My laptop recently got an infection of the Antispyware Soft malware. I'm sure that you all are familiar with that particular nasty piece of software, but just in case, it's a fake anti-virus software that pretty much cripples your system. I've run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and AVG Anti-Virus, and both removed trojans and the main effects from the infection seem to be gone. However, my laptop is still having issues. The Windows theme has reverted back to what looks like the "classic" Windows 98 theme. Also, I can't always get a wireless network connection. Lastly, I occasionally get weird pop-ups and re-directs while browsing when the network connection is working. From a suggestion I read online, I tried adjusting the system date to a previous date (I'm not referring to a system restore, just changing the date) and strangely, when booting up sometimes my laptop displays these symptoms and sometimes it doesn't. This seems to be related to changing the date before rebooting. Or, it may be completely unrelated and random. Tough to tell. In any case, AVG and Malwarebytes aren't finding anything in the scans I've run recently but there is obviously some trace of the virus left.
I got great help here a few months ago, from CatByte in particular, so I'm hopeful you all can save my poor lappy again. Thanks for your help!
RailBoB
Hello railbob and welcome to WhatTheTech. Please follow these guidelines:
Malware removal is a sometimes lengthy and tedious process. Please stick with the thread until I’ve given you the “All clear.” Absence of symptoms does not mean your machine is clean!
Please do not run any scans or install/uninstall any applications without being directed to do so.
Please follow my instructions carefully and in the order they are posted.
Any underlined text in my posts indicates a clickable link.
You should print any instructions I give you for ease of use and reference.
If you have any questions at all, please stop and ask before proceeding.
Double click DDS icon to run the tool (may take up to 3 minutes to run)
When done, DDS.txt will open.
After a few moments, attach.txt will open in a second window.
Save both reports to your desktop.
—————————————————
Post the contents of the DDS.txt report in your next reply
Attach the Attach.txt report to your post by scroling down to the Attachments area and then clicking Browse. Browse to where you saved the file, and click Open and then click UPLOAD.
Double click the exe file. If asked to allow gmer.sys driver to load, please consent .
If it gives you a warning about rootkit activity and asks if you want to run scan…click on NO.
[external image: Posted Image] Click the image to enlarge it
In the right panel, you will see several boxes that have been checked. Uncheck the following …
IAT/EAT
Drives/Partition other than Systemdrive (typically C:\)
Show All (don't miss this one)a
Then click the Scan button & wait for it to finish.
Once done click on the [Save..] button, and in the File name area, type in "Gmer.txt" or it will save as a .log file which cannot be uploaded to your post.
Save it where you can easily find it, such as your desktop, and post it in reply.
**Caution**
Rootkit scans often produce false positives. Do NOT take any action on any "<— ROOKIT" entries
🖼Click to load external image (Posted Image)P2P - I see you have P2P software (BitTorrent) installed on your machine. We are not here to pass judgment on file-sharing as a concept. However, we will warn you that engaging in this activity and having this kind of software installed on your machine will always make you more susceptible to malware infections. Malware authors use P2P filesharing as a major conduit to spread their wares. I would strongly recommend that you uninstall these now. You can do so via Control Panel >> Add or Remove Programs. If you choose to keep these applications, please do not use them until our fixes at WTT are complete.
Did you setup this proxy server in Internet Explorer?
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.
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.
[external image: Posted Image]
Once the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console is installed using ComboFix, you should see the following message:
[external image: Posted Image]
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. 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.
Yes it did - you had a rootkit in there. Please run these for me now:
🖼Click to load external image (Posted Image) Open Notepad Go to Start> All Programs> Accessories> Notepad ( this will only work with Notepad ) and copy all the text inside the Codebox by highlighting it all and pressing CTRL C on your keyboard, then paste it into Notepad, make sure there is no space before and above DDS::
1. Click Accept, when prompted to download and install the program files and database of malware definitions.
2. To optimize scanning time and produce a more sensible report for review:
Close any open programs
Turn off the real time scanner of any existing antivirus program while performing the online scan. Click HERE to see how to disable the most common antivirus programs.
3. Click Run at the Security prompt.
The program will then begin downloading and installing and will also update the database.
Please be patient as this can take quite a long time to download.
Once the update is complete, click on Settings.
Make sure these boxes are checked (ticked). If they are not, please tick them and click on the Save button:
Spyware, adware, dialers, and other riskware
Archives
E-mail databases
Click on My Computer under the green Scan bar to the left to start the scan.
Once the scan is complete, it will display if your system has been infected. It does not provide an option to clean/disinfect. We only require a report from it.
Do NOT be alarmed by what you see in the report. Many of the finds have likely been quarantined.
Click View report… at the bottom.
Click the Save report… button.
[external image: Posted Image]
Change the Files of type dropdown box to Text file (.txt) and name the file KasReport.txt to save the file to your desktop so that you may post it in your next reply
Please double-click OTM to run it. (Note: If you are running on Vista, right-click on the file and choose Run As Administrator).
Copy the lines in the codebox below to the clipboard by highlighting ALL of them and pressing CTRL + C (or, after highlighting, right-click and choose Copy):
:Files
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Application Data\Sun\Java\Deployment\cache\6.0\10\5940244a-123835b0
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Application Data\Sun\Java\Deployment\cache\6.0\12\2cbfaf4c-5558ab36
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Application Data\Sun\Java\Deployment\cache\6.0\37\27ab4de5-1ae6f54c
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Application Data\Sun\Java\Deployment\cache\6.0\54\6e49cf76-40811def
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Application Data\Sun\Java\Deployment\cache\6.0\57\4839f1b9-39e74e5c
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Application Data\Sun\Java\Deployment\cache\6.0\57\5b73fcb9-6b7494c5
:Commands
[EmptyFlash]
[EmptyTemp]
Return to OTM, right click in the "Paste Instructions for Items to be Moved" window (under the yellow bar) and choose Paste.
Click the red Moveit! button.
Copy everything in the Results window (under the green bar) to the clipboard by highlighting ALL of them and pressing CTRL + C (or, after highlighting, right-click and choose copy), and paste it in your next reply.
Close OTM and reboot your PC.
Note: If a file or folder cannot be moved immediately you may be asked to reboot the machine to finish the move process. If you are asked to reboot the machine choose Yes. In this case, after the reboot, open Notepad (Start->All Programs->Accessories->Notepad), click File->Open, in the File Name box enter *.log and press the Enter key, navigate to the C:\_OTMoveIt\MovedFiles folder, and open the newest .log file present, and copy/paste the contents of that document back here in your next post.
If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
The program will close to update and reopen.
Once the program has loaded, select "Perform Quick Scan", then click Scan.
The scan may take some time to finish,so please be patient.
When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
When disinfection is completed, a log will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart.(See Extra Note)
The log is automatically saved by MBAM and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM.
Copy&Paste the entire report in your next reply.
Extra Note: If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove,you will be presented with 1 of 2 prompts,click OK to either and let MBAM proceed with the disinfection process,if asked to restart the computer,please do so immediatly.
Sorry! Haven't had a lot of free time lately. Here are the logs.
RailBoB
All processes killed
========== FILES ==========
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Application Data\Sun\Java\Deployment\cache\6.0\10\5940244a-123835b0 moved successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Application Data\Sun\Java\Deployment\cache\6.0\12\2cbfaf4c-5558ab36 moved successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Application Data\Sun\Java\Deployment\cache\6.0\37\27ab4de5-1ae6f54c moved successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Application Data\Sun\Java\Deployment\cache\6.0\54\6e49cf76-40811def moved successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Application Data\Sun\Java\Deployment\cache\6.0\57\4839f1b9-39e74e5c moved successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Application Data\Sun\Java\Deployment\cache\6.0\57\5b73fcb9-6b7494c5 moved successfully.
========== COMMANDS ==========
[EMPTYTEMP]
User: All Users
User: Default User
->Temp folder emptied: 0 bytes
->Temporary Internet Files folder emptied: 67 bytes
User: LocalService
->Temp folder emptied: 65748 bytes
->Temporary Internet Files folder emptied: 573574 bytes
->Flash cache emptied: 2797 bytes
User: NetworkService
->Temp folder emptied: 66016 bytes
->Temporary Internet Files folder emptied: 32902 bytes
->Flash cache emptied: 19365 bytes
User: Robert
->Temp folder emptied: 109680191 bytes
->Temporary Internet Files folder emptied: 425400642 bytes
->Java cache emptied: 49176803 bytes
->FireFox cache emptied: 51058726 bytes
->Flash cache emptied: 602791 bytes
%systemdrive% .tmp files removed: 0 bytes
%systemroot% .tmp files removed: 2162283 bytes
%systemroot%\System32 .tmp files removed: 2577 bytes
%systemroot%\System32\dllcache .tmp files removed: 0 bytes
%systemroot%\System32\drivers .tmp files removed: 0 bytes
Windows Temp folder emptied: 677884 bytes
%systemroot%\system32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\Temp folder emptied: 0 bytes
%systemroot%\system32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files folder emptied: 112094 bytes
RecycleBin emptied: 0 bytes
Total Files Cleaned = 610.00 mb
OTM by OldTimer - Version 3.1.12.2 log created on 06202010_155140
Files moved on Reboot…
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\VCNPRHHM\iframe[5].htm moved successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\VCNPRHHM\iframe[6].htm moved successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\URPQJRVN\Antispyware_Soft_Malware_lingering_effects_t112428[1].html moved successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\LVYFT95R\iframe[6].htm moved successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\45TR4G0Z\iframe[6].htm moved successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\45TR4G0Z\iframe[7].htm moved successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\45TR4G0Z\iframe[8].htm moved successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\45TR4G0Z\like[1].htm moved successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\AntiPhishing\2CEDBFBC-DBA8-43AA-B1FD-CC8E6316E3E2.dat moved successfully.
Registry entries deleted on Reboot…
Your logs look good. I just have a couple of important updates and cleanup for you to take care of and we are done!
🖼Click to load external image (Posted Image)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 Java components and update.
Download the latest version of Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 and save it to your desktop.
Scroll down to where it says "Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 Update 20. The Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE) allows end-users to run Java applications."
Click the "Download" button to the right.
Select the Windows platform from the dropdown menu.
Read the License Agreement and then check the box that says: " I agree to the Java SE Runtime Environment 6 with JavaFX License Agreement". Click on Continue.The page will refresh.
Click on the link to download Windows Offline Installation and save the file to your desktop.
Close any programs you may have running - especially your web browser.
Now go to Start > Settings > Control Panel, double-click on Add/Remove Programs and remove all older versions of Java.
Check (highlight) any item with Java Runtime Environment (JRE or J2SE or Java™ 6) 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 jre-6u20-windows-i586-p.exe to install the newest version.
After the install is complete, go into the Control Panel (using Classic View) and double-click the Java Icon. (looks like a coffee cup)
On the General tab, under Temporary Internet Files, click the Settings button.
Next, click on the Delete Files button
There are two options in the window to clear the cache - Leave BOTH Checked Applications and AppletsTrace and Log Files
Click OK on Delete Temporary Files Window Note: This deletes ALL the Downloaded Applications and Applets from the CACHE.
Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard or click Start -> Run. Copy and past the following text into the run box that opens and press OK: Combofix /Uninstall
