Cannot download aswclnr.exe !?!?

Viruses and worms
1

So to cut a long story short, this neighbour boy got to me with his hardly functioning PC:

  • IE6 is acting funny (only opening MSN, not Google)
  • The LAN connection didn’t show up in the control panel
  • Windows Firewall gets disabled automatically
  • PC reboots for no apparent reason occasionally

Thank you MicroSoft for bringing us MSN and Windows Live!

So I’ve done the usual cleaning up:

  • Ran several anti-virus programs like McAfee, AVG Free and Avast. Virii were found and cleaned but problems aren’t solved

  • Ran several spyware sweepers like AdAware, SpyBot S&D, AVG’s spyware and rootkit sweeper. Loads of threats found and killed, but problems aren’t really solved.

  • Installed the Comodo firewall and FireFox. Now the FireFox browser works and Comodo spotted some attempts of a weird .exe in the System32 folder to access the web.

  • Removed the funny .exe and two .dat files from system32 folder and the registry (was listed under /run) in safe mode. It reappeared with another name so I killed it again. Should have saved them for analysis…

  • When starting FireFox the firewall noticed that IE wanted to access the web also! Some applications want to run as server… Dodgy stuff…

  • Most amazing: when downloading aswclnr.exe from www.avast.com with FireFox I can see in the firewall that data is coming in, but the Downloads window of FireFox stays empty! This little bugger does not want to be found. Copied the exe from a memory stick, but even when scanning in Safe mode nothing is found.

So what’s the experts verdict: is this system ready for a reformat, or is there an excellent malware removal tool I should try first?

2

If you have run avast (needs to have been installed) then the aswclnr.exe is an integral part of avast and if a virus is found that aswclnr.exe cleans than it would be run. The aswclnr.exe only handles a limited number of viruses/worms, that list is on the page with the download link for aswclnr.exe.

Assuming you still think you need to download it. Have you tried to download it using IE or a download manager are you trying to download this on his compromised system or your own ?

3

Hi BertKoor,

A reformat in this case is probably the best option, both for security and stability.

Don’t forget to visit Microsoft Update and download all the critical updates.

Also visit Secunia Software Inspector because a newly formatted computer will have out of date applications (apart from the OS) leaving the computer vulnerable.

http://secunia.com/software_inspector/

If you do decide you want to attempt to clean up the computer, a HijackThis! log would be useful:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial42.html

4

At the same time? Didn’t they conflict with the others?

5

Well, if you’re willing to put the time into this it would be interesting to work on.

Try a complete scan with the free version of SuperAntiSpyware, making sure to quarantine anything found

http://www.superantispyware.com/

Then post that log, plus a HijackThis log

Click here to download HJTsetup.exe

[*]Save HJTsetup.exe to your desktop.
[*]Doubleclick on the HJTsetup.exe icon on your desktop.
[*]By default it will install to C:\Program Files\Hijack This.
[*]Continue to click Next in the setup dialogue boxes until you get to the Select Addition Tasks dialogue.
[*]Put a check by Create a desktop icon then click Next again.
[*]Continue to follow the rest of the prompts from there.
[*]At the final dialogue box click Finish and it will launch Hijack This.
[*]Click on the Do a system scan and save a logfile button. It will scan and the log should open in notepad.
[*]Click on “Edit > Select All” then click on “Edit > Copy” to copy the entire contents of the log.
[*]Come back here to this thread and Paste the log in your next reply.
[*]DO NOT have Hijack This fix anything yet. Most of what it finds will be harmless or even required.

6

I think I got it cleaned eventually, and nothing was saved on the desktop to do that :stuck_out_tongue:

There was “something” messing around with the FireFox download window, 'cause I did find the downloaded files in the folder it was supposed to be in. Weird… Not all was cleared when this was happening, mind you.

HitManPro (and all of it’s underlying programs) did a proper job at killing loads of malware. Especially Spyware Doctor seemed to be meticulous.

Since the only thing that seemed to be beyond repair was the IE6 browser (only wanted to visit Microsoft sites; everything else gave server unavailable errors) I’ve installed a fresh copy of IE7. The firewall seems happy now, and so are the scanners (yes, they work in harmony if you don’t run them parallel) so this PC goes back to its owner in an hour or so.

Anyway, here’s the HijackThis log for those that are interested:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 19:42:46, on 3-5-2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16414)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\brsvc01a.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\brss01a.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Acer\Acer eConsole\MediaServerService.exe
C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgemc.exe
C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32krn.exe
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\WRSSSDK.exe
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMax4PNP.exe
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\Smax4.exe
C:\Program Files\GRISOFT\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\avgas.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\Acer\Empowering Technology\eRecovery\Monitor.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
J:\Security\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.nl/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName = Koppelingen
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - c:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Toolbar Helper - {BDBD1DAD-C946-4A17-ADC1-64B5B4FF55D0} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live Toolbar\msntb.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Windows Live Toolbar - {BDAD1DAD-C946-4A17-ADC1-64B5B4FF55D0} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live Toolbar\msntb.dll
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [SoundMAXPnP] C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMax4PNP.exe
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [SoundMAX] “C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\Smax4.exe” /tray
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [SiSPower] Rundll32.exe SiSPower.dll,ModeAgent
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [!AVG Anti-Spyware] “C:\Program Files\GRISOFT\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\avgas.exe” /minimized
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [AVG7_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [LaunchApp] Alaunch
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [ZoneAlarm Client] “C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe”
O4 - HKCU..\Run: [MsnMsgr] “C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe” /background
O4 - HKCU..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Statusvenster.lnk = C:\Program Files\Brother\Brmfcmon\BrMfcWnd.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Windows Live Search - res://C:\Program Files\Windows Live Toolbar\msntb.dll/search.htm
O9 - Extra button: Spyware Doctor - {2D663D1A-8670-49D9-A1A5-4C56B4E14E84} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYWAR~2\tools\iesdpb.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra ‘Tools’ menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra ‘Tools’ menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O11 - Options group: [INTERNATIONAL] International*
O16 - DPF: {00B71CFB-6864-4346-A978-C0A14556272C} (Checkers Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/msgrchkr.cab31267.cab
O16 - DPF: {20A60F0D-9AFA-4515-A0FD-83BD84642501} (Checkers Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/msgrchkr.cab56986.cab
O16 - DPF: {8E0D4DE5-3180-4024-A327-4DFAD1796A8D} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/MessengerStatsClient.cab31267.cab
O16 - DPF: {C3F79A2B-B9B4-4A66-B012-3EE46475B072} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/MessengerStatsPAClient.cab56907.cab
O18 - Protocol: livecall - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O18 - Protocol: msnim - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WRNotifier - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WRLogonNTF.dll
O23 - Service: Acer Media Server - Acer Inc. - C:\Program Files\Acer\Acer eConsole\MediaServerService.exe
O23 - Service: AVG Anti-Spyware Guard - Anti-Malware Development a.s. - C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG E-mail Scanner (AVGEMS) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: BrSplService (Brother XP spl Service) - brother Industries Ltd - C:\WINDOWS\system32\brsvc01a.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: NOD32 Kernel Service (NOD32krn) - Eset - C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32krn.exe
O23 - Service: PC Tools Spyware Doctor (SDhelper) - PC Tools Research Pty Ltd - C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\sdhelp.exe
O23 - Service: SoundMAX Agent Service (SoundMAX Agent Service (default)) - Analog Devices, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe
O23 - Service: Webroot Spy Sweeper Engine (svcWRSSSDK) - Webroot Software, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\WRSSSDK.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe

7

Looks good to me.

8

Thanks for looking into it.

Great forum, guys!

9

A belated welcome to the forums.

Stick around and browse the forums, especially the sticky topics at the top of each of the forums, not to mention the avast help file. They provide a wealth of information to help you get the best from avast.