Author Topic: Avast blocking infection every time Firefox starts  (Read 5846 times)

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Avast blocking infection every time Firefox starts
« on: October 22, 2015, 05:37:04 PM »
Hi, since yesterday I get an alert form Avast that a threatening infection was blocked every time I start Firefox:

http://104.27.161.59/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/TWOL-Bowl-Favicon.ico
URL:mal
C:\program files (x86)Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe

I traced this down to a website "The woks of life" which I had open as a tab (since at least 2 weeks). I closed the tab, deleted all cookies, deleted the TWOL-pages from the history and deleted the saved articles from pocket, but I still get this alert.

A normal AVAST scan does not find a threat (which I guess is no wonder, because the infection was blocked).
Any ideas what I should do?

Thanks in advance! Lupe

Attached are the logfiles from MBAM, FRST and aswMBR


Offline essexboy

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Re: Avast blocking infection every time Firefox starts
« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2015, 06:39:01 PM »
Could you confirm that it is only firefox that is affected

CAUTION :  This fix is only valid for this specific machine, using it on another may break your computer

Open notepad and copy/paste the text in the quotebox below into it:
 
Quote
CreateRestorePoint:
HKLM-x32\...\Run: [] => [X]
HKU\S-1-5-21-1397616743-3068313765-1809913445-1000\...\Run: [AdobeBridge] => [X]
2015-10-22 16:08 - 2015-06-12 10:37 - 00000000 ____D C:\ProgramData\boost_interprocess
Reg: reg delete HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\IPSec\Policy\Local /f
Reg: reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\IPSec\Policy\Local /f
RemoveProxy:
EmptyTemp:
CMD: bitsadmin /reset /allusers

 
Save this as fixlist.txt, in the same location as FRST.exe

Run FRST and press Fix
On completion a log will be generated please post that

THEN

Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode onto your desktop.
  • Close all open programs and internet browsers.
  • Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool.
  • Click on Scan.
  • After the scan is complete click on "Clean"
  • Confirm each time with Ok.
  • Your computer will be rebooted automatically. A text file will open after the restart.
  • Please post the content of that logfile with your next answer.
  • You can find the logfile at C:\AdwCleaner[S0].txt as well.

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Re: Avast blocking infection every time Firefox starts
« Reply #2 on: October 22, 2015, 07:02:25 PM »
Essexboy, I created the fixlist.txt and put it in the same folder as FRST, what do you mean by "press fix" when running FRST, should I see an option for that?

Offline Pondus

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Re: Avast blocking infection every time Firefox starts
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2015, 07:11:58 PM »
FRST have a fix button on right side

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Re: Avast blocking infection every time Firefox starts
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2015, 07:37:44 PM »
Sorry for the dumb question - I got confused because my version of FRST is in German.

I applied the fix and then ran AdwCleaner  (logfile below) - but Avast stills gives me the same alert.

What now? Thanks for your help!


Offline essexboy

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Re: Avast blocking infection every time Firefox starts
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2015, 07:46:21 PM »
Could you attach the fix log FRST generated please, also is this present in all browsers

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Re: Avast blocking infection every time Firefox starts
« Reply #6 on: October 22, 2015, 08:00:20 PM »
Sorry, forgot the attachment.

Yes, the alert also comes up with Chrome and IE, but the alert details specify the complete url http://104.27.160.59/, not only the favicon.

Offline essexboy

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Re: Avast blocking infection every time Firefox starts
« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2015, 08:24:16 PM »
OK so all browsers 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




  • 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

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Re: Avast blocking infection every time Firefox starts
« Reply #8 on: October 22, 2015, 08:52:33 PM »
After running Combofix everything seems back to normal, I don't get the alerts any more. Should I try to open the website in question now (they had a lot of useful recipes) or should I simply avoid it - I have no idea whether the alert was a false positive or not and haven't a clue how to determine this.
Thank you! Lupe

Offline essexboy

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Re: Avast blocking infection every time Firefox starts
« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2015, 09:27:37 PM »
What web site was it... Just the name no www etc :)

Jamie Olivers site was hacked a month or so ago

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Re: Avast blocking infection every time Firefox starts
« Reply #10 on: October 22, 2015, 09:41:57 PM »
Oh, I didn't know that!

The website is thewoksoflife.com (Asian recipes), the first alert referred only to their favicon:

http://104.27.161.59/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/TWOL-Bowl-Favicon.ico

later on the alerts referred to the IP address http://104.27.161.59 (which seems to be located in San Francisco), not to the url thewoksoflife.com. I traced this down going through all my open tabs. Like I said, I closed the tab and deleted cookies and history.


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Re: Avast blocking infection every time Firefox starts
« Reply #11 on: October 22, 2015, 11:05:20 PM »
Just went there in a protected browser, it has been hacked


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Re: Avast blocking infection every time Firefox starts
« Reply #12 on: October 22, 2015, 11:53:28 PM »
Ah, I see - thanks so much for your help with this!

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Re: Avast blocking infection every time Firefox starts
« Reply #13 on: October 23, 2015, 01:37:10 PM »
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

Click  Start  then Run.
On Windows7 or Vista  you may use  Start Search  field if  Run  is not available.
In the box copy/paste the following command:

ComboFix  /Uninstall

Note that there is a space between "  ComboFix  " and "  /Uninstall  " .

Then click  OK  (or press  Enter ).
Wait for the uninstall process to complete.

Remove tools

Download and run Delfix
Select the options as shown



: Keep Java Updated :

WARNING: Java is the #1 exploited program at this time. The Department of Homeland Security recommends that computer users disable Java
See this article

I would recommend that you completely uninstall Java unless you need it to run an important software.
In that instance I would recommend that you disable Java in your browsers until you need it for that software and then enable it. (See How to diasble Java in your web browser and How to unplug Java from the browser)

If you do need to keep Java then download JavaRa
Run the programme and select  Remove Java Runtime.  Uninstall all versions of Java present
Once done then run it again and select Update Java runtime > Download and install Latest version



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

CryptoPrevent install this programme to lock down and prevent crypto ransome ware



Malwarebytes

Update and run weekly to keep your system clean

Unchecky

Click on the link above to be taken to Unchecky.com
click the very large Download button.
click Save
Click Open folder
Right click on the Unchecky_setup and choose to Run as Administrator
Once open click the Install button.
Then click on Finish
Unchecky is now installed and will help you keep unwanted check boxes unchecked, this is a fire and forget programme  ;)

It is critical to have both a firewall and anti virus to protect your system and to keep them updated.

To learn more about how to protect yourself while on the internet read this little guide  Best security practices Keep safe  :wave:

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Re: Avast blocking infection every time Firefox starts
« Reply #14 on: October 23, 2015, 05:29:15 PM »
Too bad, yesterday everything seemed to be fine, but today when I started my machine and then Firefox the alert came back up:

http://104.27.160.59/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/TWOL-Bowl-Favicon.ico
URL:mal
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe

What to do? I suppose you meant that I should follow the above instructions only if everything is ok?