HDD SMART and Alureon-K -- all files gone from Windows explorer

Viruses and worms
1

This morning I got the bogus screens of HDD S.M.A.R.T. on my computer. I also got avast messages that a process called MAL interfered with process explorer.exe on my XP system.

I ran avast, which came up with an infected file ZIfZN…etc…exe, a bootscan found the Alureon-K.

After the reboot, everything was gone from my access: empty desktop, empty programs and empty data folders. The files are still there, though, since I ran a few more scans which scanned all the files.

I tried the malwarebytes download (which was kind of tricky since I could not start IExplorer) but it would not let me install it (write error during installation).

The worst thing (from the point of this forum) is that I doubt I will be able to come up with log files since they are either not created or not accessible.

A little HELP would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thank you in advance! And Happy Easter!

2

Deutscher2012,

Link following is about HDD S.M.A.R.T rogue program: http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=108014 @ malwarebytes.com

See: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0

Please follow instructions and post all logs by attaching them in “Attachments and other options”, not in the LOGS topic.

Essexboy has been notified. He is a qualified malware expert, and will assist you in cleaning your system. As he lives in England, there may be a time zone difference, so please be patient.

EDIT: Forgot to add link to logs topic, fixed that omission.

3

Please do not run any temporary file cleaners but run RogueKiller first (all options)

4

Thanks for replying, essexboy.

I ran roguekiller, it gave me a list of about 30 HJ, RUN etc files checked green under the Registry tab. Should I delete those via roguekiller’s delete button?

5

For Roguekiller follow these instructions and then follow up with the OTL scan and aswMBR

[*] Download RogueKiller and save it on your desktop.
[*]Quit all programs
[*] Start RogueKiller.exe.
[*] Wait until Prescan has finished …
[*] Click on Scan

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee362/Essexboy3/RogueKiller/RGKRScan.png

[*]Wait for the end of the scan.
[*] The report has been created on the desktop.
[*] Click on the Delete button.

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee362/Essexboy3/RogueKiller/RGKRDelete.png

[*]The report has been created on the desktop.

[*]Next click on the ShortcutsFix

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee362/Essexboy3/RogueKiller/RGKRShortcutsFix.png

[*]The report has been created on the desktop.

Please post: All RKreport.txt text files located on your desktop.

6

Okay, I ran roguekiller, deleted and shortcutfixed. I had to restart three times, though, since there was always one or another popup that would stall RK.

Attached you find all the RKreport files.

I got my files and programs back, but still have alerts of threads detected.

What’s next? How to I run OSW and aswMBR (I feel so stupid asking this, but…)

7

One more report file!

8

Okay, I figured out the OTL part…not really. This OTL.txt is from a regular default scan and has been replaced (see two posts down).

9

Found another log from OTL (attached).

Also tried the aswMBR: downloaded it to the desktop (4.51MB), double-clicked, but nothing happened…or something was stopped very fast. So nogo here… :-\

10

Okay, after doing some reading about logs at the link provided by mchain (thank you!) I ran the requested custom scan in OTL.

Please disregard the former OTL.txt, therefore, and use only the one attached to THIS reply.

11

Hi there this is what stopped aswMBR

3 - [ACTIVE] NTFS (0x17) [HIDDEN!] Offset (sectors): 312496380 | Size: 1 Mo
It is an MBR bootkit

We will try TDSSKiller next, if that fails I will need you to create a CD so that we can kill it, are you able to burn a CD ?

Warning This fix is only relevant for this system and no other, using on another computer may cause problems

Be advised that when the fix commences it will shut down all running processes and you may lose the desktop and icons, they will return on reboot

If you have Malwarebytes 1.6 or better installed please disable it for the duration of this run
To disable MBAM
Open the scanner and select the protection tab
Remove the tick from “Start with Windows”
Reboot and then run OTL

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee362/Essexboy3/mbamstop.jpg

Run OTL

[*]Under the Custom Scans/Fixes box at the bottom, paste in the following

:OTL O3 - HKLM\..\Toolbar: (no name) - {1F088139-2F7F-41E2-A801-42761CB3D2AC} - No CLSID value found. O3 - HKU\.DEFAULT\..\Toolbar\WebBrowser: (no name) - {2318C2B1-4965-11D4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - No CLSID value found. O3 - HKU\S-1-5-18\..\Toolbar\WebBrowser: (no name) - {2318C2B1-4965-11D4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - No CLSID value found. O3 - HKU\S-1-5-21-3353069495-3914289673-1728673846-1009\..\Toolbar\WebBrowser: (no name) - {2318C2B1-4965-11D4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - No CLSID value found. O4 - HKU\S-1-5-21-3353069495-3914289673-1728673846-1007..\Run: [C9AC2F78995D8CE23D4AD10883BC469C75FE01FA._service_run] C:\Documents and Settings\Gis\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe (Google Inc.) [2012-04-09 17:06:23 | 000,000,857 | ---- | C] () -- C:\Documents and Settings\Gis\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\SMART_HDD.lnk

:Files
ipconfig /flushdns /c

:Commands
[purity]
[resethosts]
[emptytemp]
[CREATERESTOREPOINT]
[Reboot]


[*]Then click the Run Fix button at the top
[*]Let the program run unhindered, reboot the PC when it is done
[*]Open OTL again and click the Quick Scan button. Post the log it produces in your next reply.

THEN

Download the latest version of TDSSKiller from here and save it to your Desktop.

[*]Doubleclick on TDSSKiller.exe to run the application, then click on Change parameters.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/JSntgRvr/tdss_1.jpg

[*]Check the boxes beside Verify Driver Digital Signature and Detect TDLFS file system, then click OK.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/JSntgRvr/tdss_2.jpg

[*]Click the Start Scan button.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/JSntgRvr/tdss_3.jpg

[*]If a suspicious object is detected, the default action will be Skip, click on Continue.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/JSntgRvr/tdss_4.jpg

[*]If malicious objects are found, they will show in the Scan results and offer three (3) options.
[*]Ensure Cure is selected, then click Continue => Reboot now to finish the cleaning process.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr21/JSntgRvr/tdss_5.jpg

[*]Note: If Cure is not available, please choose Skip instead, do not choose Delete unless instructed.

A report will be created in your root directory, (usually C:\ folder) in the form of “TDSSKiller.[Version][Date][Time]_log.txt”. Please copy and paste its contents on your next reply.

12

To answer your question first, essexboy: Yes, I am able to burn CD’s if need be.

And I think it will be necessary since TDSSKiller would not start, just like aswMBR yesterday. A short hourglass, that’s it. :-\

I ran OTL runfix, though (logs attached).

Quite a sneaky bastard, this one. >:(

Thanks for all your help so far! Please let me know what I need to do next!

BTW, Avast keeps finding MBR: Alureor in PHYSCALDRIVE\Partition4 (which I don’t think I had a few days ago)

13

I need you to download:
gparted-live-0.10.0-3.iso (115.1 MB)

Create a bootable CD, for Gparted from the ISO image.

You can use ImgBurn do this.

Now boot off of the newly created Gparted CD.

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/5772/gpartedsplash.th.png

You should be here… Press ENTER

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/7286/gpartedkeymaps.th.png

By default, “do not touch keymap” is highlighted.

Leave this setting alone and just press ENTER.

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/9840/gpartedlanguage.th.png

Choose your language and press ENTER. English is default [33]

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7958/gpartedgui.th.png

Once again, at this prompt, press ENTER

You will now be taken to the main GUI screen below

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/1122/gpartedo.th.png

According to your logs, the partition that you want to delete is 1 MB

Click the trash can icon to delete and then click Apply.

You should now be here confirming your actions:

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/1533/gpartedsteps.th.png

Now you should be here:

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/8471/gpartedsuccessclose.th.png

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/7753/gpartedboot.th.png

Is “boot” next to your OS drive?
If “boot” is not next to your OS drive under “Flags”, right-mouse click the OS drive while in Gparted and select Manage Flags

In the menu that pops up, place a checkmark in boot like the picture below:

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/3483/gpartedmanageflagsboot.th.png

Now double-click the
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/641/gpartedexit.png
button.

You should receive a small pop up like this:

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8986/gpartedexitreboot.png

Choose reboot and then press OK.

Once back in normal windows then re-run aswMBR please

14

All went well and as described. :slight_smile:

Attached you’ll find the log.

Let’s hope…

15

OK big question, what problems are you experiencing ?

16

Currently nothing…no alarms or anything, machine runs fine.

Should I now run a regular scan with avast?
Or should I still use Malwarebytes?
Run another OTL?
Or should I consider myself (and my computer being ‘healed’ until further notice? :slight_smile:

Anyway: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

17

I ran a full system scan, log attached.

The three infected files are avast quarantines or something, I hope? What should I do with them?

18

They are Avast signatures - you appeared to be scanning as an update was happening…

Subject to no further problems :slight_smile:

I will remove my tools now and give some recommendations, but, I would like you to run for 24 hours or so and come back if you have any problems

Now the best part of the day ----- Your log now appears clean :thumbsup:

A good workman always cleans up after himself so…The following will implement some cleanup procedures as well as reset System Restore points:

Run OTL
[*]Under the Custom Scans/Fixes box at the bottom, paste in the following

:Commands [resethosts] [emptytemp] [CLEARALLRESTOREPOINTS] [Reboot]

[*]Then click the Run Fix button at the top
[*]Let the program run unhindered, reboot the PC when it is done

Run OTL and hit the cleanup button. It will remove all the programmes we have used plus itself.

We will now confirm that your hidden files are set to that, as some of the tools I use will change that
[*]Click Start.
[*]Open My Computer.
[*]Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options.
[*]Select the View Tab.
[*]Under the Hidden files and folders heading select Do not show hidden files and folders.
[]Click Yes to confirm.
[]Click OK.

http://users.telenet.be/bluepatchy/miekiemoes/images/javaicon.gif
Your Java is out of date.
Older versions have vulnerabilities that malware can use to infect your system.
Please follow these steps to remove older version of Java components and upgrade the application.

Upgrading Java:
[] Go to this site and click Do I have Java
[] It will check your current version and then offer to update to the latest version

Now that you are clean, to help protect your computer in the future I recommend that you get the following free programmes:

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7729/mbamicontw5.gif
Malwarebytes.

Update and run weekly to keep your system clean

Download and install FileHippo update checker and run it monthly it will show you which programmes on your system need updating and give a download link

It is critical to have both a firewall and anti virus to protect your system and to keep them updated. To keep your operating system up to date visit
[*]Microsoft Windows Update

To learn more about how to protect yourself while on the internet read our little guide How did I get infected in the first place ?Keep safe :wave:

19

Thanks for the good news!

I did everything you recommended and will change to a non-Windows firewall tomorrow.

One problem Malwarebytes still found at a full scan was resolved.

Another problem I just now realiozed is that my printers are gone. The Printers and Faxes folder is totally empty, and when I try to add a printer I get the alert ‘Operation could not be completed. The print spooler service isn’t running’. Restarting the service manually via ‘Net Start Spooler’ did not do any good.

Any ideas?

20

OK first we will cleanup the print spooler area, if that does not work we will check that all necessary files are present

Download this file to your desktop

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=b7ed40feb32ba29f&id=B7ED40FEB32BA29F!241

  1. Please extract the file to the Desktop.

  2. Double click cleanspl.exe and click the Spooler Cleaner button.

  3. Restart your computer and try to print again.

If that fails then see if this file is present
C:\Windows\System32\ SPOOLSV.EXE