bought Spyware Doctor, so I installed and then ran it in safe mode. I’d made a CD with Spyware Terminator, Spyware Guard, LSPfix and some other things and ran in safe mode. LSPfix did not find a problem.

    Spyware Doctor found 2 problems:
    1) PeoplePC Toolbar--This is a search URL hijacker that directs searches to home.peoplepc.com/search and the br.....
    File: C:\Windows\system\PPCRunOnce.exe
    2) 24T Toolbar-- hijacks Internet Explorer's home page and
    additionally comes bundled with other m....
    File: C:\Windows\system\unPPC.exe
    It almost seems like 24T toolbar was a derivative that formed after I thought Abetterinternet, Stration.C and Numbsoft had been deleted. I deleted it but left the PeoplePC toolbar because I think that is what my ISP uses; that is the search page that comes up normally.

    I ran CCleaner again and it identified 5.33 KB for removal:
    C\windows\temp\ DFC5A2B2.TMP 21 bytes
    C\windows\temp\ (tilde or squiggle)DFA303.TMP 3.00 KB,
    C\windows\temp\PeoplePConline\StationLog.txt, and
    C\windows\IOS.LOG
    C\windows\wininit.bak
    C\windows\NDISLOG.txt
    C\windows\Schedlog.txt
    I ran Spysweeper again in diagnostic mode safe mode and this time it found CWS-about blank
    with 2 traces.
    HKCR\protocols\filter\text/html\
    HKLA\software\classes\protocols\filter\text/html
    I quarantined, but I don’t know if it got both files; I deleted quarantined files.
    I ran Spybot again safe mode and it was clean!

    I KNOW I AM PROBABLY getting tiresome to you at this point.
    But there is more. I'm omitting some things here. Last night I ran SuperAntispyware after I saw you added it--found nothing. Spybot nothing, SuperAntispyware nothing, Spyware Terminator nothing, Spyware Doctor nothing, Spysweeper found again: CWS-about blank with 2 traces (back again!).
    HKCR\protocols\filter\text/html\
    HKLA\software\classes\protocols\filter\text/html which I quarantined.
    SpywareGuard warned a BHO has been added {5C8B2A36-3DB1-42A4-A3CB-D426709BBFEB} prog ID: n/a, File location: C:\Progra(squiggle)1\Spywar(squiggle)3\Tools\IESDSG.dll
    I'll try to get all updated Antispyware programs that you suggested and run them again. I'll reinstall PeoplePC from its CD. Here's hoping I can access the internet at some point. I'm glad I don't have to do the about blank procedures!
     
  4. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You need to attach the requested logs! Until I see the info in the logs, there is nothing I can do for you.

    But I still wonder whether you are having malware problems at all.
     
  5. bbpathd1

    bbpathd1 Private First Class

    Summary: What had been done up to 3/15/07
    Spybot 1.3 detected Abetterinternet, Stration.C and Numbsoft.
    Spysweeper already installed from 12/2005 version 4.5 found
    Abetterinternet (VX2 Transponder) with 2 registry keys, four traces
    Spyware Doctor found 24T Toolbar-- hijacks Internet Explorer's home page and
    additionally comes bundled with other m....File: C:\Windows\system\unPPC.exe
    Spysweeper again in diagnostic mode safe mode and it found CWS-about blank
    with 2 traces.
    HKCR\protocols\filter\text/html\
    HKLA\software\classes\protocols\filter\text/html
    CWShredder found nothing.
    SuperAntispyware in Full scan found nothing.

    Since I could not get on the internet, I uninstalled Spybot 1.3 and the old version of AdAware. I downloaded both Spybot 1.4 and AdAware from your website to a CD. Spybot would not run in normal mode and hung up when I tried to update it. The new AdAware found 36 running processes, 1115 process modules and 76234 files—no threats!
    I uninstalled NetZero and Juno from Add/Remove Programs as PeoplePC had instructed. I then uninstalled PeoplePC same way. I also decided to uninstall Norton Firewall and Norton Systemworks (NAV 2004): had to use Norton Removal Tool to get Systemworks off. LiveUpdate from it had quit working back in late 2005 when I last tried to use the computer and my subscription had expired during 2006. So I installed ZoneAlarm 5 CD I had purchased for the computer in late 2005; figured it might be better than the expired Norton if I was able to access the internet. I first installed Zone Alarm Suite, but disabled it for the install of PeoplePC as instructed. I then reinstalled PeoplePC from a CD I had.
    In the middle of installation I got "AtlBrowser caused an invalid page fault in
    module kernel32.dll at 0167:bff8abff... illegal operation and will be shut down."
    I clicked the close button and, to my surprise, installation proceeded. I appeared
    to be connecting to the Internet with PeoplePC Online and got a screen with my user
    ID and password and order #. I clicked the online chat with Monika
    and tried to tell her it looked like it was signing me up for a new account, but
    that I did not want a new one, I already have an account and that is the one I want
    to keep. She wrote back to call member services. When I tried to dial in, the program would not go through. When I turned the computer to shutdown, I got the Windows blue screen with "Fatal exception 0E has occurred at 0028:C162491F. Current application will be terminated." I turned the computer off.
    Today, there is no PeoplePC icon on desktop and the icon in systray is grayed out
    with only "Exit PeoplePC" as a choice. PeoplePC Online does appear in
    Add/Remove Programs, but is not in my startup programs.
    SpywareGuard kept popping up boxes labeled Browser Protection Alert warning my IE homepage has been changed from home.peoplepc.com/homepage to home.peoplepc.com/websearch. Also, my IE search bar changed from peoplepc/search to my.netzero.net/s/search?r=minisearch (despite my uninstall of NetZero!) and whenever I clicked either one to say I wanted to keep the correct peoplepc choice, SpywareGuard just kept popping up boxes trying to get me to accept those 2 changes. I’d click for homepage, then search bar would come up and I’d click for it, then over and over.
    I again tried to run Spybot in normal mode; it kicked me out with a fatal error. I got Getrunkey, ShowNew and HijackThis! installed in folders as you specified.
    I then went thought the entire Read Me again, doing as much as I could. CCleaner removed dozens of Windows/Temp/…tmp files. Even in safe mode Spybot would not run, gave an error box that said I had to update first.

    Here are your uploaded attachments. Safe mode Superantispyware found nothing. I still could not run Bitdfender or Panda—no internet.
     

    Attached Files:

  6. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    I still don't think you are having malware problems. You need to uninstall all of these antispyware programs you have installed and do not install anymore software until you work out all of your problems. You should only have one realtime antispyware program (like SpySweeper or Spyware Doctor installed). Are any of the below paid programs:

    Spy Sweeper
    Spyware Doctor
    SuperAntiSpyware
    SpywareTerminator

    If one of the above is a paid program keep it (but only keep one) uninstall the rest. If all are free trials, uninstall ALL of them. Also uninstall WinPatrol and SpywareGuard.

    You have ZoneAlarm Security Suite installed and do not need any of the above and the combination of all these together can slow your PC down to a snail's pace and they can cause a variety of conflicts and problems.

    Now 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.
    After doing the above attach a new HJT log and tell me what malware problems you are having.

    What is the below for and is the company still in business?
    O4 - Startup: eWare Startup.lnk = C:\Program Files\eWare\iWareStart.exe
     
  7. bbpathd1

    bbpathd1 Private First Class

    Spy Sweeper and Spyware Doctor were purchased. I will just keep Spy Sweeper for now. I uninstalled SuperAntiSpyware, SpywareTerminator, WinPatrol and SpywareGuard. Got a message that remnants of WinPatrol and SpywareGuard might be left that could be manually removed.

    I then uninstalled and reinstalled PeoplePC and the program went all the way through without a glitch and established the dialer and my homepage as it should be. ZoneAlarm let me complete my registration and updated antivirus definitions and then sent me a key.

    I copied fixME.reg to Notepad and clicked it on the desktop as directed.

    O4 - Startup: eWare Startup.lnk = C:\Program Files\eWare\iWareStart.exe refers to eWare program that eMachines installed as part of the original software. Had “TouchTiles” (shortcuts) with eBay, Weather Channel, etc., for quick access that displayed just above the bottom toolbar. I don’t have to have it. How do I delete it if I decide to get rid of it?

    I really like ZoneAlarm Security Suite so far. I never knew what Norton was doing; it seemed to update and scan all the time. ZoneAlarm says it has blocked 68 attempted intrusions so far and 6 of them were high-risk!

    Now that I can get on internet, should I download Java from your link? I could run the BitDefender and Panda scans them.

    Latest HJT log is attached. Why does NetZero keep showing up? I had uninstalled it. Thanks!
     

    Attached Files:

  8. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    So...as I suspected, it was not a malware problem. ;)


    Like most things, the first thing to do is to uninstall via Add/Remove programs. eWare in your uninstall list.

    Yes you should get the proper Sun Java version. You do not need to run BitDefender or Panda since you really did not and do not have malware problems.

    Uninstalling does not always remove settings that programs make. You have to fix them youself in many cases. Do the below which should help!


    Run HijackThis 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:
    R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://my.netzero.net/s/search?r=minisearch
    R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://my.netzero.net/s/search?r=minisearch
    R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://my.netzero.net/s/search?r=minisearch
    R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://my.netzero.net/s/search?r=minisearch
    R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://my.netzero.net/s/search?r=minisearch
    O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C8B2A36-3DB1-42A4-A3CB-D426709BBFEB} - (no file)
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinPatrol] C:\PROGRAM FILES\BILLP STUDIOS\WINPATROL\winpatrol.exe

    After clicking Fix, exit HJT.
    Now we need to Reset Web Settings:
    1. If you have an Internet Explorer icon on your Desktop, goto step 2. If not, skip to step 3.
    2. Now 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. Then skip step 3.
    3. 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.
    Note for IE 7 users: You need to select Internet Options then the Advanced tab and then Reset Internet Explorer Settings!

    Now reboot in normal mode
    Now attach a new HJT log

    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!
     
  9. bbpathd1

    bbpathd1 Private First Class

    My, that netzero is resistant! It looks like it just doesn't want to let go!

    I did change my homepage to www.majorgeeks.com.

    When I rebooted in normal mode, I lost my mouse. It was late last night, so I turned back on today--mouse was working again. I ran HJT--see attached.

    Thanks!
     

    Attached Files:

  10. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    This is probably due to Spy Sweeper and or ZoneAlarm which can both protect/lock these items. You have to allow the changes or they will not work. So disable the protection/locking of these setting in Spy Sweeper and then make your changes. And if you see any warnings from Spy Sweeper about changes being made, you have to allow them or the changes will not occur. In addition as stated in my directions, all browsers must be closed when making the changes.


    If you are not having any other malware problems, it is time to do our final steps:
    1. If we used Pocket Killbox during your cleanup, do the below
      • Run Pocket Killbox and select File, Cleanup, Delete All Backups
    2. If we used ComboFix you can delete the ComboFix.exe file and associated C:\combofix.txt log that was created.
    3. If we user SDFix you can delete all the SDFix related files and folders from your Desktop or whereever you installed it.
    4. If we used VundoFix, you can delete the VundoFix.exe file and the C:\VundoFix Backups folder and C:\vundofix.txt log that was created.
    5. If we had your run FixWareOut, you can delete the Fixwareout.exe file and the C:\fixwareout folder.
    6. If we had you run Avenger, you can delete all files related to Avenger now.
    7. If we had you download any registry patches like fixme.reg or fixWLK.reg (or any others), you can delete these files now.
    8. You can delete the ShowNew.Zip and GetRunkey.Zip files and the files that you extracted from the ZIP files. You can also delete the C:\newfiles.txt and C:\runkeys.txt logs that were created
    9. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:
     
  11. bbpathd1

    bbpathd1 Private First Class

    Chaslang, thank you, thank you, thank you! I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR GREAT ADVICE! The last time I saw the internet on this computer was December 2005! I am thrilled to get it back online.
    I also owe a debt of gratitude to Paul Koteras, who taught the eMachines Learning Course Upgrading Your PC earlier this year. Paul was the one who recommended I try your website.

    Just a few last things before we close this thread…
    I had shut down ALL the running programs in systray, including PeoplePC, SpySweeper and ZoneAlarm, plus I had not opened my internet browser when I ran the Hijack fix. Am I missing something, or should I have closed something else?
    I could not update Spybot 1.4 I had copied from CD; it said setup files were corrupted. So I uninstalled it and downloaded from your site (files4TX), but it still will not let me update.
    I downloaded Java from your site, but I got a message when I started to install that Java is not supported on Win 98SE. Not on ME either, it looks. Will it hurt anything to install Java? Why may I need it?
    Again, thanks for everything.
     
  12. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You're welcome. We are happy we could help!

    Sometimes it is necessary to shut down more things than another time. It really depends on what kind of infection. There is no real easier answer here since sometimes we have to shutdown or even uninstall protection software to remove certain infections. Sometimes we do things like tell users to disconnect (by physically unplugging the connection) from the internet before running certain steps. Sometimes this helps and sometimes it does not. Again it depends on how the infection works. As simple rule of thumb, never have any browsers running while using HijackThis. As far as other items go, if you fail to fix/remove something in HijackThis while other items are running, shut down the other items and see if it helps. Also sometimes fixing in safe mode may work since many programs may not load or run in safe mode.

    Try the below in the exact order given

    • delete any versions of the Spybot installation you may already have and download this: SpyBot - Search & Destroy
    • Uninstall Spybot 1.4 if you have it installed.
    • Reboot (do not skip this)
    • Now locate the C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy folder and delete it.
    • Now reinstall Spybot from the file downloaded above. Get updates and tweak it like directed in the READ ME. Don't forget to Immunize
    • If you have problems getting updates, make sure you are not blocking Spybot in your firewall.
    Yes old Windows version cannot use the current Sun Java version. I believe the 5.0 update 10 or 11 versions still work but don't quote me on that. You will have to check. Yes you do need Java to better enjoy your surfing. There will be sites that just will not work properly if you don't have Java installed.

    Some of the 5.0 items are still available here: http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index_jdk5.jsp

    And older 1.4.2 is here: http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/download.html
     

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