Adware infection on multiple unlinked PCs at home (Mac and Windows)

[september]

I am using a Macbook Pro (purchased in 2014) and Safari internet browser. I first noticed that my usual e-commerce shopping websites were acting strangely on 22 Aug 2015. The infection appears to be confined to two websites so far. On the first website (ASOS.com), a prompt would come up asking me to accept the use of cookies on the website. Without accepting, any first click on the website would trigger a pop up ad which included a line saying "Ads by DNS Unlocker". When I hovered over the items for sale, a "COMPARE" box would appear, and when hovering over the "COMPARE" box, a "NO DEALS" box comes up. On the second website (Nordstrom.com), a suspicious side bar comes up offering coupons, also with the line "Ads by DNS Unlocker". However, I did not know where this could have come from as I did not download any suspicious programmes before this.

I wanted to check if the issue was with my computer, so I accessed these websites on three other computers (one Macbook Pro, one HP notebook, and one ASUS notebook) belonging to family members in my house. All three computers had the same problem so I am not sure if it is a network or server issue.

I have contacted the website owners and they did not find anything wrong with their site.
I have also contacted Apple Support. They guided me through a number of steps to locate the malware on my laptop, but could not find anything. They also reset my Safari but the same thing happened. I checked my Safari preferences (I have no extensions installed; deleted all website history and cookies data; and checked that no suspicious plugins were being used). I also ran Malwarebytes Anti-Malware which did not find anything. I have also tried changing my DNS settings but this did not work either. For info, the problem persists even when I use a different internet browser (Chrome) and network (I tested while tethering my laptop to my mobile data).

Please help as I am really at a loss over how to resolve this problem.

 

[september]

Hi @takeabreath, I'm so sorry to hear you have this problem too - but it's such a relief to know that I'm not alone! Yes, I am from Singapore and both my home wifi and mobile data are Singtel (I live in the east). I initially thought I was infected with adware so I went to check my other shopping websites too (including yours and Urban Outfitters, Madewell, J Crew, Topshop etc) but they were all working normally! I'm scared to access the ASOS website for now as well and have just been avoiding it. Maybe it could be a Singtel server issue?? I am at work now and ASOS is working fine on my computer!

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Hello,



They call me TwinHeadedEagle around here, and I'll be working with you.



Before we start please read and note the following:

• At the top of your post, please click on the "Watch thread" button and make sure to check Watch this thread...and receive email notifications. This will send an email to you as soon as I reply to your topic, allowing me to solve your problem faster.
• Please do not install any new software during the cleaning process other than the tools I provide for you. This can hinder the cleaning process. Please do not perform System Restore or any other restore.
• Instructions I give to you are very simple and made for complete beginner to follow. That's why you need to read through my instructions carefully and completely before executing them.
• Please do not run any tools other than the ones I ask you to, when I ask you to. Some of these tools can be very dangerous if used improperly. Also, if you use a tool that I have not requested you use, it can cause false positives, thereby delaying the complete cleaning of your machine.
  
• All tools we use here are completely clean and do not contain any malware. If your antivirus detects them as malicious, please disable your antivirus and then continue.
• If during the process you run across anything that is not in my instructions, please stop and ask. If any tool is running too much time (few hours), please stop and inform me.
• I visit forum several times at day, making sure to respond to everyone's topic as fast as possible. But bear in mind that I have private life like everyone and I cannot be here 24/7. So please be patient with me. Also, some infections require less, and some more time to be removed completely, so bear this in mind and be patient.
• Please stay with me until the end of all steps and procedures and I declare your system clean. Just because there is a lack of symptoms does not indicate a clean machine. If you solved your problem yourself, set aside two minutes to let me know.
  
• Please attach all report using
  
  button below. Doing this, you make it easier for me to analyze and fix your problem.
  
• Do not ask for help for your business PC. Companies are making revenue via computers, so it is good thing to pay for the repair.
• If I don't hear from you within 3 days from this initial or any subsequent post, then this thread will be closed.

Rules and policies

We won't support any piracy.
That being told, if any evidence of illegal OS, software, cracks/keygens or any other will be revealed, any further assistance will be suspended. If you are aware that there is this kind of stuff on your machine, remove it before proceeding!
The same applies to any use of P2P software: uTorrent, BitTorrent, Vuze, Kazaa, Ares... We don't provide any help for P2P, except for their removal. All P2P software has to be uninstalled or at least fully disabled before proceeding!

Failure to follow these guidelines will result with closing your topic and withdrawning any assistance.

Scan with Farbar Recovery Scan Tool

Please download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop.

Note: You need to run the version compatibale with your system. If you are not sure which version applies to your system download both of them and try to run them.
Only one of them will run on your system, that will be the right version.

• Double-click to run it. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
• Press Scan button.
• It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please attach it to your reply.
• The first time the tool is run, it makes also another log (Addition.txt). Please attach it to your reply.

 

[september]

Hi TwinHeadedEagle, thank you for the fast reply. Could I check if the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool can be run on Mac OS X? I tried downloading but it appears to work only on Windows platforms.

In addition, the issue may not be on my laptop alone, as another user in Singapore has encountered the same problem (see post #2). Apple Support and a Malware Bytes Anti-Malware scan also could not find any malware on my computer. Would you happen to know what could be a possible cause, given that so many unlinked computers (same internet service provider though) have run into the same issue?

Thank you very much in advance!

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Ah, sorry. I didn't spot this is MAC machine. I provide help only for Windows.

 

[shanaka]

Hi twinEagle,

I am encountering the same problem. May I know how does your recovery scan tool work?

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Hi twinEagle,

I am encountering the same problem. May I know how does your recovery scan tool work?

It is very advanced tool and you need several months of training in order to properly use it. I don't have time to explain how it works. If you need my assistance, start your own topic.