Help with the Pakes trojan

[sfutcher]

My brand new computer (just 1 week old), has a trojan on it. the trend Micro PC-Cillin picked up Pakes.bfz. I contacted trendmicro sent them the hijackthis file and after following their instructions, I wasn't getting the virus warnings anymore. However, there is something wrong with the wallpaper as it says Warning...Spyware Threat Detected on your PC and I can't get rid of it. I haven't heard anything back from trendmicro after resending the hijackthis file again on Wednesday and they are closed on the weekend. Could someone please help? I just got another alert a little while ago that the trojan Renos.xi was found. I don't know if it's all part of the original trojan. I'm sending the hijackthis file. Thanks, Sharon

 

[Bobbye]

Pakes.bfz does not allow identification in the three sites in a search. One user is complaining of something similar to what you describe and the question seems to be if this is a legitimate Trojan

And F-Secure says this: Added: Hoax:W32/Renos.XI [2] but only a few foreign sites are available on a search. I suggest scanning with an online Virus program such as Panda:
http://www.pandasecurity.com/homeusers/solutions/activescan/

See if you get a cross-reference to what Trend Micro is giving you.

 

[Blind Dragon]

If that is true then this should show us something.

Run Smitfraudfix

• Download Smitfraudfix by S!ri from HERE
• Double-click SmitfraudFix.exe
• Select 1 and hit Enter to delete infected files.
• The report can be found at the root of the system drive, usually at C:\rapport.txt

Attach the rapport.txt here

 

[sfutcher]

Ok, I did that and here is the report. I'm having trouble doing the panda scan but will try again.

Thanks, Sharon

 

[Blind Dragon]

Disable Spyware Doctor

1. From within Spyware Doctor, click the "OnGuard" button on the left side.
2. Uncheck "Activate OnGuard".


Combofix

• Download Combofix to your desktop.
• Double click combofix.exe & follow the prompts.
• A window will open with a warning.
• When the scan completes it will open a text window. Please attach that log back here together with a fresh HJT log.

Caution - do not touch your mouse/keyboard until the scan has completed. The scan will temporarily disable your desktop, and if interrupted may leave your desktop disabled. If this occurs, please reboot to restore the desktop. Combofix is a very powerful tool so please do NOT do anything without instruction

Combofix will automatically save the log file to C:\combofix.txt

 

[sfutcher]

Here is the combofix file and hijackthis. Thanks for taking a look! Sharon

 

[Blind Dragon]

You seem ok, I don't see it in there.

It should have showed in the rapport.txt log

-----------------------------------------------

Uninstall Combofix
* Click START then RUN
* Now type Combofix /u in the runbox
* Make sure there's a space between Combofix and /u
* Then hit Enter.

* The above procedure will:
* Delete the following:
* ComboFix and its associated files and folders.
* Reset the clock settings.
* Hide file extensions, if required.
* Hide System/Hidden files, if required.
* Set a new, clean Restore Point.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OTCleanit! by Oldtimer

• Download OTCleanIt
• Click the CleanUp! button.
  • It will go thorugh the list and remove all of the tools it finds and then delete itself (requiring a reboot).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Run Kaspersky Online AV Scanner

Order to use it you have to use Internet Explorer.
Go to Kaspersky and click the Accept button at the end of the page.

Note for Internet Explorer 7 users: If at any time you have trouble with the accept button of the licence, click on the Zoom tool located at the right bottom of the IE window and set the zoom to 75 %. Once the license accepted, reset to 100%.

• Read the Requirements and limitations before you click Accept.
• Allow the ActiveX download if necessary.
• Once the database has downloaded, click Next.
• Click Scan Settings and change the "Scan using the following antivirus database" from standard to extended and then click OK.
• Click on "My Computer"
• When the scan has completed, click Save Report As...
• Enter a name for the file in the Filename: text box and then click the down arrow to the right of Save as type: and select text file (*.txt)
• Click Save - by default the file will be saved to your Desktop, but you can change this if you wish.

Attach the report into your next reply

 

[sfutcher]

Ok, I did everything listed except I didn't see the option when I clicked settings to change it from standard to extended. The report says that there's no malware but something is still on my computer since I can't get rid of the wallpaper with the spyware warning message. I haven't gotten any other trojan warnings.


UPDATE: I went back into the control panel display properties and changed the background (which I had tried to do before but the message remained). This time I was able to get rid of the warning message and change the background to the normal green grass and blue sky background. I wasn't able to do that before and there are also lots of other background choices there that I couldn't access before. I am going to restart and make show the message doesn't pop back up but do you think that the problem has been taken care of?

Also, could you recommend what other protection I should install beside the firewall and antivirus I already have. Is the Spyware Doctor I installed good?
Thanks!

 

[Blind Dragon]

Lets look at one more thing then I will make some recommendations on protection

Open notepad and copy and paste next bold in it:

regedit /e peek1.txt "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies"
regedit /e peek2.txt "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components"
type peek1.txt >> look.txt
type peek2.txt >> look.txt
del peek*.txt
start notepad look.txt

Save this as look.bat , choose to save as *all files and place it on your desktop.

It should look like this on your desktop:

Doubleclick look.bat
Notepad will open with some txt in it. Copy and paste the contents in your next reply.

 

[sfutcher]

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoDriveTypeAutoRun"=dword:00000091
"NoDrives"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"HideLegacyLogonScripts"=dword:00000000
"HideLogoffScripts"=dword:00000000
"RunLogonScriptSync"=dword:00000001
"RunStartupScriptSync"=dword:00000000
"HideStartupScripts"=dword:00000000
"DisableRegistryTools"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate]

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components]
"DeskHtmlVersion"=dword:00000110
"DeskHtmlMinorVersion"=dword:00000005
"Settings"=dword:00000001
"GeneralFlags"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components\0]
"Source"="About:Home"
"SubscribedURL"="About:Home"
"FriendlyName"="My Current Home Page"
"Flags"=dword:00000002
"Position"=hex:2c,00,00,00,a0,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,80,02,00,00,3a,02,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,01,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"CurrentState"=dword:40000004
"OriginalStateInfo"=hex:18,00,00,00,ff,ff,00,00,ff,ff,00,00,ff,ff,ff,ff,ff,ff,\
ff,ff,04,00,00,00
"RestoredStateInfo"=hex:18,00,00,00,6a,02,00,00,23,00,00,00,a4,00,00,00,9a,00,\
00,00,01,00,00,00

 

[Blind Dragon]

Making a .reg file
Open notepad and copy and paste the text in the quotebox below in it:

[b]REGEDIT4

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
[/b]

Name the file as Fix.reg

Change the "Save As" type to "All Files" and save it on the desktop.

It should look like this:

Double-click on it and when it asks you if you want to merge the contents to the registry, click yes/ok.

 

[sfutcher]

Ok, did that.

 

[Blind Dragon]

Ok, few last steps and I am going to suggest some programs for you to keep your computer secure.

1. Set correct settings for files
   • Click Start > My Computer > Tools menu (at top of page) > Folder Options > View tab.
   • Under "Hidden files and folders" if necessary select Do not show hidden files and folders.
   • If unchecked please check Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)
   • If necessary check "Display content of system folders"
   • If necessary Uncheck Hide file extensions for known file types.
   • Click OK
   
   clear system restore points
   • 
     This is a good time to clear your existing system restore points and establish a new clean restore point:
     • Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore
     • Select Create a restore point, and Ok it.
     • Next, go to Start > Run and type in cleanmgr
     • Select the More options tab
     • Choose the option to clean up system restore and OK it.
     This will remove all restore points except the new one you just created.
   
   
2. Make your Internet Explorer more secure - This can be done by following these simple instructions:
   1. From within Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu and then click on Options.
   2. Click once on the Security tab
   3. Click once on the Internet icon so it becomes highlighted.
   4. Click once on the Custom Level button.
      • Change the Download signed ActiveX controls to Prompt
        
      • Change the Download unsigned ActiveX controls to Disable
        
      • Change the Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe to Disable
        
      • Change the Installation of desktop items to Prompt
        
      • Change the Launching programs and files in an IFRAME to Prompt
        
      • Change the Navigate sub-frames across different domains to Prompt
        
      • When all these settings have been made, click on the OK button.
        
      • If it prompts you as to whether or not you want to save the settings, press the Yes button.
   5. Next press the Apply button and then the OK to exit the Internet Properties page.
3. Use an AntiVirus Software - It is very important that your computer has an anti-virus software running on your machine. This alone can save you a lot of trouble with malware in the future.
   
   See this link for a listing of some online & their stand-alone antivirus programs:
   
   Virus, Spyware, and Malware Protection and Removal Resources
   
   
4. Update your AntiVirus Software - It is imperitive that you update your Antivirus software at least once a week (Even more if you wish). If you do not update your antivirus software then it will not be able to catch any of the new variants that may come out.
   
   
5. Use a Firewall - I can not stress how important it is that you use a Firewall on your computer. Without a firewall your computer is succeptible to being hacked and taken over. I am very serious about this and see it happen almost every day with my clients. Simply using a Firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk greatly.
   
   For a tutorial on Firewalls and a listing of some available ones see the link below:
   
   Understanding and Using Firewalls
   
   
6. Visit Microsoft's Windows Update Site Frequently - It is important that you visit http://www.windowsupdate.com regularly. This will ensure your computer has always the latest security updates available installed on your computer. If there are new updates to install, install them immediately, reboot your computer, and revisit the site until there are no more critical updates.This is done in Vista through control panel -> windows updates.
   
   
7. Install SpywareBlaster - SpywareBlaster will added a large list of programs and sites into your Internet Explorer settings that will protect you from running and downloading known malicious programs.
   
   A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
   
   Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware and Malware
   
   
8. Update all these programs regularly - Make sure you update all the programs I have listed regularly. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new malicious programs are released.

Follow this list and your potential for being infected again will reduce dramatically.

here are some additional utilities that will enhance your safety

• IE/Spyad <= IE/Spyad places over 4000 websites and domains in the IE Restricted list which will severely impair attempts to infect your system. It basically prevents any downloads (Cookies etc) from the sites listed, although you will still be able to connect to the sites.
• MVPS Hosts file <= The MVPS Hosts file replaces your current HOSTS file with one containing well know ad sites etc. Basically, this prevents your coputer from connecting to those sites by redirecting them to 127.0.0.1 which is your local computer
• Google Toolbar <= Get the free google toolbar to help stop pop up windows.
• Winpatrol <= Download and install the free version of Winpatrol. a tutorial for this product is located here:
  Using Winpatrol to protect your computer from malicious software

 

[sfutcher]

Thank you very much for taking the time to help me with this! All your instructions were easy to follow and it's been a great relief to get this problem fixed. I've been installing the programs you suggested so hopefully my computer will be better protected.

Sharon

 

[Blind Dragon]

You should be fine, but should you have further problems be sure to let me know. I am glad we were able to help you.

Regards,

BD