Solved Search redirection virus/rootkit

[Piecake]

I've been infected with this dreaded search redirection virus. I tried to get rid of it myself, but have had no luck. It randomly opens new tabs for me and will redirect at least 70% of my searches. I get warnings about blocked virus attempts at least once or twice a day.

I began to run UnHackMe, but it ended up wanting me to pay to have it clean up my rootkit that was detected, and so I removed it. I can't seem to get the "RegRun Partizan" portion of it off my system, it still shows up when I am booting. If you know anything about the removal of that, it would be appreciated, but is totally unrelated.

Here are the logs requested by the 8-step process. Nothing was found by Mbam if I remember correctly.

Thank you so much for your time, this is an absolutely amazing service you have running on this forum.

 

[Broni]

I hope, you won't leave this topic before we're done, like you did here: https://www.techspot.com/vb/topic145227.html
If you do, you won't be able to receive any further help in malware forum ever again.

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

I can see, you have Avast as your AV program, but I can also see COMODO Internet Security.
Are you running Comodo's firewall only?

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

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!!!

 

[Piecake]

I understand that my absence in that old topic was a waste of the expert's time. Thanks for the second chance.

I am only running the firewall portion of Comodo security.

Combofix log attached!

 

[Broni]

Please download SystemLook from one of the links below and save it to your Desktop.
Download Mirror #1
Download Mirror #2

• Double-click SystemLook.exe to run it.
• Vista users:: Right click on SystemLook.exe, click Run As Administrator
• Copy the content of the following box into the main textfield:
  

  :filefind
  afd.sys

• Click the Look button to start the scan.
• When finished, a notepad window will open with the results of the scan. Please post this log in your next reply.

Note: The log can also be found on your Desktop entitled SystemLook.txt

 

[Piecake]

Log from SystemLook:

SystemLook v1.0 by jpshortstuff (11.01.10)
Log created at 01:06 on 14/08/2010 by Piecake (Administrator - Elevation successful)

========== filefind ==========

Searching for "afd.sys"
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\afd.sys --a--- 338944 bytes [23:12 13/07/2009] [23:12 13/07/2009] 4F9A38371625C8235DD75A32D17CF557
C:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-winsock-core_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16385_none_d7be98b5bfc0b4c1\afd.sys --a--- 338944 bytes [23:12 13/07/2009] [23:12 13/07/2009] 4F9A38371625C8235DD75A32D17CF557

-=End Of File=-

 

[Broni]

OK, Combofix reported afd.sys as being infected. There is one replacement found, but it looks like it's a same file, so our fix may not work, but let's give it a shot.
Give me a few to compose a fix.

 

[Broni]

Uninstall Ask.com as it's considered as an adware.

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

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:

FCopy::
C:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-winsock-core_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16385_none_d7be98b5bfc0b4c1\afd.sys | C:\Windows\System32\drivers\afd.sys

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

 

[Piecake]

I dragged the CFscript txt file onto ComboFix and it proceeded to perform a scan like last time. I was prompted to reboot due to detected rootkit activity. After rebooting, Combofix continued and got to about "Stage_4" or "Stage_5" before my computer had a BSOD. I was reading at the time and didn't look up fast enough to catch the Stop code or any other useful information.

 

[Broni]

Repeat same process one more time.
If it gives you same problem, perform very same process from safe mode.

 

[Piecake]

Okay, can do. I'll go ahead and perform the process in the morning though, because it's coming up on 2 AM and I am nodding off at my keyboard. Thanks for your help so far tonight.

 

[Broni]

You're welcome

 

[Piecake]

Okay, I ran Combofix with the CFScript from safe mode and it ran as it normally would. I was prompted to reboot and the computer booted back into normal windows. At about stage 33, I experienced another BSOD.

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

Stop code: 0xA

I rebooted the computer and brought it back into Windows without a BSOD. But now my internet connection is acting funny and I'm using my laptop to post this. Basically, whenever I ipconfig /all in the command prompt, I get:

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1

Nothing seems to change this, even setting the information manually.

 

[Broni]

Restart computer in safe mode and try to run Combofix script again from there.

 

[Piecake]

Should I boot back into safe mode when combofix asks for a restart?

 

[Broni]

I'd say no. See, if it'll start OK in normal mode.

 

[Piecake]

Combofix run from safe mode successfully. Log attached.

 

[Broni]

It looks like the new file is good. Combofix doesn't complain anymore

How is internet connection and how is redirection?

 

[Piecake]

The LAN adapter is still not configuring correctly, so I have no internet.

Is it possible that Combofix disabled my connection and then during BSOD it never got fixed?

Here is the output of command prompt attached.

 

[Broni]

Try some basics....

Make sure, your computer is set to obtain IP address automatically.
1. Go Start>Settings>Control Panel (Vista/7 users: Start>Control Panel)
2. Double click Network Connections (Vista/7 users: Network and Sharing Center)
3. Vista/7 users - From the list of tasks on the left, click Manage network connections.
4. For a wired network connection, right-click Local Area Connection, and then select Properties.
For a wireless network connection, right-click Wireless Network Connection, and then select Properties.
5. From the General tab (Vista/7 users: Networking tab), click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), make sure it is checked, and then click Properties
6. Click Obtain an IP Address Automatically, and then click OK.

If that doesn't work...
Turn off computer. Disconnect router, and modem from power source for 1 minute. At the same time disconnect ethernet cable as well.
Reconnect everything.
Restart computer.

If that doesn't work, bypass router, and connect computer straight to the modem.

If that doesn't work...
Go Start>Run (Start search in Vista), type in:
cmd
Click OK (in Vista, while holding CTRL, and SHIFT, press Enter).

In Command Prompt window, type in following commands, and hit Enter after each one:
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
net stop "dns client"
net start "dns client"


Restart computer.

If that doesn't work...
Go Start>Run (Start search in Vista), type in:
cmd
Click OK (in Vista, while holding CTRL, and SHIFT, press Enter).

At Command Prompt, type in:
netsh int ip reset reset.log
Hit Enter.
Type in:
netsh winsock reset catalog
Hit Enter.

Restart computer.


If that doesn't work...
Download, install, and run WinSockFix: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Network-Tweak/WinSockFix.shtml (doesn't work in Vista)
Restart computer, and check again.

If that doesn't work...
Download Dial-A-Fix (DAF) (doesn't work in Vista):
http://wiki.lunarsoft.net/wiki/Dial-a-fix#Mirrors.2Fdownload_locations.2C_and_articles

Have XP CD available in case DAF needs a file. Likely not!

Check all boxes on the screen (clear any restrictions if it shows any)
Then click GO!

When the entire page is finished click the HammerHead at bottom to go to the second DAF page.

Here, one at a time, do the below:

Reinstall BITS
Reinstall Windows Firewall
Repair Permissions
Reset networking

Watch for any File not found or other errors and make note as this may lead to the fix!

Restart computer.

 

[Piecake]

I skipped the Windows XP section because I am running Windows 7.

Looks like nothing has resolved it yet. If you look at my command prompt screenshot, you'll see the error I get when I release and renew my ipconfig.

Edit: My DHCP Client service appears to not be running. When I try to start it, I get:

"Windows could not start the DHCP Client service on Local Computer. Error 1075: The dependency service does not exist or has been marked for deletion."

 

[Broni]

Go Start and in "Start search" type in:
services.msc
Press Enter.

See, if following services are running and set to start automatically:
- Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
- DCOM Server Process Launcher

 

[Piecake]

Both are running and set to automatic. I just noticed that my DHCP Client service is stopped, and won't start. Is that a problem?

Edit: "The DHCP Client service depends on the following service: Afd."

Didn't we kill that?

 

[Broni]

Aha....
We replaced that file with another one, but it may be not good.

This is what we'll do.
Attached is zipped afd.sys file from my Windows 7.
Unzip it and paste afd.sys into your C:\ folder (important!)

Then....

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:

FCopy::
C:\afd.sys | C:\Windows\System32\drivers\afd.sys
C:\afd.sys | C:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-winsock-core_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16385_none_d7be98b5bfc0b4c1\afd.sys

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

 

[Piecake]

No problems so far. Combofix ran and didn't ask for a reboot. What should I do now?

Log attached.

 

[Broni]

Please, reboot and see how the connection is.