Stubborn ZLOB DNS Changer

I've been infected with a ZLOB. I believe it happened about a month ago. That was when I first noticed AVG would not update. After running a number of scans, SpyBot found the ZLOB. I had the problem fixed and my AVG began updating again. I considered the problem solved. However, the very next time my computer was turned on, it booted up really slow. Again, AVG could not recieve updates. After running SpyBot, I found the ZLOB again. From then, my computer began to display even more eratic symptoms. I would be redirected to false websites and there were pop-ups every time I logged on to the Internet.
I've completed all the scans as requested. I had some trouble updating SuperAntiSpyware and Malware Bytes. I was able to update Malwarebytes manually, but I believe the ZLOB was blocking the update of SuperAntiSpyware. Some things now seem improved. My taskbar loads fully now (before it would often leave out items such as the audio control and safely remove hardware). My computer starts up a bit faster and seems to be running more smoothly.
However, AVG still will not update after my computer is restarted (it did update when I finished all the scans). I haven't ram any scans since, but I think if I ran SpyBot now, I would find the ZLOB again.
Can you please help me?

 

Here are the MGTools Logs.

 

http://www.majorgeeks.com/images/grenade.gifWelcome! to MajorGeeks.com!http://www.majorgeeks.com/images/grenade.gif


First, are you familiar with this entry below?

Pre-Instructions:

1. First, please disable any antivirus and/or antispy programs you have installed so they will not block this fix.
2. Print out these instructions or save them to a text file so that you can operate with All Browser Windows CLOSED.

Step 1:

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:

Again, make sure ALL browser windows are closed when you click FIX.​

Step 2:

Now we need to use ComboFix to remove a bunch of malware files.

• 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.
• Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the below quote box into it:

• 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.
• Now use your mouse to drag CFscript.txt on top of ComboFix.exe
• 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.​

Step 3:

Default Security Settings

To 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.​

Step 4:

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.
  • 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.
  • 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.​

Step 5:

Make sure you have all web browsers closed.

• Go into Control Panel -->Network Connections.
• Right click on your connection
• and click Properties.
• On the Properties page, highlight Internet Protocol(TCP/IP)
• Click Properties. This will bring up another page.
• Select Obtain DNS Server Automatically.
• Click the ok button. The page will close.
• Press ok on the page in front of you.
• Restart the computer.
• Reconnect to the Internet using Internet Explorer.

​

Step 6:

Finally, 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

​

Let me know of any problems you may have encountered with the above instructions and also let me know how things are running now.

 

BJ,
Thanks so much for your kind help.
I'm not familiar with that NameServer, but I did a Whois seach and found it to be for a company called openDNS. I don't ever remember signing up for this service, but the website appears to be legitimate. Should it be removed?
I worked through all of the steps and the process appears to be successful. AVG is receiving updates and there are no longer "enlargement" ads on the websites I visit.
Since the fix though, my computer starts up very slowly. Some months ago I had tweaked startup using msconfig, but recently read on this website the dangers of doing so. A few days ago I restored to default settings, but my computer seemed to still start up pretty quickly. After restarting my computer a few times after running this fix, it starts sluggishly. Is the SuperAntiSpyware in the taskbar slowing it down?
Also, audio control and safely remove hardware icons are not loading in the taskbar (it's an issue I've been having for some time). Could this also be caused by malware?
Here are the requested logs.

 

Yes, if you are not familiar with it and it's nothing to do with your current ISP.

I doubt it, but with malware anything is possible. It's more than likely a Software issue so for this problem I would recommend the Software Forum.

 

Step 1:

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:

Again, make sure ALL browser windows are closed when you click FIX.​

Step 2:

Now download The Avenger by Swandog46, 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 pop up for you to view when you login after reboot. Please attach this log to your next post.

​

Step 3:

Finally, 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:\Avenger.txt
• C:\MGlogs.zip

​

Let me know of any problems you may have encountered with the above instructions and also let me know how things are running now.

 

I'm hesitant to follow this procedure. In your first reply, you asked me about this entry:
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{62584ECC-D5D1-4F3C-89E1-2DDB7F176935}: NameServer = 208.67.220.220,208.67.222.222
This DNS is not associated with my ISP, and appears to be gone from the HijackThis report.

In your latest instructions you've asked me to fix this entry:
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{62584ECC-D5D1-4F3C-89E1-2DDB7F176935}: NameServer = 168.95.192.1 168.95.1.1
This DNS IS associated with my ISP.

I just want to make sure. Should I continue with your instructions?
Thanks

 

Not if it's part of your current ISP. How did it change? Did you change this?

 

Skip step 1 and proceed.

 

It maybe because I was a bit impatient and attempted a fix myself. I discovered a thread that suggested running a SmitfraudFix for ZLOB, so I ran this program in safe mode. I do remember it finding and deleting the 288 ??? IP. After the SmitfraudFix did nothing to help AVG update, I decided to be more patient and await a reply. Sorry. I can attatch those two logs if you'd like.

After running Avenger with the inputed script, anit-virus (AVG) was turned off after restart. The next time I restarted (AVG updates required a restart), it loaded normally. Audio and safely remove hardware icons are only loading sporatically. Before the Averger fix, they loaded both times I started myu computer. Since Avenger, they have not. This may just be a coincidence.

Internet is running very well, and quick! Startup still a bit slower than I would like, but might be the best I can get. Can I disable SuperAnti Spyware in my taskbar to speed up start up?

Here are the requested logs.
Thanks Again, and sorry for being impatient earlier. rolleyes

 

Finally, run Avenger again, just like you did before.

• 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 pop up for you to view when you login after reboot. Please attach this log to your next post.

Also, let me know how things are running and if any problems remain.

 

Sorry for the delay, but I have been busy.
The Avenger script seems to have disabled AVG. I can no longer get updates, and when I start up my computer, Windows gives me a message that I am not protected as anti-virus is not turned on. According to AVG, Resident Shield is active.
Otherwise, the system is running well. Although I am afraid to use the Internet too much as my computer is not protected.
Here is the Avenger log.

 

Update!
I just tried to open a Microsoft Word document and it caused a system error. No Office documents will load. Windows reccommends loading Office in safe mode, but this appears to have no effect.
Is this a coincidence? I've run a few malware scans but they fail to turn up anything.

 

After restart, everything went back to normal. AVG updated and Office will now open documents. I don't know what this means.

 

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

1. We recommend you keep SUPERAntiSpyware & 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" /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. If we had you run Avenger, you can delete all files related to Avenger now.
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. You can delete the C:\MGtools folder and the C:\MGtools.exe file. You can also delete the C:\MGlogs.zip
9. If you are running Windows Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, you need to follow the below:
   • Refer to the cleaning steps in the READ ME for your Windows 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.
10. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:
    • How to Protect yourself from malware!