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PC Infected with malware that will not let ther browser run

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Post #1
Hello. The PC in question is a Dell Dimension 8200 running Windows XP. It's not my PC, so I don't know how it got infected, but somehow a nasty piece of spyware/malware was loaded onto this thing that is very invasive. When the computer boots it starts a process that says "Think Point" with an official lookong Microsfot log. It will not allow the PC to fully boot, so now desktop icons show and the task bar doens't appear. It forces you to run a scan and then you can tell it to run unprotected. Once you do that it will show the desktop icons and the taskbar, but it will not allow any browser to start regardless if it's IE8, Firefox, or Google Chrome.

I looked in the list of running processes and there was a "hotfix.exe" that I killed. Once I did that, it appeared as if this thing stopped running, but I still couldn't start a browser session. I managed to get HijackThis installed froma thumb drive and I performed a scan. Then, I booted up in Safe Mode and that is how i am typing this. When in safe mode, this annoying Think Point thing doesn't run. Anyway, here is the log. I am sure there is other stuff on this PC besides this one infection:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 7:24:34 PM, on 11/7/2010
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Trusteer\Rapport\bin\RapportMgmtService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Hooray\Application Data\hotfix.exe
C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\AAWService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Motive\McciCMService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Engine\17.8.0.5\ccSvcHst.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Engine\17.8.0.5\ccSvcHst.exe
C:\Program Files\Trusteer\Rapport\bin\RapportService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe
C:\Program Files\Verizon\McciTrayApp.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\devldr32.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee Security Scan\2.0.181\SSScheduler.exe
C:\Program Files\Webshots\WebshotsTray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\AAWTray.exe
G:\HiJackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page =
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyServer = http=127.0.0.1:5555
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=C:\WINDOWS\system32\Userinit.exe
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost
O2 - BHO: &Yahoo! Toolbar Helper - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: RealPlayer Download and Record Plugin for Internet Explorer - {3049C3E9-B461-4BC5-8870-4C09146192CA} - C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\rpbrowserrecordplugin.dll
O2 - BHO: D - {5812B3E6-91E2-38E8-970C-808E641C587F} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\yn79351.dll
O2 - BHO: Symantec NCO BHO - {602ADB0E-4AFF-4217-8AA1-95DAC4DFA408} - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Engine\17.8.0.5\coIEPlg.dll
O2 - BHO: Symantec Intrusion Prevention - {6D53EC84-6AAE-4787-AEEE-F4628F01010C} - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Engine\17.8.0.5\IPSBHO.DLL
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton Toolbar - {7FEBEFE3-6B19-4349-98D2-FFB09D4B49CA} - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Engine\17.8.0.5\coIEPlg.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Verizon_McciTrayApp] "C:\Program Files\Verizon\McciTrayApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe ARM] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - Startup: Webshots.lnk = C:\Program Files\Webshots\WebshotsTray.exe
O4 - Global Startup: McAfee Security Scan Plus.lnk = ?
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {8AD9C840-044E-11D1-B3E9-00805F499D93} (Java Runtime Environment 1.6.0) - http://javadl.sun.com/webapps/download/AutoDL?BundleId=27986
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdate) (gupdate) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
O23 - Service: Lavasoft Ad-Aware Service - Lavasoft - C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\AAWService.exe
O23 - Service: McciCMService - Alcatel-Lucent - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Motive\McciCMService.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Security Scan Component Host Service (McComponentHostService) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\McAfee Security Scan\2.0.181\McCHSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Norton Internet Security (NIS) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Engine\17.8.0.5\ccSvcHst.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Driver Helper Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: Rapport Management Service (RapportMgmtService) - Trusteer Ltd. - C:\Program Files\Trusteer\Rapport\bin\RapportMgmtService.exe

–
End of file - 7023 bytes
Post #2
Posted Image


DO NOT use any TOOLS such as Combofix or HijackThis fixes without supervision.

Doing so could make your pc inoperatible and could require a full reinstall of your OS, losing all your programs and data.

Vista and Windows 7 users:
1. These tools MUST be run from the executable. (.exe) every time you run them
2. With Admin Rights (Right click, choose "Run as Administrator")

Stay with this topic until I give you the all clean post.

You might want to print these instructions out.

I suggest you do this:


Internet Explorer (Windows)
1. Click "Tools", then click "Internet Options". This will bring up the Internet Options window.

2. Click the "Connections" tab, then click the "LAN Settings" button.

3. Uncheck the box labeled "Use a proxy server for your LAN". Click "OK", and click "OK" in the previous window. This will remove the proxy server settings in Internet Explorer.



Firefox (Windows)
1. Click "Tools", then click "Options" to bring up the Options window.

2. Click the "Advanced" button, then click the "Network" tab.

3. Click the "Settings" button, located next to "Configure how Firefox connects to the Internet".

4. Click the radio button labeled "No proxy". Click "OK" twice. This will remove the proxy server settings in Firefox.



Disable Internet Explorer Proxy Settings and Reset TCP/IP and Winsock

Disable Internet Explorer Proxy Settings and Reset TCP/IP

It is very important that these steps be carried out exactly as shown otherwise the fix will not work.
If you have any questions please ask before moving on.
  • Please start Notepad and using your mouse make sure you select and copy all the information below in the Code box into your new document.
  • Then save the file as "fixme.bat" to your Desktop
  • In the drop down box for Save as type: make sure you select All Files (*.*) and keep the quotes on the name as well. Then close the new file.
    @ECHO OFF
reg delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /v ProxyServer /f
reg delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /v ProxyOverride /f
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /v ProxyEnable  /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /v GlobalUserOffline /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt
netsh winsock reset catalog
  • On Windows XP you can double-click the file to run it.
  • On Vista/Win7 you need to Right click the file and choose Run as administrator to run it. With User Account Control on it should ask permission to run it. Click Yes
  • This will flash a black DOS box very quickly and go away, this is normal.
  • Restart your computer now.
  • Launch Internet Explorer and see if you can connect to the Internet.
  • Launch MBAM and check for Updates
Post #5
Hi. I created that MS-DOS batch file by copying and pasting the exact text from your first reply into notepad and saved it to the desktop with a .bat extension. I started the computer in safe mode and noticed that the proxy settings in bith IE and Firefox were already turned off. When I double clicked to run the fixme.bat file a MS-DOS window appeared and displayed 4 messages. It awasn't able to perform the first two operations which are to remove those registry keys. It said that it can't find those registry entries. However, it was able to add the other two entries. What is MBAM? I looked in your first response and did not see any references to it. When I booted the computer in normal mode it still will not allow me to run any browser at all. I can still respond to this thread and run browsers if I boot the machine in safe mode with networking, which is what I am doing now as the administrator. What do I do next?
Post #6
MBAM = MalwareBytes

Vista and Windows 7 users:
1. These tools MUST be run from the executable. (.exe) every time you run them
2. With Admin Rights (Right click, choose "Run as Administrator")

Please do not delete anything unless instructed to.



Next:

Please download ATF Cleaner by Atribune.
Download - ATF Cleaner»
Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.
Under Main choose: Select All
Click the Empty Selected button.

If you use Firefox browser

Click Firefox at the top and choose: Select All
Click the Empty Selected button.
NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.
If you use Opera browserClick Opera at the top and choose: Select All
Click the Empty Selected button.
NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.
Click Exit on the Main menu to close the program.


It's normal after running ATF cleaner that the PC will be slower to boot the first time or two.

Next:

Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop.


  • Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
  • At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
  • If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
  • Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
    [external image: Posted Image]
  • When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
  • [external image: Posted Image]
  • Then click Remove Selected .
  • When completed, a log will open in Notepad. Please save it to a convenient location and post the results.
  • Note: If you receive a notice that some of the items couldn't be removed, that they have been added to the delete on reboot list, please reboot.


Also please describe how your computer behaves at the moment.


Please don't attach the scans / logs, use "copy/paste".
Post #7
Hello. I downloaded ATF cleaner and MBAM. ATF cleaner removed 650 mb of stuff on this machine. MBAM found hotfix.exe which is the application that was causing all of the problems. You're right; it did take longer to boot after ATF Cleaner ran. But, the good news is that it appears that the annoying ThinkPoint spyware is gone. The machine now boots normally and I can run Firefox and other browsers. The PC appears to be ok. Is there anything else I should do? Here is the MBAM log: Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.46 www.malwarebytes.org Database version: 5093 Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 (Safe Mode) Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702 11/10/2010 9:30:23 PM mbam-log-2010-11-10 (21-30-23).txt Scan type: Quick scan Objects scanned: 144692 Time elapsed: 19 minute(s), 19 second(s) Memory Processes Infected: 0 Memory Modules Infected: 0 Registry Keys Infected: 7 Registry Values Infected: 0 Registry Data Items Infected: 0 Folders Infected: 0 Files Infected: 3 Memory Processes Infected: (No malicious items detected) Memory Modules Infected: (No malicious items detected) Registry Keys Infected: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{bd0ae788-17eb-3e14-b460-a0c495b0a658} (Trojan.BHO) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{258da029-6552-37eb-9141-ecd31888c0eb} (Trojan.BHO) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{5812b3e6-91e2-38e8-970c-808e641c587f} (Trojan.BHO) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{5812b3e6-91e2-38e8-970c-808e641c587f} (Trojan.BHO) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{5812b3e6-91e2-38e8-970c-808e641c587f} (Trojan.BHO) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\D (Trojan.Agent) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\D.1 (Trojan.Agent) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Registry Values Infected: (No malicious items detected) Registry Data Items Infected: (No malicious items detected) Folders Infected: (No malicious items detected) Files Infected: C:\Documents and Settings\Hooray\Application Data\hotfix.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\Hooray\My Documents\downloads\install_player.exe (Trojan.Downloader) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\WINDOWS\system32\yn79351.dll (Trojan.BHO) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

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