Urgent! Rogue antispyware has shut me down

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by texoz, Feb 24, 2010.

  1. texoz

    texoz Private E-2

    Hello. My computer has been very well protected thanks to all of your help. however, suddenly today an antispyware program (not the AVG I have installed) began running. I stopped it, but was unable to run any .exe files. I restarted the computer and now the desktop icons are missing and the Start button is not executable. What should I do?
    Thanks in advance,
    Miki
     
  2. texoz

    texoz Private E-2

    update: able to access some programs now but not get online. afraid to reboot.

    Icons back. start menu working. unable to get online. afraid to reboot.
     
  3. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Welcome to Major Geeks!

    Please read ALL of this message including the notes before doing anything.

    Pleases follow the instructions in the below link:

    READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide


    and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.

    • **** If something does not run, write down the info to explain to us later but keep on going. ****
    • Do not assume that because one step does not work that they all will not. MGtools will frequently run even when all other tools will not.


    • After completing the READ & RUN ME and attaching your logs, make sure that you tell us what problems still remain ( if any still do )!
    Helpful Notes:


    1. If you run into problems trying to run the READ & RUN ME or any of the scans in normal boot mode, you can run the steps in safe boot mode but make sure you tell us what you did later when you post logs. See the below if you do not know how to boot in safe mode:

    2. If you have problems downloading on the problem PC, download the tools and the manual updates for SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes ( links are given in the READ & RUN ME) onto another PC and then burn to a CD. Then copy them to the problem PC. You will have to skip getting updates if (and only if) your internet connection does not work. Yes you could use a flash drive too but flash drives are writeable and infections can spread to them.
    3. If you cannot seem to login to an infected user account, try using a different user account (if you have one) in either normal or safe boot mode and running only SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes while logged into this aother user account. Then reboot and see if you can log into the problem user account. If you can then run SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, ComboFix and MGtools on the infected account as requested in the instructions.
    4. To avoid additional delay in getting a response, it is strongly advised that after completing the READ & RUN ME you also read this sticky:

    Any additional post is a bump which will add more delay. Once you attach the logs, your thread will be in the work queue and as stated our system works the oldest threads FIRST.
     
  4. texoz

    texoz Private E-2

    Okay, here is what I have accomplished so far. Completed all steps in Malware removal with the exception of root repeal. Every time I tried to run it my computer would freeze up. Unable to boot in safe mode. When I hit F8 it still starts in regular mode. When I hit F12 and get the menu, the arrow keys don't work and it boots in normal mode.

    I have attached logs. When running MGTools, an error message popped up that did look like any of the ones listed on the MGTools instruction page. It was a "16-bit MS-DOS subsystem" error message but it read:
    c://windows/system32/cmd.exe NTVDM has encountered a system error.

    I am able to get email and download updates from a program, but cannot open Internet Explorer. It freezes and never opens. When I reboot computer, it takes 15-20 minutes to load all icons and for the Start menu to become operable. All programs take close to 5 minutes to open up.

    I am anxiously awaiting any further instructions as I really need to work tomorrow...thanks in advance! I did not realize I was "bumping" my post earlier. I simply added more information so that it might better help you determine a response to my problem. I will be more careful in the future.
    Miki
     

    Attached Files:

  5. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    You do have a Master Boot Record (MBR) infection that needs to be removed which we will get to below. You will need to boot to the Recovery Console to remove this infection.

    Now boot to the Recovery Console and run the fixmbr to clear a Master Boot Record infection that you have.

    You can read the below to help you do this:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654


    Then boot back into normal mode.

    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

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

    * 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 Ccleaner to clean out only temp files and nothing else!

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

    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!
     
  6. texoz

    texoz Private E-2

    Thanks for getting back to me. Unfortunately, I am unable to do the first step you suggested. I can't use the option of booting from the Windows XP CD because I can't get to the BIOS to check the option of booting from CD-ROM. When I hit F2, the black menu screen appears and the arrow keys won't work. This is what I ran into yesterday. When I try to install the Recovery Console from the CD following the Microsoft instructions, when I type the command line into the Run line: d:\i386\winnt32.exe/cmdcons, I get an error message saying the file cannot be found.
    What should I do now? I am so exhausted from trying to figure this out and have lost 2 days' worth of pay already. I would greatly appreciate it if you could get back to me ASAP. Thanks so much for your help!
     
  7. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Then lets try doing it this way:

    Please run the below tool from Prevx Make sure that you allow it to fix the MBR infection if it detects it (which it should). It may show a button saying Cleanup Now. Make sure to click it.

    Prevx 3.0 use the button that says Download Prevx 3.03.0

    After running the Prevx scan. Reboot and then continue with the rest of the previous fix.
     

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