Read & Run Me completed, but problems still arise

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by FieraDevilWings, Apr 3, 2011.

  1. FieraDevilWings

    FieraDevilWings Private E-2

    I have finished everything so far in the READ & RUN ME Malware Removal Guide, following the Windows XP guide since this is what OS I have. I still seem to have problems, however.
    What I've been trying to remove is a search engine redirector - it does this about half the time, sometimes it doesn't for some reason. After running MGTools (the last program on the list for scanning) I tested another Google search, and it seemed that the problem was still there. Below are four of the five logs:
     

    Attached Files:

  2. FieraDevilWings

    FieraDevilWings Private E-2

    Second post, containing the MGTools logs. I also have to note that I tried runnning it multiple times by accident because I know that the window for TrendMicro HijackThis appeared (it was behind an Internet Explorer 8 window) and I closed it. I tried it again, only then did I see the windows. One final time afterwards, just to make sure I got everything right (all of this was yesterday, by the way), and another today just to make sure I didn't mess everything up.
    My Anti-virus software is the new Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Protection. I'm really unsure of what to do, as I'm only 16 it's really annoying me because it prevents me from convenience when trying to, for example, research for projects (usually my alternate solution is to right-click, Copy Shortcut and then paste in the address bar. My ISP is BigPond. One of the redirects, also, seemingly was a BigPond page which I knew was fake as the URL wasn't of BigPond and the latest news hadn't shown up)
     
  3. dr.moriarty

    dr.moriarty Malware Super Sleuth Staff Member

    Welcome toMajorGeeks!

    Did you make sure that you watched for the license agreement for TrendMicro HijackThis and click on the Accept button TWICE to accept ( yes twice ).

    *Waiting for your C:\MGLogs.zip attachment so I can begin my review.

    dr.m
     
  4. FieraDevilWings

    FieraDevilWings Private E-2

    Oh whoops, I'll attach that here.
    As for the TrendMicro HijackThis, yes, I did click it twice.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. dr.moriarty

    dr.moriarty Malware Super Sleuth Staff Member

    OK!

    I'm about to log-off for the night, and I'll review your logs in the morning.

    dr.m
     
  6. dr.moriarty

    dr.moriarty Malware Super Sleuth Staff Member

    Hello, FieraDevilWings

    *NOTE: You should NOT allow BitComet & BitTorrent DNA to automatically run at startup. This opens your machine to the world, bypassing the firewall and other security programs.


    *Other than the tools our guide instructed you to save there, I strongly recommend that you clean up this account's Desktop immediately leaving only shortcut links. [ C:\Documents and Settings\User\desktop ] Do not store downloads, exe files, iso files....etc on your Desktop. First it is not a safe place to keep them (i.e., you may loose them due to malware, and a cluttered Desktop is an easy hiding place for malware), and last but not least - it can have an effect on your PCs performance.

    Step 1:
    Please look in Add/Remove Programs (Programs and Features if using Vista or Windows 7) for the following and uninstall if found. If you get any errors just make a note and continue on.
    Please disable all anti-virus and anti-spyware programs while we do the following (re-enable when you are finished):

    Step 2:
    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.

    Step 3:
    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.
    • Make sure you have shut down all protection software (antivirus, antispyware, firewall...etc) programs so they do not interfere with the running of ComboFix. *Remember to re-start them before coming back online.
    • 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 inside of the below code box into it (make sure you scroll all the way down in the code box to get all lines selected ):
    • 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.
      If it asks you to overide the previous file with the same name, click YES.
    • 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
    Note:
    Do not mouseclick combofix's window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.


    NOTE: If after running Combofix you discover none of your programs will open up, and you recieve the following error: "Illegal operation attempted on a registry key that has been marked for deletion"... the answer is to REBOOT the machine, and all will be corrected.

    Step 4:
    Delete all files and subfolders in the below folders except ones from the current date (Windows will not let you delete the files from the current day).
    Step 5:
    Open CCleaner - select "Cleaner" > "Run Cleaner" <---use this function ONLY!

    Step 6:
    Now install the latest Sun Java Runtime Environment

    Step 7:
    Please go to VirusTotal.com and upload the following file for analysis.
    Then post the URL link to the file scan report in your next reply.


    Step 8:
    Then run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista or Windows 7, use right click and select Run As Administrator).

    Please attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file and post the URL link to the VirusTotal scan result in your next reply.

    * Make sure you tell me if you had any problems running this procedure; and answer this - "What malware problems are you still experiencing?"

    dr.m
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2011
  7. dr.moriarty

    dr.moriarty Malware Super Sleuth Staff Member

  8. FieraDevilWings

    FieraDevilWings Private E-2

    I had followed the thread about Google Redirection first before the Read & Run Me. Right now I have to go off so I'm going to have to do this tomorrow, unfortunately.
     
  9. dr.moriarty

    dr.moriarty Malware Super Sleuth Staff Member

    :) I'll watch for notification of your next reply.

    dr.m
     
  10. FieraDevilWings

    FieraDevilWings Private E-2

    Unfortunately, I seem to not be able to install CCleaner...
    Also, when I ran ComboFix I didn't know that all its functions looked the same so I ran it twice more (following the same steps) accidentally.
    Edit: The error is as follows...? Oh, never mind - I have downloaded it again and it works.
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2011
  11. FieraDevilWings

    FieraDevilWings Private E-2

    Logs after steps completed, and other comments

    Ok, so I've got the link to VirusTotal:
    My attached logs are below.
    Installed Java.
    I will be testing to see if the problem still exists.
    Edit: YES! My search engine business is normal again! Thanks a lot dr.m and MajorGeeks! I'll be sure to look up to you in the future, but I'll be keeping an eye on this thread if there's any last things to take care of. Now, I'll be finishing off what needs to be done in the Read & Run Me.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Apr 5, 2011
  12. dr.moriarty

    dr.moriarty Malware Super Sleuth Staff Member

    You're welcome!

    Your logs look good! 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 re-enable 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 re-enabled 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 through the below link:
    Safe surfing! http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj5/drmoriarty/Emoticons/char145.gif
     
  13. FieraDevilWings

    FieraDevilWings Private E-2

    I've got one problem, which I don't know exactly how to do, and that's where HijackThis is located in Add or Remove Programs. If it's not there, do I just skip that step, or is it somewhere else?
     
  14. dr.moriarty

    dr.moriarty Malware Super Sleuth Staff Member

    That's okay - please continue with the rest of the steps.

    dr.m
     
  15. FieraDevilWings

    FieraDevilWings Private E-2

    Done and done (before you replied).
    Thanks again!
     
  16. dr.moriarty

    dr.moriarty Malware Super Sleuth Staff Member


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