Hello there, I have recently obtained an issue with my Avast software in which every time I try to open it up, I receive the pop-up message “This program is blocked by a group policy. For more information, contact your system administrator”. In addition this prevents me from uninstalling Avast to try to fix the problem. I came upon this thread instructing me what I need to do and what I have to post to have this issue resolved. https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0 . If anyone is able to help me with this with the information I provide from the Malware scan and the Farbar Recovery scan, which is attached to this post, that would be very much appreciated.
Hello,
Please note that these fixes are not instantaneous. Most infections require more than one round to properly eradicate.
Stay with me until given the ‘all clear’ even if symptoms diminish. Lack of symptoms does not always mean the job is complete.
- Please download ComboFix by sUBs (
http://www.mcshield.net/personal/magna86/Images/IconComboFix.png
) from here and save it to your Desktop.
[i]If you are unsure how ComboFix works, read this guide.
- Temporarily disable your AntiVirus program, usually via a right click on the System Tray icon. They may interfere with Combofix.
If you are unsure how to do this please read this or this Instruction.
Instructions how to disable avast:
• Right click on the avast! system tray icon (
http://www.mcshield.net/pg/images/avast5.png
) in the lower right corner of the screen and scroll up to avast! shield controls;
• In the menu that appears, choose Disable Permanently. When you are prompted to turn off security, click Yes.
Note: Do not forget to turn back on this option after the cleaning by choosing avast! shield controls > Enable all shield options.
- Run ComboFix. Then, on disclaimer window, click I Agree! button.
[i][size=7pt]- ComboFix will check if there is a newer version of ComboFix available.
Click Yes if prompted to download.
-If Recovery Console is not installed, ComboFix will offer download & installation.
Click Yes to allow ComboFix to install Recovery Console.
- ComboFix will scan your computer in stages, total of 50 stages.
Do not mouse-click around while ComboFix is running. - If malware is detected, ComboFix will begin with its removal, and may need to restart Windows.
Note:If you see a message like “Illegal operation attempted on a registry key that has been marked for deletion” just restart your computer.
[/i]
- When the tool is finished, it will produce a log report for you. (typical location: C:\ComboFix.txt)
=> Attach log report (ComboFix.txt) back to topic.
ComboFix shall also create addition log (typical location: C:\Qoobox\ComboFix-quarantined-files.txt)
=> Please attach that report (ComboFix-quarantined-files.txt) as well.
Alright, attached are the two reports I were able to generate from the ComboFix system.
Hi,
We shall use FRST tool again but this time we will tell the tool what to target …
1. Open notepad and copy/paste the text present inside the code box below.
To do this highlight the contents of the box and right click on it. Paste this into the open notepad.
NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on that particular machine. Running this on another machine may cause damage to the operating system
Start File: c:\programdata\Microsoft\eHome\Packages\SportsV2\SportsTemplateCore-2\Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.UI.dll File: C:\Windows\ehome\mcupdate.exe File: C:\Windows\ehome\ehsched.exe File: C:\Windows\ehome\ehtray.exe File: C:\Users\Mike\Downloads\install_flashplayer14x32axau_mssa_aaa_aih.exe Folder: C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\{8F0FE235-B4A3-447A-AC5B-EE1DAD440139} Folder: C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\{42E67055-D45E-476F-8C50-2107EFA65066} Folder: C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\{4799077C-DCAD-4242-8E71-35D59179D2BB} Folder: C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\{919BF2D8-AA66-4F40-9095-CF3B5F36A51C} Folder: C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\{28B9D6CC-B9CE-4D7A-8153-B6B443C001BC} Hosts: HKLM Group Policy restriction on software: C:\Program Files\AVAST Software <====== ATTENTION HKLM Group Policy restriction on software: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\McAfee <====== ATTENTION HKLM Group Policy restriction on software: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\AVAST Software <====== ATTENTION HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://aol.com/ SearchScopes: HKLM - {0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A} URL = SearchScopes: HKLM-x32 - DefaultScope {A9690080-D79B-4A7B-8CDA-F6A468170BFD} URL = SearchScopes: HKLM-x32 - {0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A} URL = SearchScopes: HKCU - DefaultScope {A9690080-D79B-4A7B-8CDA-F6A468170BFD} URL = http://search.conduit.com/ResultsExt.aspx?q={searchTerms}&SearchSource=4&ctid=CT3289847&CUI=UN21859242529861933&UM=2 SearchScopes: HKCU - {A9690080-D79B-4A7B-8CDA-F6A468170BFD} URL = http://search.conduit.com/ResultsExt.aspx?q={searchTerms}&SearchSource=4&ctid=CT3289847&CUI=UN21859242529861933&UM=2 SearchScopes: HKCU - {EC839A61-38EF-4F2E-ACC2-D7AADE027475} URL = Toolbar: HKLM - No Name - {CC1A175A-E45B-41ED-A30C-C9B1D7A0C02F} - No File Filter: text/xml - {807553E5-5146-11D5-A672-00B0D022E945} - No File CHR HKCU\...\Chrome\Extension: [klibnahbojhkanfgaglnlalfkgpcppfi] - C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\CRE\klibnahbojhkanfgaglnlalfkgpcppfi.crx [2012-12-20] CHR HKCU\...\Chrome\Extension: [lonndllmbldmmoefheenkmgkencnkdkh] - C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\CRE\lonndllmbldmmoefheenkmgkencnkdkh.crx [2013-04-10] CHR HKLM-x32\...\Chrome\Extension: [klibnahbojhkanfgaglnlalfkgpcppfi] - C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\CRE\klibnahbojhkanfgaglnlalfkgpcppfi.crx [2014-08-04] CHR HKLM-x32\...\Chrome\Extension: [lonndllmbldmmoefheenkmgkencnkdkh] - C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\CRE\lonndllmbldmmoefheenkmgkencnkdkh.crx [2013-04-10] EmptyTemp: End
2. Save notepad as fixlist.txt to your Desktop.
NOTE: => It’s important that both files, FRST and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.
3. Run FRST/FRST64 and press the Fix button just once and wait.
If the tool needed a restart please make sure you let the system to restart normally and let the tool completes its run after restart.
The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt). Please attach it to your reply.
Note: If the tool warned you about the outdated version please download and run the updated version.
Alright, attached is the Fixlog report.
Also when my computer restarted, my avast software popped up. I clicked on the icon just to see what happens and that “Blocked by Group Policy” message no longer pops up. So it appears that avast is running normally again. Is there anything else that I need to do for my computer?
Magna will be back and check things over. Glad you’ve gotten rid of the symptoms; 
now there’s checking the new logs left to do to ensure all remnants are gone and removed.
Hi,
1. Open notepad and copy/paste the text present inside the code box below.
To do this highlight the contents of the box and right click on it. Paste this into the open notepad.
NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on that particular machine. Running this on another machine may cause damage to the operating system
Start
2014-08-18 06:29 - 2014-08-18 06:29 - 00000000 ____D () C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\{197786E1-5927-41A4-B172-D9F8BFF0DE62
2014-08-16 21:56 - 2014-08-16 21:56 - 00000000 ____D () C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\{8F0FE235-B4A3-447A-AC5B-EE1DAD440139}
2014-08-14 23:53 - 2014-08-14 23:53 - 00000000 ____D () C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\{42E67055-D45E-476F-8C50-2107EFA65066}
2014-08-12 11:14 - 2014-08-12 11:15 - 00000000 ____D () C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\{4799077C-DCAD-4242-8E71-35D59179D2BB}
2014-08-10 22:47 - 2014-08-10 22:47 - 00000000 ____D () C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\{919BF2D8-AA66-4F40-9095-CF3B5F36A51C}
2014-08-10 22:47 - 2014-08-10 22:47 - 00000000 ____D () C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\{28B9D6CC-B9CE-4D7A-8153-B6B443C001BC}
2014-08-09 17:04 - 2014-08-09 17:04 - 00000000 ____D () C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\{8BE2A38D-70BF-40C1-8512-D29A3314519B}
2014-08-07 19:59 - 2014-08-07 19:59 - 00000000 ____D () C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\{8FA2A1E0-87D5-465F-9E59-95511FA8FBC2}
2014-08-05 10:40 - 2014-08-05 10:40 - 00000000 ____D () C:\Users\Mike\AppData\Local\{54415C29-74E4-4CF7-87BC-64160EA74232}
End
2. Save notepad as fixlist.txt to your Desktop.
NOTE: => It’s important that both files, FRST and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.
3. Run FRST/FRST64 and press the Fix button just once and wait.
If the tool needed a restart please make sure you let the system to restart normally and let the tool completes its run after restart.
The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt). Please attach it to your reply.
Note: If the tool warned you about the outdated version please download and run the updated version.
.
Run FRST tool again and hit the Scan button. A fresh log (FRST.txt) shall be created. Please attach it here as well along with FixLog.
Morning, attached are both requested logs.
Good. Now create & run this minor FixList and then tell me how is the computer behavior? 
1. Open notepad and copy/paste the text present inside the code box below.
To do this highlight the contents of the box and right click on it. Paste this into the open notepad.
NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on that particular machine. Running this on another machine may cause damage to the operating system
Start
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://aol.com/
SearchScopes: HKLM-x32 - DefaultScope {0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A} URL =
CHR NewTab: "chrome-extension://lonndllmbldmmoefheenkmgkencnkdkh/Search/NewTabPages/html/new_tab.html", "chrome-extension://klibnahbojhkanfgaglnlalfkgpcppfi/Search/NewTabPages/html/new_tab.html"
U5 AppMgmt; C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe [27136 2009-07-13] (Microsoft Corporation)
S3 catchme; \??\C:\ComboFix\catchme.sys [X]
End
2. Save notepad as fixlist.txt to your Desktop.
NOTE: => It’s important that both files, FRST and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.
3. Run FRST/FRST64 and press the Fix button just once and wait.
If the tool needed a restart please make sure you let the system to restart normally and let the tool completes its run after restart.
The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt). Please attach it to your reply.
Note: If the tool warned you about the outdated version please download and run the updated version.
The log is attached again. And so far it appears that there isn’t any more issues with avast or my system in general.
Good. First we shall uninstall the ComboFix tool and to clean the FRST’ Quarantine folder to avoid the FP detection. We will keep FRST tool itself for now…
I would like you to preform the QuickScan with avast! AntiVirus. If avast! detect something, remove it. It would be good to post here the screenshot (file path need to be seen) so I can see what is detected. Remove that and that should be it. Still, I shall what your responce apon finished scan.
It is necessary to uninstall ComboFix :
[*] Click Start (or
http://amf.mycity.rs/pg/images/VistaStartButton.png
) then Run.
On Windows7 or Vista you may use Start Search field if Run is not available.
[*] In the line of text type in (Copy) the following:
ComboFix /Uninstall
Note that there is a space between " ComboFix " and " /Uninstall " .
[*] then click OK (or press Enter ).
Wait for the uninstall process is complete.
.
1. Open notepad and copy/paste the text present inside the code box below.
To do this highlight the contents of the box and right click on it. Paste this into the open notepad.
NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on that particular machine. Running this on another machine may cause damage to the operating system
DeleteQuarantine:
2. Save notepad as fixlist.txt to your Desktop.
NOTE: => It’s important that both files, FRST and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.
3. Run FRST/FRST64 and press the Fix button just once and wait.
If the tool needed a restart please make sure you let the system to restart normally and let the tool completes its run after restart.
The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt).
There is no need to attach that log.
Actually, when I did the quick scan with avast, it recognized ComboFix as a thread and deleted the program for me. I verified the list of programs and it showed that ComboFix was uninstalled from my computer.
I also ran the FRST program to delete quarantine. Everything seems to be working properly. Thank you so very much for all your help.
Then I shall remove my tools. 
• The following will implement some post-cleanup procedures:
=> Please download DelFix by Xplode to your Desktop.
Run the tool and check the following boxes below;
[i]
http://www.mcshield.net/personal/magna86/Images/checkmark.png
Remove disinfection tools
http://www.mcshield.net/personal/magna86/Images/checkmark.png
Create registry backup
http://www.mcshield.net/personal/magna86/Images/checkmark.png
Purge System Restore [/i]
Click Run button and wait a few seconds for the programme completes his work.
At this point all the tools we used here should be gone. Tool will create an report for you (C:[b]DelFix.txt[/b])
The tool will also record healthy state of registry and make a backup using ERUNT program in %windir%\ERUNT\DelFix
Tool deletes old system restore points and create a fresh system restore point after cleaning.