Ransomware on laptop --> How do I remove it?

Viruses and worms
1

Daughter’s laptop was infected with ransomware after following link to new site while searching for song lyrics.
Logging in goes directly to ransom screen. CTRL-ALT-DEL to device manager goes directly to ransom screen.
F8 to SAFE-BOOT brings up ransom screen. Using recovery CD results in screens with Korean characters and
makes it difficult to navigate but it appears that the C: partition is empty and new E: & F: partitions have been
created ?!? (D: is still the recover partition; looks like C: is now E:)

Any ideas how I can recover from this without losing my daughter’s school work and other personal data?

2

Hello!

But can you make a screen of this locker? and to show here?

3

Do you have another computer where we can burn a CD ?

Please print these instruction out so that you know what you are doing

[*]Download OTLPENet.exe to your desktop
[]Download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to a flash drive.
[*]Ensure that you have a blank CD in the drive
[*]Double click OTLPENet.exe and this will then open imgburn to burn the file to CD
[*]Reboot your system using the boot CD you just created.
Note : If you do not know how to set your computer to boot from CD follow the steps here
[*]As the CD needs to detect your hardware and load the operating system, I would recommend a nice cup of tea whilst it loads :slight_smile:
[*]Your system should now display a Reatogo desktop.
Note : as you are running from CD it is not exactly speedy
[]Insert the flash drive with FRST on it
[]Locate the flash drive and run FSRT
[]The tool will start to run.

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee362/Essexboy3/Farbar/FRST2.gif

[*]When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
[*]Press Scan button.
[*]It will make a log (FRST.txt) on the flash drive. Please copy and paste it to your reply.

4

After using the recovery disk I was able to boot into the desktop and the ransomware
screen was gone (so I cannot post any screen capture).

I have attached the FRST.txt file. What’s next? How can I determine which version of
ransomware (worm?) she has on her laptop? Does it matter that an x86 version of these
tools were used on an x64 version of Windows 7?

Thanks for the assistance … daughter is freaking out because she has homework to do.
Good think it’s a long weekend in MTL.

5

Did you have avast! on the infected system??

6

Yup, but it is Avast 4.8 Pro (4.8.1368) with up to date VPS files.

7

You should bought avast 7 ;D

8

I have a three year subscription that expires at the end of the month … at
which time I’m updating to the newest version on all six of our PCs. Doh!

But this still should have been caught. I’m guessing that this variant just wasn’t
in the VSP file.

9

If you have the licence then you are able to update to v7 from any previous version with no charge

Download the attached fixlist.txt to the same USB as FRST
Run FRST from the Reatogo desktop
Press Fix

Reboot to normal windows

THEN

Download OTL to your Desktop
Secondary link

[*]Double click on the icon to run it. Make sure all other windows are closed and to let it run uninterrupted.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/OTL_Main_Tutorial.gif

[*]Select All Users
[*]Under the Custom Scan box paste this in

netsvcs
BASESERVICES
%SYSTEMDRIVE%*.exe
/md5start
services.*
explorer.exe
winlogon.exe
Userinit.exe
svchost.exe
winsock.*
/md5stop
CREATERESTOREPOINT

[*]Click the Run Scan button. Do not change any settings unless otherwise told to do so. The scan wont take long.
[*]When the scan completes, it will open two notepad windows. OTL.Txt and Extras.Txt. These are saved in the same location as OTL.
[*]Post both logs

10

Tried this too late in the evening and ran OTL without the script added in the Custom Scans/Fixes the first time.
I have attached OTL-run1.txt and Extras-run1.txt that resulted from this first run.
I then ran OTL with the script and only the OTL.txt file was generated (this is the OTL-run2.txt file attached).
No Extras.txt file was generated from this second run of OTL.

Did I mess it up or is the information found in these three text files sufficient to proceed?

(OTL-run1.txt included here, other two to follow)

11

Here`s Extras-run1.txt

12

and OTL-run2.txt

13

the problem is ransomwares are being repacked almost everyday…so no AV is immune.

14

Not a problem, I had sufficient data

Once this run has completed could you let me know of any problems

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

Run OTL

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

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/OTL_Fix.GIF


:OTL
O2 - BHO: (Claro LTD Helper Object) - {000F18F2-09EB-4A59-82B2-5AE4184C39C3} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Claro LTD\claro\1.6.4.1\bh\claro.dll (Montera Technologeis LTD)
O3:64bit: - HKLM\..\Toolbar: (no name) - Locked - No CLSID value found.
O3 - HKLM\..\Toolbar: (Claro LTD Toolbar) - {9E131A93-EED7-4BEB-B015-A0ADB30B5646} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Claro LTD\claro\1.6.4.1\claroTlbr.dll (Montera Technologeis LTD)
O3 - HKLM\..\Toolbar: (no name) - Locked - No CLSID value found.
O3 - HKU\S-1-5-21-3292441111-4018756169-784310806-1001\..\Toolbar\WebBrowser: (no name) - {7FEBEFE3-6B19-4349-98D2-FFB09D4B49CA} - No CLSID value found.

:Files
C:\Program Files (x86)\Claro LTD

:Commands
[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.

15

OTL-run3.txt is attached.

16

How is the computer behaving now ?

17

The computer is usable again but there are frequent AVAST notices (red text on yellow background) indicating messages are
being blocked to something called newtimedescriptor.com

18

I think I know where that may be coming from

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

19

ComboFix.txt is attached.

Aside from not seeing the Avast notification box popping with the warning about blocked messages
as before , system seems ok.

20

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.

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: