Now You See It, Now You Don't...

Viruses and worms
1

So I am completely and utterly computer illiterate, and have been battling with a virus for about a week now. Only thing I noticed out of the ordinary was the slowness and the fact that when I would type in a web address, I would wind up redirected to some random page and it took repeatedly bashing the back button to get anywhere (and sometimes even that didn’t work). I’ve run the scanner on Microsoft’s site as well as Microsoft Security Essentials. Sometimes they’d find something, most times they said everything was fine. Mainly coming back Trojans and random Java related things. A would-be tech buddy of mine had me download HijackThis and it’s popping up all sorts of lovely red X’s. This is my absolute last hope short of having him “reformat” (that’s what he said, anywho) my computer and starting new.

As requested, gonna do my best to post the logs, and the full report from MalwareBytes (forgive me if I screw this up, like I said…computer illiterate here…)

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (Trial) 1.60.1.1000
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: v2012.04.07.02

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 x64 NTFS
Internet Explorer 9.0.8112.16421
Tiddiekins :: TIDDIEKINS-HP [administrator]

Protection: Enabled

4/7/2012 2:31:53 AM
mbam-log-2012-04-07 (02-31-53).txt

Scan type: Full scan
Scan options enabled: Memory | Startup | Registry | File System | Heuristics/Extra | Heuristics/Shuriken | PUP | PUM
Scan options disabled: P2P
Objects scanned: 361127
Time elapsed: 1 hour(s), 34 minute(s), 42 second(s)

Memory Processes Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Detected: 3
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes{09971cee-01b8-42bc-9d91-456b1faad6be} (PUP.MyWebSearch) → Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes{09971cee-01b8-42bc-9d91-456b1faad6be} (PUP.MyWebSearch) → Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats{23B38049-323F-443D-9732-F454E5B15B72} (PUP.MyWebSearch) → Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Detected: 1
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings|ProxyServer (PUM.Bad.Proxy) → Data: http=127.0.0.1:61798 → Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Data Items Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Files Detected: 1
C:\Users\Tiddiekins\AppData\LocalLow\CouponAlert_2pEI\Installr\Cache\2593152A.exe (PUP.MyWebSearch) → Quarantined and deleted successfully.

(end)

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (Trial) 1.60.1.1000
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: v2012.04.07.02

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 x64 NTFS
Internet Explorer 9.0.8112.16421
Tiddiekins :: TIDDIEKINS-HP [administrator]

Protection: Enabled

4/7/2012 4:13:08 AM
mbam-log-2012-04-07 (04-13-08).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Scan options enabled: Memory | Startup | Registry | File System | Heuristics/Extra | Heuristics/Shuriken | PUP | PUM
Scan options disabled: P2P
Objects scanned: 195842
Time elapsed: 5 minute(s), 15 second(s)

Memory Processes Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Files Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

(end)

2012/04/07 02:31:38 -0500 TIDDIEKINS-HP Tiddiekins MESSAGE Starting protection
2012/04/07 02:31:41 -0500 TIDDIEKINS-HP Tiddiekins MESSAGE Protection started successfully
2012/04/07 02:31:44 -0500 TIDDIEKINS-HP Tiddiekins MESSAGE Starting IP protection
2012/04/07 02:31:48 -0500 TIDDIEKINS-HP Tiddiekins MESSAGE IP Protection started successfully
2012/04/07 04:10:57 -0500 TIDDIEKINS-HP Tiddiekins MESSAGE Starting protection
2012/04/07 04:11:01 -0500 TIDDIEKINS-HP Tiddiekins MESSAGE Protection started successfully
2012/04/07 04:11:05 -0500 TIDDIEKINS-HP Tiddiekins MESSAGE Starting IP protection
2012/04/07 04:11:09 -0500 TIDDIEKINS-HP Tiddiekins MESSAGE IP Protection started successfully

So those are all three things I found under the Log tag MalwareBytes

Attached the logs below…check…alrighty, think that’s it. Any help would be great. I attempted calling Microsoft earlier and all they would tell me is since virus’ have become so advanced, that they won’t touch your computer or even help you for less than $99 dollars as of December 7th of last year. Bummer.

Thanks in advance for any and all help (if help is even an option at this point!)

2
Thanks in advance for any and all help (if help is even an option at this point!)
what MBAM has detected is only a minor issue......seems to be from a annoying toolbar

anyway, Essexboy / Jeffce is notified…it may take several hours before they arrive :wink:

3

Hi you do have a plethora of toolbars, I would recommend that you uninstall them all bar the one you really, really need ;D

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 [2011/07/31 00:18:38 | 000,000,000 | ---D | M] (XUL Cache) -- C:\Users\Tiddiekins\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\rg89hyyn.default\extensions\{55de5e2c-ffcf-4d58-866b-2d5aa91c14cc} O3 - HKU\S-1-5-21-2000416533-254775694-1112073365-1002\..\Toolbar\WebBrowser: (no name) - {687578B9-7132-4A7A-80E4-30EE31099E03} - No CLSID value found. O3 - HKU\S-1-5-21-2000416533-254775694-1112073365-1002\..\Toolbar\WebBrowser: (no name) - {7FEBEFE3-6B19-4349-98D2-FFB09D4B49CA} - No CLSID value found.

: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 and Install Combofix

Download ComboFix from one of the following locations:
Link 1
Link 2

VERY IMPORTANT !!! Save ComboFix.exe to your Desktop

  • IMPORTANT - Disable your AntiVirus and AntiSpyware applications, usually via a right click on the System Tray icon. They may otherwise interfere with our tools. If you have difficulty properly disabling your protective programs, refer to this link here

[*]Double click on ComboFix.exe & follow the prompts.
[*]Accept the disclaimer and allow to update if it asks

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/ried7/NSIS_disclaimer_ENG.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/ried7/NSIS_extraction.png

[*]When finished, it shall produce a log for you.
[*]Please include the C:\ComboFix.txt in your next reply.

Notes:

  1. Do not mouse-click Combofix’s window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.
  2. Do not “re-run” Combofix. If you have a problem, reply back for further instructions.
  3. If after the reboot you get errors about programmes being marked for deletion then reboot, that will cure it.

Please make sure you include the combo fix log in your next reply as well as describe how your computer is running now

4

Alrighty…assuming to get rid of the toolbar stuff I just right click on the things and hit delete, right? Looks fairly blank up there now, so assuming that fixed it. Never paid much attention to it. Here are the logs as requested…assuming I did everything right. Thank you so much for your help. Instructions were easy enough for someone like me to follow :slight_smile:

5

What I would like you to do now is do some google searches and let me know if the symptoms persist

I bet IE looks bigger now ;D

6

Hehe…MUCH better. Nothing random popping up, and I haven’t been redirected the past few tries searching around the net…so I’m assuming all is good? Unless it starts up again after a few days like it had before. Not sure. Like I said, most of the time I’d run the scan and it wouldn’t find anything.

On a random note, I ran that HijackThis thing again and Analyzed it like my friend asked me to do last night, and it’s still insisting some of my system boot things (totally technical term, I know) aren’t running from the right file? I can run it again and post the log or whatever if you think it might be relevant. For all I know, it’s a site that has you thinking your laptop is permanently doomed.

Thanks again though, seriously, ya’ll are all lifesavers!

7

You have a 64bit system and Hijackthis cannot read that

Play around with it and if all is well tomorrow I will remove my tools

8

Well that would definitely explain that then, lol. Headed to work now. Will make sure to hop on the net for a while and search to my hearts content and I’ll letcha know how that goes. Thank you :slight_smile:

9

Spent a while Googling and anything I searched and clicked took me to the genuine page. All seems well :slight_smile: GREATLY appreciate your help. Saved me a lot of frustration…can never thank you enough!

10

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] [Reboot]

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

Remove ComboFix

[*]Hold down the Windows key + R on your keyboard. This will display the Run dialogue box
[*]In the Run box, type in ComboFix /Uninstall (Notice the space between the “x” and “/”) then click OK

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee362/Essexboy3/Misc%20screen%20shots/CF_Uninstall-1.jpg

[]Follow the prompts on the screen
[]A message should appear confirming that ComboFix was uninstalled

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.

SPRING CLEAN

To manually create a new Restore Point

[*]Go to Control Panel and select System
[*]Select System
[*]On the left select System Protection and accept the warning if you get one
[*]Select System Protection Tab
[*]Select Create at the bottom
[*]Type in a name i.e. Clean
[*]Select Create

Now we can purge the infected ones

[*]GoStart > All programs > Accessories > system tools
[*]Right click Disc cleanup and select run as administrator
[*]Select Your main drive and accept the warning if you get one
[*]For a few moments the system will make some calculations
[*]Select the More Options tab
[*]In the System Restore and Shadow Backups select Clean up
[*]Select Delete on the pop up
[]Select OK
[]Select Delete

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:

11

Done! It’s amazing how much faster my laptop is running, and how much easier it is to search for things now that I’m not being redirected every few minutes, lol.

Thanks again :slight_smile:

12

My pleasure