Popups

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by bani, Mar 3, 2007.

  1. bani

    bani Private E-2

    Hi,

    I started having pop ups two months ago but the frequency has still been bearable. I did spybot and lavasoft to scan but it did not work. Yesterday, the popups started going crazy. There is one small window keeps poping up every 2 seconds on the left top corner of my screen and moves my mouse automatically to that window. I practically cant do anything on my computer. This would last for 15 mins or so everytime after I start my computer and will die off later but still sometimes come back. I followed the instructions and did counterspy, bitdefender, getrunkey, shownew and hijack this. The bitdefender didnt completely finished and looked like stuck in the last 2 files forever. Pandaactionscan could not work. The computer tells me error. I attached getrunkey, shownew and hijackthis. Please help me. Thank you!
     

    Attached Files:

  2. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Please attach the log from CounterSpy as requested.
    Possibly because you did not follow the directions in step 6 and uninstall all of your old Sun Java version and install the current version!

    Uninstall the below old versions of software:
    J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 10
    J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 11
    J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 4
    J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 6
    J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0
    Mozilla Firefox (1.0.4)

    Make sure you reboot after uninstalling the above!

    After reboot, now install the current version of Sun Java from: Sun Java Runtime Environment

    Then install the current version of FireFox from: Mozilla Firefox

    Now try Bitdefender and Panda again. Any luck?

    Are you using a non-english Windows Version?

    Is the below something you installed??
    O4 - Startup: Shortcut to XBALANCE.lnk = C:\Program Files\XBALANCE.EXE

    Is this a laptop PC and did you purchase a security item with it name Lojack (to recover lost/stolen PCs)? Or anything by Absolute Software Corp or Computrace? You may not even know you have this!


    To check this.
    Click Start, Run and type msconfig, and click OK. This will openthe System Configuration Utility. Click the Services tab and put a check in the "Hide All Microsoft Services" scroll down to see if it shows Absolute Software Corp.
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2007
  3. bani

    bani Private E-2

    Thanks! Now it works. I have attached Counterspy, Bitdefender, and Pandan this time. Please help to take a look.

    Are you using a non-english Windows Version?
    ==> No. I am using english version.

    Is the below something you installed?
    ==> No. I dont recall.

    This is a laptop purchased by my school in batch and distributed to students. Followed your instructions, I did not see an item called "Absolute Software Corp".

    Thank you very much!
     

    Attached Files:

  4. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    That's strange. Are you studying Chinese or do you access lots of Chinese websites. Many things I see on your system keep pointing towards Chinese web pages. Even the below from your Panda log points to Chinese sites.
    Code:
                                                                   
    Adware:Adware/BaiduBar   Not disinfected  C:\Program Files\Kingsoft\Powerword 2006\Regbaidu.exe                                                                                  
    Do a Google Search on Regbaidu.exe and see what I mean.

    And even PowerWord 2006 brings up hits to Chinese. Is PowerWord something you installed? If so, then perhaps the above is not a problem.

    You would not be able to see it. It is embedded in hardware. Since it is a school PC, that explains it. They purchase these PCs with this hardware installed to prevent and also track down PC thiefs.
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2007
  5. bani

    bani Private E-2

    Ya. I believe most if not all the problems come from Chinese websites. I am Chinese so I do browse couple Chinese websites. Baidu is a Chinese search engine. So what do you suggest me to do with all those detected problems? Is the problem I described in the beginning caused by any of those detected in the logs? Thank you.
     
  6. bani

    bani Private E-2

    Powerword is a electronic dictionary. I installed that. Thanks.rolleyes
     
  7. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Let's try the below!

    Start by downloading a tool we will need - Pocket KillBox

    Save it to its own folder somewhere that you will be able to locate it later.

    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:

    O2 - BHO: (no name) - CÅAB8C6-FB22-4D17-8834-064E2BA0A6F0} - (no file)
    O2 - BHO: (no name) - rsion - (no file)
    O2 - BHO: (no name) - XCÅ0B48F-617D-4F73-A20F-D3D54357F103} - (no file)
    O2 - BHO: (no name) - {385AB8C6-FB22-4D17-8834-064E2BA0A6F0} - (no file)
    O2 - BHO: (no name) - ¨Å¨Å3-0D84-45aa-81EC-CC629BC07566} - (no file)
    O2 - BHO: (no name) - ØBÅ49E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - (no file)
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UserFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -u
    O4 - Startup: Shortcut to XBALANCE.lnk = C:\Program Files\XBALANCE.EXE

    After clicking Fix, exit HJT.

    Now run Pocket Killbox by doubleclicking on killbox.exe
    • select File, Cleanup, Delete All Backups
    • Choose Tools > Delete Temp Files and click Delete Selected Temp Files.
    • Then after it deletes the files click the Exit (Save Settings) button.
    NOTE: Pocket Killbox will only list the added files it is able to find on the system. So when you do the below, if some files do not show in the list after pasting them in, just continue.

    Select:
    • Delete on Reboot
    • then Click on the All Files button.
    • Please copy the file paths below to the clipboard by highlighting ALL of them and pressing CTRL + C (or, after highlighting, right-click and choose copy):

    C:\Program Files\XBALANCE.EXE
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\instw32.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system\s6\iexplorer.exe
    • Return to Killbox, go to the File menu, and choose Paste from Clipboard.
    • Click the red-and-white Delete File button. Click Yes at the Delete on Reboot prompt.
    If you receive a PendingFileRenameOperations prompt, just click OK to continue (But please let me know if you receive this message!).
    If Killbox does not reboot just reboot your PC yourself.

    Now run Ccleaner!

    Now attach the below new logs and tell me how the above steps went.

    1. GetRunKey
    2. ShowNew
    3. HJT


    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!
     
  8. bani

    bani Private E-2

    I ran the HJT and fixed those lines you told me, but I think one line shows up again in the new HJT log:
    O2 - BHO: (no name) - {385AB8C6-FB22-4D17-8834-064E2BA0A6F0} - (no file)

    I did not recieve the PendingFileRenameOperations when fisnishing the Killbox.

    Attached are new logs for GetRunKey, ShowNew, and HJT.

    The problem seems to be gone. :p But I didnt work on this laptop that much since it went crazy. I guess I will work on it for longer to see if it is stable. Btw, I do not need any unnecessary thing from any Chinese websites. I need that dictionary work though. So if you suggest me to delete anything about that "Baidu", I would be happy to. Thanks a lot!
     
  9. bani

    bani Private E-2

    oops.
     

    Attached Files:

  10. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Uninstall the Sunbelt CounterSpy trial since we are finished with it now! Then delete the below two folders which may be left behind by the uninstall:
    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Sunbelt Software
    C:\spywaretools\Counterspy

    Now shut down all applications especially browsers (even this one where you are reading this message) before doing the below.

    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.
    Is that O2 BHO line gone now?
     
  11. bani

    bani Private E-2

    It is not gone. I had to at leat copy the two-line bold text in your quote before I could shut the browser down. I saved it to desktop under FixME.reg for the first time and realized F was small in your message. And I did the whole thing again. But still it is not gone. Others are all done follow the instructions. I am not sure if this O2 BHO's existence is a problem, my computer has been operating good so far. Thanks a lot!
     
  12. bani

    bani Private E-2

    I happened to run the yahoo anti-spy. The Cinmus A adware is still there and can not be removed. The locations of the two objects are:

    [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{385AB8C6-FB22-4D17-8834-064E2BA0A6F0}]

    HKEY_classes_root\clsid\{385AB8C6-FB22-4D17-8834-064E2BA0A6F0}

    Thanks!
     
  13. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Yes that is what we are working on! ;)


    Please download and install Registrar Lite Make sure you select a Majorgeeks download link and not the Authors!

    Run Registrar Lite navigate to each of the following keys (one at a time) and take ownership of them (I explained how to do that further down).

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{385AB8C6-FB22-4D17-8834-064E2BA0A6F0}
    HKEY_classes_root\clsid\{385AB8C6-FB22-4D17-8834-064E2BA0A6F0}

    To take ownership of the key do the following:
    • Copy & Paste the registry key from above into the Address bar of Registrar Lite and hit the enter key. This will bring you to the registry key.
    • Click-on Security in the top Menu
    • Select Take Ownership
    • Repeat these steps for all of the registry keys given above before continue to the next steps below.
    • Now leave RegistrarLite running and continue
    • Now run the fixME.reg REGISTRY PATCH below in this message.
    • Tell me the results. Any error messages?
    • Now in RegistrarLite click View and then Refresh
    • Now navigate one at a time to each of the above keys we took ownership of to make sure they were deleted.
    • If any of the keys still exist, move on down to PART 2 - Setting Permissions for Everyone below!.
    Here is the Registry Patch

    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.

    PART 2 - Setting Permissions for Everyone
    Run the below if some of the registry keys still exist after running the above steps.

    Now I want you to use Registar Lite again to navigate to each of the below keys (one at a time) by pasting them into the Address Bar and hitting return. But this time click the Security menu item and select Edit Permissions so we can change permissions to everyone ( I describe this down below the list of registry keys).
    After click Edit Permissions , here is what I expect you to see in the Group or user names area of the form:

    Everyone
    SYSTEM

    Select Everyone by clicking on it. Now at the bottom in the Permissions box click the check box for Full Control. The click Apply and then OK to get back to the main Registrar Lite screen. Nowright click on the registry key and select Delete. The click View and Refresh. Check to see if the registry key just deleted truly deleted. If so, move on to the next to work thru the whole list. If it does not delete, I want you to boot into safe mode and repeat these exact same steps to see if we can do it from safe mode.

    Then reboot your PC!

    Is the O2 BHO gone now?
    Does Yahoo come up clean?
     
  14. bani

    bani Private E-2

    1. Ran fixME.reg after taking ownership
    ==> no error message. looked just like before.

    2. After merge fixME.reg and refresh RegisterLite.
    ==> can still locate both. lookes nothing changed.

    3. Problem with Editing Permissions
    ==> I didnt see Everyone option. My whole list of Group and users names is:
    Administrators (my name\administrator)
    Creator Owner
    MBA07 (my name\MBA07)
    Power users (my name\Power user)
    System
    Users (my name\users)

    What would you suggest me to do with this? confused Thanks!
     
  15. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    But did you try the manual delete as requested?
     
  16. bani

    bani Private E-2

    O. YES.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{385AB8C6-FB22-4D17-8834-064E2BA0A6F0}
    ==> One line item. I delelted.

    HKEY_classes_root\clsid\{385AB8C6-FB22-4D17-8834-064E2BA0A6F0}
    ==> There were two folders under this one. I had to delete both folders first before I could deleted this one. Otherwise it says "access denied"

    No detection of these two by either HJT or Yahoo any more. Thanks a lot. However, there is something new happening now. Almost immediately after I reboot my computer, I received a message from my Virusscan On-Access, says virus detected:

    Name: rpcnetp.dll
    In folder:C:\windows\system\rpcnetp.dll
    Detected as: Generic PUP.e
    Application: rpcnetp.exe

    First message gives the status as "No action" as the virus is not cancellable or removable. But after that, the Virusscan keeps poping up approximately every 20 mins and gives the same detection message but with status as "Moved". So far until I am typing message here, it has been poping up 4 times and still keeps doing so. Would you please tell me whats going on and anything I can fix it? Thanks!
     
  17. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Remember back in message number 2 when I asked you about:
    That is what this file is for and it is not possible to permanently delete this. Even if we delete the files using special procedures, they will come back after a reboot. They are embedded into this PC locating hardware that is embedded in your PC's hardware.

    It is also related to the below service:
    O23 - Service: Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Net (Rpcnet) - Absolute Software Corp. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\rpcnet.exe
     
  18. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Wait a minute!!!!

    Are you sure it said they were in c:\windows\system and not c:\windows\system32


    Look in c:\windows\system and tell me if you see those files and what are the file dates?

    Also attach a new log from ShowNew.
     
  19. bani

    bani Private E-2

    Sorry. It is in system32. :eek: But are you saying I have to see this message poping up once every 15 mins or so from now on? rolleyes Its weird I have been using this computer for 1.5 years and I did not have this problem before. O. And sometimes followed that Virusscan message is another message says rpcnetp.exe is encountering some problem and has to shut down. I just dont want to see this poping up so frequently. Please advise. Thank you!
     
  20. bani

    bani Private E-2

    Ok. While I was checking the date of rpcnetp.dll, the Virusscan immediately gives a message with two more detections: rpcnetp.exe and rpcnetp.dll.vir. Dates are as bellow:

    rpcnetp.dll: created: July 12, 2005. Modified: Today 8pm (2 hrs earlier). Accessed: Today just now
    rpcnetp.dll.vir: created: Mar 6, 2007. Modified: Today 8pm (2 hrs earlier) Accessed: Today just now
    rpcnetp.exe: created: Sept 29, 2005. Modified: Feb 15, 2007 Accessed: Today just now.
     

    Attached Files:

  21. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Perhaps it is due to a recent update in your antivirus programs definitions. Those files were always there and you will see their dates change probably after each reboot since they are added back in by the hardware. You have a few options:
    • talk to the your school and see how they are handling this problem. They are the ones who purchased the PC with this PITA hardware installed.
    • talk to the PC manufacturer and explain the situation (you will probably not have any luck doing this at all)
    • talk to McAfee and tell them they need to know the difference between real malware and these files add by Lojack, Absolute Software Corp, Computrace or what ever it may be called now.
    • see if there is an option in McAfee to ignore these files
    • uninstall McAfee and see if you have better luck with another antivirus application
     
  22. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You forgot one. The below is what is actually in your system32 folder:
    Code:
    "C:\WINDOWS\system32\"
    rpcnet.exe    Feb 15 2007       35840  "rpcnet.exe"
    rpcnetp.exe   Mar  8 2007       17408  "rpcnetp.exe"
     
    "C:\WINDOWS\system32\"
    rpcnet.dll    Mar  8 2007       35840  "rpcnet.dll"
     
  23. bani

    bani Private E-2

    OK. I will bring the computer to school IT to see what they would do. Thank you very much for all the help. :wave
     
  24. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    That would be your best option. This group of files is well known by most REAL malware experts and we know that they are due to hardware built-into the PCs. Many novices are still trying to remove them all the time and they will not be able to do so on a permanent basis. You can get the files to delete if you know what you are doing, but as soon as you reboot, they will be back again.
     

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