Search Engine hijack

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by jts15, Feb 3, 2009.

  1. jts15

    jts15 Private E-2

    Hello,
    Thank you for reading my post. Please bear with me as I am not very tech savvy.

    I am having a problem with search engines. Every time I do a search I get a list of results that look legit but direct me to other sites. For example if I type "rams" as a search, I get the St. Louis Rams official site as my first hit. But if I click on it I get take to www.shoppingtiger.com or something similar. I have noticed that the search takes longer to complete since this started happening.

    As soon as I noticed this I ran a Symantec scan and AdAware scan with no results. I began searching (on another computer) for solutions and found this site.

    I have completed the "Read Me FAQ" sticky and I am attaching my logs. I have completed each step except ComboFix because I could not figure out how to turn off my antivirus software. This computer is on a network and is used for both personal and work purposes. I used the machine on 1/29/09 to search for and buy office supplies. The next morning I had this issue.

    Thanks in advance for any assistance. Please let me know if any more info is needed.
    jt
     

    Attached Files:

  2. jts15

    jts15 Private E-2

    Got the anti-virus turned off and ran Combofix. I am attaching my log even though that will now put me at the end of the list.
    The combofix seems to have taken care of the problem for now. Please let me know if you see anything that needs attention and thank you so much for the help.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Does this happen only with IE or also with other browsers?

    Let's first try to reset IE Default Security Settings:
    For Internet Explorer 6 users:
    Click Start > Run > type inetcpl.cpl and press ENTER, when Internet Properties comes up navigate to the Security Tab and click Default Level for the following:

    * Internet
    * Local Intranet
    * Trusted Sites
    * Restricted Sites.

    Click OK to exit.

    For Internet Explorer 7 users:
    Click Start > Run > type inetcpl.cpl and press ENTER, when Internet Properties comes up, navigate to the Security Tab and simply click the "Reset all zones to default level" button. Click OK to exit.

    NOTE: If it's "grey" then it's already at the default level.

    Your newfiles log is empty so I want you to go to C:\MGTools and double click on the ShowNew.bat and attach that log. Tell me if you get any errors.
     
  4. jts15

    jts15 Private E-2

    Thank you for the reply TimW!
    I have been using the machine incident free since running combofix as I said in my last post.

    In response to your post:

    This happened in both browsers that I use, Explorer and Firefox.

    I have IE 7 and it was already set to default.

    Attached is my log. No errors occurred.

    Thanks again!
     

    Attached Files:

  5. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Please click Start, Run, and enter cmd and click OK. This will open a command prompt window. Enter the below commands at the command prompt each followed by the enter key. The bold black are commands. The purple is merely informational.

    cd \MGtools <-- this changes to the MGtools folder and the prompt should change to C:\MGtools>
    GetRunKey <-- this will try to run all one scan from MGtools. Tell me what error messages, if any, you see.
    ShowNew <-- this will try to run all another scan from MGtools. Tell me what error messages, if any, you see.
     
  6. jts15

    jts15 Private E-2

    Followed your instructions and no errors. I have attached the logs that were generated.
    Thanks.
     

    Attached Files:

  7. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    The scan is still not generating a newfiles log. Please see the below link for possible fixes:
    Using MGtools

    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.
    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.
    Now do a seach for ( and if found delete):
    IfxWlxEN.dll

    After applying the fix for xp ....run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file.
     
  8. jts15

    jts15 Private E-2

    Got the success message.

    Applied the fix and attached log.

    I get an message "Cannot delete. Access denied" when I try to delete that file from C:\windows\system 32.

    Thanks.
     

    Attached Files:

  9. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Please download and install Net_Framework

    Now download The Avenger by Swandog469, and save it to your Desktop.

    * Extract avenger.exe from the Zip file and save it to your desktop
    * Run avenger.exe by double-clicking on it.
    * Do not change any check box options!!
    * Copy everything in the Quote box below, and paste it into the Input script here: part of the window:

    * Now click the Execute button.
    * Click Yes to the prompt to confirm you want to execute.
    * Click Yes to the Reboot now? question that will appear when Avenger finishes running.
    * Your PC should reboot, if not, reboot it yourself.
    * A log file from Avenger will be produced at C:\avenger.txt and it will popup for you to view when you login after reboot.

    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this and also attach the log from Avenger.
     
  10. jts15

    jts15 Private E-2

    Downloaded and installed NET but at the final screen I got "Setup Error" and my only option was to exit. This happened twice.

    Ran Avenger and have log attached.

    Ran MGTools and have log attached.

    Thanks!
     

    Attached Files:

  11. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Let's try installing an older version HERE.
    Your newfiles log is still empty and so I can not see if there are still malware items on your system.
     
  12. jts15

    jts15 Private E-2

    Tried to install but it says it won't install due to another version already on the computer. I looked at my Add/Remove Programs and I have:
    Microsoft >NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2
    Microsoft >NET Framework 3.0 Service Pack 2
    Microsoft >NET Framework 3.5 SP 1
     
  13. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Please download this MGbeta.zip file to the C:\MGtools folder. Then extract the two files from it overwriting the current GetRunKey.bat and ShowNew.bat programs you have. Then double click on the GetLogs.bat file in the C:\MGtools folder. When it finishes running, attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file.



    Now let's try running GooRedFix.
    • Please download GooredFix and save it to your Desktop.
    • Double-click Goored.exe to run it.
      • Select 1. Find Goored (no fix) by typing 1 and pressing Enter.
      • A log will open which you can just close. The log file is named Goored.txt and is on your Desktop.
    • Please attach the Goored.txt log to your next reply
    • Note: Do not run Option #2 yet.
     
  14. jts15

    jts15 Private E-2

    Both seemed to run ok. Logs are attached. Thanks.
     

    Attached Files:

  15. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    That fixed the MGTools problem and I am not seeing anything malware related.

    Please download ATF Cleaner by Atribune. This program does not require an installation. The executable actually runs the program.

    NOTE: This program is for Windows XP and Windows 2000 only. ATF Cleaner will remove all files from the items that are checked so if you have some cookies you'd like to save. Please move them to a different directory first.

    * Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.
    * Under Main choose: Select All
    * Click the Empty Selected button.

    If you use Firefox browser

    * Click Firefox at the top and choose: Select All
    * Click the Empty Selected button.
    o NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.

    If you use Opera browser

    * Click Opera at the top and choose: Select All
    * Click the Empty Selected button.
    o NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.

    Click Exit on the Main ATF Cleaner menu to close the program.

    Tell me what issues still remain.
     
  16. jts15

    jts15 Private E-2

    Ran ATF cleaner with no problems. Everything seems to be working fine.
    Thanks!
     
  17. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Good to know......If you are not having any other malware problems, it is time to do our final steps:

    1. We recommed 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" /u
        • 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.

      • Delete the C:\combofix folder from combofix (if it exists)

    3. Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
    4. 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.
    5. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.
    6. You can delete the C:\MGtools folder and the C:\MGtools.exe file. You can also delete the C:\MGlogs.zip
    7. If you are running Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:
      • Refer to the cleaning steps in the READ ME for your Window version and see the steps to Disable System Restore which will flush your Restore Points.
      • Then reboot and Enable System Restore to create a new clean Restore Point.

    8. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:

     

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