Solved onclickads redirection problem

[Jazz Dave]

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Hello,



They call me TwinHeadedEagle around here, and I'll be working with you.



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You run Zemana AntiMalware. Did it find any malware?

 

[Jazz Dave]

Yes - attached is a screen print of the results

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Is it happening in all browsers?

Scan with ZOEK

Please download ZOEK by Smeenk and save it to your desktop.
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;
  emptyclsid;
  emptyalltemp;
  ipconfig /flushdns >>"%temp%\log.txt";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)

Upload it in your next reply.

 

[Jazz Dave]

Is it happening in all browsers?

Scan with ZOEK

Please download ZOEK by Smeenk and save it to your desktop.
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;
  emptyclsid;
  emptyalltemp;
  ipconfig /flushdns >>"%temp%\log.txt";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)

Upload it in your next reply.

I almost always use IE but I've just tried to replicate the problem on Chrome for about half an hour without anything suspicious showing up.

I've attached the ZOEK results as requested.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

How is the situation now, do you still have the original issue?

 

[Jazz Dave]

I'm not at home right now so can't "test to destruction" - I'll have a good chance tomorrow when I get back and will reply again then - thanks for all your help so far. Dave

 

[Jazz Dave]

I've run IE for a few hours now and no sign of the redirection - I reckon you've done it!!! Thank you very much.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Since there are no more problems, we can declare this PC clean

Now, we can proceed with post-cleanup procedures. Let's remove my tools and create a new, non infected restore point concurrently deleting old ones.


Step 1. - Creation of system restore point and tools removal.


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). I don't need it for review.

Tool deletes old system restore points and creates a fresh system restore point after cleaning.


Step 2. - Tips and tricks to keep your computer clean, safe and in a good shape.


Security tips - highly recommended reading:

• Simple and easy ways to keep your computer safe and secure on the Internet

Maintenance tips:

• Optimize Windows for better performance

Additional software that I personally use and install on all my clients devices:

• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (paid version highly recommended) - 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.
• CryptoPrevent - tool for protection against Cryptolocker and similar ransomware infections.
• Adblock - to surf the web without annoying ads!
• Qualys BrowserCheck - cloud service that scans your browsers and plugins to see if they’re all up-to-date.

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

 

[Jazz Dave]

I'm sorry but I think I've sent the last message too soon! The redirection has just come back!!!!!

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Is it happening only in IE?

 

[Jazz Dave]

It seems to be only in IE, I've tried Chrome but nothing (yet!) shows up suspicious.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Can you make a picture how these ads look like?

 

[Jazz Dave]

The redirection takes my browsing to a blank page on onclickads.net (also noticed that the button to return to previous page gets disabled). I am also getting suspicious in-line adverts appearing (hope that's the right terminology) trying to get me to install/upgrade progs such as flash. (see the attached picture)

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Is it happening on all websites?

 

[Jazz Dave]

Not any more - last week it was numerous sites but since your help it's narrowed down to one or two. I'm trying to see if there is a pattern to the problem. I have noticed (although maybe just a coincidence) that it usually happens when I'm on a site and I click a link to go to a new page (sometimes that new page gets redirected - but not always and not immediately) -

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Okay, keep me updated.

 

[Jazz Dave]

The redirections happened about 5 or 6 time last night (much fewer than of late) - what is new to last night is that I'm now getting redirected to other sites (other than the usual onclickads site).

I said previously that I got a blank page (rather than actual content) when getting taken to onclickads - I think that is because I have that site listed in the IE's Internet Options -> Security -> Restricted Sites.

I ran a deep scan in Zemana today without anything showing up.

Nothing suspicious has shown up today but I doubt these things go away on their own.

Would it be worthwhile for me to do a complete run again of everything mentioned on the "How to remove Any Browser Redirect virus (Removal Guide)" page?

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Can you first try to reset Internet Explorer?

Change or reset Internet Explorer settings - Windows Help

 

[Jazz Dave]

I've reset IE and then I've tried the "How to remove Any Browser Redirect virus (Removal Guide)" page.

The only scan that seemed to show anything amiss was the JRT file (which I've attached). There were some tracking cookies showing in Hitman too.

I then opened a few windows in IE and clicked on some links within these sites, left it for about 15 mins and came back to find about a third of the pages had been redirected to other sites. I've attached a screenshot of the issue. (I've underlined the pages that had been affected) At least this time the "return to previous page" button is working!

Hmmmmm!!!