Solved Browser hijack, redirect, several ad's pop-ups

[rain-rain]

Hello,

I experience a continuous annoying browser redirect, advertisments and pop ups. I used several tools to get rid of this but still unsuccecssful. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware displays these blocked websites when I browse the net currently:

• "search.snapdo.com"
• "istatic.eshopcomp.com"
• adware.ultracoupon"
• "cdn.visadd.com"
• "here.sendevent.net"
• "zf1.zeroredirect1.com"
• "za1.zeroredirect1.com"

I also include a 3rd log: Junkware Removal Tool (JRT) by Malwarebytes, that cleaned some files/folders.

 

[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.

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.

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.

 

[rain-rain]

Thank you for you time and assistance!

Fixlog attached.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

How is your PC behaving now?

 

[rain-rain]

It is the same as before, still getting all pop ups and website redirects. Additionally and quite frequeantly i'm redirected to a block.malwaretips.com website.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

It is the same as before, still getting all pop ups and website redirects. Additionally and quite frequeantly i'm redirected to a block.malwaretips.com website.

What do you mean by getting redirected to a block.malwaretips.com?

 

[rain-rain]

Ohhhh, I feel so stupid right now, please forgive me - it's "block.malwarebytes.com" instead....I have Malwarebytes Anti-malware running in background.

I noticed this website window appeared with "SmartShopping.com" logo on the upper right corner and also another window "reimageplus.com" offering me Win 7 easy fix.

whenever I browse the web the same websites get blocked by Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and some of them get through, they appear to be very aggressive in nature - "are you sure you want to close this website", by clicking on the back button often redirects me to another advertised website so I close web windows and hit back button more than I can type something in google search eventually.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

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.

 

[rain-rain]

Here are the uploads

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Logs look clean, there is no active infection.

 

[rain-rain]

Thank you.

However I still get those pop ups and web redirects, flash seems to be involved. Can I perform a system restore or is it useless?

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

In which browser?

 

[rain-rain]

Firefox.

I'll attach a sceenshot of Malwarebytes scan results (2 found, cleaning needed reboot, but still nothing changed for the better) and two websites that still get blocked by Malwarebytes.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Can you reinstall Firefox?

 

[rain-rain]

I reinstalled it a few days ago, just before I came to seek help here. It didn't help, or I didn't reinstall it properly.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

- Uninstall Firefox (Programs and Features)

Then

Click Start, copy in search %appdata%\ Then delete folder Mozilla
Click Start, copy in search %LOCALAPPDATA%\ delete folder Mozilla

Then delete following folders:

C:\Program Files (x86)\mozilla firefox
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Maintenance Service


Restart your PC.
Then install Firefox again.

Choose the independent browser

 

[rain-rain]

yeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaa

TwinHeadedEagle ->> You are invincible!!!!

Thank you very much, my pc is clean now.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Glad I could help. We will delete all used tools and I'll give you some tips to harden your security and learn how to protect yourself

Recommended reading:
​

MUST READ - security tips:

• Computer Security - a short guide to staying safer online.
• Simple and easy ways to keep your computer safe and secure on the Internet

MUST READ - general maintenance:

• What to do if your Computer is running slowly?

The Importance of Software Updating:
​

In order to stay protected it is very important that you regularly update all of your software. Cybercriminals depend on the apathy of users around software updates to keep their malicious endeavor running.​

Operating systems, such as Windows, and applications, such as Adobe Reader or JAVA, are used by tens of millions of computers and devices around the world, making them a huge target for cybercriminals. Downloading updates and installing them can sometimes be tedious, but the advantages you get from the updates are certainly worth it.

• How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows
• How to update Java
• How to update Adobe Reader

Recommended additional software:
​

CCleaner - to clean unneeded temporary files.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware - to scan your system from time to time in search for malware.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Exploit - to prevent plenty of mostly exploited vulnerabilities.

McShield - to prevent infections spread by removable media.

Unchecky - to prevent from installing additional foistware, implemented in legitimate installations.

Adblock - to surf the web without annoying ads!

Post-cleanup procedures:​

Download DelFix by Xplode and save it to your desktop.

• Run the tool by right click on the
  
  icon and Run as administrator option.
• Make sure that these ones are checked:
  • Remove disinfection tools
  • Purge system restore
  • Reset system settings
• Push Run and wait until the tool completes his work.
• All tools we used should be gone. Tool will create an report for you (C:\DelFix.txt)

The tool will also record healthy state of registry and make a backup using ERUNT program in %windir%\ERUNT\DelFix
Tool deletes old system restore points and create a fresh system restore point after cleaning.

My help is free for everybody.
If you're happy with the help provided and/or wish to buy me a beer for the assistance you received, then you can consider a donation:
Thank you!​

Stay safe,
TwinHeadedEagle