[Closed] Suspected malware or virus

You ran the hosts.perm before deleting the hijacked host?

I performed instructions in order as directed. Rkill first. Malwarebytes secondly. Thirdly uploaded and run Hostsperm. You say this should allow me to access Hosts file. How do I find this and continue with your instructions? Thanks.

Did replacing the Hosts files make any difference?

Update

I'm not sure that I have replaced the host file - see post #82. There is no difference and redirect is regularly blocked by Avast flagging up trojans.
I am not working away for a week, so maybe we can make some real progress over the next few days. Thanks.

Can you describe this in more detail please?

"There is no difference and redirect is regularly blocked by Avast flagging up trojans."

Examples

Tried "The Damned" search from Yahoo homepage again. These are the results.
Yahoo gave me a list of The Damned search options which is correct.
Clicked on "The Damned Official Website" and 3 different addresses flashed through tab at top left of page whilst loading up and sent me to "groupon" homepage.
Clicked back once and sent me to "MI Carenergy.com" - which asked if I wanted to make it my homepage.
Click back a second time and sent me to "downloadgamestocellphone.com which presented me with a search list of "the Damned" articles.
clicked back again and sent me to "freesearchquick.com/search.php?q=the+damned - no result found.
clicked back again - got message IE cannot display webpage.

In the time it takes for the above pages to load up (less then a second) I got the "groupon" homepage which I mentioned earlier momentarily.
From this point clicking back alternated between the freesearchquick and Groupn pages and would not return to the yahoo seach results I expected it to.

Tried the same for "weather forecast" from yahoo homepage.
This sent me to http://search.uk.exite.en/tag/?q=weather forecast - listing weather forecast search results.
Clicked back from here and took me back to Yahoo seach results page.

In the tab at top left of page whilst a page is loading up regularly flashes up as gaming/amusement or keepfit type of pages before settling on a page which loads up.

Regularly get redirected to "clickcompare.info/sch/article.php?url=" - any seach results from this page will not load up and the page stays blank.

Avast has not given any virus/trojan messages today. Can I find a list of these for you within avast which have been blocked for your inspection?

One other thing which I noticed as PC was booted up today is a message saying" your pc may be at risk - AVG firewall not working/installed"(cant remember exactly how this was worded) - I thought we removed AVG!

Thanks.

Okay, I may have found it. Please run HijackThis and I'll tell you what to check when I see the log. If the current version is on the desktop, update and use it to run new scan.:

Download HijackThis and save to your desktop.

• Extract it to a directory on your hard drive called c:\HijackThis.
• Then navigate to that directory and double-click on the hijackthis.exe file.
• When started click on the Scan button and then the Save Log button to create a log of your information.
• The log file and then the log will open in notepad. Be sure to click on Format> Uncheck Word Wrap when you open Notepad
• Click on "Edit > Select All" then click on "Edit > Copy" to copy the entire contents of the log.
• Come back here to this thread and paste (Ctrl+V) the log in your next reply.

NOTE: Do NOT have HijackThis fix anything yet! Most of what it finds will be harmless or even required.

You may have run it before, but I want a current scan.

Hijackthis log

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 18:40:36, on 08/11/2011
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\ehome\ehtray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\sm56hlpr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\RTHDCPL.EXE
C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\GOTOSO~1\VADERE~1\Vaderetro_oe.exe
C:\Program Files\Sonic\DigitalMedia LE v7\MyDVD LE\DetectorApp.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Nokia\MPlatform\NokiaMServer.exe
D:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\SASCORE.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveMonitor.exe
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\Sync Manager Unicode\CTSyncU.exe
C:\Program Files\Nokia\Nokia Ovi Suite\NokiaOviSuite.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
D:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\SUPERAntiSpyware.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTsvcCDA.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehRecvr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehSched.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\Program Files\Nero\Update\NASvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ulead Systems\DVD\ULCDRSvr.exe
C:\Program Files\Sonic\DigitalMedia LE v7\MyDVD LE\USBDeviceService.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\X10\Common\x10nets.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Nokia\NoA\nokiaaserver.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllhost.exe
C:\Program Files\PC Connectivity Solution\ServiceLayer.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehmsas.exe
C:\Program Files\PC Connectivity Solution\Transports\NclUSBSrv.exe
C:\Program Files\PC Connectivity Solution\Transports\NclRSSrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\internet explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\internet explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Hijackthis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.co.uk/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = http://uk.red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/btyahoo/defaults/su/*http://uk.search.yahoo.com/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://bt.yahoo.com/start?.pd=l=anthonygodfrey11@btinternet.com&c=K1gXhD2p2e7uH.80E1C6CGax
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Groove GFS Browser Helper - {72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveShellExtensions.dll
O2 - BHO: avast! WebRep - {8E5E2654-AD2D-48bf-AC2D-D17F00898D06} - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Toolbar\GoogleToolbar_32.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\5.7.6406.1642\swg.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Google Toolbar - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Toolbar\GoogleToolbar_32.dll
O3 - Toolbar: avast! WebRep - {8E5E2654-AD2D-48bf-AC2D-D17F00898D06} - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002ASync] C:\WINDOWS\system32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /SYNC
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002A] C:\WINDOWS\system32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /IMEName
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ehTray] C:\WINDOWS\ehome\ehtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SMSERIAL] sm56hlpr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [High Definition Audio Property Page Shortcut] HDAShCut.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RTHDCPL] RTHDCPL.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RealTray] C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe SYSTEMBOOTHIDEPLAYER
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Vade Retro Outlook Express] "C:\PROGRA~1\GOTOSO~1\VADERE~1\Vaderetro_oe.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DetectorApp] C:\Program Files\Sonic\DigitalMedia LE v7\MyDVD LE\DetectorApp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IMJPMIG8.1] "C:\WINDOWS\IME\imjp8_1\IMJPMIG.EXE /Spoil /RemAdvDef /Migration32"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NokiaMServer] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Nokia\MPlatform\NokiaMServer /watchfiles startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [GrooveMonitor] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveMonitor.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast] "C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe" /nogui
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\RunOnce: [AvgUninstallURL] cmd.exe /c start http://www.avg.com/ww.special-uninstallation-feedback-appf?lic=NFVMV0gtR0JZUzQtOU5USEQtUUE3WEQtQzJRSEgtTkZGS0o"&"inst=NzctNjg4NjgxMTE5LVZJUCsxLVNQMSsxLUZMMTArMS1YTzEwKzExLVRVRyszLUREVCsxNjE1MC1MU0QrMi1ERDEwRisxLVNUMTBGQVBQKzE"&"prod=90"&"ver=10.0.1392
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CTSyncU.exe] "C:\Program Files\Creative\Sync Manager Unicode\CTSyncU.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [NokiaOviSuite2] C:\Program Files\Nokia\Nokia Ovi Suite\NokiaOviSuite.exe -tray
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] "C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Facebook Update] "D:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Application Data\Facebook\Update\FacebookUpdate.exe" /c /nocrashserver
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SUPERAntiSpyware] D:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\SUPERAntiSpyware.exe
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'Default user')
O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: S&end to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=file://C:\APPS\IE\offline\uk.htm
O16 - DPF: {7530BFB8-7293-4D34-9923-61A11451AFC5} (OnlineScanner Control) - http://download.eset.com/special/eos/OnlineScanner.cab
O16 - DPF: {E2883E8F-472F-4FB0-9522-AC9BF37916A7} - http://platformdl.adobe.com/NOS/getPlusPlus/1.6/gp.cab
O16 - DPF: {E7DA7F8D-27AB-4EE9-8FC0-3FEC9ECFE758} (DynamicWebTwain Class) - https://xchecker.reed.co.uk/Scanning/DynamicWebTwain.cab
O18 - Protocol: grooveLocalGWS - {88FED34C-F0CA-4636-A375-3CB6248B04CD} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveSystemServices.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: !SASWinLogon - D:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\SASWINLO.DLL
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: SAS Core Service (!SASCORE) - SUPERAntiSpyware.com - D:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\SASCORE.EXE
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - AVAST Software - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Service for CDROM Access - Creative Technology Ltd - C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTsvcCDA.exe
O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdate) (gupdate) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdatem) (gupdatem) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: Google Software Updater (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
O23 - Service: KKSJF - Unknown owner - D:\DOCUME~1\Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp\KKSJF.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @C:\Program Files\Nero\Update\NASvc.exe,-200 (NAUpdate) - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Nero\Update\NASvc.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: ServiceLayer - Nokia - C:\Program Files\PC Connectivity Solution\ServiceLayer.exe
O23 - Service: Ulead Burning Helper (UleadBurningHelper) - Ulead Systems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ulead Systems\DVD\ULCDRSvr.exe
O23 - Service: USBDeviceService - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Sonic\DigitalMedia LE v7\MyDVD LE\USBDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: X10 Device Network Service (x10nets) - X10 - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\X10\Common\x10nets.exe

--
End of file - 10560 bytes

Did you ever run the script for Combofix I left in Reply #59?

What I planned to remove was in that but it is still on the system.

The C Drive is the main HD- right?
What is the D Drive?

Going through the logs yet again, I looked for the Attach.txt log which you finally left, but the entries top section is missing. That would have shown the drives and partitions. I noticed the following on the D Drive:

If Avast is installed on the C Drive, why is Avast appdata going to the D Drive?

2011-09-04 19:59 -------- d-----w- d:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\AVAST Software
2011-09-04 19:59 -------- d-----w- c:\program files\AVAST Software
--------------------------------------
2011-09-04 19:32 -------- d-----w- d:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\{3C0AACBF-B491-4BE5-BAF9-AA46E0629E42}>> the only info I can find for this is for the Uniblue Registry Booster setup.
2011-09-04 15:37 -------- d-----w- d:\documents and settings\Owner\Local Settings\Application Data\Facebook

The folders infected with the (Rogue.SystemSmartSecurity) were on the D Drive
--------------------------------------
Do NOT leave any more logs unless I specifically ask you to.

update

I ran (or tried) combofix at the time, but was unsure of success ,See reply #60 and could not find any log produced - if any.
I have always questioned the relevance & priority of the D.drive as previous computer only had C.drive. C drive (listed as HDD(C) is the primary drive but when saving items they usually save to D drive - Listed as Data(D
Also noticed that if I click on C drive and navigate to Docs & Settings and open this file it goes to a default file. If I open this there is a My Documents file, this contains only a few photographs.
Drive D is where all of my files are kept, including another My Documents file. This is how the computer has always been since buying it new. If this is a conflicting or unusual set up maybe we can tidy this up at some point in the future. It has never seemed right to me having two My Documents files on this computer.
Incidently IE frequently asks if I want to upload version 8. Is this something that should be done or not at this point? Awaiting your instructions.

Is anyone available for next step please?

Tony, I told you when I saw the first Combofix log that the deleted files were unusual. I asked what the source for those deleted files had been and you did not know. You overwhelmed me with logs- some posted in triplicate, some incomplete, some incorrectly named.

It appears that you are not doing any maintenance on the system since a large number of the deletes were Temporary Internet Files

We have been at this for over 2 months and although your system is actually cleaner and leaner, you notice no improvement.

There is nothing more I can do for you. Although I see improvement in the logs, you do not notice and improvement in the redirects.

The system was badly infected when you started. The abundance of deletions in Combofix are not normal. It appears that you have the operating system on the hard drive C, and have made partition for everything else, D.

Since you noticed some improvements after the system was in the shop, I am going to refer you back to them.

I think the only thing open to you is to reformat and reinstall. I'm sorry I could not resolve the problem.
=============================================
Removing all of the tools we used and the files and folders they created

• Uninstall ComboFix and all Backups of the files it deleted
• Click START> then RUN
• Now type Combofix /Uninstall in the runbox and click OK. Note the space between the X and the U, it needs to be there.
  

• Download OTCleanIt by OldTimer and save it to your Desktop.
• Double click OTCleanIt.exe.
• Click the CleanUp! button.
• Select Yes when the "Begin cleanup Process?" prompt appears.
• If you are prompted to Reboot during the cleanup, select Yes.
• The tool will delete itself once it finishes.

-----
Note: If you receive a warning from your firewall or other security programs regarding OTC attempting to contact the internet, please allow it to do so.

Note: If any tool, file or folder (belonging to the program we have used) hasn't been deleted, please delete it manually.
------------------------------------------

• You should now set a new Restore Point and remove the old restore points to prevent infection from any previous Restore Points.
• Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools
• Click "System Restore".
• Choose "Create a Restore Point" on the first screen then click "Next".
• Give the Restore Point a name> click "Create".
  
• Go back and follow the path to > System Tools.
  [*]Choose Disc Cleanup
  [*]Click "OK" to select the partition or drive you want.
  [*]Click the "More Options" Tab.
  [*]Click "Clean Up" in the System Restore section to remove all previous Restore Points except the newly created one.

Empty the Recycle Bin