Solved CHROME OVERTAKEN BY HOSTILE MALWARE

[Patter]

OK! Well, this is where I went wrong last time...I didn't write anything in this box.

I sincerely want to offer thanks to everyone who tries to help others with their computer issues...and especially those who help non-techie people like me. You are wonderful!

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Can you attach missing Addition.txt report too?

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Hi,

Before we begin, I want you to have this in mind:

• 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.

Download attached fixlist.txt on the same location as FRST (otherwise the fix won't work)
NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on that particular machine. Running this on another machine may cause damage to the operating system

Open FRST, and click Fix. Attach me that report after it is finished.

***** NEXT *****​

Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode and save to your Desktop.

Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool.

• Click on the Scan button.
• After the scan has finished click on the Clean button.

Press OK when asked to close all programs and follow the onscreen prompts.
Press OK again to allow AdwCleaner to restart the computer and complete the removal process.

• After rebooting, a logfile report (AdwCleaner[S0].txt) will open automatically.
• Post logfile will also be saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder.

 

[Patter]

Hi:
Regarding my "Chrome Overtaken" post, I now have an Addition.txt scan now that I am going to upload.
Thank you!
Patter

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

OK, follow my instructions above...

 

[Patter]

I opened FRST, clicked Fix, and here is the report.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

OK, proceed with Adwcleaner.

 

[Patter]

Thank you so much. Alas, in my excitement I clicked Chrome several times. The first home page I saw was Google and I thought, "Yes!" Then I noticed I'd clicked Chrome open a second time. And instead of my home page...you guessed it, I saw "search-default.net". It is also at the top of my history (Google browser). Did I think it was over too soon, or am I never going to get rid of this?

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Can you try to change homepage and search provider manually?


https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95426?hl=en
https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95314?hl=en

 

[Patter]

That was actually the very first thing I had attempted but it seemed so elementary I didn't think of mentioning it. Something is happening now though...I think that default-search.net is finally doing something more than just being an annoyance.

Ever since I finished the last scan, I've been unable to sign into Google. It keeps saying "Account sign in details are out of date. Sign in again." Well I just changed my password last night and it didn't accept it today (and I didn't forget it). I had to change it again. Now I see that it's not accepting the brand-new 10 min. old password. I am thoroughly lost.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Run FRST again, check Addition.txt, press Scan and attach both reports.

 

[Patter]

Here are the scans.. Thank you for any and all help!

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

PC seems clean.

Can you reset your browser settings:

https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/3296214?hl=en

 

[Patter]

I've got two Chrome browsers open...for some reason I thought you were asking for more scans. Sorry. I will try to follow the instructions you gave.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

OK, reset Chrome and let me know how is it later...

 

[Patter]

I did reset my browser once...when I first followed diligently the instructions I'd found via Google on this site for how to get rid of default-search.net

When I reopened Chrome the first thing I saw was default-search.net but I'm willing to try it again...hopefully things have changed

 

[Patter]

OK...I reset Chrome...unfortunately resetting Chrome did nothing. When I opened it up again, the first thing I saw was default-search.net.

 

[Patter]

I will be turning my computer off for the night; maybe my "magnetic personality" has kept the malware strong and healthy ha ha. If Chrome acts normally (or more normally at that point) I will let everyone know. If it doesn't, I could use some advice as to what to do about Chrome (get rid of it for now, get rid of it forever, download a different browser so I'll have two, etc.)
Have a great Friday evening everyone.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

I am not giving up



Please download zoek.zip or zoek.rar by smeenk (

) from here or here and save it to your Desktop.
Unpack the archive...

• Close any open browsers
• Temporarily disable your AntiVirus program. (If necessary)
  If you are unsure how to do this please read this or this Instruction.
  
• Double click on zoek.exe to run the tool .
  Please wait while the tool does not start...
  
• Copy the text present inside the code box below and paste it into the large window in the zoek tool:
  NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on that particular machine. Running this on another machine may cause damage to the operating system
  
  

  createsrpoint;
  gpt.ini;z 
  C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy;v
  C:\Windows\SysWOW64\GroupPolicy;v
  default-search;a
  default-search;z 
  StandardSearch;  
  installer-list; 
  installedprogs; 
  uninstall-list;

• Click on
  
  button.
  Please wait until a logreport will open (this can be after reboot)
  
• Save notepad to your Desktop and attach here zoek-results.log
  Note: It will also create a log in the C:\ directory named "zoek-results.log"

 

[Patter]

Thank you for your persistence! Attached are the zoek-results.