Driving Me Insane.

Ruri_chan – I am analyzing your logfile now. A response will be posted shortly. Thanks daveai

Ruri_chan – Thanks for sending your HijackThis logfile.

Your system has the Peper Trojan (among other problems) and we'll tackle that first. It is a very stubborn infection which requires two different tools to remove. Please follow these instructions in order:

1. Download Newuninst.exe.

2. Run it with an active internet connection.

3. Reboot to finish removing the entries it found.

4. Run the tool a second time (again with an active internet connection).

5. Reboot to finish removing the entries it found.


For the second tool:

1. Please Download PeperFix.exe,

2. Start the tool and click Find and Fix.

3. Reboot to finish removing what it found.

4. Run the tool a second time (again with an active internet connection).

5. Reboot to finish removing the entries.

Then, run the Housecall On-Line Virus Scan from Trend Micro, and clean any problems found.

Then, run the online trojan scan at: http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/ and delete any problem it finds.

Now, let's take another look at your system.

Please run HijackThis to create a new logfile. Repost it here, and if you had any problems with the steps outlined above, please let us know what they were. Your response and the new logfile will determine the next steps for this fix.

Thanks
daveai

Ruri_chan – Thanks for the reply. I'm analyzing your latest logfile now, and will post a response shortly. Thanks daveai

I went and did the Hidden Files thing and then rebooted into Safe Mode. But I couldnt find the Administrative Tools thing in Control Panel. >< I must be dumb.

Thanks for the reply. Would you please post a new HijackThis log so we can see how your system is doing. I'll be away from the keyboard for aobut 5 hours, but will review it a little later today. Thanks daveai

Thanks for the new logfile. I'll check with the experts and find out how to do the Administrative Tools thing in Windows ME. Then, I'll send you a new procedure…probably later this evening. Sorry for hte confusion. daveai

Ruri_chan – OK. Here is an amended fix for your Wintools problem.

Hang in there with me and we'll get your system cleaned

Go ahead and print these instructions, or save them to your desktop, to help keep track of the steps. If you have problems with any of them, please let me know.

To start, allow yourself to view "Hidden files". Open Windows Explorer and go to "Tools" => "Folder Options" => "View" then click on the "Show Hidden Files and Folders" option, and un-check "Hide extensions for known file types" and "Hide protected operating system files" options. Then click the "Apply To All Folders" button.

1 – Reboot into Safe Mode (How do I boot into "Safe" mode?).

2 – This step was deleted – daveai.

3 – Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to open the Task Manager => Click the Processes tab => Double-click the Image Name column header to alphabetically sort the processes => Scroll through the list and look for any of the following: "WtoolsA.exe", "WToolsS.exe" and "WSup.exe". If you find any of the files, click on them, and then click End Process. Exit the Task Manager when done.

4 – Next, use Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs to remove any of the following malware that it finds:

Web Offer or EZ Web Offer

Web Search Toolbar
Win-Tools Easy Installer (may be multiples)
any other Wintools entry you see

5 – Now, open a command prompt by clicking on "Start" => "Run" and type in "cmd" and click on "OK". At the prompt, type regsvr32 /u /s "C:\Program Files\Toolbar\toolbar.dll" (Quotation marks must be typed in on the preceeding command) then press . Type exit to close the command prompt window.

6 – Run HijackThis, from its new location, and press Scan, and put a check against the following entries, if they still show up. Make sure all browsers and program windows are closed except for HijackThis.

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = file://C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SearchBar.htm

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =

R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {87766247-311C-43B4-8499-3D5FEC94A183} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\WINTOOLS\WTOOLSB.DLL

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\U.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Bakra] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IEHost.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Dsi] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DP-HIM.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [4ce8fceaeb84] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CRYPTDLG.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinTools] C:\Program Files\Common Files\WinTools\WToolsA.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [WinTools] C:\Program Files\Common Files\WinTools\WToolsA.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [eZWO] C:\PROGRA~1\Web Offer\wo.exe

O16 - DPF: {00000EF1-0786-4633-87C6-1AA7A44296DA} - http://www.addictivetechnologies.net/DM0/cab/Ud3rT0n5.cab

Once you have selected all the items for HJT to fix, make sure all browsers and program windows are closed except for HijackThis, and click fix checked.

7 – While still in safe mofe, use Windows Explorer to delete the following lists of program files and folders, if they still exist.

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CRYPTDLG.exe <– this file
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DP-HIM.EXE <– this file
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IEHost.exe <– this file
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SearchBar.htm <– this file

C:\Program Files\Toolbar\ <– this folder
C:\Program Files\Web Offer\ <– this folder

C:\Program Files\Common files\WinTools\ <– this folder

Please let me know about any problems with the file/folder deletes.

8 – Then use "Start > Run" and type in "%temp%" (without the quotes). Delete the entire contents of that "temp" folder (use "Edit > Select All" then press the "Delete" key).

Then, Delete/Empty your Temporary Internet Cache completely. Close all instances of Outlook and and Internet Explorer, then use "Control Panel > Internet Options > General tab" and click the "Delete File" button. When prompted place a check in: "Delete all offline content", then click OK.

Then, use Windows Explorer to clean out ALL the other temp folders on your system:

* C:\Documents and Settings\<Your Profile>\Local Settings\Temp\
* C:\Documents and Settings\<Any other users Profile>\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\
* C:\Documents and Settings\<Any other users Profile>\Local Settings\Temp\
* Empty your "Recycle Bin".

Please let me know about any problems with the temp file deletes.

9 – To prevent problem remnants from hiding in your restore files, please disable Windows System Restore: Here's how for Win ME

10 – Then reboot normally, and let's run a battery of general scans to give your system a "good scrubbing".

• Run Spybot S&D 1.3 (Suggested Setup Tutorial Here), then reboot.
  
• Run Adaware SE (Suggested Setup Tutorial Here), the reboot.
  
• And run either of these two Online virus scans: Panda Active Scan or TrendMicro Housecall and put on Auto Clean.

Please let me know if anything can not be cleaned by these utilities.

11 – Reboot, a last time and re-enable Windows System Restore by following the instructions above.

Whew Now let's take another look at your system.

Please run HijackThis to create a new logfile. Repost it here, and if you had any problems with the steps outlined above, please let us know what they were. Your response and the new logfile will determine the next steps for this fix.

Thanks
daveai

Ok hmm, I did all that stuff… well the stuff I could figure out. Anyways heres a new Hijackthis log. See if I did anything right. x.x


ogfile of HijackThis v1.98.2
Scan saved at 7:28:26 PM, on 9/1/2004
Platform: Windows ME (Win9x 4.90.3000)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSGSRV32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\mmtask.tsk
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MPREXE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSTASK.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SSDPSRV.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\TASKMON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SYSTRAY.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\RESTORE\STMGR.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\MICROSOFT HARDWARE\MOUSE\POINT32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\LOADQM.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\EARTHLINKIM\AIM.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\MICROSOFT SHARED\WORKS SHARED\WKCALREM.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WMIEXE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\HUMMINGBIRD\CONNECTIVITY\7.00\INETD\INETD32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\PSTORES.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DDHELP.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\RNAAPP.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\TAPISRV.EXE
C:\HJT\HIJACKTHIS.EXE

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = about:blank
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {87766247-311C-43B4-8499-3D5FEC94A183} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: CCHelper - {0CF0B8EE-6596-11D5-A98E-0003470BB48E} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\PANICWARE\POP-UP STOPPER COMPANION\CCHELPER.DLL (file missing)
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSDXM.OCX
O3 - Toolbar: Pop-Up Stopper &Companion - {8F05B1A8-9D77-4B8F-AF54-6B2202066F95} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\PANICWARE\POP-UP STOPPER COMPANION\POPUPUS.DLL (file missing)
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {339BB23F-A864-48C0-A59F-29EA915965EC} - (no file)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ScanRegistry] C:\WINDOWS\scanregw.exe /autorun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TaskMonitor] C:\WINDOWS\taskmon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PCHealth] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\Support\PCHSchd.exe -s
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SystemTray] SysTray.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WorksFUD] C:\Program Files\Microsoft Works\wkfud.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Microsoft Works Portfolio] C:\Program Files\Microsoft Works\WksSb.exe /AllUsers
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EnsoniqMixer] starter.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [POINTER] point32.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MULTIMEDIA KEYBOARD] C:\Program Files\Netropa\Multimedia Keyboard\MMKeybd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LoadQM] loadqm.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [SchedulingAgent] mstask.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [SSDPSRV] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ssdpsrv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [*StateMgr] C:\WINDOWS\System\Restore\StateMgr.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MoneyAgent] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\Money Express.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [IM] C:\PROGRAM FILES\EARTHLINKIM\aim.exe -cnetwait.odl
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AIM] C:\PROGRAM FILES\EARTHLINKIM\aim.exe -cnetwait.odl
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O4 - Startup: MICROSOFT OFFICE.LNK = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O4 - Startup: MICROSOFT WORKS CALENDAR REMINDERS.LNK = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Works Shared\wkcalrem.exe
O4 - Startup: HUMMINGBIRD INETD.LNK = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\Hummingbird\Connectivity\7.00\Inetd\inetd32.exe
O4 - User Startup: MICROSOFT OFFICE.LNK = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O4 - User Startup: MICROSOFT WORKS CALENDAR REMINDERS.LNK = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Works Shared\wkcalrem.exe
O4 - User Startup: HUMMINGBIRD INETD.LNK = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\Hummingbird\Connectivity\7.00\Inetd\inetd32.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Define - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Reference 2001\A\ERS_DEF.HTM
O8 - Extra context menu item: Look Up in &Encyclopedia - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Reference 2001\A\ERS_ENC.HTM
O8 - Extra context menu item: Shorten URL - http://www.cjb.net/menuext.html
O9 - Extra button: Encarta Encyclopedia - {2FDEF853-0759-11D4-A92E-006097DBED37} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Reference 2001\A\ERS_ENC.HTM
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Encarta Encyclopedia - {2FDEF853-0759-11D4-A92E-006097DBED37} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Reference 2001\A\ERS_ENC.HTM
O9 - Extra button: Define - {5DA9DE80-097A-11D4-A92E-006097DBED37} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Reference 2001\A\ERS_DEF.HTM
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Define - {5DA9DE80-097A-11D4-A92E-006097DBED37} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Reference 2001\A\ERS_DEF.HTM
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\EARTHLINKIM\AIM.EXE
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {120E090D-9136-4b78-8258-F0B44B4BD2AC} - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ms.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: MaxSpeed - {120E090D-9136-4b78-8258-F0B44B4BD2AC} - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ms.exe
O9 - Extra button: Dell Home - {08DCFC6C-B6E4-480C-95A4-FC64F37B787E} - http://www.dellnet.com (file missing) (HKCU)
O9 - Extra button: WeatherBug - {AF6CABAB-61F9-4f12-A198-B7D41EF1CB52} - C:\Program Files\AWS\WeatherBug\Weather.exe (HKCU)
O12 - Plugin for .mov: C:\PROGRA~1\INTERN~1\PLUGINS\npqtplugin.dll
O12 - Plugin for .mid: C:\PROGRA~1\INTERN~1\PLUGINS\npqtplugin.dll
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.dellnet.com
O16 - DPF: {8E0D4DE5-3180-4024-A327-4DFAD1796A8D} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/Messe…nt.cab28578.cab
O16 - DPF: {2917297F-F02B-4B9D-81DF-494B6333150B} (Minesweeper Flags Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/MineS…er.cab28578.cab
O16 - DPF: {00B71CFB-6864-4346-A978-C0A14556272C} (Checkers Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/msgrchkr.cab28578.cab
O16 - DPF: {F6BF0D00-0B2A-4A75-BF7B-F385591623AF} (Solitaire Showdown Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/Solit…wn.cab28578.cab
O16 - DPF: {DF780F87-FF2B-4DF8-92D0-73DB16A1543A} (PopCapLoader Object) - http://zone.msn.com/bingame/apop/default/popcaploader_v5.cab
O16 - DPF: Yahoo! Chess - http://download.games.yahoo.com/games/clients/y/ct2_x.cab
O16 - DPF: Yahoo! Checkers - http://download.games.yahoo.com/games/clients/y/kt4_x.cab
O16 - DPF: {74D05D43-3236-11D4-BDCD-00C04F9A3B61} (HouseCall Control) - http://a840.g.akamai.net/7/840/537/2004061…all/xscan53.cab

Ruri_chan – Thanks for sending your HijackThis log. You did everything right You've conquered the Peper Trojan and Wintools, and both are difficult to remove. Nice work!!

There is a last clean up step for you to take now.

1 – Run HijackThis, and press Scan, and put a check against the following entries, if they still show up. Make sure all browsers and program windows are closed except for HijackThis.

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = about:blank

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =

R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {87766247-311C-43B4-8499-3D5FEC94A183} - (no file)

O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {339BB23F-A864-48C0-A59F-29EA915965EC} - (no file)

And, this is an optional fix you may chose to make:

Office Startup Asistant is an optional item that if checked, will eliminate a known resource hog. You will still be able to start Office components from the Start menu. These are the items to fix in HJT:

O4 - Startup: MICROSOFT OFFICE.LNK = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O4 - User Startup: MICROSOFT OFFICE.LNK = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE

Once you have selected all the items for HJT to fix, make sure all browsers and program windows are closed except for HijackThis, and click fix checked.



Finally, Please allow me to suggest some prevention steps to keep your computer clean and secure going forward. You may have already taken a few of the steps, but it never hurts to take a quick look

1 – Use an AntiVirus Software, and be sure you update it at least once a week. There are several very good free programs available. Grinler offers an outstanding overview at Virus, Spyware, and Malware Protection and Removal Resources

2 – To reduce re-infection potential for malware in the future, I strongly recommend installing three free programs: SpywareBlaster, SpywareGuard, and IE/Spyad.

3 – Use AdAware SE and Spybot S&D; to regularly to scan your system.

4 – It is very important to make sure that both Internet Explorer and XP are kept current with the latest critical security patches from Microsoft. To do this just start Internet Explorer and select Tools > Windows Update, and follow the online instructions from there.

5 – Consider using a Firewall. Just by using a Firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk greatly. Check out what Lawrence Abrams has to say at Understanding and Using Firewalls

An excellent overview is: So how did I get infected in the first place?. Be sure to visit the browser test link at the end of the article to really see how secure your system is!!

Thanks
daveai

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