THINK I have malware, but who knows

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by becolt, Nov 30, 2010.

  1. becolt

    becolt Private E-2

    This one is new to me.
    Two days ago Google searches started taking forever. I'd search from the toolbar and the progress bar would move quickly, the status at the bottom left of the browser would say "done," but then the results page would do nothing for 10 to 15 seconds. Tried Yahoo and it was doing the same thing, Bing too. Tried another computer and it was just fine.
    That night I ran SDfix and things went back to normal after it deleted a bunch of temp files. SD found a file called "Astinfo" in *documents and settings/NAME/local settings/temp* and was unable to remove it, so I went searching for it and couldn't find it.
    The next morning the same problems were back and one more was added: any search result would redirect to some sort of advertising page.
    As far as I know the problems only relate to searches, but I can't really tell if regular browsing has slowed or not for sure.

    Ran the malware removal guide today:
    Superantispyware found nothing,
    Malwarebytes found nothing
    Combofix, RootRepeal, and MGTools all found objectionable files.
    MG threw an error on NVTDM.exe and had me click "close" on a dialog box twice, but completed running anyway (crap, maybe that was combofix)
    One of the files that was found was the hibernsis file

    That's about as far as I've gotten, but just noticed that suddenly there is a Settings.dat file on my desktop and the IE icon I removed years ago is back there too. :p

    Attaching all the logs, thanks for any help you can offer.


    Oh yeah, System: XP SP3, Firefox 3.6.12
     

    Attached Files:

  2. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    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\Temp\$$$dq3e
    C:\WINDOWS\Temp\$67we.$
    
    
    * 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 previous 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.

    Please download the TDSS Rootkit Removing Tool (TDSSKiller.exe) and save it to your Desktop. <-Important!!!


    Be sure to download TDSSKiller.exe (v2.4.0.0) from Kaspersky's website and not TDSSKiller.zip which appears to be an older version 2.3.2.2 of the tool.

    • Double-click on TDSSKiller.exe to run the tool for known TDSS variants.
      Vista/Windows 7 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.
    • If TDSSKiller does not run, try renaming it.
    • To do this, right-click on TDSSKiller.exe, select Rename and give it a random name with the .com file extension (i.e. 123abc.com). If you do not see the file extension, please refer to How to change the file extension.
    • Click the Start Scan button.
    • Do not use the computer during the scan
    • If the scan completes with nothing found, click Close to exit.
    • If malicious objects are found, they will show in the Scan results - Select action for found objects and offer three options.
    • Ensure Cure (default) is selected, then click Continue > Reboot now to finish the cleaning process.
    • A log file named TDSSKiller_version_date_time_log.txt (i.e. TDSSKiller.2.4.0.0_27.07.2010_14.17.05_log.txt) will be created and saved to the root directory ( usually Local Disk C ).
    • Attach this log to your next message


    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:
    * TDSSKiller log
    * C:\ComboFix.txt
    * C:\MGlogs.zip
     
  3. becolt

    becolt Private E-2

    First, thank you - that looks like it took a lot of time to put together.

    -Got the success message when editing the registry.
    -after completing stage 4 in combofix, pev.exe encountered a problem/closed.
    Not sure that matters, think it might be part of a program(codemeter) that goes with a dongle.
    -after completion a google "G" popped up in the taskbar (!?) saying my search prefs had changed. Somehow it makes me uneasy to have a google app. running somewhere
    -Kaspersky found the boot... thing. lost that word :) backdoor.win32.sinowal

    So what did we just do/eliminate before fixing the altered boot file?

    Logs attached. Thanks again for your time, I think my brain only melted halfway.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    You had an MBR infection that Kaspersky fixed. But you still have evidence of infection>

    * 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:\Documents and Settings\Ben Coultry\Local Settings\temp\div2.tmp
    C:\Documents and Settings\Ben Coultry\Local Settings\temp\div5.tmp
    C:\WINDOWS\Temp\$$$dq3e
    C:\WINDOWS\Temp\$67we.$
    
    
    * 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 previous 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!
     
  5. becolt

    becolt Private E-2

    Still infected :puke
    Ah crap, I wouldn't have known... man I'm thankful you/this place exist.

    Awesomeness: FF seems to be using less in the way of resources and searches are back to being instant w/no redirects. Maybe it's a placebo effect, but it seems as though my music production programs are running leaner too, or at least like there is more CPU/memory available for them.

    I do see that the hiberfil.sys file is still there and a full gig(!) after one of the scan programs alerted on it yesterday. False positive?

    Side note, I'm thankful that combofix made me uninstall CA Antivirus yesterday, giving me an opportunity to try Avast, which is WAY less bloated.

    Praying for clean logs...
     

    Attached Files:

  6. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Please Disable Spybot's TeaTimer --> Should have been done as per the R&R instructions!

    * Run Spybot and click Mode
    * Select Advanced Mode.
    * Then click Tools and select Resident.
    * Now in the right window pane, uncheck TeaTimer.
    * Also while this is open, in the left column now select IE Tweaks
    * and then in the right pane make sure all the Miscellaneous locks are unchecked.
    * Now quit Spybot!

    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:
    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 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.


    Now, 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 do not use any significant amount of resources ( except a little disk space ) until you run a scan.We recommend them for doing backup scans when you suspect a malware infection.
    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:




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  7. becolt

    becolt Private E-2

    Ah hell, forgot to fully turn it off so it wouldn't reappear on startup during combofix step.

    Done, got success message upon reg edit.

    Rerunning post #4
     
  8. becolt

    becolt Private E-2

    Ok, here we are.
     

    Attached Files:

  9. 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 do not use any significant amount of resources ( except a little disk space ) until you run a scan.We recommend them for doing backup scans when you suspect a malware infection.
    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:




    Support MajorGeeks with Geek Wear!
     
  10. becolt

    becolt Private E-2

    Oh good! Thanks so much for taking the time to help me out.
     
  11. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    You are most welcome. Safe surfing. :)
     

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