Questions about viruses and malware

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by jkeys, Dec 12, 2010.

  1. jkeys

    jkeys Private E-2

    I have a general question about viruses and malware. While reading a news website, my Firefox browser was redirected to what looked like a real Firefox web page, warning me that my Adobe Flash Player needed to be updated. Since I had been unable to view a video earlier and was advised to update my Flash player at that time, I assumed that my Flash player really needed updating and clicked on the download link provided on the "supposed" Firefox web page. After downloading the file, I scanned it with ESET, SuperAntiSpyware, and Malwarebytes, none of which found any security threats, before installing what I thought was the update. You can guess what happened next. Needless to say that I had ESET warnings popping up every 5 seconds, noticed that my Windows Security Center had been turned off and could not be turned back on, that System Restore was turned off and all previous restores had been wiped out, and I noticed web pages were getting redirected. I tried to remove the virus/malware using ESET, SuperAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, and Dr. Web Cure it, to no avail. I even tried erasing my hard drive using Erase and Active@ Kill Disk, but nothing seemed to work. So, I finally decided to reinstall my Windows operating system using the OEM disks that I came with my computer and setting everything back to factory settings.

    Here's my question: when reinstalling the operating system using factory settings, I was warned that "all partitions on the hard drive will be deleted, including any personal data and configuration settings." Is there any way that the virus/malware that had infected my computer can survive this process? Is it possible that, even after restoring my computer to factory settings, that the virus/malware could still be on my computer? One reason I'm asking is because after my computer was infected, I noticed that my the signal strength on my wireless connection was decreasing and then increasing from time to time, and it seems to be still doing this even after I've reinstalled the operating system from scratch. It's possible it's a router issue and it's also possible that it was doing this before my computer was infected and I hadn't noticed. Is this type of signal issue a common result of an infection by a virus or malware? Just seems a bit strange. If anyone could give me some insight, I'd really appreciate it! Sorry for the lengthy post and thanks for your help!
     
  2. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Quite possibly if it is an MBR infection. Better to be safe than sorry, let's take a closer look at what's going on if anything:

    Run this first:

    Go to TDSSKiller and Download TDSSKiller.zip to your Desktop

    • Extract its contents to your Desktop so that you have TDSSKiller.exe directly on your Desktop and not in any subfolder of the Desktop.
    • Now double click the TDSSkiller.exe file to run it ( if using Vista or Windows 7 do not double click on it but rather, right click and select Run As Administrartor.
    • Allow the application to run and a window will open showing that it is TDSSkiller from Kaspersky
    • Click Start scan
    • It will run rather quickly and will notify you of whether anything is found or not.
    • Follow the instructions to delete/quarantine if asks you what to do when if finds something.
    Whether an infection is found or not, a log file should be created on your C: drive ( or whatever drive you boot from) in the root folder named something like TDSSKiller.2.1.1_27.12.2009_14.17.04_log.txt which is based on the program version # and date and time run. Please attach this log to your next reply. (See: HOW TO: Attach Items To Your Post )

    Then continue with the below

    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 other 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.
     
  3. jkeys

    jkeys Private E-2

    Hi Kestrel13!,

    Thanks very much for your prompt reply. I went through all of the information you posted and ran all of the scans in the Vista Cleaning Procedure (although I am running Windows 7 Pro), and also ran TDSSKiller. I've attached the scan logs for each to this post and the next. There are 6 in total. I don't believe any security threats were found.

    I was not able to run RootRepeal since I repeatedly got an error message. I tried re-downloading the file from the "Running RootRepeal" post and running it again, but I again got an error message. I included the RootRepeal error log with the scan logs. I did disable all of my anti-virus and anti-malware when running RootRepeal and ComboFix. If there is a way for me to work around the errors with RootRepeal, please let me know and I'd be happy to run it again.

    In the meantime, I'm going to try to run a few of the "Alternative Scans" referenced at the bottom of the Vista Cleaning Procedure post, just as an added precaution. Again, thank you very much for your help. You guys provide an extremely valuable service!
     

    Attached Files:

  4. jkeys

    jkeys Private E-2

    The remaining scan logs.....
     

    Attached Files:

  5. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Not seeing any problems. :)

    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 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.
    3. Go back to step 6 of the READ ME and renable your Disk Emulation software with Defogger if you had disabled it.
    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 pointed to by step 7 of 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:
     
  6. jkeys

    jkeys Private E-2

    Thanks again Kestrel13!

    I followed all of your instructions to uninstall and re-enable what had been disabled earlier. I also read through the "How to Protect Yourself from Malware" post and implemented some of the suggestions.

    I have a couple of final questions:

    1. Is this situation I'm experiencing with the fluctuating wireless network signal strength something I should be overly concerned about, as far as viruses go? In other words, it this a commonly reported symptom of computer infections? This is the only lingering issue I see since the infection, although as I said earlier this could be a router/internet issue and I'll certainly be checking this out immediately after I'm done here.

    2. I'm going to continue running some of the "Alternate Scan" software referenced at the end of the "Vista Cleaning Procedure" post, in particular some of the rootkit software. If I find anything strange, would it be ok for me to post a scan log or two from this software so that someone can take a look at the log(s)?

    Thank you very much for all of your help. I greatly appreciate it!
     
  7. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    I doubt it is anything to do with malware, you could post about it in the software or networking forum.
    Of course I will! :)

    No problem.
     

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