Windows Advanced Security Center [WASC]

A friend has kindly given me her Notebook to remove what she believed to be a virus.

The Notebook is a Samsung N102 running Windows 7 Starter.

On booting the Notebook displays Windows Cleaning Tools [which cannot be stopped] before displaying Windows Advanced Security Center and inviting the user to Activate Ultimate protection as it has found many problems.

With infections, I have usually managed success by booting into safe mode and running Malwarebytes to remove viruses but on this occasion, while Malwarebytes appears to install, it cannot be run. Tried to use the FixExe.reg program too but it only triggers the WASC as does everything else. In addition, once the WASC screen is displayed it fills the entire screen and cannot be minimised.

Searched through the forums and I found http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0

So here is an update of following those instructions:

All the programs recommended have been placed on the infected Notebooks desktop.

Started in Safe-Mode, Malwarebytes installed but will not run. Nothing happens. Tried to Start Task Manager but this just invokes the Windows Cleaning Tools as described above.

So even in Safe Mode the virus appears to be resident.

Anyone have any idea?

Are you able to run RogueKiller or OTL at all ?

Boot in safe mode and try to remove the following value&key :
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\nameofvirus.exe (it is usually random letter and numbers or something related to its name.

OTL would not run at all. It would open but not run.

Ran rkill and that allowed Malwarebytes to do its stuff. Found 755 instances. Deleted those and now I’m scanning again.

Ran rkill and that allowed Malwarebytes to do its stuff. Found 755 instances. Deleted those and now I'm scanning again.
do you have a log ?

MBAM have some new tricks you can try next time it wont run…there is a built in rkill, called Chamelon

How to use Malwarebytes Chameleon
http://helpdesk.malwarebytes.org/entries/20872371-use-chameleon-to-run-malwarebytes-on-infected-systems
http://helpdesk.malwarebytes.org/entries/20943968-how-to-use-malwarebytes-chameleon-when-it-cannot-be-opened-normally-through-the-start-menu

video
http://helpdesk.malwarebytes.org/entries/20863057-how-to-use-malwarebytes-chameleon

RogueKiller would have had the same effect as Rkill

Thanks for your replies - glad its sorted and happy too that Malwarebytes has some new tools.

Yes, the log is available. It’s too large to copy and paste [over 10,000 characters] so Ive added it as an attachment.

Thanks again

Should have added that I’ve run Malwarebytes several times afterwards and all is good.

;D

Theyu were all IFO lines

could you run OTL please so I can locate and kill any remnants

Not sure what IFO lines are but OTL now run too and resulting logs attached:

Thanks for the support.

‘Image File Execution Options’ is basically telling each programme noted to run through the indicated programme (usually malware) http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ff190925(v=vs.85).aspx

How is the computer behaving now ?

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 O27 - HKLM IFEO\mcmpeng.exe: Debugger - C:\windows\System32\svchost.exe (Microsoft Corporation)

: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.

Now thats funny i removed a similar virus today 8)

The Notebook appears to be working okay. It was only used for the internet as there are no program suites installed on it. As far as surfing it appeared to be slow running and frequently displayed the infamous ‘not responding’ banner in Chrome and IE before recovering and displaying content.

It still appears slow [subjective I know] but is working.

Have run OTL and the scan report is attached.

Thanks for your help.

Lets run a quick check with aswMBR

Download aswMBR.exe ( 4.1mb ) to your desktop.
Double click the aswMBR.exe to run it Click the “Scan” button to start scan

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee362/Essexboy3/aswMBR%20shots/aswMBRScan.gif

On completion of the scan click save log, save it to your desktop and post in your next reply

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee362/Essexboy3/aswMBR%20shots/aswMBRsavelog.gif

Okay, done that and attached the saved file

That looks OK

At what stage does the browser start slowing down, when first started or after a while ?

The browser did seem slow - but consistently slow. It is subjective I know. It’s nowhere near as fast as my PC and therefore deemed slow. It is probably fine for what it is.

Thank you for your continued help.

Part of that may be that you are on the starter edition with just 1MB of Ram

I will remove the tools and see if that helps with the speed

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

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

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:

Thanks for the reply - all done.
Java updates
Windows Updated
Avast installed unregistered for now as the registration will be emailed to the Notebook owner.
Backup taken.
Disk cleanup undertaken.
Malwarebytes purchased for ongoing cover.

Hopefully, I will not see this Notebook again.

Best Wishes Essexboy and much thanks. :slight_smile:

My pleasure ;D