kevinf80

How does your system respond now, any issues or concerns...?

Download BlitzBlank from here: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/blitzblank/dl/108/ and save it to your desktop. Right click on Blitzblank.exe select "Run as Administrator" Click OK at the warning (and take note of it, this is a VERY powerful tool!). Click the Script tab and copy/paste the following text in bold there: DeleteRegKey: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\TaskCache\Tasks\{EE45E61A-69F6-4D52-86D6-96625F5922B4} Click Execute Now. An alert will ask "You are about to delete files, are you sure to proceed" Select OK to proceed A system reboot warning will open, it will say "Please close all running applicatons to avoid data loss" Select OK to proceed Your computer will need to reboot in order to do the fixes... When done, post me the report created by Blitzblank. you can find it at the root of the drive Normaly C:\ Next, Scan with Autoruns Please download Sysinternals Autoruns from the following link: https://live.sysinternals.com/autoruns.exe save it to your desktop. Note: If using Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 10 then you also need to do the following: Right-click on Autoruns.exe and select Properties Click on the Compatibility tab Under Privilege Level check the box next to Run this program as an administrator Click on Apply then click OK Double-click Autoruns.exe to run it. Once it starts, please press the Esc key on your keyboard. Now that scanning is stopped, click on the Options button at the top of the program and verify that the following are checked, if they are unchecked, check them: Hide empty locations Hide Windows entries Click on the Options button at the top of the program and select Scan Options... then in the Autoruns Scan Options dialog enable/check the following two options: Verify code signatures Check VirusTotal.com Once that's done click the Rescan button at the bottom of the Autoruns Scan Options dialog and this will start the scan again, this time let it finish. When it's finished and says Ready. on the lower left of the program window, please click on the File button at the top of the program and select Save and save the file to your desktop and close Autoruns. Right click on the file on your desktop that you just saved and hover your mouse over Send To and select Compressed (zipped) Folder Attach the ZIP folder you just created to your next reply Thank you, Kevin..

Thanks for that log, can you navigate to c:\windows\system32\drivers\gfdriver.sys right click direct on gfdriver.sys and select "rename" Change that name by adding .vir The file should now be renamed and show as c:\windows\system32\drivers\gfdriver.sys.vir Reboot your system, any change or improvement...?

Hello ProblemSolver, If the sophos log is clean we can clean up as follows: Uninstall Sophos AV http://www.askvg.com/how-to-completely-uninstall-remove-a-software-program-in-windows-without-using-3rd-party-software/ Also delete this folder if still present: C:\ProgramData\Sophos Next, Download "Delfix by Xplode" and save it to your desktop. Or use the following if first link is down: "Delfix link mirror" If your security program alerts to Delfix either, accept the alert or turn your security off. Double Click to start the program. If you are using Vista or higher, please right-click and choose run as administrator Make Sure the following items are checked: Remove disinfection tools <----- this will remove tools we may have used. Purge System Restore <--- this will remove all previous and possibly exploited restore points, a new point relative to system status at present will be created. Reset system settings <--- this will reset any system settings back to default that were changed either by us during cleansing or malware/infection Now click on "Run" and wait patiently until the tool has completed. The tool will create a log when it has completed. We don't need you to post this. Any remnant files/logs from tools we have used can be deleted… Next, Run Windows Disk Clean Up Utility - https://neosmart.net/wiki/disk-cleanup/ Read the following links to fully understand PC Security and Best Practices, you may find them useful.... Answers to Common Security Questions and best Practices Do I need a Registry Cleaner? Take care and surf safe Kevin...

Hello thehurdy, Continue as follows: Download attached fixlist.txt file (end of reply) and save it to the Desktop, or the folder you saved FRST into. "Do not open that file when running FRST fix" NOTE. It's important that both FRST and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work. Open FRST and press the Fix button just once and wait. The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt) or the folder it was ran from. Please post it to your reply. Next, I did not see Malwarebytes in your installed programs list, install and run again as follows: Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to your desktop. Double-click mbam-setup and follow the prompts to install the program. At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to the following: Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware A 14 day trial of the Premium features is pre-selected. You may deselect this if you wish, and it will not diminish the scanning and removal capabilities of the program. Click Finish. On the Dashboard, click the 'Update Now >>' link After the update completes Select > Settings > Detection and Protection > Enable Scan for rootkit and Under Non Malware Protection set both PUP and PUM to Treat detections as malware. Now select > Scan > Threat scan > Scan now When the scan is complete, if there have been detections, click Apply Actions to allow MBAM to clean what was detected. In most cases, a restart will be required. Wait for the prompt to restart the computer to appear, then click on Yes. To get the log from Malwarebytes do the following: Click on the Report tab > from main interface. Double click on the Scan log which shows the Date and time of the scan just performed. Click Export > From export you have two options: Copy to Clipboard - if seleted right click to your reply and select "Paste" log will be pasted to your reply Text file (*.txt) - if selected you will have to name the file and save to a place of choice, recommend "Desktop" then attach to reply Please use "Copy to Clipboard, then Right click to your reply > select "Paste" that will copy the log to your reply… Next, Download AdwCleaner by Malwarebytes onto your Desktop. Or from this Mirror Right-click on AdwCleaner.exe and select Run as Administrator (for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 users) Accept the EULA (I accept), then click on Scan Let the scan complete. Once it's done, make sure that every item listed in the different tabs is checked and click on the Clean button. This will kill all the active processes Once the cleaning process is complete, AdwCleaner will ask to restart your computer, do it After the restart, a log will open when logging in. Please copy/paste the content of that log in your next reply Next, Download Sophos Free Virus Removal Tool and save it to your desktop. If your security alerts to this scan either accept the alert or turn off your security to allow Sophos to run and complete..... Please Do Not use your PC whilst the scan is in progress.... This scan is very thorough so may take several hours... Double click the icon and select Run Click Next Select I accept the terms in this license agreement, then click Next twice Click Install Click Finish to launch the program Once the virus database has been updated click Start Scanning If any threats are found click Details, then View log file... (bottom left hand corner) Copy and paste the results in your reply Close the Notepad document, close the Threat Details screen, then click Start cleanup Click Exit to close the program If no threats were found please confirm that result.... The Virus Removal Tool scans the following areas of your computer: Memory, including system memory on 32-bit (x86) versions of Windows The Windows registry All local hard drives, fixed and removable Mapped network drives are not scanned. Note: If threats are found in the computer memory, the scan stops. This is because further scanning could enable the threat to spread. You will be asked to click Start Cleanup to remove the threats before continuing the scan. Saved logs are found here: C:\ProgramData\Sophos\Sophos Virus Removal Tool\Logs Let me see those logs in your reply, also tell me if there are any remaining issues or concerns... Thank you, Kevin... fixlist.txt

Thanks for the update...

Hello thehurdy and welcome to Malwarebytes, Can you post the last three blocks that Malwarebytes made: Open Malwarebytes, select > Reports > then checkmark (tick) most recent "Website Block" entry > then select "View Report" > "Export" > Text File (*.txt) name and save that file to Desktop or somewhere of your choice, attach to your reply... Next, Download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop. Alternative download option: http://www.techspot.com/downloads/6731-farbar-recovery-scan-tool.html Note: You need to run the version compatible with your system (32 bit or 64 bit). 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. If your security alerts to FRST either, accept the alert or turn your security off to allow FRST to run. It is not malicious or infected in any way... Be aware FRST must be run from an account with Administrator status... Double-click to run it. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.(Windows 8/10 users will be prompted about Windows SmartScreen protection - click More information and Run.) Make sure Addition.txt is checkmarked under "Optional scans" Press Scan button to run the tool.... It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please copy and paste it to your reply. The tool will also make a log named (Addition.txt) Please attach that log to your reply. Let me see those logs in your reply... Thanks, Kevin

You`re very welcome Romioo.... Regards, Kevin

This frustrating for sure, the cpu issue continues and taskhostw.exe is listed as the cause. There is a miner trojan infection with that very name, problem is there is also a legitimate Windows executable with the same name, also as expected the legitimate one runs from the system32 folder... The only working entry on your system is running from the system32 folder, we`ve had it checked at VirusTotal and it comes back as clean. There is a back up file, same size and both are digitally signed. Open Windows Defender Security Center Select Virus & threat protection, then Virus & threat protection settings Scroll down to and select Manage Controlled Folder Access In the new window Toggle that option to off Next, Scan with Autoruns Please download Sysinternals Autoruns from the following link: https://live.sysinternals.com/autoruns.exe save it to your desktop. Note: If using Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 10 then you also need to do the following: Right-click on Autoruns.exe and select Properties Click on the Compatibility tab Under Privilege Level check the box next to Run this program as an administrator Click on Apply then click OK Double-click Autoruns.exe to run it. Once it starts, please press the Esc key on your keyboard. Now that scanning is stopped, click on the Options button at the top of the program and verify that the following are checked, if they are unchecked, check them: Hide empty locations Hide Windows entries Click on the Options button at the top of the program and select Scan Options... then in the Autoruns Scan Options dialog enable/check the following two options: Verify code signatures Check VirusTotal.com Once that's done click the Rescan button at the bottom of the Autoruns Scan Options dialog and this will start the scan again, this time let it finish. When it's finished and says Ready. on the lower left of the program window, please click on the File button at the top of the program and select Save and save the file to your desktop and close Autoruns. Right click on the file on your desktop that you just saved and hover your mouse over Send To and select Compressed (zipped) Folder Attach the ZIP folder you just created to your next reply Thanks, Kevin

You can attach the log rather than copy/paste. If you ran the fix I attached for you, then yes all elements of KMS are gone..

mmmm, never asked for FRST logs, can you read my reply #26 again...

Hello Romioo and welcome to Malwarebytes, Continue as follows: Download attached fixlist.txt file (end of reply) and save it to the Desktop, or the folder you saved FRST into. "Do not open that file when running FRST fix" NOTE. It's important that both FRST and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work. Open FRST and press the Fix button just once and wait. The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt) or the folder it was ran from. Please post it to your reply. Next, Right click on FRST here: D:\ETC\FRST64.exe and rename uninstall.exe when complete right click on uninstall.exe and select "Run as Administrator" If you do not see the .exe appended that is because file extensions are hidden, in that case just rename FRST64 to uninstall That action will remove FRST and all created files and folders... Regards, Kevin fixlist.txt

Run this please: Download attached fixlist.txt file (end of reply) and save it to the Desktop, or the folder you saved FRST into. "Do not open that file when running FRST fix" NOTE. It's important that both FRST and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work. Open FRST and press the Fix button just once and wait. The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt) or the folder it was ran from. Please post it to your reply. How is your PC behaving in general, any odd or erratic behavior, any issues or concerns.. Thanks, Kevin.. fixlist.txt

Hello CalSignChurch, No obvious malware or infection was found in FRST logs, there was an unsual task setting as follows: FRST could not remove the task.. The cause of the "0xc000009a" error can be a failure to correctly run a normal operation by a system or application component. Run the following and post the log please.. Download attached fixlist.txt file (end of reply) and save it to the Desktop, or the folder you saved FRST into. "Do not open that file when running FRST fix" NOTE. It's important that both FRST and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work. Open FRST and press the Fix button just once and wait. The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt) or the folder it was ran from. Please post it to your reply. Thank you, Kevin fixlist.txt

You`re very welcome WW1, no obvious malware or infection was found in your logs... Regards, Kevin.

Thanks for the update, I do not believe this is a malware issue. Is the cpu reading a constant 99% with "taskhostw.exe" the main user...? Can you also do the following: Select the Windows key and X key together, from the winx menu select "Command Prompt (Admin)" At the prompt type or copy/paste :- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth then hit the enter key. What results do you get..? If the winx menu shows powershell (admin) instead of command prompt (admin) reset back as follows: Select > start > settings > Personalization > Taskbar > flick switch to OFF under "Replace Command prompt with PowerShell etc etc" Thank you, Kevin...

Run FRST one more time, ensure all boxes are checkmarked under "Whitelist" but only Addition.txt under "Optional scan" Select scan, when done post the new logs. "FRST.txt" and "Addition.txt"

Windows Defender works as it should with Malwarebytes installed. If you install Kaspersky WD real time protection will be turned off and its service setting from Auto to disabled.. I have Windows Defender and Malwarebytes working together with no issues whatsoever.....

Thanks for those logs, continue: Download attached fixlist.txt file (end of reply) and save it to the Desktop, or the folder you saved FRST into. "Do not open that file when running FRST fix" NOTE. It's important that both FRST and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work. Open FRST and press the Fix button just once and wait. The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt) or the folder it was ran from. Please post it to your reply. Next, Download Sophos Free Virus Removal Tool and save it to your desktop. If your security alerts to this scan either accept the alert or turn off your security to allow Sophos to run and complete..... Please Do Not use your PC whilst the scan is in progress.... This scan is very thorough so may take several hours... Double click the icon and select Run Click Next Select I accept the terms in this license agreement, then click Next twice Click Install Click Finish to launch the program Once the virus database has been updated click Start Scanning If any threats are found click Details, then View log file... (bottom left hand corner) Copy and paste the results in your reply Close the Notepad document, close the Threat Details screen, then click Start cleanup Click Exit to close the program If no threats were found please confirm that result.... The Virus Removal Tool scans the following areas of your computer: Memory, including system memory on 32-bit (x86) versions of Windows The Windows registry All local hard drives, fixed and removable Mapped network drives are not scanned. Note: If threats are found in the computer memory, the scan stops. This is because further scanning could enable the threat to spread. You will be asked to click Start Cleanup to remove the threats before continuing the scan. Let me see those logs in your next reply, also let me know if there are any remaining issues or concerns... Thanks, Kevin.. fixlist.txt

Right click on FRST here: C:\Users\diogo\Downloads\FRST64.exe and rename uninstall.exe when complete right click on uninstall.exe and select "Run as Administrator" If you do not see the .exe appended that is because file extensions are hidden, in that case just rename FRST64 to uninstall That action will remove FRST and all created files and folders... Read the following links to fully understand PC Security and Best Practices, you may find them useful.... Answers to Common Security Questions and best Practices Do I need a Registry Cleaner? Take care and surf safe Kevin...

Why do you have to remove your security to alter the setting...?

Have you ran Malwarebytes with the settings I posted...

GMER log is clean, nothing to be concerned about...

Hello Pete439 and welcome to Malwarebytes, Continue with the following: If you do not have Malwarebytes installed do the following: Download Malwarebytes version 3 from the following link: https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download/thankyou/ Double click on the installer and follow the prompts. If necessary select the Blue Help tab for video instructions.... When the install completes or Malwarebytes is already installed do the following: Open Malwarebytes, select > "settings" > "protection tab" Scroll down to "Scan Options" ensure Scan for Rootkits and Scan within Archives are both on.... Go back to "DashBoard" select the Blue "Scan Now" tab...... When the scan completes quarantine any found entries... To get the log from Malwarebytes do the following: Click on the Report tab > from main interface. Double click on the Scan log which shows the Date and time of the scan just performed. Click Export > From export you have two options: Copy to Clipboard - if seleted right click to your reply and select "Paste" log will be pasted to your reply Text file (*.txt) - if selected you will have to name the file and save to a place of choice, recommend "Desktop" then attach to reply Please use "Copy to Clipboard, then Right click to your reply > select "Paste" that will copy the log to your reply… Next, Download AdwCleaner by Malwarebytes onto your Desktop. Or from this Mirror Right-click on AdwCleaner.exe and select Run as Administrator (for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 users) Accept the EULA (I accept), then click on Scan Let the scan complete. Once it's done, make sure that every item listed in the different tabs is checked and click on the Clean button. This will kill all the active processes Once the cleaning process is complete, AdwCleaner will ask to restart your computer, do it After the restart, a log will open when logging in. Please copy/paste the content of that log in your next reply Next, Download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop. Alternative download option: http://www.techspot.com/downloads/6731-farbar-recovery-scan-tool.html Note: You need to run the version compatible with your system (32 bit or 64 bit). 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. If your security alerts to FRST either, accept the alert or turn your security off to allow FRST to run. It is not malicious or infected in any way... Be aware FRST must be run from an account with Administrator status... Double-click to run it. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.(Windows 8/10 users will be prompted about Windows SmartScreen protection - click More information and Run.) Make sure Addition.txt is checkmarked under "Optional scans" Press Scan button to run the tool.... It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please copy and paste it to your reply. The tool will also make a log named (Addition.txt) Please attach that log to your reply. Let me see those logs in your reply... Thank you, Kevin....

Can you toggle Control Folder Access back on and see if the cpu issue clears...