Got a notepad.exe virus..

[Sven]

Got a virus over a notepad file, which is supposed to include a .rar file's key. (it was an awesome way to infect lol, i do congratulate its creator.)

Windows's official Notepad shortcut is denied, when I right click and see the properties, it leads itself to : %windir%\system32\notepad.exe and as starting path : %HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%

WinPatrol also alerts me every 5 minutes with : "C:\Windows\system32\NOTEPAD.EXE %1" A change was made to use the following program for this file type.

And also the alert includes this one : "C:\Windows\System32\InfDefaultInstall.exe %1" Is this change ok? And I say NO all the time )

 

[kuttus]

Hi and welcome to the malwaretips.com forums!

I'm Kuttus and I am going to try to assist you with your problem. Please take note of the below:

• I will start working on your malware issues, this may or may not, solve other issues you have with your machine.
• The fixes are specific to your problem and should only be used for this issue on this machine!
• The process is not instant. Please continue to review my answers until I tell you your machine is clear. Absence of symptoms does not mean that everything is clear.
• If you don't know, stop and ask! Don't keep going on.
• Please reply to this thread. Do not start a new topic.
• Refrain from running self fixes as this will hinder the malware removal process.
• It may prove beneficial if you print of the following instructions or save them to notepad as I post them.

Your security programs may give warnings for some of the tools I will ask you to use. Be assured, any links I give are safe.


Before we start:
Please be aware that removing malware is a potentially hazardous undertaking. I will take care not to knowingly suggest courses of action that might damage your computer. However it is impossible for me to foresee all interactions that may happen between the software on your computer and those we'll use to clear you of infection, and I cannot guarantee the safety of your system. It is possible that we might encounter situations where the only recourse is to re-format and re-install your operating system, or to necessitate you taking your computer to a repair shop.

Because of this, I advise you to backup any personal files and folders before you start.

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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.

 

[Sven]

Added the files.

 

[kuttus]

Now please download this file and save it to the same location of FRST


Open FRST and click Fix. Post the generated log.

 

[Sven]

Here is the fixlog.

 

[kuttus]

Download Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit from here to your Desktop

• Unzip the contents to a folder on your Desktop.
• Open the folder where the contents were unzipped and run mbar.exe
• Follow the instructions in the wizard to update and allow the program to scan your computer for threats.
• Make sure there is a check next to Create Restore Point and click the Cleanup button to remove any threats. Reboot if prompted to do so.
• After the reboot, perform another scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit to verify that no threats remain. If there are threats, click Cleanup once more and reboot.
• When done, please post the two logs in the MBAR folder(mbar-log.txt and system-log.txt)

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Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop.

• Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
• At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to
  • Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
  • and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
• then click Finish.
• If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
• When it prompts you to try their 30-day trail, click decline
• Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
• When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
• Be sure that everything is Checked (ticked) except items in the C:\System Volume Information folder and click on Remove Selected.
• When completed, a log will open in Notepad. please copy and paste the log into your next reply
  • If you accidently close it, the log file is saved here and will be named like this:
  • C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\mbam-log-date (time).txt

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[Sven]

Hello again,

I've attached the files you wanted Kuttus, yet, it did not find anything.

 

[kuttus]

STEP 1: Run a scan with AdwCleaner

• Download AdwCleaner from the below link.
  ADWCLEANER DOWNLAOD LINK (This link will automatically download Security Check on your computer)

• Close all open programs and internet browsers.

• Double click on adwcleaner.exe to run the tool.

• Click on Scan,then confirm each time with Ok

• After the Scan is Over press on Clean ,then confirm each time with Ok.

• Your computer will be rebooted automatically. A text file will open after the restart.

• Please post the contents of that logfile with your next reply.

• You can find the logfile at C:\AdwCleaner[S1].txt as well.

STEP 2: Run a HitmanPro scan

1. Download the latest official version of HitmanPro.
   HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a download page in a new window from where you can download HitmanPro)
2. Start HitmanPro by double clicking on the previously downloaded file. and then following the prompts.
   
   
3. Once the scan is complete, a screen displaying all the malicious files that the program found will be shown as seen in the image below.After reviewing each malicious object click Next .
   
   
4. Click Activate free license to start the free 30 days trial and remove the malicious files.
   
   
5. HitmanPro will now start removing the infected objects, and in some instances, may suggest a reboot in order to completely remove the malware from your system. In this scenario, always confirm the reboot action to be on the safe side.

Add to your next reply, any log that HitmanPro might generate.

 

[Sven]

Hello Kuttus,

Thank you for your kindness and all of your efforts. Unfortunately, I do remembered too late that Avast got the main virused file (it was yesterday night), and that was the main reason why HitmanPro, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and Rootkit and even Adwcleaner found nothing on my laptop. Adwcleaner found some un-necessary softwares like Babylon etc, and cleaned them, but nothing important so far.

I've just replaced the main shortcut of notepad to the original one, which is also located in C:\Windows\SysWOW64, and as far as it seems, everything is okay now.

I'm deeply sorry to take you this far away, then remember the forgotten solution.. Thank you again for all your efforts!

Tomorrow, I'll do a full-scan with Avast (and I think it will find nothing) then inform you if anything is necessary.

Thanks so much, have a nice day!

 

[kuttus]

Great to hear that...