Win32:Dropper-EPI [Drp] virus in explorer.exe and winlogon.exe

Viruses and worms
1

I am not sure where this virus came from. I was using my mom’s computer trying to print a quiche recipe from Serious Eats when Avast alerted me that a page wasn’t safe so I navigated away. Next thing I knew Java was running in the background and some sort of Antivirus Scan program was installed and not allowing me to access internet or anything else unless I clicked and bought it.

I immediately disconnected from the internet and tried to reset. Things started normally but the program was still there and avast was running very slowly. So tried to load into safe mode but can’t do that either… for some reason it isn’t working. Back to normal mode all I get is a blank background image. I no longer have administrative access to run explorer.exe but I was able to run Avast, which found 3 viruses - winlogon.exe and explorer.exe. Avast could not repair or remove these files. I also ran MBAM which found one file and deleted it but the problems persist.

Right now not sure what the next step is. I don’t want to connect it to rest of my home network… am thinking maybe I can put some extra tools on a CD and run it off of there? I’d be okay with slicking the whole drive as I had just bought a bigger one anyway but there are some pictures that I want to save. Is there a way to pull these off the computer and not transferring over any infected files?

Sorry for long post didn’t want to leave out any details.

Thanks.

2

Can you tell us the name of the fake antivirus scanner?

3

Yeah its actually called Antivirus Scan. It wants me to connect to a webpage who’s url I don’t remember but I did google and nothing came up on it.

Also, just reran MBAM and it did not find anything.

Ran a full scan of Avast and it detected the same virus plus another, Win32:Malware-Gen in the same 2 files - explorer.exe and winlogon.exe. I had read previously about another case of this virus but it was not resolved.

Avast was unable to quarantine or delete as files are read only.

This isn’t looking easy. Thanks for the help.

4

hey i would suggest you do a boot scan with avast and see if it can solve the malware it found from there. during the boot scan send any infection to the virus chest there they could not do any harm and we have more option of dealing with the malware rather if you delete it.

http://www.schmahl.net/avastbootscan.php link is instruction ob how you do a boot scan if the malware dosent let you go this page its. doble click on the avast ball and go to the scaning button and hit the button under scan your computer there is the boot scan let it scan all your hardrive and it schedual now and reboot your pc then avast is doing a boot scan before your system is booted up.

another program that is higly recomended here aswell is superantispyware that i also recomend you to try for sometimes it finds things malwarebytes misses and vice versa.

http://www.superantispyware.com/

good luck and let us know how it goes or if you need more help.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-antivirus-scan is it this one you have been hit with?

5

Explorer.exe and Winlogon.exe. infections are getting more virulent and complex by the day. We may not be able to save the system - depending on the variant - back up your data but no .EXE, .SCR or HTM(L) files.

Please do the following:

Check the information on the first post of this thread under Virus/Worms for you to check your machine for malware: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0.

Follow the directions of obtaining the OTL logs (save them as ANSI and not Unicode). When the OTL scan completes, it will open two notepad windows. OTL.Txt and Extras.Txt. Post the two (2) OTL logs as an attachment (Additional Options > Attach > Browse (the logs will be on your desktop > Post).

I am going to refer you to our Certified Malware expert, named Essexboy. He will also review your logs and give you further instructions, however he comes on the forum late UK time. He will respond to you in this thread, so remember to check this thread daily. I will continue to provide assistance in the meantime, then remain in the background while he works with you.

IMPORTANT: If you are on a home network, disconnect the affected machine from the network. Do not share a USB/flash drive with this affected machine. Do not use this machine unless absolutely necessary; use a different machine to check email, sync your phone, etc.

Please do not make any further changes to your machine after you have provided the logs.

Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you.

6

Thanks for the tips.

Can I run OTL from a CD? Hope I can do that.

I am running Avast from boot at the moment. It has found some more stuff that I am sending to the chest. Most notably some Java:Agent-BM virus in the My Documents folders.

7

Avast boot scan cannot remove the Win32:Dropper-EPI virus. I was able to move the others to chest. Still no desktop and can’t start explorer.exe. I moved OTL to desktop and ran the quick scan with the parameters requested but it only output an OTL.txt not an extras.txt. Did I mess up somewhere?

I still don’t have that PC connected to internet so I burned the results to a CD and am reposting from laptop. Trying to keep everything safe. Is doing this by CD safe? I know I dont want to move around flash drives.

Thanks again. Keenly awaiting essexboy’s response. Am thinking of trying the fix for one of the viruses posted above but with 2 infecting same file I think I should wait?

Muchos gracias.

8

OTL should have been downloaded to the desktop anyway. If you needed to initially put it from a CD or USB (then reformat it or discard it) then download it to your infected machine, that is fine, but it still needs to be downloaded to the desktop.

The file you attached is fine, but yes, you are missing the other file. See if you can get that file if possible.

Do not attempt any malware cleanup on your own!!!

Essexboy was waiting for your OTL logs (2) before coming in and starting his work with you. No need to do anymore Avast scans at this point. The more you use your machine, the more the malware may spread.

If you are unable to get the 2nd OTL log, then leave it be, and Essexboy will use another tool instead. Thank you.

@ Essexboy, the OP is ready for you. :wink:

9

Well, I disconnected the computer from my home network and the internet. I can connect it directly to the internet I suppose but I am worried about it sending and receiving unwanted information.

Should I not care about this and try to download it? Also, I remember reading somewhere the steps to getting to it when explorer.exe is not working but I am not even sure that will work because when I had a desktop the virus was blocking all of my internet access with phony virus messages.

An above poster did give me this link which has steps for killing the proxy settings and regaining internet use. Should I do this?

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-antivirus-scan

Thanks again.

10

If you are concerned, leave well enough alone. Do not attempt any malware removal without Essexboy, who is the Certified Malware Removal Expert. The other posters are helpers, but not Certified.

11

Ok, thanks SafeSurf. I will wait for EssexBoy and I greatly appreciate all the help.

I am probably close to on UK hours myself since I’m up all night during USA times.

Is it safe to rip files that I want to save to a CD from the infected computer? I don’t want to spread the virus but I’d like to grab some documents and pictures if at all possible. If removal is going to be difficult I can slick the drive and start over if I can save the pictures.

Thanks thanks thaaanks!

12

Hi lets try the easy way first - but just in case we will follow up with the big boy

Run OTL

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

:OTL IE - HKU\S-1-5-21-1801674531-1677128483-682003330-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings: "ProxyEnable" = 1 IE - HKU\S-1-5-21-1801674531-1677128483-682003330-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings: "ProxyOverride" = IE - HKU\S-1-5-21-1801674531-1677128483-682003330-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings: "ProxyServer" = http=127.0.0.1:8074 O4 - HKU\S-1-5-21-1801674531-1677128483-682003330-1003..\Run: [fmbgckib] C:\Documents and Settings\Mom\Local Settings\Temp\oxqqrxkfh\qupddfglajb.exe () [2010/10/16 12:37:19 | 000,000,446 | ---- | C] () -- C:\Program Files\1016201013371940.bat

:Files
ipconfig /flushdns /c
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe|C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386\winlogon.exe /replace
C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe|C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386\explorer.exe /replace

:Commands
[purity]
[resethosts]
[emptytemp]
[EMPTYFLASH]
[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 ComboFix from one of these locations:

Link 1
Link 2

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

[*]Disable your AntiVirus and AntiSpyware applications, usually via a right click on the System Tray icon. They may otherwise interfere with our tools

[*]Double click on ComboFix.exe & follow the prompts.

[*]As part of it’s process, ComboFix will check to see if the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console is installed. With malware infections being as they are today, it’s strongly recommended to have this pre-installed on your machine before doing any malware removal. It will allow you to boot up into a special recovery/repair mode that will allow us to more easily help you should your computer have a problem after an attempted removal of malware.

[*]Follow the prompts to allow ComboFix to download and install the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console, and when prompted, agree to the End-User License Agreement to install the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console.

**Please note: If the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console is already installed, ComboFix will continue it’s malware removal procedures.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/ried7/RcAuto1.gif

Once the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console is installed using ComboFix, you should see the following message:

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

Click on Yes, to continue scanning for malware.

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

13

Essexboy,

I ran OTL with your fixes and attached the results.

I still don’t have internet access on infected computer to run ComboFix. I can try connecting it directly to internet but I am not sure this is safe… especially since it wasn’t working when it was connected. However, I did copy ComboFix over to infected pc via CD and put it on the desktop. I tried to run it but couldn’t stop avast for some reason. I killed all the avast stuff in services.msc and the UI shows it as not running but ComboFix still sees it as active.

Not sure how to proceed. Thanks.

14
I tried to run it but couldn't stop avast for some reason
did you try this

open avast > settings (top right corner) > Troubleshooting > Enable avast self defense module (remove tic)

15

Just tried that and it didn’t work. Thanks anyway.

I’m sure theres something simple I’m missing…

16

Run combofix without disabling Avast - it should recognise the function of combofix

17

Essexboy,

Sorry could not reply yesterday. Had some out of town family visiting combined with all the windows in house being redone = one big headache.

I ran ComboFix today but have no online access to update the windows stuff. Upon reboot I did get the desktop back but haven’t checked for viruses or ran anything else.

here is the log. Thanks.

18
Infected copy of c:\windows\explorer.exe was found and disinfected Restored copy from - c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386\explorer.exe

Infected copy of c:\windows\system32\winlogon.exe was found and disinfected
Restored copy from - c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386\winlogon.exe

;D

What error do you get when you try to connect ?

Run OTL

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

:Files ipconfig /flushdns /c c:\program files\1016201013371940.bat

:Commands
[purity]
[resethosts]
[emptytemp]
[EMPTYFLASH]
[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.

19

Sorry again for it taking so long to get these longs. Holidays and all plus it seems like you are on the opposite schedule. Thanks much for all the help it looks like we are making progress!

As for internet, I am not entirely sure it doesn’t work but I am hesitant to connect to it. The Virus Scan program that infected my computer was preventing firefox and ie from viewing any web pages but didn’t try any other internet programs. I am a bit paranoid of this spreading across my home network or it having access to private information that it can send to its home base. soo… lmk what you want to do.

I also included the dated log that came up after finishing the run fix.

Thanks x100 again.

20

Could you try the internet and let me know if you can connect

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] [purity] [emptytemp] [EMPTYFLASH] [CLEARALLRESTOREPOINTS] [Reboot]

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

Click Start > Run and copy/paste the following bolded text into the Run box and click OK:

ComboFix /Uninstall

Run OTL and hit the cleanup button. It will remove all the programmes we have used plus itself. MBAM can be uninstalled via control panel add/remove along with ERUNT. But they may be useful tools to keep

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:

[*]Download the latest version of Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE)JRE 6 Update 23.
[*]Click the “Download” button to the right.
[*]Select your Platform and check the box that says: “I agree to the Java SE Runtime Environment 6 License Agreement.”.
[*]Click on Continue.
[*]Click on the link to download Windows Offline Installation (jre-6u23-windows-i586-p.exe) and save it to your desktop. Do NOT use the Sun Download Manager…
[*]Close any programs you may have running - especially your web browser.
[*]Go to Start > Control Panel, double-click on Add/Remove programs and remove all older versions of Java.
[*]Check any item with Java Runtime Environment (JRE or J2SE) in the name.
[*]Click the Remove or Change/Remove button.
[*]Repeat as many times as necessary to remove each Java version.
[*]Reboot your computer once all Java components are removed.
[*]Then from your desktop double-click on the download to install the newest version.(Vista users, right click on the jre-6u23-windows-i586-p.exe and select “Run as an Administrator.”)

SPRING CLEAN

Download and run Puran Disc Defragmenter
For the first run I would recommend a boot defrag and disck check
[attachment=46669:Boot defrag.jpg]

Now that you are clean, to help protect your computer in the future I recommend that you get the following free programme:

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7729/mbamicontw5.gif
Malwarebytes. Update and run weekly to keep your system clean

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: