My system is infected - please help me clean it!

dbrisendine · 2016-12-25T19:23:52.000Z

The Registry search showed the actual problem; this Fixlist should handle that issue.

https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/farbar-recovery-scan-tool/FRST.gif
Fix with Farbar Recovery Scan Tool

https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-formatting/icon_exclaim.gif
[b] This fix was created for this user for use on that particular machine.
https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-formatting/icon_exclaim.gif

https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-formatting/icon_exclaim.gif
Running it on another one may cause damage and render the system unstable.
https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-formatting/icon_exclaim.gif
[/b]
Download attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop:

Both files, FRST and fixlist.txt have to be in the same location or the fix will not work!

- Right-click on

https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/farbar-recovery-scan-tool/FRST.gif
icon and select
https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-tools/RunAsAdmin.jpg
Run as Administrator to start the tool.
(XP users click run after receipt of Windows Security Warning - Open File).
- Press the Fix button just once and wait.
- If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run.
- When finished FRST will generate a log on the Desktop, called Fixlog.txt.
Please attach it to your reply.

Please tell me how your system is running now. Thanks.

system · 2017-01-03T14:48:31.000Z

Can somebody help me out, please?
I was getting some help and then it stopped!

Pondus · 2017-01-03T15:25:13.000Z

bibroy post:18:

Can somebody help me out, please?
I was getting some help and then it stopped!

Did you follow instructions given in last reply from @dbrisendine ? … if so you did not reply!

system · 2017-01-03T15:55:58.000Z

Yes, I replied to all messages and followed all steps.

I attached the files SearchReg.txt and Fixlog.txt (missed one earlier) after scan
I also tested my m/c after uninstalling vpn (did not solve my problem) and mentioned that too!

I am waiting for next set of instructions!

I checked and did not find any message to which I did not reply.

Thanks and Regards

Pondus · 2017-01-03T15:58:12.000Z

Yes, I replied to all messages and followed all steps.

There is no reply after @dbrisendine post (« Reply [b]#16[/b] on: 25 December 2016, 20:23:52 ») before you posted today ... or do i need glasses!

system · 2017-01-03T16:02:30.000Z

Not sure why you can’t see my reply.

Here is my reply to last message from @dbrisendine: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=194487.msg1356118#msg1356118

Pondus · 2017-01-03T16:06:50.000Z

That is reply « Reply #11 on: 25 December 2016, 11:39:02 »

There are several replys after that, including @dbrisendine with new instructions « Reply #16 on: 25 December 2016, 20:23:52 »

system · 2017-01-03T16:09:56.000Z

Oops! my fault - I was expecting the rely chain on the same page and did not notice the second page link.
Sorry about that - will soon get into the act.
Thanks for pointing out!

system · 2017-01-03T16:58:30.000Z

Sorry @dbrisendine, I replied late since I misunderstood the pagination of the forum messages!
I have attached Fixlog.txt
Unfortunately my problem is not solved - I am still getting those ugly pop ups from Avast related to wpad.dat, svchost.exe etc

Let me know the next step I should take!

dbrisendine post:17:

The Registry search showed the actual problem; this Fixlist should handle that issue.

https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/farbar-recovery-scan-tool/FRST.gif
Fix with Farbar Recovery Scan Tool

https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-formatting/icon_exclaim.gif
[b] This fix was created for this user for use on that particular machine.
https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-formatting/icon_exclaim.gif

https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-formatting/icon_exclaim.gif
Running it on another one may cause damage and render the system unstable.
https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-formatting/icon_exclaim.gif
[/b]
Download attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop:

Both files, FRST and fixlist.txt have to be in the same location or the fix will not work!
- Right-click on 
https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/farbar-recovery-scan-tool/FRST.gif
icon and select
https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-tools/RunAsAdmin.jpg
Run as Administrator to start the tool.
(XP users click run after receipt of Windows Security Warning - Open File).
- Press the Fix button just once and wait.
- If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run.
- When finished FRST will generate a log on the Desktop, called Fixlog.txt.
Please attach it to your reply.

Please tell me how your system is running now. Thanks.

dbrisendine · 2017-01-04T07:03:04.000Z

I apologize sincerely. I left out some proper syntax and the registry fix was not valid. This Fixlist is properly formatted and should do the trick.

https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/farbar-recovery-scan-tool/FRST.gif
Fix with Farbar Recovery Scan Tool

https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-formatting/icon_exclaim.gif
[b] This fix was created for this user for use on that particular machine.
https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-formatting/icon_exclaim.gif

https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-formatting/icon_exclaim.gif
Running it on another one may cause damage and render the system unstable.
https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-formatting/icon_exclaim.gif
[/b]
Download attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop:

Both files, FRST and fixlist.txt have to be in the same location or the fix will not work!

- Right-click on

https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/farbar-recovery-scan-tool/FRST.gif
icon and select
https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-tools/RunAsAdmin.jpg
Run as Administrator to start the tool.
(XP users click run after receipt of Windows Security Warning - Open File).
- Press the Fix button just once and wait.
- If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run.
- When finished FRST will generate a log on the Desktop, called Fixlog.txt.
Please attach it to your reply.

system · 2017-01-05T15:39:38.000Z

Sorry to get back late!

I downloaded the used your latest fixlist.txt and then performed fix with FRST .I have attached the generated Fixlog.txt

Unfortunately my problem is still unresolved and I am still getting continuous pop up alerts from AVAST regarding wpad.dat, svchost.exe etc. Perhaps the frequency of alerts has reduced, not sure though.

By the way, I detected a program CheckNDISPort.exe as startup enabled in task manager - not sure if it is harmful - still I disabled it’s startup. Mentioned it, if it provides any clue to you. FYI, apart from WIFI, I also use a dongle for internet (may be ZTE make)

I am not sure why wpad.dat (about which I found lot of documentation in web) is so hard to fix. I have two premium and regularly updated software, namely Avast and Malware Bytes (MBAM) - still I find myself helpless in the face of this menace.

Waiting for next set of instructions.

Thanks and Regards

dbrisendine · 2017-01-05T17:12:07.000Z

Too limited a search in the registry (reason we haven’t got this fixed yet). As to the reason why your protection software doesn’t fix this is they do not see this as a malware issue; the adware is using standard OS settings but has locked you to a IP web address that sends out malware.

Run a search with FRST.

Right click on FRST on your desktop and select “Run as Administrator…” When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
Type browserupdatecheck:wpad into the Search Box.
Press the Search Registry button.
It will produce a log called search.txt or SearchReg.txt in the same directory the tool is run from.
Please attach the log file back here.

system · 2017-01-05T18:38:24.000Z

I have the file SearchReg.txt (after searching for browserupdatecheck:wpad in registry)

I had a look at the file and it seemed it return empty search results!

waiting for your next set of instructions!

thanks and regards,

dbrisendine · 2017-01-05T20:58:48.000Z

Make the search for the same text but change the : to a ;
Sorry

system · 2017-01-06T05:32:38.000Z

Thanks for the updated search string
Yes, this time there were some search results.
Let me know your diagnosis

Attached the file SearchReg.txt

waiting for your next set of instructions!

thanks and regards,

dbrisendine · 2017-01-06T05:47:07.000Z

https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/farbar-recovery-scan-tool/FRST.gif
Fix with Farbar Recovery Scan Tool
https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-formatting/icon_exclaim.gif
[b] This fix was created for this user for use on that particular machine.
https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-formatting/icon_exclaim.gif

https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-formatting/icon_exclaim.gif
Running it on another one may cause damage and render the system unstable.
https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-formatting/icon_exclaim.gif
[/b]Download attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop:

Both files, FRST and fixlist.txt have to be in the same location or the fix will not work!

Right-click on
https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/farbar-recovery-scan-tool/FRST.gif
icon and select
https://sites.google.com/site/cannedfixes/home/hosted-images-tools/RunAsAdmin.jpg
Run as Administrator to start the tool.
(XP users click run after receipt of Windows Security Warning - Open File).
- Press the Fix button just once and wait.
- If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run.
- When finished FRST will generate a log on the Desktop, called Fixlog.txt.
  Please attach it to your reply. Also, how is your system running now?

system · 2017-01-06T06:46:50.000Z

I disable silent/gaming mode in Avast! But I am not getting any alert pops ups as was happening earlier related to wpad/svchost etc

Wow - it seems it got fixed!! Is it?

In order to ensure, I ran FRST once again as admin and did a ‘Search Registry’ for “browserupdatecheck;wpad” - it did return some search results which contain the word “wpad”. I have attached the file SearchReg.txt, in case you want to have a look. Does non-empty search result mean anything? Is the problem still hidden and not fully resolved yet? Yes, I know you did not ask me do a registry search this time, but I was really curious! Hope you are not offended!

Thanks a lot!

Do I need to do anything else?

By the way, I have always enabled “Animate icon when scanning” in Avast and I have seen (since I installed Avast), that it always remains animated - does always remaining animated icon mean “Avast is always monitoring” or “Avast is always scanning as long as PC is on”

Thanks and Regards

dbrisendine · 2017-01-06T06:54:00.000Z

Your system should be free of the browserupdatecheck malware; see if it stays alert free for a day or so and then report back.

Running a scan or a search with FRST is fine; you learn by trying and observing. The WPAD service / routine is part of Windows itself and there is nothing inherently bad with WPAD; only if it is locked into pointing your system to a malware server.

system · 2017-01-06T06:55:48.000Z

Great answer! Awesome - thanks!

Surely would report back after a day!

Thanks and Regards,

system · 2017-01-07T17:27:00.000Z

I am happy to report, after more than 24 hours, I have not received any wpad pop up alerts from Avast. It seems my problem is resolved!

I am grateful to you and the forum for this awesome free service!

Regards,

dbrisendine post:34:

Your system should be free of the browserupdatecheck malware; see if it stays alert free for a day or so and then report back.

Running a scan or a search with FRST is fine; you learn by trying and observing. The WPAD service / routine is part of Windows itself and there is nothing inherently bad with WPAD; only if it is locked into pointing your system to a malware server.

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