Inactive-A How to interfere with hijacked MS Explorer

[Broni]

Did you read my previous reply?

 

[Row1]

Well, I put it in MS Word to get character count - it is over 500,000 char. I will zip it with cam unzip and see if then I can upload it.

 

[Row1]

Zipped powelics log attempt - look like it uploaded.

 

[Broni]

Very good

How are things now?

Please download ComboFix from Here, 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**

• Never rename Combofix unless instructed.
• Close any open browsers.
• Very Important! Temporarily disable your anti-virus 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.
• 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.
  If the connection is not there use restore point you created prior to running Combofix.
• Double click on combofix.exe & follow the prompts.

• 
  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.

• When finished, it will produce a report for you.
• Please post the "C:\ComboFix.txt"

**Note 1: Do not mouseclick combofix's window while it's running. That may cause it to stall
**Note 2 for AVG and CA Internet Security (Total Defense Internet Security) users: ComboFix will not run until AVG/CA Internet Security is uninstalled as a protective measure against the anti-virus. This is because AVG/CA Internet Security "falsely" detects ComboFix (or its embedded files) as a threat and may remove them resulting in the tool not working correctly which in turn can cause "unpredictable results". Since AVG/CA Internet Security cannot be effectively disabled before running ComboFix, the author recommends you to uninstall AVG/CA Internet Security first.
Use AppRemover to uninstall it: https://www.techspot.com/downloads/5514-appremover.html
We can reinstall it when we're done with CF.
**Note 3: If you receive an error Illegal operation attempted on a registery key that has been marked for deletion, restart computer to fix the issue.
**Note 4: Some infections may take some significant time to be cured. As long as your computer clock is running Combofix is still working. Be patient.


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

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NOTE.
If, for some reason, Combofix refuses to run, try the following...

Delete Combofix file, download fresh one, but rename combofix.exe to your_name.exe BEFORE saving it to your desktop.
Do NOT run it yet.
Download Rkill (courtesy of BleepingComputer.com) to your desktop.
There are 2 different versions. If one of them won't run then download and try to run the other one.
You only need to get one of these to run, not all of them. You may get warnings from your antivirus about this tool, ignore them or shutdown your antivirus.

rKill.exe: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/rkill/dl/10/
iExplore.exe (renamed rKill.exe): http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/rkill/dl/11/

Restart computer in safe mode

• Double-click on the Rkill desktop icon to run the tool.
• If using Vista or Windows 7 right-click on it and choose Run As Administrator.
• A black DOS box will briefly flash and then disappear. This is normal and indicates the tool ran successfully.
• If not, delete the file, then download and use the one provided in Link 2.
• Do not reboot until instructed.
• If the tool does not run from any of the links provided, please let me know.

When the scan is done Notepad will open with rKill.txt log.
NOTE. rKill.txt log will also be present on your desktop.

Once you've gotten one of them to run, immediately run your_name.exe by double clicking on it.

IF you had to run rKill post BOTH logs, rKill.txt and Combofix.txt.

 

[Row1]

Broni - I will do this now.

--The computer is doing well. I was having BSOD either from RAM fault or overheating - I have not had that lately. Also, the disc thrash is gone. I am eager to get through the remaining steps.

Also, I have not had the problem of MS Explorer attempting to start itself, then giving an error message when it failed to connect to internet -- for some of this, I have been turning off wireless so I could get a little processor time. Also, for a while I was booting, then killing the dllhost.exe instances in the task manager just to get a little CPU time.

So, things are going much better.

 

[Row1]

Combofix setup did not go well. There were warnings about certain files not doing something as I followed the steps to install it. And it won't run. it says 'error opening file for writing:' AWF.cmd

I have no idea what Avast is doing. To follow the techspot malware process, I downloaded avast. A start-up icom appeared on my desktop, and Avast is in my program launcher list.

However, attempting to run avast, or uninstall it, gives this message:
'this program is blocked by group policy. for more information, contaact your system administrator.'

I have no administrator on this computer.

I am worried that something about avast is interfering with combofix- combofix has warnings about stopping various antivirus programs before running combofix.

So, I am at another impasse. I would like direction again. Thank you.

 

[Row1]

I can download combofix but it will not unzip/expand.

 

[Broni]

Combofix doesn't come zipped. It comes as .exe file.
Do NOT attempt other moves like installing something. I stated that clearly in my first post.
Uploaded Combofix for you here: https://www.sendspace.com/file/xjhrvi
If there are some problems with running it post back with all possible details.

 

[Broni]

Still with me?

 

[Broni]

This topic is marked as abandoned and closed due to inactivity.

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