Zero Access; XP Antispyware 2012

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by pvtford, Dec 13, 2011.

  1. pvtford

    pvtford Private E-2

    The patient is my wife's Acer AOAS150 netbook, running Windows XP with Service Pack 3. I began the removal process before asking her for all the symptoms she could remember. She mentioned a few redirection incidents, and that the system had been sluggish for a few weeks, taking too much time loading applications. She had run a full scan with McAfee Internet Security, which reported no threats.

    She first became alarmed three or four days after the McAfee scan, while visting the site of a local TV station. She had just clicked the link for streaming video when XP Antispyware 2012 presented its spoof of the Security Center window. We could only shut down by holding the power button.

    I booted into Safe Mode and launched McAfee Internet Security. Real-time scanning was turned off. Clicking the On button would turn it back on, but after a couple of seconds it would turn off again. I ran a full scan in McAfee, which reported that it quarantined and removed 39 threats. When I closed McAfee the previous problems remained, and now the touchpad and the keyboard were disabled. Double-clicking icons in Control Panel produced only a box reporting a problem with a .dll file, but those items could be accessed, for example, by Start > Run > appwiz.cpl. Attempting to run any .exe file produced a dialog asking which program to use to open it.

    Then I ran the "Read and Run Me First" procedure and hit these two snags:

    "Empty ALL Quarantine type folders for antivirus and antispyware applications."

    In McAfee Internet Security under Quarantined Items and Quarantined Potentially Unwanted Programs, the progress indicator spins endlessly and no entries appear, so I don't know whether or not anything was (or is) quarantined.

    "MSconfig must be set for Normal Startup mode"

    I could not get msconfig.exe to run.

    I downloaded the removal tools with the good computer and copied SuperAntiSpyware to the netbook via CD in Safe Mode, using a USB keyboard and mouse. The regular SAS would not install with the netbook playing dumb about the .exe file, but the portable version ran. It reported that it discovered, quarantined and removed fourteen items. One item that it reported finding was the ZeroAccess rootkit.

    When I rebooted in normal mode, I was able to run the install file of SAS and update it, Internet Explorer would start from the desktop icon but not from the Start menu (Windows would ask which program to use to open it) but I could open msconfig and verify that Startup was set for normal. Real-time scanning was restored in McAfee. The touchpad and built-in keyboard still did not work. From the desktop icon, Internet Explorer would open the normal home page on both of two tabs. My wife says this has happened for some time and she has not been able to stop it. I could navigate normally to Facebook. I did not try to sign in.

    SAS (installed version) > Preferences showed no Statistics/Log tab, and the log button showed no log, so I started a full scan with the updated installed version. I stopped it after about a half hour to check the McAfee quarantine. McAfee still could only spin its wheels attempting to show this, so I did another full SAS scan.

    I ran the remaining scans prescribed for XP. Logs are attached.

    Internet Explorer now opens OK from both the desktop and the Start Menu. McAfee starts from the system tray and the desktop, but I had to point the Start Menu shortcut to the desktop shortcut. It still is unable to report on quarantined items. The touchpad and built-in keyboard are still dead, with or without their USB conterparts.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. pvtford

    pvtford Private E-2

    more logs: ZeroAcess; XP Antispyware 2012

    Here are the remaining logs. Could be wrong but I thought sure there was more than 2 bytes to rrlog.txt when I saved it.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    * 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:
    ClearJavaCache::
    KILLALL::
    File::
    C:\Documents and Settings\Kathy K\Local Settings\Application Data\r4vl61i58iihw7s5ev1052cx0wkby2h0
    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\r4vl61i58iihw7s5ev1052cx0wkby2h0
    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Vnv170K8K.dat
    C:\Documents and Settings\Kathy K\Templates\r4vl61i58iihw7s5ev1052cx0wkby2h0
    Folder::
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\cSbDD3pnGaQHdKf
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\XqqqhYXwkUVOBx0
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\JQJJ7EK8YXwU
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\aKK77fEL9gXqYCI
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\JzPPNycAD2npHsJ
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\errlOBtP0uSiD3n
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\yD22onF4pmHsW7E
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\h88ggTZqhYwk
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\szzx1v2obF4mGsJ
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\CggTXqYCekI
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\wnnFF4mH5WJELgY
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\aUUCCelIBzPNAuD
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\jF44pmH5sWJdE8T
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\HellIBrzPNyA1v2
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\qqqjjUCelIBrPNc
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\EfffRL99hT
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\F001C
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\hWKK77fEL9gTqjC
    c:\documents and settings\Kathy K\Application Data\DrBBtx0ucS1iD3
     
    
    * 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.

    Note: If after running Combofix you discover none of your programs will open up, and you recieve the following error: "Illegal operation attempted on a registry key that has been marked for deletion". Then the answer is to REBOOT the machine, and all will be corrected.

    Now download the current version of MGtools and save it to your root folder. Overwrite your previous MGtools.exe file with this one.

    Run MGtools.exe ( Note: If using Vista or Win7, make sure UAC is still disabled. Also don't double click on it, use right click and select Run As Administrator )

    Now attach the below log:
    • C:\ComboFix.txt
    • C:\MGlogs.zip
    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 15, 2011
  4. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Please keep all your replies in this thread. Do not make new threads for this issue. :major
     
  5. pvtford

    pvtford Private E-2

    Understood. Thank you.
     
  6. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    If you have completed my fix!

    Now download the current version of MGtools and save it to your root folder. Overwrite your previous MGtools.exe file with this one.

    Run MGtools.exe ( Note: If using Vista or Win7, make sure UAC is still disabled. Also don't double click on it, use right click and select Run As Administrator )

    Now attach the below log:
    • C:\ComboFix.txt
    • C:\MGlogs.zip
    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 15, 2011
  7. pvtford

    pvtford Private E-2

    Sorry for the delay -- I was out of town most of yesterday and today. Many thanks for the posts. Here is what I have done since late last night:

    Disabled real-time scanning and firewall.

    Dragged code into ComboFix and ran. It updated.

    Ran GetLogs.bat. Previous version of MGTools ran.

    Rebooted without USB input devices. Keyboard and touchpad are still dead.

    Plugged in USB keyboard and mouse; using them now.

    Enabled scanning and firewall.

    Downloaded updated MGTools and ran.

    Logs attached.
     

    Attached Files:

  8. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Now download The Avenger by Swandog46 to your Desktop.

    See the download links under this icon http://forums.majorgeeks.com/chaslang/images/MGDownloadLoc.gif
    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):


    1. Extract avenger.exe from the Zip file and save it to your desktop
    2. Run avenger.exe by double-clicking on it.
    3. Click OK at the warning to continue to use The Avenger
    4. Do not change any of the check box options!
    5. Shut down your protection software now to avoid possible conflicts.
    6. Copy everything in the Quote box below, and paste it into the Input script here: part of The Avenger
    7. Now click the http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/9159/executeavenger.jpg button
    8. Click Yes to the prompt to confirm you want to execute.
    9. Click Yes to the Reboot now? question that will appear when The Avenger finishes running.
    10. Your PC should reboot, if not, reboot it yourself.
    11. A log file from The Avenger will be produced at C:\avenger.txt and it will pop-up for you to view when you login after reboot.
    12. Attach this log to your next message. (See: HOW TO: Attach Items To Your Post )


    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 log:

    • C:\MGlogs.zip

    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!
     
  9. pvtford

    pvtford Private E-2

    Here are the requested logs.

    In my previous post I was not so complete in my state-of-the-machine report. Actually there was (and is) not much to report. McAfee's behavior is unchanged; still unable to access quarantine list. Otherwise it seems to work OK.

    The touchpad and built-in keyboard still don't work. Actually the keyboard may not be entirely cut off. Right after rebooting just now without USB devices I pressed Alt + f4 and the system played the sound associated with a Device Connect event. Subsequent keypresses had no perceptible effect.

    I'm still able to open apps and access the Internet.

    Hold on: I had just clicked on this thread, but had not yet logged in, when a Microsoft error report dialog opened, saying, "McAfee Service Host has encountered a problem and needs to close," et cetera. Just in case it's not a coincidence, I saved screenshots of the dialogs and copies of the report files. I will now reboot and post this.
     

    Attached Files:

  10. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Your logs are clean. I suggest that you pursue this in the software forums.

    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:


    Malware removal from a National Chain = $149
    Malware removal from MajorGeeks = $0
     
  11. pvtford

    pvtford Private E-2

    Will do. I am gravely remiss in so long delaying this offer of profound thanks for your crucial asistance in restoring to my wife her favored mode of contact with family and friends.

    Merry Christmas!
     
  12. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    You are most welcome. Safe surfing. :)
     

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