URL Redirection with IE and XP Smart Security

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by jakeyt, Apr 10, 2010.

  1. jakeyt

    jakeyt Private E-2

    I noticed something was wrong when I was searching for something in Google, (i.e. wineries, food, etc.) when all of a sudden the links would redirect me somewhere else. These were mostly third-parties, maybe advertising sites that would send my search quary to. I thought maybe it was something up with google. After a while I got this XP Smart Security popup and I couldn't use Google or my web browser, I knew then I had some problems. I ran my virus scanner (which has been on and never picked up anything), and nothing.

    Okay, so I began a long journey, I turned off my Restore Point and ran my virus scanner but didn't get anything. I re-booted then turned off my virun scanner (Avast) and tried a few others, like Ad-Aware (worthless for me). I then tried running Ad-Aware in Safe Mode, and later Avast to no effect. I removed Ad-Aware then try Malwarebytes. Malwarebytes picked up 15 things which quarantined and removed. However I still have the problem. SO I tried CCleaner to remove all my temp files and clean the registery.

    I also did Disk Clean to remove anything that might be in temp files. I still have the redirect problem. So I tried Hitman Pro, unHackMe, Spywareblaster. Spybot S&P found a few problems one which was mhn.dll. So I deleted it but had some problems quarky problems later.

    I read about ComboFix and decided to give it a try. I downloaded it and renamed the file alg.exe (as some malware problems seem to not allow it to load), I installed Windows Recovery Center, then proceeded to scan. It got reset after a few minutes then as it was re-booting it had problems loading XP Windows. I turned it off for a minute, re-booted then selected "Last Known Configuration" which allowed me to come back. I went to the blue screen which showed I was missing autocheck file. After hours and hours of working, I decided to go back to a restore point. But after I removed the anti-virii/spyware stuff.
     
  2. jakeyt

    jakeyt Private E-2

    Sorry, here is my hijackthis.log, it will probably come in handy when reading this.
     

    Attached Files:

  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. jakeyt

    jakeyt Private E-2

    I followed Steps 1-6.

    Step 7, I could not get RootRepeal downloaded. It would just hang with "Initializing...", I let it sit for 15 minutes to initialize before giving up. Also, combofix.exe gave me problems. I downloaded it, followed the instructions, installed Recovery Console, then mid-way through the scan it would re-boot. Then it got into this cycle where it couldn't boot Windows and would keep re-booting. I had to select "Last Known Config" to give up on it. I tried this with Combofix three times.

    Lastly, I was running MGtools and had something come up on my right hand side by the clock saying cmd.exe is unreadable corrupt file, run chkdsk utility. Also same thing for attrib.cfxxe.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. jakeyt

    jakeyt Private E-2

    I mean installed not downloaded for RootRepel. have it downloaded it just won't install on my machine, the installer just hangs.
     
  6. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Let's start with this:

    Please use add/remove programs to uninstall:
    Java 2 Runtime Environment, SE v1.4.2_03"
    Java(TM) 6 Update 11"
    Java(TM) 6 Update 3

    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.


    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 Ccleaner.

    Now download and install:
    Java Runtime 6

    Now right click ComboFix and rename it to svchost.exe. See if it will run now. Attach the log if it does.

    Please run this: GMER - running with a random name and attach the log from GMER.

    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:
    * GMER log
    * C:\ComboFix.txt
    * C:\MGlogs.zip
    * C:\Avenger.txt
     

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