Remote 'virus/malware clean' scam?

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by amberH, Jun 21, 2011.

  1. amberH

    amberH Private E-2

    Hello,

    My friend has given me her computer to look at - she is concerned there may be some software on it that allows remote access to it.
    She received a call from someone (this is going around a lot here) saying they were a company that works for MS - that their PC is infected with viruses, and they will help clean them.
    It seems they had her open up her windows logs, and told her that all the yellow & red exclamation marks were results of viruses & malware.
    She allowed them remote access to her computer (I'm unclear how) and they 'cleaned' her computer.
    All that is obviously left from them is an install of Google Chrome and CCleaner.
    They charged her $250. She has cancelled her credit card and is demanding a refund - which they assure her will happen - but it all sounds so suspicious that I thought I'd ask for advice here.
    I use your forums all the time to clean malware - and will go through the steps you outline. Will this be enough?
    How do I ensure nothing is left on her computer that would allow them access again?

    Thanks!!
    Amber
     
  2. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    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. amberH

    amberH Private E-2

    Hello!
    Thanks for the response!
    I'm attaching my logs.

    Cheers,
    Amber
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Good, also wise to change all her online passwords from another clean computer.

    I am not however seeing any malware in those logs. We can do a couple things including restoring a file that Combofix ate.

    Navigate to : C:\QooBox\Quarantine\C\Program Files (x86)\Bell Mobility\Mobile Connect Basic\tscui.exe.vir <--- rename this file to disinclude the .vir extension, then place it back in it's original location as follows.

    c:\program files (x86)\Bell Mobility\Mobile Connect Basic\tscui.exe


    Malware Bytes is outdated, open up the program, use the update tab to let it update > rescan > fix anything it may find.


    Important Notice: A new version of SUPERAntiSpyware is available.
    • Please uninstall your current version (this is necessary).
    • Then download this SUPERAntiSpyware
    • Install this new version. It may tell you that you need to reboot to complete the installation. You must reboot at this time.
    • After the reboot, run SUPERAntiSpyware and immediately click the Check for Updates button to get more updates for the database.
    • Now run a new full scan of your system. And attach this log later.
     
  5. amberH

    amberH Private E-2

    Thanks much.
    It's looking clean - her concern was that they left some back door open to get back in, and I thought I'd better ask the experts :)

    I am attaching the most recent logs, but I don't think you'll find anything.

    Thanks,
    Amber
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    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:
     

MajorGeeks.Com Menu

Downloads All In One Tweaks \ Android \ Anti-Malware \ Anti-Virus \ Appearance \ Backup \ Browsers \ CD\DVD\Blu-Ray \ Covert Ops \ Drive Utilities \ Drivers \ Graphics \ Internet Tools \ Multimedia \ Networking \ Office Tools \ PC Games \ System Tools \ Mac/Apple/Ipad Downloads

Other News: Top Downloads \ News (Tech) \ Off Base (Other Websites News) \ Way Off Base (Offbeat Stories and Pics)

Social: Facebook \ YouTube \ Twitter \ Tumblr \ Pintrest \ RSS Feeds