Severe issues after manually removing toolbar

Viruses and worms
1

Hi.

First my system spec: Windows XP SP3, on a Dell Dimension 3000 (2GB Memory, 60 GB hard drive, approx 6 years old).

Yesterday I installed a free AVI player (google freeaviplayer.org) which wanted to install a toolbar (whose name I can’t remember - something beginning with C? Clarin?) and reset my search settings during installation. I declined, but the program installed them anyway. The program itself was nothing more than a repackaged version of VLC, so I had a feeling things wouldn’t end well…

After uninstalling the toolbar using its own uninstaller (possibly an unwise move) I ran MalwareBytes quick scan, which didn’t discover anything, but which did seem to take a much longer time than usual. I ran CCleaner to clean up the registry and delete temp files (I have a backup of the registry entries). After this I began to notice severe problems. I can run the machine OK in safe mode (I’m writing this from there), but in normal mode I can only start one or two programs properly (Notepad++, Metapad). None of my larger programs seem to want to start - no browsers, for example. I get a brief egg timer cursor, but then nothing… I can’t start Task Manager either, and get an egg timer when I pass the mouse over the task bar.

I have external backups of all my important work, but no recent backup of the entire disk. Could I do a backup of C: from safe mode (I use Macrium)? I’ve also downloaded OTL, RogueKiller, mswMBR and the other recommended programs. Can I just run these from safe mode?

Best,
Chris

P.S: I think the toolbar might well have been a repackaged version of Babylon toolbar, as on ‘completion’ the uninstaller opened a ‘sorry to see you go’ page for that toolbar.

2

hey and welcome to the forum. i think most of the programs the malware experts need to be able to help you can be run in safe mode. So i see no point else not to run them in safe mode. it suond like you could have been hit by something bad there :'(. but if you get those log attach here a malware expert will guide you from there.

3

Thanks Mikael. In fact I’m not so new, I had a serious infection with the same machine about two years ago, and managed to clean it up with essexboy’s help…

I have attached the logs, so hopefully some one will have time to inspect them. The only one I didn’t run was RogueKiller, as I suspect that might not be so relevant. From the AdwCleaner log it seems that the toolbar in question was called Claro.

Best,
Chris

4

Hi, try normal mode on completion of this and let me know how it is behaving

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
SRV - [2012/12/14 14:05:23 | 002,469,992 | ---- | M] () [Auto | Stopped] -- C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\BrowserProtect\2.5.1005.80\{c16c1ccb-7046-4e5c-a2f3-533ad2fec8e8}\BrowserProtect.exe -- (BrowserProtect)
FF - prefs.js..extensions.enabledItems: helperbar@helperbar.com:1.0
[2012/12/22 19:31:33 | 000,000,000 | ---D | M] (BrowserProtect) -- C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ALL USERS\APPLICATION DATA\BROWSERPROTECT\2.5.1005.80\{C16C1CCB-7046-4E5C-A2F3-533AD2FEC8E8}\FIREFOXEXTENSION
O2 - BHO: (WindowsIE.clsIS) - {2E12B523-3D4C-4FAC-9B04-0376A8F5E879} - c:\WINDOWS\WindowsIE.dll (ESD Technologies, Inc.)

:Files
C:\WINDOWS\tasks\At*.job
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\BrowserProtect

: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.

5

Cheers essexboy. Ran the fix and attached the log file. I’m writing this in normal mode, so hopefully it’s fixed it. Everything seems to be back to normal (touch wood). I can open all my usual programs, including task manager, and nothing seems to be hanging.

Chris

Edit: sorry, that was the log that appeared when I rebooted… haven’t done a quick scan yet. Will post that next.

6

OK, OTL quickscan done, and attached the correct log.

7

It was browser protect service, it was being reinstalled by the AT*.job

Once you are happy let me know and I will tidy up

8

Cheers essexboy. Seems OK now, so I’m happy to tidy up.

9

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

If you use on-line banking then as an added layer of protection install Trusteer Rapport

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:

10

OK cleanups all done. The machine seems to be responding fine now.

Many thanks again essexboy, and happy new year. :smiley:

11

My pleasure… Happy new year