Probable fff5ee malware-help please

I keep getting popups that Avast web shield has blocked fff5ee.com from connecting to the internet. I have several dllhost.exe processes running in task manager. I have created the logs to help with this and they are attached. The log for aswMBR froze up on a small file for over an hour with no progress so have attached this partial log as well.

Hello robinricheycpa and welcome to avast!. I will be working on your Malware issues.

Please note that these fixes are not instantaneous. Most infections require more than one round to properly eradicate.

Please stay with me until given the ‘all clear’ even if symptoms seemingly abate.

Kindly follow my instructions and please do no fixing on your own or running of scanners unless requested by a helper


  1. 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.

  1. 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.


  1. 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]

  1. 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.

Back from traveling yesterday and downloaded and ran combofix. I approved the disclaimer, it downloaded files and then at some point showed no more screenshots but it seems to be working on something. This has been over 14 hours. Now what?

UPDATE: Rebooted laptop after seeing reference that combofix should normally take 10 minutes to run. Ran combofix again. It has completed stage 4 but has been on stage 5 for 30 minutes…suggestions?

Stage 5 took 30 minutes to complete then it went quickly to stage 50 which shows completed and now nothing more for 2 hours.

reboot and see if there is a log

magna86 should be back online tomorrow…

It finally finished 3 hours later. Logs are attached.

Hello,

ComboFix had a problem to remove malware. But he did …

i shall need a fresh sets of FRST logs so that I can target the remains. Please run FRST tool, check box for Addition.txt, hit [ Scan ] button and post me the both fresh FRST set of logs.

Here the logs are.

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

CloseProcesses:
Task: {CAFD32F8-BFAA-4986-BEDF-49C7BA2CE014} - \Optimizer Pro Schedule No Task File <==== ATTENTION
Task: {DB0C3994-2202-46B0-AB69-98D598F3AF62} - \ProtectedSearch\Protected Search No Task File <==== ATTENTION
HKLM-x32\...\Run: [] => [X]
HKU\S-1-5-18\...\RunOnce: [SpUninstallDeleteDir] => rmdir /s /q "\SearchProtect"
CHR HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google: Policy restriction <======= ATTENTION
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer: Policy restriction <======= ATTENTION
HKU\S-1-5-21-2834704459-3228028805-2878841039-1001\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer: Policy restriction <======= ATTENTION
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
SearchScopes: HKU\S-1-5-21-2834704459-3228028805-2878841039-1001 -> {0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A} URL = 
SearchScopes: HKU\S-1-5-21-2834704459-3228028805-2878841039-1001 -> {2F1E335A-858A-4BE9-8F6B-D0AF1D018B53} URL =
SearchScopes: HKU\S-1-5-21-2834704459-3228028805-2878841039-1001 -> {CCC7A320-B3CA-4199-B1A6-9F516DD69829} URL = 
BHO: No Name -> {B164E929-A1B6-4A06-B104-2CD0E90A88FF} ->  No File
BHO-x32: No Name -> {B164E929-A1B6-4A06-B104-2CD0E90A88FF} ->  No File
Handler: dssrequest - {5513F07E-936B-4E52-9B00-067394E91CC5} -  No File
Handler: sacore - {5513F07E-936B-4E52-9B00-067394E91CC5} -  No File
Winsock: Catalog5 01 C:\windows\SysWOW64\mswsock.dll [231424] (Microsoft Corporation) ATTENTION: The LibraryPath should be "%SystemRoot%\system32\NLAapi.dll"
Winsock: Catalog5-x64 01 C:\Windows\System32\mswsock.dll [327168] (Microsoft Corporation) ATTENTION: The LibraryPath should be "%SystemRoot%\system32\NLAapi.dll"
CHR HKLM-x32\...\Chrome\Extension: [fheoggkfdfchfphceeifdbepaooicaho] - No Path
EmptyTemp:

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.

.

Download TDSSKiller and save it to your desktop

Execute TDSSKiller.exe by doubleclicking on it.

[*]Run TDSSKiller.exe and click on Change parametres.
[*]Under Additional options check the boxes next to:
- Verify Driver Digital Signature;
- Detect TDLFS file system
- Use KSN to scan objects
[*]Click OK, and then click Start Scan button.
[*]If an infected file is detected, the default action will be Cure, click on Continue.
[*]If a suspicious file is detected, the default action will be Skip, click on Continue.
[*]It may ask you to reboot the computer to complete the process. Click on Reboot Now.
[*]Click the Report button and attach the contents of it into your next reply
Note:It will also create a log in the [b]C:[/b] directory.

FRST and TDSSKILLER logs attached.

Hello robinricheycpa,

This looks good, lots of junk & temp files where deleted. Tell me please, how is the computer behavior now?

Computer working much better, faster and no problems noted since the fix was done.
Thanks!

Sorry, I could’t reply earlier… Glad I could help. Posted logs appear cleans and show no signs of active infection. You should be good to go …

We’re gonna remove my used tools now as well as carry out some further cleaning and security settings. To learn more about how to protect yourself I’ll give you a few tips for reading.

The following will implement some post-cleanup procedures:


To uninstall and remove AdwCleaner:

[*]Double click on adwcleaner.exe to run the tool;
[*]Click on Uninstall and Confirm with Yes


http://www.mcshield.net/pg/images/arrow.png
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. This will uninstall ComboFix. It will also implement some cleanup procedures and reset System Restore to prevent reinfection from old restore points.


http://www.mcshield.net/pg/images/arrow.png
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.

Tip: Do not use security tools such as ComboFix, FRST, Zoek and the like. These are advanced security tool, should not be used without supervision.


Learn how to protect yourself:

=> In order to stay protected it is very important that you regularly update all of your software and Windows Operating System.

It is important that you visit Windows Update regularly.
How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows

It’s vital that you keep all your software up-to-date as older versions may have some security vulnerabilities. Keeping Java and Adobe update is priority.
Download and install latest version of Java
Download and install latest version of Adobe Reader

=> I recommend that you use one of the fantastic opportunities provided by
http://www.mcshield.net/pg/images/avast5.png
avast! AntiVirus.

For security protection, an active AntiVirus is required. If you want to reinforce your security setup I recommended additional security software and utilities:
Download and install Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware and perform ‘Threat Scan’ from time to time. Malwarebytes will detect and remove all traces of known malware.
Download and install MCShield Anti-Malware Tool to prevent infections transmitted via removable drives.
Download and install Unchecky to keeps your checkboxes clear by preventing installing additional adware and other PUP bad software.
Download and install AdBlock for safe web browser surfing without annoying and malicious advertising ads.

Extra text for reading:

Please visit and review PC Safety and Security - What Do I Need? for some helpful information.

Please visit FAQ - Answers to common security questions - Best Practices to read tips how to protect yourself against malware infection.

You may also visit and read What to do if your Computer is running slowly? if you like to read some basic geek stuff.

The specific type of infection:

Meet CryptoPrevent. Security app that shall attempt to prevent dangerous malware that encrypts certain types of files stored on your disk, like CryptoWall, CryptoLocker and simular clones.

More information about this family of malicious software: CryptoLocker Ransomware Information Guide and FAQ ;
Cryptolocker Ransomware: What You Need To Know and CryptoDefense and How_Decrypt Ransomware Information Guide and FAQ

Stay safe.

Best Regards,
magna86