[Solved] Connecting to 76.164.232.138

[2wartz]

I had a problem with my email last week-it kept getting an AVG error that said "Connecting to bas5 quebec 14-1177836747.dst bell.ca"
Broni (thanks again Broni) on this forum duided me thru till it was killed. I now have another curly one. When I use Mozilla Firefox to access the web I have found it sloooow. When ever I selected a favourite it would begin to load then the same message would always appear in the status bar saying "Connecting to 76.164.232.138" When I checked with Malwarebytes, nothing found (log attached) When I opened Superantispyware for a second opinion it told me my browser home page had changed from "http:/google.com" to "http:/google.com/" I removed the "/ " from after com & found all searches were back to normal with good speed HOWEVER I still get this message in status bar Connecting to 76.164.232.138 after I get the site I was wanting. I have googled the address & it appears on 3 blacklists but I cant find any other info on it.
I have run a Malwarebytes scan, TFC & DDS.Logs for Malwarebytes & DDS attached. GMER also ran but locked up both in normal operation & safe mode so no logs.

 

[Broni]

You never posted back in this thread: https://www.techspot.com/vb/topic150227.html to give me a final word about your computer behavior.
It's not too nice to live me hanging out there


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"

**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!!!

 

[2wartz]

Hi Broni - I do apologise for the mix up with the other thread. After all your help the machine was cured & in my last reply I gave you the update that all was well, thanked you & never went back to the site to see if you had replied. I missed the email that is sent as well. Again I do apologise.
For this prob I have run Combofix & log is attached. I have also noted that this prob seems to be unique to Mozilla Firefox as I have tried Internet Explorer which does not exhibit the same symptoms- it is lightning fast compared to Firefox. Also on Firefox I have now noticed an "ASK" toolbar which I have never knowingly installed.
Thanks, 2wartz

 

[Broni]

Forgiven

Mentioned IP: 76.164.232.138 belongs to R & D Technologies, LLC in Las Vegas.
Rings a bell?

See, if "Ask" is listed in FF>Tools>Add-ons and/or Add\Remove.
If so, uninstall. If not, let me know.

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

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::
c:\windows\system32\SET9C.tmp
c:\windows\Internet Logs\xDBB.tmp
c:\windows\Internet Logs\xDBA.tmp
c:\windows\Internet Logs\xDBC.tmp


Registry::
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\security center\Monitoring\ZoneLabsFirewall]
"DisableMonitoring"=-

Firefox::
FF - prefs.js: browser.search.selectedEngine - Ask
FF - prefs.js: keyword.URL - hxxp://toolbar.ask.com/toolbarv/askRedirect?o=10615&gct=&gc=1&q=

3. Save the above as CFScript.txt

4. Close/disable all anti virus and anti malware programs again, so they do not interfere with the running of ComboFix.

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

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

• Combofix.txt

 

[2wartz]

Hi Broni- R&D Technologies are completely unknown to me. I've run Combofix again with CFScript & attached log. Ask not listed in FF>Tools>Add-ons and/or Add\Remove. The new Combofix log still shows it after this run. Cant find it in installed programs in control panel. Opened FF again & the same message in the status bar re connecting to 76.164.232.138. Funny thing....when attaching the combofix log, when I click "manage attachments" the pop up shows with the connecting to 76.164.232.138 message in it's status bar!
2wartz

 

[Broni]

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.

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

Download OTL to your Desktop.

* Double click on the icon to run it. Make sure all other windows are closed and to let it run uninterrupted.
* Under the Custom Scan box paste this in:



netsvcs
drivers32 /all
%SYSTEMDRIVE%\*.*
%systemroot%\system32\Spool\prtprocs\w32x86\*.dll
%systemroot%\system32\*.wt
%systemroot%\system32\*.ruy
%systemroot%\Fonts\*.com
%systemroot%\Fonts\*.dll
%systemroot%\system32\spool\prtprocs\w32x86\*.tmp
%systemroot%\*. /mp /s
/md5start
/md5stop
CREATERESTOREPOINT
%systemroot%\system32\*.dll /lockedfiles
%systemroot%\Tasks\*.job /lockedfiles
%systemroot%\System32\config\*.sav
%systemroot%\system32\user32.dll /md5
%systemroot%\system32\ws2_32.dll /md5
%systemroot%\system32\ws2help.dll /md5
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\Results\Install|LastSuccessTime /rs



* Click the Quick Scan button. Do not change any settings unless otherwise told to do so. The scan wont take long.

• When the scan completes, it will open two notepad windows: OTL.txt and Extras.txt. These are saved in the same location as OTL.
• Please copy (Edit->Select All, Edit->Copy) the contents of these files, one at a time, and post them back here.

 

[2wartz]

Hi Broni- Combofix uninstalled. Got OTL & ran it, logs attached.
I found a method of deleting the "ASK" toolbar in a Mozilla problems help site. There were 3 entries in 'about:config' for FF. When I reset these values in config the toolbar has gone. There appears to be a big improvement with FF performance now but when going to a selected web site I see the 76.164.232.178 appear in the status bar momentarily in the midst of the other status messages like 'connecting to Techsopt....transferring to such & such...76.164.232.178 .....loading ....done.
You mentioned R&D technologies before, is ASK associated with that site do you know?
2wartz

 

[Broni]

1. See, if same issue happens in IE.

2. Close Firefox. Go Start>All Programs>Mozilla Firefox, click on Mozilla Firefox (safe mode). Same issue?

 

[2wartz]

Hi Broni= In both IE & FF in safe mode I dont see the web address 76.124.232.178 at all when they are loading & connecting. Performance on both IE & FF in safe mode very quick.
2wartz

 

[Broni]

Looking at your IE and FF add-ons, I suspect, it has something to do with Ask toolbar.
In FF, did you willingly select "Ask" as your search engine and did you willingly install "Ask toolbar"?

 

[2wartz]

Hi Broni- No I did not select ASK as my search engine & no I did not willingly install it.
2wartz

 

[Broni]

Update your Java version here: http://www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp

Note 1: UNCHECK any pre-checked toolbar and/or software offered with the Java update. The pre-checked toolbars/software are not part of the Java update.

Note 2: The Java Quick Starter (JQS.exe) adds a service to improve the initial startup time of Java applets and applications. If you don't want to run another extra service, go to Start > Control Panel > Java > Advanced > Miscellaneous and uncheck the box for Java Quick Starter. Click OK and restart your computer.

Now, we need to remove old Java version and its remnants...

Download JavaRa to your desktop and unzip it to its own folder

• Run JavaRa.exe (Vista users! Right click on JavaRa.exe, click Run As Administrator), pick the language of your choice and click Select. Then click Remove Older Versions.
• Accept any prompts.

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

Run OTL

• Under the Custom Scans/Fixes box at the bottom, paste in the following
  
  

  :OTL
  FF - prefs.js..browser.search.defaultenginename: "Ask"
  FF - prefs.js..browser.search.order.1: "Ask"
  FF - prefs.js..browser.search.selectedEngine: "Ask"
  FF - prefs.js..keyword.URL: "http://toolbar.ask.com/toolbarv/askRedirect?o=10615&gct=&gc=1&q="
  [3 C:\Documents and Settings\Eric Waterworth\My Documents\*.tmp files -> C:\Documents and Settings\Eric Waterworth\My Documents\*.tmp -> ]
  
  
  :Services
  
  :Reg
  
  :Files
  
  :Commands
  [purity]
  [emptytemp]
  [emptyflash]
  [Reboot]

• Then click the Run Fix button at the top
• Let the program run unhindered, reboot the PC when it is done
• You will get a log that shows the results of the fix. Please post it.
• Open OTL again and click the Quick Scan button. Post the log it produces in your next reply.

 

[2wartz]

Hi broni- Updated Java to 6.0.210.7. Ran javaRa to clear all older versions. OTL ran with the run fix code. Log attached. Rebooted & OTL ran again. Log Attached. FF appears to be back to the speed it should be. It matches IE in performance again.

 

[Broni]

Good news
No more 76.124.232.178?

Last scans...

1. Download Security Check from HERE, and save it to your Desktop.

• Double-click SecurityCheck.exe
• Follow the onscreen instructions inside of the black box.
• A Notepad document should open automatically called checkup.txt; please post the contents of that document.

2. 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.

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

• Disable your active antivirus program.
• Read through the requirements and privacy statement and click on Accept button.
• It will start downloading and installing the scanner and virus definitions. You will be prompted to install an application from Kaspersky. Click Run.
• When the downloads have finished, click on Settings.
• 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
• Click on My Computer under Scan.
• Once the scan is complete, it will display the results. Click on View Scan Report.
• You will see a list of infected items there. Click on Save Report As....
• 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.

 

[2wartz]

Hi Broni- Security Check run: Log attached. TFC run & system rebooted. Ran Kapersky Online scan. Log attached. Internet browsing now back to normal (V quick) speed. I do sometimes see the web address 76.124.178.232 flash in the status bar when loading, transferring or connecting but only for a microsecond. All in all the system appears to be ok.
2wartz

 

[Broni]

Looks good
If you use Thunderbird, please update it to current version.

Good luck and stay safe

 

[2wartz]

Thanks Broni. I've updated Thunderbird as suggested. Thanks again for all your help.
2wartz

 

[Broni]

You're very welcome