Solved Spigot- Search Protection

[Shelley Lanette]

7-7-14. I downloaded Camtasia and must have forgotten to uncheck a box that then downloaded Spigot. The home page in Firefox is now Mozilla (instead of google). The Home Page in Internet Explorer is yahoo search (instead of google). There are icons for Ebay and Amazon in the menu in each browser. The search engine bar is also Yahoo instead of Google. When I click on links, they open in new pages or tabs.

I uninstalled Search Protection, the Ebay icon, and the Amazon icon. Then used AdwCleaner and removed suspicious items. Then used Junkware Remover Tool and removed suspicious items. Then used Malwarebytes and removed suspicious items. Then used HitmanPro and removed a lot of items.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Hello,


Before we start please note the following:

Analysis and research take some time, also sometimes real life gets in the way, please be patient.

Limit your internet access to posting here, some infections just wait to steal typed-in passwords.

Don't run any scripts or tools on your own, unsupervised usage may cause more harm than good.

Do not paste the logs in your posts, attachments make my work easier. There is a Upload a File button which you can use to attach your reports. Attach all reports.

Stay with me to the end, the absence of symptoms doesn't mean that your machine is fully operational.

Note that we may live in totally different time zones, what may cause some delays between answers.

I can't foresee everything, so if anything unexpected happens, please stop and inform me!

There are no silly questions. Never be afraid to ask if in doubt!




First go to Control Panel and uninstall Extended Update.

Fix with Farbar Recovery Scan Tool

This fix was created for this user for use on that particular machine.

Running it on another one may cause damage and render the system unstable.

​

Download attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop:

Both files, FRST and fixlist.txt have to be in the same location or the fix will not work!

• 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).
• Press the Fix button just once and wait.
• If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run.
• When finished FRST will generate a log on the Desktop, called Fixlog.txt.

Please attach it to your reply.

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:
  

  autoclean;
  emptyalltemp;

• 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)

Attach report into your next reply.




Tell me how is your computer now?

 

[Shelley Lanette]

I did everything... and my browsers are back to normal. No more ebay/amazon icons and my home pages and search bars are back to their defaults. Yaaaay!

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

In that case, we can finish


Below you will find my thoughts about securing your machine. Go ahead through it, you will benefit from some useful advice about safe computing.

Recommended reading:
​

MUST READ - security tips: Computer Security - a short guide to staying safer online. Simple and easy ways to keep your computer safe and secure on the Internet

MUST READ - general maintenance: What to do if your Computer is running slowly?

Recommended additional software:
​

TFC - to clean unneeded temporary files.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware - 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.

CryptoPrevent - to secure yourself from very severe CryptoLocker infection.

Unchecky - to prevent from installing additional foistware, implemented in legitimate installations.


• The following will implement some post-cleanup procedures:

=> Please download DelFix by Xplode to your Desktop.

Run the tool and check the following boxes below;

Remove disinfection tools

Create registry backup

Purge System Restore
Click Run button and wait a few seconds for the programme completes his work.
At this point all the tools we used here 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.



Stay safe,
TwinHeadedEagle