rogue malware issues

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by catspaw, Jan 29, 2010.

  1. catspaw

    catspaw Private E-2

    I have Windows XP and 2 gig RAM. To begin with I could not open firefox or IE browsers so I started going the steps on 'READ AND RUN ME FIRST'. After the registry clean and startup program review with CCleaner, I could at least open firefox but it is not responding normally. My usual homepage (firefox start up page with Google search box) does not open. It comes up with a message that says
    "The page isn't redirecting properly.
    Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for this address in a way that will never complete.
    * This problem can sometimes be caused by disabling or refusing to accept cookies."

    Cookies are not disabled, I have checked.
    If I try any of my bookmarked sites these work fine. But when I try to follow the link on a Google search index, to computer support sites that will actually help me I am redirected to another page, maybe a MySpace page or a unknown search engine with a list of PC repairs tools I might (if silly enough) feel inclined to purchase, e.g. 'RegCure' which is touted as a free download MajorGeeks fix. That is just one example, various different ones will appear, I am not sure that I have seen the same one twice.
    I have now been through the whole process of 'READ AND RUN ME FIRST' but still have these redirection issues. During the process I could not download any of the necessary programs from this computer - I had to use another computer and transferred them to this pc with a USB.
    Attached are the logs - hoping you can help me. SuperAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes did remove some threats but it has made any difference.
    Cheers,
    Cate
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Jan 29, 2010
  2. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Did you install an internet usage monitor on this system:
    "x3watch"="C:\\Program Files\\X3watch\\x3watch.exe"

    C:\Documents and Settings\Cate\Desktop\COMBOFixLog.txt is on your desktop, but not ComboFix.exe. Please put it directly on your desktop now.

    Please disable all anti-virus and anti-spyware programs while we do the following (re-enable when you are finished):

    * 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.
    * Also make sure you have shut down all protection software (antivirus, antispyware...etc) or they may get in the way of allowing ComboFix to run properly.
    * 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 in the below code box into it (make sure you scroll all the way down in the code box to get all lines selected ):
    Code:
    KILLALL::
    
    File::
    C:\WINDOWS\iopa32ul.dll
    
    Collect::[8]
    C:\WINDOWS\sprscore.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\rundys32.exe
    
    * 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 prvevious 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
    * I will ask for this log below

    Note:

    Do not mouseclick combofix's window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.

    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator).

    Then attach the below logs:

    * C:\ComboFix.txt
    * C:\MGlogs.zip
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 30, 2010
  3. catspaw

    catspaw Private E-2

    Thanks so much for your prompt response.
    My husband installed x3watch, but we are not really using it. Is it harmful?
    Combofix was on my desktop – I must of moved it at some stage, cannot think why. I have put it back on my desktop and followed the steps you have suggested. Attached are the two log files.
    Cheers,
    Cate
     

    Attached Files:

  4. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    No, the program itself isn't harmful. It just reports on web sites visited, which I assume is being used to monitor children.

    Your logs are clean. The only suggestion I would make would be to uninstall Ad-Aware as it is mostly useless these days.

    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 real-time protection. They are useful as backup scanners.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 /u, it must be there.
        • This will uninstall ComboFix and also reset hidden files and folders settings back to Windows defaults.
    3. Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
    4. If we had you download any registry patches like fixme.reg or fixWLK.reg (or any others), you can delete these files now.
    5. 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.
    6. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.
    7. 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.
    8. If you are running Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:
      • Refer to the cleaning procedures in step 3 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 ato create a new clean Restore Point.
    9. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:
     
  5. catspaw

    catspaw Private E-2

    Unfortunately I am still having malware issues. When I click on a link on a Google search page I am still being redirected to other rogue sites, often via a site with the address http://results2.google.com. This happens on both firefox and IE.

    I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling firefox.

    I am not able to install Spybot Search and Destroy as it will not connect to the server.

    Any more suggestions?

    Thanks,
    Cate
     
  6. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Please do this:

    * Please download TDSSKiller 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.
    * Click Start > Run and copy/paste the following bold command into Run box and hit Enter.

    "%userprofile%\Desktop\TDSSKiller.exe" -v

    * Follow the instructions to type in "delete" when it asks you what to do when if finds something.
    * When done, a log file should be created on your C: drive 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.

    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator).

    Then attach the below logs:

    * C:\MGlogs.zip

    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!
     
  7. catspaw

    catspaw Private E-2

    I have run both programs as requested and attached the logs.

    Before this I did another AVG scan and there were 6 infections of "Trojan horse Crypt.NRW"

    My browsers are still redirecting to rogue webpages from links in the Google search index - so no change thus far.

    Thanks for your help,
    Cate
     

    Attached Files:

  8. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Please give me the AVG log so I can see the exact path of what it is reporting. :)
     
  9. catspaw

    catspaw Private E-2

    AVG log attached (copy of virus vault from 21/1/10)
     

    Attached Files:

  10. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    First off, it found a bunch of tracking cookies ( no big deal).

    Second, it found what it thought was a virus in both of these:
    UPS_invoice _NR1345.zip ( would you not think this is a false positive?)
    DHL_Label _Nr14578.zip ( would you not think this is a false positive?)

    And finally, it found infections in a bunch of your system restore folders. Which tells me you never finished my final instructions to you and toggled system restore.
     
  11. catspaw

    catspaw Private E-2

    Firstly - I posted a copy of what AVG had found because that is what you asked me to do. I am a bit taken aback at your response rolleyes

    re:"UPS_invoice _NR1345.zip ( would you not think this is a false positive?)
    DHL_Label _Nr14578.zip ( would you not think this is a false positive?)"
    - I have no idea, do you think these are false positives?

    Secondly:
    re:"Which tells me you never finished my final instructions to you and toggled system restore."
    No I didn’t because that bit comes under the heading “If you are not having any other malware problems, it is time to do our final steps:” I did not do those steps because I am still having malware problems.
    Also in the Toggle System Restore instructions it says:
    “Once you are sure all malware problems have been removed follow the below steps:”

    Malware problems remaining:
    1. My firefox home page (which is the firefox start page with google search engine box) is redirected and eventually loads an error message as described in my first post.
    2. My browser will not load http://www.malwarebytes.org - the page is redirected to an unfamiliar search page
    3. I cannot download malwarebytes from the majorgeeks website
    4. Installation of spybot search and destroy fails

    So - should I be following the Toggle System Restore instructions if I still have malware problems on my system? If yes, can you please review how these instructions are presented so there is less confusion about this procedure in the future.
     
  12. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Sorry for the delay.

    Is this a business machine? You do not know if you or some other user downloaded either of those two files......the UPS_invoice _NR1345.zip or the DHL_Label _Nr14578.zip? Do you not use either UPS or DHL?

    Please disable all anti-virus and anti-spyware programs while we do the following (re-enable when you are finished):

    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.

    Now copy just the bold text below to notepad (Do not include any space above the word REGEDIT). 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.
    Make sure that you tell me if you receive a success message about adding the above
    to the registry. If you do not get a success message, it definitely did not work.


    * 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.
    * Also make sure you have shut down all protection software (antivirus, antispyware...etc) or they may get in the way of allowing ComboFix to run properly.
    * 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 in the below code box into it (make sure you scroll all the way down in the code box to get all lines selected ):
    Code:
    KILLALL::
    
    File::
    C:\WINDOWS\rundys32.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\UDB.zip
    C:\WINDOWS\sprscore.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\CF9029.exe
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\svchost.exe
    C:\Documents and Settings\Cate\Local Settings\temp\AB9C3375.TMP
    C:\Documents and Settings\Cate\Local Settings\temp\BtnConfig.ini
    C:\Documents and Settings\Cate\Local Settings\temp\dftc.xml
    C:\Documents and Settings\Cate\Local Settings\temp\etn5B.pmk
    C:\Documents and Settings\Cate\Local Settings\temp\etn5B.tmp
    C:\Documents and Settings\Cate\Local Settings\temp\etn73.pmk
    C:\Documents and Settings\Cate\Local Settings\temp\etn73.tmp
    C:\Documents and Settings\Cate\Local Settings\temp\E_S62.tmp
    C:\Documents and Settings\Cate\Local Settings\temp\font-pre.html
    
    Folder::
    C:\Program Files\AskBarDis
    C:\WINDOWS\Temp\AskBarDis
    
    [- .................]
    
    
    * 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 prvevious 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
    * I will ask for this log below

    Note:

    Do not mouseclick combofix's window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.

    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator).

    Then attach the below logs:

    * C:\ComboFix.txt
    * C:\MGlogs.zip

    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!
     
  13. catspaw

    catspaw Private E-2

    No probs with the delay – I have been very busy too and haven’t had time to address this in several days.

    This is a home computer for parents use, part work-related/part personal use – the kids (teenage boys) have their own computer, but they sometimes use this one too. Hence the monitoring software etc.

    As for UPS_invoice_NR1245.zip and DHL_Label_Nr14578.zip – I really don’t know and my husband didn’t recognize them either. I cannot find either file using Windows Search.

    Yay - I think it's clean now! :-D
    Attached are the logs you asked for.
    My firefox homepage loads properly now, I can access the malwarebytes.org website and installation of spybot search and destroy is no longer blocked.
    Haven't noticed any further redirections thus far.

    Thankyou so much
     

    Attached Files:

  14. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Your logs are clean.

    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 real-time protection. They are useful as backup scanners.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 /u, it must be there.
        • This will uninstall ComboFix and also reset hidden files and folders settings back to Windows defaults.
    3. Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
    4. If we had you download any registry patches like fixme.reg or fixWLK.reg (or any others), you can delete these files now.
    5. 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.
    6. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.
    7. 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.
    8. If you are running Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:
      • Refer to tahe cleaning procedures ian step 3 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 ato create a new clean Restore Point.
    9. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:
     

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