malicious and mischievous - please help

[avastandahoy]

hello - help appreciated

hp pavilion a 1220n
windows xp

updates blocked - unable to update avast, spybot, antimalware
had to uninstall each with 'revo uninstaller' and then reinstall each program in order to successfully update the definitions databases

ran all your programs for preliminary evaluation - logs attached

unable to run adwcleaner - nothing happens once run after download

i have other machines, similarly afflicted

[avastandahoy]

logs attached

[DavidR]

A malware removal specialist has been informed of your topic.

[avastandahoy]

thank you

[essexboy]

It appears that all your services have been stopped, but as of now I can see none of the usual suspects that would do that

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

Run OTL

• Under the Custom Scans/Fixes box at the bottom, paste in the following
  
  
  

Code: [Select]

:OTL
DRV - File not found [Kernel | On_Demand | Stopped] -- C:\DOCUME~1\HP_Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\gtermddo.sys -- (gtermddo)
O3 - HKLM\..\Toolbar: (Search Toolbar) - {9D425283-D487-4337-BAB6-AB8354A81457} - C:\Program Files\Search Toolbar\SearchToolbar.dll ()
O3 - HKU\S-1-5-21-597156908-126247655-2083892093-1009\..\Toolbar\WebBrowser: (no name) - {0B53EAC3-8D69-4B9E-9B19-A37C9A5676A7} - No CLSID value found.
O3 - HKU\S-1-5-21-597156908-126247655-2083892093-1009\..\Toolbar\WebBrowser: (no name) - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - No CLSID value found.
O3 - HKU\S-1-5-21-597156908-126247655-2083892093-1009\..\Toolbar\WebBrowser: (Search Toolbar) - {9D425283-D487-4337-BAB6-AB8354A81457} - C:\Program Files\Search Toolbar\SearchToolbar.dll ()
O33 - MountPoints2\{2d435b36-e506-11d9-9b78-e6b009352ae7}\Shell\AutoRun\command - "" = C:\WINDOWS\system32\RunDLL32.EXE Shell32.DLL,ShellExec_RunDLL Info.exe protect.ed 480 480

:Files
C:\Program Files\Search Toolbar

:Commands
[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.

THEN

Download and Install Combofix
 
Download ComboFix from one of the following locations:
Link 1
Link 2
 
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.
  
• Accept the disclaimer and allow to update if it asks
• Allow the installation of the recovery console

• When finished, it shall produce a log for you.
• Please include the C:\ComboFix.txt in your next reply.[/b]
  

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.
3.  If after the reboot you get errors about programmes being marked for deletion then reboot, that will cure it.


Please make sure you include the combo fix log in your next reply as well as describe how your computer is running now

[avastandahoy]

thanks for the instructions

logs are attached

computer is responding well and running smoothly, though it appears Zone Alarm and Avast were returning 'up to date' messages too rapidly when I attempted updates .


some background -
i came home several times this past summer to find all security software either uninstalled or hidden on multiple desktops on the same LAN, though not all computers were affected at once. i had recently added a NAS to my LAN and thought perhaps it was a vulnerability and took it offline

in the fall, the security programs disappeared again, and I was experiencing occassions of low or no response from processor

this appears to happen after i tell Zone Alarm to allow 'Emergency Updates' from Avast.

I have been a long time user of Avast, and these updates were new this year. In October, they were trying to run during every session, daily. I may be wrong to link the two behaviors, but I stopped allowing Avast to do emergency updates at about the time that i found your malware forum.

After reboots, the programs would display that they were 'up to date', seemingly without performing am online search. I would then uninstall the programs using Revo and download the latest version and install them. when updating, the behavior was what i was familiar with - a search then update info.


i look forward to your reply.

please note that I have two other machines offline that I would like to clean/recover non-destructively. Each of those units had the history described above, but have slightly different performance characteristics (for instance, one of the machines will not allow me to copy the files to my desktop)
 
i'd really love to learn how to interpret these logs

thanks again

[essexboy]

'Emergency Updates' from Avast.

All this part of Avast does is periodically check for any emergency updates from the Avast server..  I.e. if a bad virus definitions was released or Avast on the system is corrupted.  I have not yet had it cause any problems on my system

I would like to recheck the services on this computer and ensure all is well before we hit the others



Download and run farbar service scanner



Tick "All" options.
Press "Scan".
It will create a log (FSS.txt) in the same directory the tool is run.

Please copy and paste the log to your reply.

There is a small guide to the OTL log here http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/topic/277391-otl-tutorial-how-to-use-oldtimer-listit/
As it is a powerful tool though some of the more esoteric functions are not shown

[avastandahoy]

farbar log attached

thanks

[essexboy]

OK that all looks good now .. Onto the next one

Subject to no further problems   

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:

Remove ComboFix

• Hold down the Windows key + R on your keyboard. This will display the Run dialogue box
  
• In the Run box, type in ComboFix /Uninstall
   (Notice the space between the "x" and "/")
  then click OK
  
  
  
  
• Follow the prompts on the screen
• A message should appear confirming that ComboFix was uninstalled

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.

   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

Now that you are clean, to help protect your computer in the future I recommend that you get the following free programmes:

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

If you use on-line banking then as an added layer of protection install Trusteer Rapport

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:

[avastandahoy]

Thank you for your advice and links.

I have been studying rorschach112's post on geekstogo as you suggested, while observing the machine's performance.

two(three?) issues have arisen:
- microsoft error reporting tells me there are errors with recently used software
- windows update has been unable to complete some installations, and
- Malwarebytes Antimalware has disappeared from my system again


i have not taken any of the clean-up steps you suggested yet - very busy (too busy for my own good, it seems)

i have attached some screenshots of the Microsoft Updates reports - they seem to suggest a/the vulnerability may in .net framework 1.1 (sp1) for XP.

your expertise is continually appreciated

thank you

[avastandahoy]

update:

I just rebooted, and received an expanded list from Microsoft Error reporting (info attached)

AND

Microsoft Security Essentials and Zone Alarm DID NOT LOAD into the system tray. (I prefer Avast, but after the last time it disappeared from my system - and prior to posting here -  I thought it best to attempt to solve the problem with a 'second opinion', so to speak. I plan to return to AVAST, but was giving MSE a try.)

Whenever I shut down or restart, Windows Update tries in vain to correct the problem uninstalled update problem.

thank you for your help in parsing these issues

d

[avastandahoy]

(a few more attachments)

[avastandahoy]

my apologies for the many posts, but i thought this important -

i shut down again without installing updates, and i got a message telling me that windows was waiting for "Hidden Netsession" to close.

once restarted, Microsoft Security Essentials and Zone Alarm once again did not load into the system tray.

I opened  Start > All Programs and could not find Zone Alarm or MSE or Malwarebytes, but I did find them when I opened Revo Uninstaller (I took no action).

The I went to a Shortcuts folder I have on my desktop and found the Malwarebytes shortcut and attempted to run it, but got the following message:

'Run-time error 303'
'Text' property is read-only

standing by...

[avastandahoy]

I hope my indiscretion with trying MSE as an alternate diagnostic will be forgiven.

I have used Avast for years and years, and was desperate to understand what was plaguing my machines before I found your forum. (My other machines also have Avast, and are having similar issues, as mentioned before. The remain faithful to the Avast gods.)

today's activity;

I uninstalled MSE and MWBAM and Zone alarm using Revo Uninstaller tonight.

I reinstalled MWBAM, Zone Alarm, and Avast.

I scanned with MBAM and am doing a full system scan with Avast right now.

I updated Java, as you suggested.

I would really appreciate your continued help in understanding why my services were turned off (see above) and why my security programs keep disappearing, as well as help with solving the Windows update issue and the Hidden Netsession Window Mystery.

One last observation - I have been running Norton System Works for years, and that has also stopped running at startup recently. It also will not start manually from Windows > All Programs.

I don't know what to do. Should I just begin a new thread and include all of the recommended scan logs again?

please advise?

[avastandahoy]

After finding two incidences of win32:Malware-gen with a full Avast system scan,

I found four more instances during the Avast boot-time scan.

I have installed NoScript for Firefox as per your link's suggestion, and updated Adobe Reader and Java.

I am still unable to successfully update Windows!?!?

I don't know what to do from here. Should I start a new thread? Should I just upload the basic scans you request when beginning of a new thread to this existing one?

Will you please help me work this issue out?

Thank you.