searchqu.com/406

Help- I'm new to this sort of thing and wondered if anybody out there could tell me how to get rid of this nuisance "searchqu.com/406" that has hi-jacked my Firefox home page and also what threat does it carry to my computer and files. If anybody does reply, please bear in mind that I'm a bit of an old boy and not much of a techy, so an 'idiot's guide' would be very much appreciated in trying to resolve the issue. Thanks and look forward to hering from anybody that can help.

Hello Mike and welcome to the WTT forum.

My name is Satchfan and I would be glad to help you with your computer problem.

Please read the following guidelines which will help to make cleaning your machine easier:
• Please follow all instructions in the order posted
• Please continue to review my answers until I tell you your machine appears to be clear. Absence of symptoms does not mean that everything is clear.
• If you don't understand something, please don't hesitate to ask for clarification before proceeding
• The fixes are specific to your problem and should only be used for this issue on this machine.
• Please reply within 3 days. If you do not reply within this period I will post a reminder but topics with no reply in 4 days will be closed!
IMPORTANT:

Please DO NOT install/uninstall any programs unless asked to.
Please DO NOT run any scans other than those requested

===================================================

"searchqu.com/406" that has hi-jacked my Firefox home page and also what threat does it carry to my computer and files.

We've seen a fair bit of this lately and it can usually be dealt with quite painlessly. It doesn't affect your files and your computer and files should be quite safe after we've removed it.

an 'idiot's guide' would be very much appreciated in trying to resolve the issue.

You will have to download and run some programs: plus copy/paste will be used so if you are unable to do any of this let me know and I'll give more detailed instructions.

===================================================

Download and run OTL

• Download OTL to your desktop.
• Double click on the icon to run it. Make sure all other windows are closed and to let it run uninterrupted.
• When the window appears, underneath Output at the top change it to Minimal Output.
• Check the boxes beside LOP Check and Purity Check.
• Under Custom Scan paste this in
  

  
  netsvcs
  drivers32
  %SYSTEMDRIVE%\*.*
  %systemroot%\Fonts\*.com
  %systemroot%\Fonts\*.dll
  %systemroot%\Fonts\*.ini
  %systemroot%\Fonts\*.ini2
  %systemroot%\Fonts\*.exe
  %systemroot%\system32\spool\prtprocs\w32x86\*.*
  %systemroot%\REPAIR\*.bak1
  %systemroot%\REPAIR\*.ini
  %systemroot%\system32\*.jpg
  %systemroot%\*.jpg
  %systemroot%\*.png
  %systemroot%\*.scr
  %systemroot%\*._sy
  %APPDATA%\Adobe\Update\*.*
  %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Favorites\*.*
  %APPDATA%\Microsoft\*.*
  %PROGRAMFILES%\*.*
  %APPDATA%\Update\*.*
  %systemroot%\*. /mp /s
  CREATERESTOREPOINT
  %systemroot%\System32\config\*.sav
  %PROGRAMFILES%\bak. /s
  %systemroot%\system32\bak. /s
  %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\*.lnk /x
  %systemroot%\system32\config\systemprofile\*.dat /x
  %systemroot%\*.config
  %systemroot%\system32\*.db
  %PROGRAMFILES%\Internet Explorer\*.dat
  %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\*.lnk /x
  %USERPROFILE%\Desktop\*.exe
  %PROGRAMFILES%\Common Files\*.*
  %systemroot%\*.src
  %systemroot%\install\*.*
  %systemroot%\system32\DLL\*.*
  %systemroot%\system32\HelpFiles\*.*
  %systemroot%\system32\rundll\*.*
  %systemroot%\winn32\*.*
  %systemroot%\Java\*.*
  %systemroot%\system32\test\*.*
  %systemroot%\system32\Rundll32\*.*
  %systemroot%\AppPatch\Custom\*.*
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\Results\Install|LastSuccessTime /rs
  

• Click the Run Scan button. Do not change any settings unless otherwise told to do so. The scan wont take long.
• When the scan completes, it will open two notepad windows. OTL.Txt and Extras.Txt. These are saved in the same location as OTL.
• Please copy (Edit->Select All, Edit->Copy) the contents of these files, one at a time, and post it with your next reply.
• You may need two posts to fit them both in.

===================================================

Download the GMER Rootkit Scanner

[external image: Posted Image]
Download GMER Rootkit Scanner from here or here.

• Extract the contents of the zipped file to desktop.
• Double click GMER.exe. 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
  • All drives/partitions except C:\)
  • Show All (don't miss this one)
• 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 attach it in your reply.

**Caution**
Rootkit scans often produce false positives. Do NOT take any action on any "<— ROOKIT" entries

Logs to include with next post:

OTL.txt
Extras.txt
Gmer.txt

Thanks

Satchfan

Hello Mike It has been several days since I sent my last post with instructions to help with your computer problem.. Please let me know if you are having problems and still need help. Thanks Satchfan

Hi Satchfan, Thanks for your reply, I think I might have got rid of the unwanted 'searchqu' intrusion. I downloaded Microsoft Security Essentials and then ran a scan and it hasn't appeared since, so hopefully that's the last I'll see of it. Thanks for your help Mike

Hi Mike

Thanks for your help

You are welcome.

Thanks for letting us know.

If you have any further problems, you know where we are.

Regards

Satchfan

Since this issue appears to be resolved … this Topic has been closed. Glad we could be of assistance.

If you're the topic starter, and need this topic reopened, please contact a staff member with the address of the thread.

Everyone else please follow the instructions here http://forums.whatthetech.com/you_Infected_t106388.html
and start a New Topic.