Symantec Anti-Virus Disabling Itself After Initial Clean

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by JehovahMilton, Jan 10, 2009.

  1. JehovahMilton

    JehovahMilton Private E-2

    I'm experiencing a very similar situation to that described in another thread:
    http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=178723

    I've gone through the entire initial cleanup process as posted. This eliminated a great deal of the primary symptoms of infection (ie pop-ups, blocked domains, crashing), but I'm continuing to receive a message from Symantec Antivirus saying that it's been disabled even though the toolbar icon indicates otherwise. Windows also detects anti-virus protection as being deactivated.

    http://i43.tinypic.com/2sac9wz.jpg

    Things at first seemed okay so I resumed my normal computer usage. I felt comfortable enough to run an update for iTunes before noticing the lingering problem; I hope that this does not require me to run another round of scans for reliable logs to be provided. Attached are the logs from the initial scans and cleaning.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Let's start with this:

    Run this: Disable/Remove Windows Messenger to remove Windows Messenger. Do not confuse Windows Messenger with MSN Messenger because they are not the same. Windows Messenger is a frequent cause of popups.

    Please disable all anti-virus and anti-spyware programs while we do the following ( be sure to re-enable when we 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:
    NOTE: HJT may popup an error about the AppInit_DLLs line. Ignore it and click OK to continue.

    After clicking Fix, exit HJT.

    Now 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.
    Now use windows explorer to find and delete:
    h:\windows\Tasks\vsfiylxa.job

    Now download and install:
    Java Runtime

    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file.
     
  3. JehovahMilton

    JehovahMilton Private E-2

    Followed your instructions. Attached are the new MGlogs. Thank you so much for your help.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. JehovahMilton

    JehovahMilton Private E-2

    Upon restart, Windows Security Center still delivers an alert stating that Symantec AntiVirus is disabled.
     
  5. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Your logs are clean....perhaps it is time for you to uninstall your AV and after running CCleaner, reinstall it.

    In the meantime, ........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:

     

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