Solved Browser Hijack Virus (I think)

[Amy Newman]

Please help me in getting rid of this malware. I've reached the end of my rope trying to get rid of it myself, and fear I am downloading more crap each time I get a suggested virus removal tool.

 

[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.

Multiple Resident Protection warning!

Always have one (and no more than one!) AntiVirus program! In this case having more of them will not provide you with better protection - instead they may cause slowness, lock-ups and even mark another ones as harmful, leading to leave your system unstable and even damaged. Please choose only one from the listed below to stay with and uninstall the others:

• avast Free Antivirus
• Microsoft Security Essentials
• AVG Internet Security 2015
• Spybot - Search and Destroy

Uninstallation procedure:

• Press the
  
  + R on your keyboard at the same time. Type appwiz.cpl and click OK.
• Search for each uninstalled entry, right-click it and select Uninstall.

This should be done until any other steps will be taken.

Scan with ZOEK

Please download ZOEK by Smeenk and save it to your desktop (preferred version is the *.exe one)
Temporary disable your AntiVirus and AntiSpyware protection - instructions here.

• Right-click on
  
  icon and select
  
  Run as Administrator to start the tool.
• Wait patiently until the main console will appear, it may take a minute or two.
• In the main box please paste in the following script:
  

  createsrpoint;
  autoclean;
  emptyalltemp;
  ipconfig /flushdns;b

• Make sure that Scan All Users option is checked.
• Push Run Script and wait patiently. The scan may take a couple of minutes.
• When the scan completes, a zoek-results logfile should open in notepad.
• If a reboot is needed, it will be opened after it. You may also find it at your main drive (usually C:\ drive)

Post its content into your next reply.

 

[Amy Newman]

Thanks for the reply. Before I proceed, which virus protection group do you recommend? Since I had all of them installed when I downloaded the malware and they have failed to remove it, I'm not sure which to go with.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

I would suggest leaving only Avast installed.

 

[Amy Newman]

Okay, deleted all but Avast. I'm not finding the uninstall feature for some of the others I downloaded from that link above, like Rogue Killer, JRT, etc. Are those okay since they're not full virus protection?

 

[Amy Newman]

Oh never mind, I had posted what I thought was the log but see it's just posting as it scans.

 

[Amy Newman]

Zoek.exe v5.0.0.0 Updated 16-10-2014
Tool run by The Newmans on Thu 10/16/2014 at 11:03:12.50.
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 x64
Running in: Normal Mode Internet Access Detected
Launched: C:\Users\The Newmans\Downloads\zoek.exe [Scan all users] [Script inserted]

==== System Restore Info ======================

10/16/2014 11:06:28 AM Zoek.exe System Restore Point Created Succesfully.

==== Deleting CLSID Registry Keys ======================


==== Deleting CLSID Registry Values ======================


==== Deleting Services ======================

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Eventlog\Application\Util PursuePoint deleted successfully
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Util PursuePoint deleted successfully
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Services\Eventlog\Application\Util PursuePoint deleted successfully
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Services\Util PursuePoint deleted successfully
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Eventlog\Application\Update PursuePoint deleted successfully
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Services\Eventlog\Application\Update PursuePoint deleted successfully

==== Batch Command(s) Run By Tool======================


==== Deleting Files \ Folders ======================

C:\PROGRA~2\Yahoo! deleted
C:\install.exe deleted
C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Roaming\Yahoo! deleted
C:\PROGRA~3\boost_interprocess deleted
C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Local\nsoD520.tmp deleted
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Spybot - Search & Destroy 2 deleted
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\McAfee Security Scan Plus.lnk deleted
C:\Users\The Newmans\Downloads\CouponActivator.exe deleted
C:\Users\The Newmans\Downloads\CouponPrinter(1).exe deleted
C:\Users\The Newmans\Downloads\CouponPrinter(2).exe deleted
C:\Users\The Newmans\Downloads\CouponPrinter(3).exe deleted
C:\Users\The Newmans\Downloads\couponprinter.exe deleted
"C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Roaming\enchant\en_US.dic" deleted
"C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Roaming\enchant\en_US.exc" deleted
"C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Roaming\enchant" deleted

==== Firefox Extensions Registry ======================

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Mozilla\Firefox\Extensions]
"wrc@avast.com"="C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\WebRep\FF" [08/14/2014 06:12 PM]

==== Firefox Extensions ======================

ProfilePath: C:\Users\THENEW~1\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\ae380px7.default-1413345454997
- avast Online Security - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\WebRep\FF
- Undetermined - wrc@avast.com

AppDir: C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox
- Default - %AppDir%\browser\extensions\{972ce4c6-7e08-4474-a285-3208198ce6fd}

==== Firefox Plugins ======================

Profilepath: C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\ae380px7.default-1413345454997
DFC9460CC37E5C414DC4680B10C19E7A - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\NPSWF32_15_0_0_152.dll - Shockwave Flash
D6ED6EB98E759460AD8C66DE23070132 - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 15\root\VFS\ProgramFilesX86\Mozilla Firefox\plugins\npMeetingJoinPluginOC.dll - Microsoft Office 2013
7EF7E4C1325D533F5186E7118ABB0E7C - C:\Program Files\McAfee Security Scan\3.8.130\npMcAfeeMSS.dll - McAfee Security Scanner +
18CF51689186AEB9D1D149AEB0E92D03 - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 15\root\Office15\NPSPWRAP.DLL - Microsoft Office 2013
2616B4D6D04F18C579B7861F02B0B592 - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\npDeployJava1.dll - Java Deployment Toolkit 7.0.130.20
15E298B5EC5B89C5994A59863969D9FF - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\npmproxy.dll - Microsoft® Windows® Operating System


==== Chromium Look ======================

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\Extensions
gomekmidlodglbbmalcneegieacbdmki - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\WebRep\Chrome\aswWebRepChrome.crx[08/14/2014 06:12 PM]

Google Voice Search Hotword (Beta) - The Newmans\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\bepbmhgboaologfdajaanbcjmnhjmhfn
avast Online Security - The Newmans\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gomekmidlodglbbmalcneegieacbdmki

==== Chromium Fix ======================

C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Storage\http_www.superfish.com_0.localstorage deleted successfully
C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Storage\http_www.superfish.com_0.localstorage-journal deleted successfully

==== Set IE to Default ======================

Old Values:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Start Page"="http://www.google.com"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes]
No DefaultScope Set For HKCU

New Values:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Start Page"="http://www.google.com"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes]
"DefaultScope"="{012E1000-F331-11DB-8314-0800200C9A66}"

==== All HKCU SearchScopes ======================

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
{012E1000-F331-11DB-8314-0800200C9A66} Google Url="http://www.google.com/search?q={searchTerms}"
{0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A} Bing Url="http://www.bing.com/search?q={searchTerms}&src=IE-SearchBox&FORM=IE8SRC"

==== Empty IE Cache ======================

C:\Windows\system32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 emptied successfully
C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Low\Content.IE5 emptied successfully
C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Local\Temp\acrord32_sbx\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 emptied successfully
C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Local\Temp\acro_rd_dir\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 emptied successfully
C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Local\Temp\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 emptied successfully
C:\Windows\SysNative\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 emptied successfully
C:\Windows\sysWoW64\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 emptied successfully
C:\Windows\serviceprofiles\networkservice\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 emptied successfully
C:\Windows\serviceprofiles\Localservice\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 emptied successfully
C:\Windows\serviceprofiles\Localservice\AppData\Local\Temp\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 emptied successfully
C:\Windows\sysWOW64\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 emptied successfully
C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\C5ZJVEBV will be deleted at reboot

==== Empty FireFox Cache ======================

No FireFox Cache found

==== Empty Chrome Cache ======================

C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache emptied successfully

==== Empty All Flash Cache ======================

Flash Cache is not empty, a reboot is needed

==== Empty All Java Cache ======================

Java Cache cleared successfully

==== C:\zoek_backup content ======================

C:\zoek_backup (files=23 folders=5 9140189 bytes)

==== Empty Temp Folders ======================

C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Temp emptied successfully
C:\Users\Default User\AppData\Local\Temp emptied successfully
C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Local\Temp will be emptied at reboot
C:\Windows\serviceprofiles\networkservice\AppData\Local\Temp emptied successfully
C:\Windows\serviceprofiles\Localservice\AppData\Local\Temp emptied successfully
C:\Windows\Temp will be emptied at reboot

==== After Reboot ======================

==== Empty Temp Folders ======================

C:\Windows\Temp successfully emptied
C:\Users\THENEW~1\AppData\Local\Temp successfully emptied

==== Empty Recycle Bin ======================

C:\$RECYCLE.BIN successfully emptied

==== After Reboot ======================

==== Deleting Files / Folders ======================

"C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\C5ZJVEBV" not found
"C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Roaming\Macromedia\Flash Player\#SharedObjects\PMHJMV7F\launch.newsinc.com" not found
"C:\Users\The Newmans\AppData\Roaming\Macromedia\Flash Player\#SharedObjects\PMHJMV7F\www.nbcnews.com" not found

==== EOF on Thu 10/16/2014 at 12:04:55.86 ======================

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Good. How is your PC now?

 

[Amy Newman]

Still happening. Just now as I'm typing a pop-up ad appeared for a local campaign. The only thing I did not do, after uninstalling one of the anti-virus, was to restart it before running the zoen. Could that have made a difference?

 

[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.

 

[Amy Newman]

Docs attached.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Please try to restore your router to factory settings.

 

[Amy Newman]

I restored it using this tutorial.

http://www.belkin.com/us/support-article?articleNum=10812

 

[Amy Newman]

And it did nothing. The sites seems to be getting more suggestive, I was just brought to a zombie porn game. Which just seems wrong on so many levels.

 

[Amy Newman]

I don't know if this helps any, but the most frequent re-directions are to maxbounty, bidder tlvmedia and tuneuppcpro.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Scan with TDSSKiller

Please download TDSSKiller by Kaspersky and save it to your desktop.

• Right-click on
  
  icon and select
  
  Run as Administrator to start the tool.
• Click on Change parameters and put a checkmark beside Loaded modules. A reboot will be needed to apply the changes, allow it to do so.
• Your machine may appear very slow and unusable after that - it's normal.
• TDSSKiller will run automaticaly. Click on Change parameters and click OK.
• Click the Start Scan button and wait patiently.

If anything will be found follow this guidelines:

• If a suspicious object is detected, the default action will be Skip, click on Continue.
• If malicious objects are found, they will show in the Scan results - Select action for found objects and offer three options.
  Ensure Cure (default) is selected, then click Continue > Reboot now to finish the cleaning process.
  If Cure is not available, please choose Skip instead.
• Do not choose Delete unless instructed!

A report will be created in your root directory, (usually C:\ drive) in the form of TDSSKiller.[Version]_[Date]_[Time]_log.txt. Please include the contents of that file in your next post.

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.

 

[Amy Newman]

I ran Kapersky as instructed, then noticed in the first file that it said user terminated scan (looks like Avast might have stopped it?). So I re-ran it with Avast disabled (though on the second run it did not reboot when I checked 'loaded modules'). Here are the docs.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Does problem occurs in all browsers? Try to restore your router to factory settings.

 

[Amy Newman]

It occurs in all browsers (well in Google Chrome and Firefox, the only two we used) and I reset my router to factory settings yesterday (see above) and nothing happened. But I did it again and still nothing, unless I'm doing it incorrectly.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

If you did reset it to factory settings then this is correct.