Solved Infection undetected by malware anti-virus anti-rootkit software

SteelyMan

New Member
Thread author
Nov 28, 2014
9
11/25/2014 After viewing facebook videos all computer any normal split second minimal activity takes minutes.
Even in safe mode any activity in windows explorer is crippled.
Opening any folder Task Manager can take several minutes.
Internet access is unavailable, so I am submitting everything from non-infected Win8 machine.
All system restore points are gone.

Ran the who's who of malware utilities.
MalwareBytes, MalwareBytesAntiRootKit, RogueKiller, rkill, AdwCleaner, HitmanPro_64, tdsskiller
Full system scan with McAfee.
All of above scans are clean.
FRST_64 also ran to provide log files.
 

Attachments

  • FRST.txt
    29.1 KB · Views: 79
  • Addition.txt
    32.8 KB · Views: 80

SteelyMan

New Member
Thread author
Nov 28, 2014
9
A little more background:
I did not observe any obvious malicious or unexpected process entries in Task Manager.
dllhost.exe *32 appears intermittently when starting/stopping programs.
This is never more than a single instance, shows very little CPU or memory usage,
but does have path of C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dllhost.exe

AdwCleaner did identify and delete C:\ProgramData\apn

There was also something called Au_.exe leftover related to "DropBox" application.
I uninstalled "DropBox" and manually deleted Au_.exe file
 
Last edited:

TwinHeadedEagle

Level 41
Verified
Mar 8, 2013
22,627
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
    fjqb1h.png
    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
51a5f31352b88-icon_MBAR.png
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"




FRST.gif
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
    FRST.gif
    icon and select
    RunAsAdmin.jpg
    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.
 

SteelyMan

New Member
Thread author
Nov 28, 2014
9
As I mentioned MBAR scan came back clean.
Attaching logs.
 

Attachments

  • system-log.txt
    27.5 KB · Views: 41
  • mbar-log-2014-11-27 (18-29-08).txt
    2 KB · Views: 47

SteelyMan

New Member
Thread author
Nov 28, 2014
9
Log files from rerun of FRST64 per your request.
Hope your Eagle eyes can spot something.
 

Attachments

  • Addition.txt
    29.1 KB · Views: 68
  • FRST.txt
    50.2 KB · Views: 52

SteelyMan

New Member
Thread author
Nov 28, 2014
9
Performance remains terrible.
I boot to safe mode and helppane.exe opens automatically and sits without displaying anything for several minutes.
I click on Task Manager and wait 1 to 2 minutes for it to open so I can kill helppane.exe.
I then click on the folder containing malware utilities and wait for 2 to 4 minutes or longer for the folder to open.
Then I click to open a utility like FRST and see it appear in the Task Manager.
The FRST window doesn't actually appear for several minutes so I can run the scan.
Nothing in Task Manager appears to be using more than a few percent of CPU and only shows about 15% of 4GB of memory in use.

On restart it may take several minutes for McAfee to appear in Notifications part of Task Bar.
Even if it starts, it may produce notification that Real-Time Scanning is off.
I repeatedly attempt to enable Real-Time Scanning and it gets repeatedly gets disabled by something within seconds.
Is there any known malware or virus that can do this without appearing in Task Manager?

The computer remains unusable in this state.
I welcome your best ideas for next steps and am grateful for any help you can provide.
 
Last edited:

TwinHeadedEagle

Level 41
Verified
Mar 8, 2013
22,627
FRST.gif
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
    FRST.gif
    icon and select
    RunAsAdmin.jpg
    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.
 

TwinHeadedEagle

Level 41
Verified
Mar 8, 2013
22,627
Let's first to remove your McAfee antivirus by using this tool

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/mcafee_consumer_product_removal_tool.html



***** NEXT *****



servicerepairico.png
Fix with ESET Services Repair

Please download Services Repair by ESET and save it to your desktop.

  • Right-click on
    servicerepairico.png
    icon and select
    RunAsAdmin.jpg
    Run as Administrator to start the tool.
  • If security notifications appear, click Continue or Run.
  • Accept the prompt about restoring services.
  • Once the tool has finished, you will be prompted to restart your computer. Click Yes to restart.
  • A log will be saved in the CCSupport folder the tool created on your desktop.

Please include that logfile in your next reply.



***** NEXT *****




51a5bf3d99e8a-ComboFixlogo16.png
Scan with ComboFix

This is a very powerful tool that should be used only if advised by Malware Analyst.
Do not run ComboFix on your own!


Referring to this instruction, please download ComboFix by sUBs and save it to your desktop.
Temporary disable your AntiVirus and AntiSpyware protection - instructions here.

  • Right-click on
    51a5bf3d99e8a-ComboFixlogo16.png
    icon and select
    RunAsAdmin.jpg
    Run as Administrator to start the tool.
  • Accept the disclaimer and agree if prompted to install Recovery Console.
  • Do not take any actions while ComboFix goes through your System - it may cause it to stall!
  • This scan may take some time!
  • When finished - it will display a logfile (located also on your main drive, usually C:\ComboFix.txt).

Include that log in your next reply.
icon_idea.gif
If you'll encounter any issues with internet connection after running ComboFix, please visit this link.
icon_idea.gif
If an error about operation on the key marked for deletion will appear after running the tool, please reboot your machine.
 

SteelyMan

New Member
Thread author
Nov 28, 2014
9
Uninstalled McAfee. Service repair and ComboFix step completed with log files attached.
 

Attachments

  • ComboFix.txt
    13.1 KB · Views: 62
  • SvcRepair.log
    10.9 KB · Views: 43

SteelyMan

New Member
Thread author
Nov 28, 2014
9
The short answer is that yes the PC seems to be clean.
I have performed numerous reboots, Windows Update, opened Outlook / Internet Explorer / Word with no ill effects.

I have since reinstalled McAfee security suite and MalwareBytes.
Do you have an opinion on what is the best software on the market for proactively blocking future malware/virus/trojan infections?

I'd like to better understand if the logs indicate what was corrected/quarantined/removed by Service repair and ComboFix.
Do you have a best guess as to the identity of the malware/virus that had infected the system?

Many thanks for your patience, expertise and assistance.
 

TwinHeadedEagle

Level 41
Verified
Mar 8, 2013
22,627
We just performed simple maintenance and services repair, not something big.


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:
icon_exclaim.gif
MUST READ - security tips:

icon_exclaim.gif
MUST READ - general maintenance:


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.




Recommended additional software:
icon_arrow.gif
TFC - to clean unneeded temporary files.
icon_arrow.gif
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware - to scan your system from time to time in search for malware.
icon_arrow.gif
Malwarebytes' Anti-Exploit - to prevent plenty of mostly exploited vulnerabilities.
icon_arrow.gif
McShield - to prevent infections spread by removable media.
icon_arrow.gif
Unchecky - to prevent from installing additional foistware, implemented in legitimate installations.
icon_arrow.gif
FiheHippo.com Update Checker - to keep your programs up-to-date.
icon_arrow.gif
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
    51a5ce45263de-delfix.png
    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 :)
 

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