Help with trojan.zonebac

[Tom Albanese]

Hi-

Having ongoing problem with a bug that shows up in my Norton internet security scans as "trojan.zonebac". Norton continues to find it and fix and says it either "fully" or "partially resolves". Also noticed that my machine was automatically going to b.whataboutadog.com whenever turned on. I contacted Symantec and paid for remote technical help. Despite various attempts the problem remains. Only thing that improved was internet start-up time, which has returned to normal (previously took ~10 min when starting IE before google homepage appeared).

Found your site through search and followed all instructions under the post "Viruses/Spyware/Malware, preliminary removal instructions." Again, despite this, just now ran Norton scan and found same trojan.zonebac.

Attaching HJT, Combofix, and AVG Antispyware logs. Also attaching the Norton log of security risks.

One other note-I now have a Quicktime icon in my system tray, which was not present before a few days ago. I disabled for a few days through MSconfig, but re-enable normal start-up when I began the series of steps your site outlined. It's still present-not sure if that's meaningful.

Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.

Tom

Forgot to mention that the Panda Antirootkit scan reported finding nothing.

Thanks again!
Tom

 

[howard_hopkinso]

Hello and welcome to Techspot.

Your system is infected with a trojan called Downloader.Agent.awf. It replaces legitimate files that are common on most computers with an infected file. Then, it moves the legitimate files to a bak or backup folder.

Very Important: Before deciding whether you should clean or reformat your system, go and read this thread HERE and decide what it is you want to do.

If after reading the above, you wish to clean your system, do the following.

Go and read this thread HERE and follow the instructions exactly. Post the requested log files once done.

Regards Howard :wave: :wave:

This thread is for the use of Tom Albanese only. Please don`t post your own virus/spyware problems in this thread. Instead, open a new thread in our security and the web forum.

 

[Tom Albanese]

Howard-thanks for responding. Here are my AWF and HJT logs after following the instructions you pointed me to for removing whataboutadog. Appreciate your help-

Tom

 

[howard_hopkinso]

I don`t know what`s happened, but your system is still infected with the same malware. Perhaps you didn`t follow the instructions properly.

Right click on this link DelO15Domains.inf and choose Save As. Save it to your desktop. Right click on that file and choose Install. It will run immediately (you won't be able to see anything happen). You may delete it afterwards. NOTE: This script will delete any sites you may have added to the Trusted Sites. So if you want them back, you have to add them back to the Trusted Sites again.

Double-click FindAWF.exe to start the tool. Then, do the following
Select "option #2 - Restore files from bak folders" by typing 2 and press Enter .
A text file will open up. Please copy/paste the following text from the quote box (all except the word QUOTE) into the text file.

"C:\WINDOWS\bak\UpdReg.EXE"



"C:\Program Files\DellSupport\bak\DSAgnt.exe"



"C:\Program Files\DIGStream\bak\digstream.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Picasa\bak\PicasaMediaDetector.exe"



"C:\Program Files\QuickTime\bak\qttask.exe"



"C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\bak\ctfmon.exe"



"C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\bak\DSentry.exe"



"C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\bak\hphmon04.exe"



"C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\bak\NeroCheck.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Ahead\Nero BackItUp\bak\NBJ.exe"



"C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\bak\atiptaxx.exe"



"C:\Program Files\BroadJump\Client Foundation\bak\CFD.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Creative\Sync Manager Unicode\bak\CTSyncU.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\bak\GoogleDesktop.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\bak\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\bak\GoogleDesktop.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\bak\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Share-to-Web\bak\hpgs2wnd.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Software Update\bak\HPWuSchd2.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\bak\Activation.exe"



"C:\Program Files\MUSICMATCH\MUSICMATCH Jukebox\bak\mmtask.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Support.com\bin\bak\tgcmd.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Search Protection\bak\SearchProtection.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Works Shared\bak\WkUFind.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\bak\realsched.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Creative\SBLive\Diagnostics\bak\diagent.exe"



"C:\Program Files\HP Photosmart 11\hphinstall\UniPatch\bak\hphupd04.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_02\bin\bak\jusched.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\bak\DirectCD.exe"



"C:\Program Files\Ahead\Nero PhotoShow\data\Xtras\bak\mssysmgr.exe"



"C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\SPOOL\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\bak\hpztsb07.exe"



"C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\SPOOL\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\bak\hpztsb07.exe"

Close the .txt file and click Yes to save the changes.
When the tool has completed, a report will open up in notepad. Please post the results of the awf.txt in your next reply as an attachment.


Regards Howard

This thread is for the use of Tom Albanese only. Please don`t post your own virus/spyware problems in this thread. Instead, open a new thread in our security and the web forum.

 

[Tom Albanese]

Ok, here's the new AWF log.

Tom

 

[howard_hopkinso]

Please double-click the FindAWF icon once again
This time we are going to remove some folders.


Use the following option: Press 3 then Enter to remove bak folders


A text file opens called: folders.txt
Click below the line and paste the following list of folders to be removed:

C:\Program Files\Ahead\Nero BackItUp\bak



C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\bak



C:\Program Files\BroadJump\Client Foundation\bak



C:\Program Files\Creative\Sync Manager Unicode\bak



C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\bak



C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\bak



C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Share-to-Web\bak



C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Software Update\bak



C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\bak



C:\Program Files\MUSICMATCH\MUSICMATCH Jukebox\bak



C:\Program Files\Support.com\bin\bak



C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Search Protection\bak



C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Works Shared\bak



C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\bak



C:\Program Files\Creative\SBLive\Diagnostics\bak



C:\Program Files\HP Photosmart 11\hphinstall\UniPatch\bak



C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_02\bin\bak



C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\bak



C:\Program Files\Ahead\Nero PhotoShow\data\Xtras\bak



C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\SPOOL\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\bak



C:\WINDOWS\bak



C:\Program Files\DellSupport\bak



C:\Program Files\DIGStream\bak



C:\Program Files\Picasa\bak



C:\Program Files\QuickTime\bak



C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\bak

Next, close and click Yes to save the changes.

When done with the above, FindAWF automatically runs a new scan and opens a new log that you need to post.
Please provide the new FindAWF log

Regards Howard

This thread is for the use of Tom Albanese only. Please don`t post your own virus/spyware problems in this thread. Instead, open a new thread in our security and the web forum.

 

[Tom Albanese]

ok, done-here's new log-

Tom

 

[howard_hopkinso]

You might want to copy and paste these instructions into a notepad file. Then you can have the file open in safe mode, so you can follow the instructions easier.

Boot into safe mode, under your normal user name(NOT THE ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT). See how HERE.

In Windows Explorer, turn on "Show all files and folders, including hidden and system". See how HERE.

Open your task manager, by holding down the ctrl and alt keys and pressing the delete key.

Click on the processes tab and end process for(if there).

DSentry.exe

Close task manager.

Locate and delete the following bold files and/or folders(if there).

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DSentry.exe

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\bak

Reboot into normal mode and rehide your protected OS files.

Run the FindAWF tool option1 and post the awf.txt as well as a fresh HJT log.

Regards Howard

This thread is for the use of Tom Albanese only. Please don`t post your own virus/spyware problems in this thread. Instead, open a new thread in our security and the web forum.

 

[Tom Albanese]

ok-followed instructions and deleted the first file (C:windows\system32\DSentry.exe), but did not see/delete the second file. Two updated logs attached-

Tom

 

[howard_hopkinso]

Go to add remove programmes in your control panel and uninstall anything to do with(if there).

viewpoint
viewpoint toolbar
viewpoint manager

Close control panel.

Click start/run and type services.msc into the run box and press the enter key.

When the window appears, maximise it. Double click on the following services(if there) and select stop if they are running. Set the startup type to disabled. Click apply/ok for each service you disable.

Viewpoint Manager Service

Close the services window.

1. Please download The Avenger by Swandog46 from HERE. Save it to your Desktop and extract it.

2. Download the attached avengerscript.txt and save it to your desktop

Note: the above code was created specifically for this user. If you are not this user, do NOT follow these directions as they could damage the workings of your system.

3. Now, start The Avenger program by double clicking on its icon on your desktop.

Under "Script file to execute" choose "Load script from file".
Now click on the folder icon which will open a new window titled "open Script File"
navigate to the file you have just downloaded, click on it and press open
Now click on the Green Light to begin execution of the script
Answer "Yes" twice when prompted.

4. The Avenger will automatically do the following:

It will Restart your computer. ( In cases where the code to execute contains "Drivers to Unload", The Avenger will actually restart your system twice.)
On reboot, it will briefly open a black command window on your desktop, this is normal.
After the restart, it creates a log file that should open with the results of Avenger’s actions. This log file will be located at C:\avenger.txt
The Avenger will also have backed up all the files, etc., that you asked it to delete, and will have zipped them and moved the zip archives to C:\avenger\backup.zip.

5. Please attach the content of c:\avenger.txt into your reply.

Please download Deckard's System Scanner (DSS and save it to your Desktop.
DISCONNECT FROM THE INTERNET...REMOVE THE PLUG FROM THE BACK OF THE COMPUTER

Close all other windows before proceeding.

This means TURN OFF ALL other security programmes.
Norton Anti-virus, AVG Anti-spyware or any other security programmes you`re running.

Double-click on dss.exe and follow the prompts.
When it has finished, dss will open two Notepads main.txt and extra.txt -- please attach the main.txt and extra.txt in your next reply.

Re-enable your security programmes and reconnect to the net.

Run the FindAWF tool option1 and post the awf.txt

Regards Howard

This thread is for the use of Tom Albanese only. Please don`t post your own virus/spyware problems in this thread. Instead, open a new thread in our security and the web forum.

 

[Tom Albanese]

Ok-all logs attached. Hope this works-thanks-Tom

 

[howard_hopkinso]

Your awf.txt is now clean.

To finish, run Option 4.

Double-click the FindAWF icon once again.
Use the following option: Press 4 then Enter to reset domain zones


When the program returns to the main menu, use the following option:
Press E then Enter to EXIT

You might want to copy and paste these instructions into a notepad file. Then you can have the file open in safe mode, so you can follow the instructions easier.

Boot into safe mode, under your normal user name(NOT THE ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT). See how HERE.

In Windows Explorer, turn on "Show all files and folders, including hidden and system". See how HERE.

Go to add remove programmes in your control panel and uninstall anything to do with(if there).

BFGTOOLBAR

Close control panel.

Run HJT with no other programmes open(except notepad). Click the scan button. Have HJT fix the following, by placing a tick in the little box next to(if there).

O2 - BHO: Big Fish Games Toolbar - {4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-86BD-FD60BB9AAE3A} - C:\PROGRA~1\BFGTOO~1\BFGTOO~1.DLL

O3 - Toolbar: Big Fish Games Toolbar - {4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-86BD-FD60BB9AAE3A} - C:\PROGRA~1\BFGTOO~1\BFGTOO~1.DLL

O16 - DPF: {2042B57E-6336-459E-B7CE-2A0F6C9E6AF8} (IEPlayInterface Class) - http://www.lotrdvd.com/dvdkey/extended_dvd/downloads/iaieplay.dll

O16 - DPF: {3FE16C08-D6A7-4133-84FC-D5BFB4F7D886} (WebGameLoader Class) - http://zone.msn.com/bingame/rtlw/default/ReflexiveWebGameLoader.cab

O16 - DPF: {75D1F3B2-2A21-11D7-97B9-0010DC2A6243} - http://secure2.comned.com/signuptemplates/ActiveSecurity.cab

O16 - DPF: {77E32299-629F-43C6-AB77-6A1E6D7663F6} (Groove Control) - http://www.nick.com/common/groove/gx/GrooveAX27.cab

O16 - DPF: {DF780F87-FF2B-4DF8-92D0-73DB16A1543A} (PopCapLoader Object) - http://zone.msn.com/bingame/dim2/default/popcaploader_v6.cab

Click on the fix checked button.

Close HJT.

Locate and delete the following bold files and/or folders(if there).

C:\PROGRA~1\BFGTOO~1

Click start/run and type regedit into the run box and hits the enter key.

Navigate to the following regkeys and delete the bold portions(if there).

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\~\Browser Helper Objects\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-86BD-FD60BB9AAE3A}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar\WebBrowser\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-86BD-FD60BB9AAE3A}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-86BD-FD60BB9AAE3A}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\bfgtoolbar.BFGTOOLBAR

Reboot into normal mode and rehide your protected OS files.

Post a fresh main.txt.

Regards Howard

This thread is for the use of Tom Albanese only. Please don`t post your own virus/spyware problems in this thread. Instead, open a new thread in our security and the web forum.

 

[Tom Albanese]

Ok-followed your instructions and, in case this is meaningful at all, below are the files/folders I did not find when running HJT and regedit:

HJT:
O2 - BHO: Big Fish Games Toolbar - {4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-86BD-FD60BB9AAE3A} - C:\PROGRA~1\BFGTOO~1\BFGTOO~1.DLL

O3 - Toolbar: Big Fish Games Toolbar - {4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-86BD-FD60BB9AAE3A} - C:\PROGRA~1\BFGTOO~1\BFGTOO~1.DLL


Regedit:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\~\Browser Helper Objects\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-86BD-FD60BB9AAE3A}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-86BD-FD60BB9AAE3A}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\bfgtoolbar.BFGTOOLBAR


All others were found and dealt with as directed. I ran Deckard's System Scanner and am posting a fresh main.txt file.

Thanks-
Tom

 

[howard_hopkinso]

We need to temporarily disable Spybot search & Destroy`s tea time, as it may interfere with any fix we are trying to run.

Disable Spybot's TeaTimer. This is a two step process.
First:
- Right click Spybot in the System Tray (looks like a calendar with a padlock symbol)
- Choose Exit Spybot S&D Resident
Second:
- Open Spybot S&D
- Click Mode, check Advanced Mode
- Go To Left Panel, Click Tools, then also in left panel, click Resident
- If your firewall raises a question, say OK
- Uncheck the box labeled Resident Tea-Timer and OK any prompts.
- Use File, Exit to terminate Spybot
- Reboot your machine for the changes to take effect.

Now, run HJT and fix any of the entries that are still there from my post above.

Reboot your system and post a fresh HJT log.

Regards Howard

This thread is for the use of Tom Albanese only. Please don`t post your own virus/spyware problems in this thread. Instead, open a new thread in our security and the web forum.

 

[Tom Albanese]

Done-here's the new HJT log.

Tom

 

[howard_hopkinso]

Clean as a whistle mate.

Re-enable SS&D Teatimer.

Turn off system restore.(XP/ME only) See how HERE.

Now, turn system restore back on. This will have deleted all your old restore points and any nasties that are in them. It will also have created a new, clean restore point.


If you have any further virus/spyware problems, please post in this thread.

Regards Howard

This thread is for the use of Tom Albanese only. Please don`t post your own virus/spyware problems in this thread. Instead, open a new thread in our security and the web forum.

 

[Tom Albanese]

All done-many, many thanks! Any final recommendations on preventing similar infections in the future? I think in one of your posts to someone with similar problems you recommended dumping Norton and instead going with other, better software.

Any recommendations are much appreciated-

Tom

 

[howard_hopkinso]

Yes, I definitely recommend dumping Norton. It`s a resource hog and it`s not that good at killing infections.

However, as far as I know, no antivirus programme can yet clean the Downloader.Agent.awf as of yet.

Exactly how you got the infection is anyones guess.

If you do decide to dump Norton, please do the following.

Download this Symantec/Norton removal tool.

Download one antivirus and one firewall from the choices below.

AVG free or Avast antivirus programmes.

Zonealarm Kerio or Comodo free firewall programmes.

Disconnect from the net and run the Symantec/Norton removal tool.

Reboot your system the required number of times.

Install whichever firewall programme you chose and reconnect to the net.

Install whichever antivirus programme you chose and run the antivirus updates.

Regards Howard

This thread is for the use of Tom Albanese only. Please don`t post your own virus/spyware problems in this thread. Instead, open a new thread in our security and the web forum.

 

[Tom Albanese]

Thanks for all your help!

Tom

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