Another computer having dllhost.exe COM Surrogate problems

[Fuzzball]

I too am having problems with the dllhost.exe COM Sourrogate virus where multiple instances of it are run until the computer's resources are all used up.

After trying Malwarebytes the infection still remained. In order to use the computer I created a new profile as it seems that it only exists in the infected profile.

I know that the easiest fix is to just delete the old profile and keep using the new one but if possible, I'd like to fix the infected one as it has all files, email settings, book marks, installed programs and such.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[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 someone to repair it.
• If I don't hear from you within 3 days from this initial or any subsequent post, then this thread will be closed.

Download

Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit to your desktop.

• Double-click the icon to start the tool.
• It will ask you where to extract it, then it will start.
• Warning! Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit needs to be run from an account with administrator rights.
• Click in the introduction screen "next" to continue.
• Click in the following screen "Update" to obtain the latest malware definitions.
• Once the update is complete select "Next" and click "Scan".
• When the scan is finished and no malware has been found select "Exit".
• If malware was detected, make sure to check all the items and click "Cleanup". Reboot your computer.
• Open the MBAR folder and paste the content of the following files in your next reply:
  • "mbar-log-{date} (xx-xx-xx).txt"
  • "system-log.txt"

Scan with Farbar Recovery Scan Tool

Please re-run Farbar Recovery Scan Tool to give me a fresh look at your system.

• Right-click on
  
  icon and select
  
  Run as Administrator to start the tool.
  (XP users click run after receipt of Windows Security Warning - Open File).
• Make sure that Addition option is checked.
• Press Scan button and wait.
• The tool will produce two logfiles on your desktop: FRST.txt and Addition.txt.

Please include their content into your next reply.

 

[Fuzzball]

Thanks for the help.

As I previously mentioned, I created a new profile, gave that profile administrator rights and took the administrator rights away from the original infected profile.

I followed your instructions to download and run those tools using the newly created profile as the infected profile runs horribly slow with the infected processes running. If you need me to run any tools using the infected profile, let me know.

As instructed, I ran the Malwarebytes Antiroot Kit and it found 19 items of malware and the log files are attached.

I also ran the Farbar tool and have attached the log files.

I await your next instructions.

Thanks.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Very good

Fix with Farbar Recovery Scan Tool

This fix was created for this user for use on that particular machine.

Running it on another one may cause damage and render the system unstable.

​

Download attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop:

Both files, FRST and fixlist.txt have to be in the same location or the fix will not work!

• Right-click on
  
  icon and select
  
  Run as Administrator to start the tool.
  (XP users click run after receipt of Windows Security Warning - Open File).
• Press the Fix button just once and wait.
• If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run.
• When finished FRST will generate a log on the Desktop, called Fixlog.txt.

Please attach it to your reply.

 

[Fuzzball]

I have done as you said and attached the log file.

What next?

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

How is your PC now?

 

[Fuzzball]

The computer seemed better in that the Superantispyware program started up with the computer and successfully updated.

Unfortunately, the virus is still on the computer as soon after I went into the infected profile, the Com Surrogate processes appeared in the task manager.

I reran the Farbar recovery tool and have attached the log files.

What do I do next?

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

There are no signs of active infection in the reports.

 

[Fuzzball]

When I go into the infected profile, the COM Surrogate process still appear and eat up all memory until the computer grinds to a halt.

I re-ran the Malware Bytes anti-root kit. During the scan, I had to go into task manager to repeatedly end the COM Surrogate processes to keep the computer from being at 100% CPU usage and all the memory being used up.

Unfortunately, the scan finished saying No malware found.

What do you suggest I do next?

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

You run FRST from David account? Run it from Roberta then.

 

[Fuzzball]

I re-ran FRST from the Roberta profile and have attached the FRST.txt and Addition.txt from that scan.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Okay, you will need to run FRST as Administrator.

Fix with Farbar Recovery Scan Tool

This fix was created for this user for use on that particular machine.

Running it on another one may cause damage and render the system unstable.

​

Download attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop:

Both files, FRST and fixlist.txt have to be in the same location or the fix will not work!

• Right-click on
  
  icon and select
  
  Run as Administrator to start the tool.
  (XP users click run after receipt of Windows Security Warning - Open File).
• Press the Fix button just once and wait.
• If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run.
• When finished FRST will generate a log on the Desktop, called Fixlog.txt.

Please attach it to your reply.

 

[Fuzzball]

Should I do the fix from the David profile (which has administrator rights and is not infected) or from the Roberta profile (which does not have administrator rights but using "Run as Administrator" and is infected)?

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

From Roberta.

 

[Fuzzball]

I did as instructed and have attached the fixlog.txt file.

After the reboot, I logged on as Roberta and immediately opened task manager. I briefly saw a dllhost.exe COM Surrogate process but then it went away so maybe that was a normal process.

I've let the computer run for a while now and haven't seen any more COM Surrogate processes so hopefully it is fixed.

Please leave this thread open for another day to make sure.

Thanks a lot.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Okay, keep me updated.