Inactive Ave.exe / browser redirect virus

[JustinZ]

Hey team, judging by other threads it seems like this little terror is becoming somewhat of an epidemic.

Mine started about two weeks ago with the "Total PC Defender" virus (ie. malware parading as legit protection software). All browsers would redirect to spam sites when I clicked on google links. Computer a little slower starting up than usual. I'm now getting a slightly different version which calls itself "XP Virus Defender" or something like that, and tells me that my firewall is down and starts scanning my computer without prompting. I've isolated the process -after a bit of searching- as ave.exe.
I can shut the process down as the "scanning" starts, and that gets rid of it. But it keeps coming back - seems to be linked with browser usage.

Also (though this could be unrelated), my computer sometimes stalls for patches of 5 minutes at a time, where I can hear my hardrive clicking, but pretty much everything else freezes.

Have previously had various p2p software installed - uTorrent and Azureus... but now banished for good (looks like I'm learning my lesson the hard way).

Much love to anyone giving this a look.

Thanks,

Justin.

 

[Broni]

You're running two AV programs, Norton and McAfee.
One of them has to go.
If Norton, use Norton Removal Tool: http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039
If McAfee, uninstall it through Add\Remove and then use McAfee Consumer Product Removal Tool: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Uninstallers/McAfee-Consumer-Product-Removal-Tool.shtml

When done....

Please download ComboFix from Here or Here to your Desktop.

**Note: In the event you already have Combofix, this is a new version that I need you to download. It is important that it is saved directly to your desktop**

1. Please, never rename Combofix unless instructed.
2. Close any open browsers.
3. Close/disable all anti virus and anti malware programs so they do not interfere with the running of ComboFix.
   • Very Important! Temporarily disable your anti-virus, script blocking and any anti-malware real-time protection before performing a scan. They can interfere with ComboFix or remove some of its embedded files which may cause "unpredictable results".
   • Click on this link to see a list of programs that should be disabled. The list is not all inclusive. If yours is not listed and you don't know how to disable it, please ask.
   NOTE1. If Combofix asks you to install Recovery Console, please allow it.
   NOTE 2. If Combofix asks you to update the program, always do so.
   • Close any open browsers.
   • WARNING: Combofix will disconnect your machine from the Internet as soon as it starts
   • Please do not attempt to re-connect your machine back to the Internet until Combofix has completely finished.
   • If there is no internet connection after running Combofix, then restart your computer to restore back your connection.
4. Double click on combofix.exe & follow the prompts.
5. When finished, it will produce a report for you.
6. Please post the "C:\ComboFix.txt" along with a new HijackThis log for further review.

**Note: Do not mouseclick combofix's window while it's running. That may cause it to stall**

Make sure, you re-enable your security programs, when you're done with Combofix.

DO NOT make any other changes to your computer (like installing programs, using other cleaning tools, etc.), until it's officially declared clean!!!

 

[JustinZ]

Hey Broni, thanks for your help.

I cleaned it of all things Norton, then ran Combofix.
Here's the log.

Justin.

 

[JustinZ]

....and hijack this...

 

[Broni]

How is redirection issue?


1. Please open Notepad

• Click Start , then Run
• Type notepad .exe in the Run Box.

2. Now copy/paste the entire content of the codebox below into the Notepad window:

File::

Folder::
c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\SITEguard
c:\program files\Common Files\iS3
c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\STOPzilla!


Driver::

Registry::
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\security center\Monitoring\McAfeeAntiVirus]
"DisableMonitoring"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\security center\Monitoring\McAfeeFirewall]
"DisableMonitoring"=dword:00000000


RegLockDel::

3. Save the above as CFScript.txt

4. Then drag the CFScript.txt into ComboFix.exe as depicted in the animation below. This will start ComboFix again.

5. After reboot, (in case it asks to reboot), please post the following reports/logs into your next reply:

• Combofix.txt
• A new HijackThis log.

 

[JustinZ]

Looks like browser redirect problem is fixed.

Combofix however can't be found. Does it delete itself after it gets used???

Not only that, when i try d/ling again it Getright has a problem with it (something about having to manually rename it afterwards, but then the file just ain't there to rename).

How do you bypass Getright????

 

[Broni]

I'm glad, redirection is gone
Combofix doesn't delete itself.
Try to uninstall Getright temporarily and download fresh copy of Combofix.
Why do you need Getright anyway?

 

[JustinZ]

Getright deleted,

Here are the logs.

Combofix definitely got rid of itself somehow. I didn't touch it. We'll see if it happens again!

Thanks for all yr help Broni. Am I out of the woods here?

 

[Broni]

Looks good

Uninstall Combofix:
Go Start > Run [Vista users, go Start>"Start search"]
Type in:
Combofix /Uninstall
Note the space between the "Combofix" and the "/Uninstall"
Click OK (Vista users - press Enter).
Restart computer.

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

1. Download Temp File Cleaner (TFC)
Double click on TFC.exe to run the program.
Click on Start button to begin cleaning process.
TFC will close all running programs, and it may ask you to restart computer.


2. Go to Kaspersky website and perform an online antivirus scan.

1. Disable your active antivirus program.
2. Read through the requirements and privacy statement and click on Accept button.
3. It will start downloading and installing the scanner and virus definitions. You will be prompted to install an application from Kaspersky. Click Run.
4. When the downloads have finished, click on Settings.
5. Make sure these boxes are checked (ticked). If they are not, please tick them and click on the Save button:

• Spyware, Adware, Dialers, and other potentially dangerous programs
  [*] Archives
  [*] Mail databases

6. Click on My Computer under Scan.
7. Once the scan is complete, it will display the results. Click on View Scan Report.
8. You will see a list of infected items there. Click on Save Report As....
9. Save this report to a convenient place. Change the Files of type to Text file (.txt) before clicking on the Save button. Then post it here.

Post fresh HijackThis log as well.

 

[samigol110]

ave processes / XP Smart Security 2010

Hi,

Since this morning, I've been trying to get this malware uninstalled. It starts with any executables running, especially my browser. I have to actively kill it in task manager for IE to start and Mozilla works if opened in safe mode only.

Have read plenty about it but couldn't exactly find any useful manual steps for its removal. I wasnt able to find the specified registry keys in my computer that were mentioned in most of the websites out there for this malware removal.

I just came across your site and found new information regarding how to get rid of this malware. Could you please help me out? I noticed Combofix was recommended but I also read that the software can harm the computer if used by someone who does not have enough knowledge to analyze it.

Thanks.

 

[Broni]

samigol110
Please, start your own topic.