Not sure what, but I know it's a virus!

[AllyLane]

Hi guys,

My computer has worsened over the last couple of weeks. Constant hanging, particularly when I open the internet browser. I guess my gut is telling me it's a virus. I was using AntiSpyWare to daily check and remove, but all that was coming up were tracking cookies.

It's making my internet drop out every 30 seconds or so.

I have now deleted everything unnecessary. Process Explorer shows that Windows DWM uses over 1.5GB private memory, yet child items only add up to around 60k. I played with a few services by killing processes (Service Control Manager - you'll see at bottom of logs) by disabling them to see which would affect memory, none did. Don't think it's simply a matter of a memory upgrade, as it just seemed to occur quite suddenly and then get worse ever since.

Logs attached. Thanks in anticipation of your help!

attach.txt

dds.txt

[MrCharlie]

Welcome to the forum.

Please remove any usb or external drives from the computer before you run this scan!

Please download and run RogueKiller to your desktop.

Quit all running programs.

For Windows XP, double-click to start.

For Vista or Windows 7, do a right-click on the program, select Run as Administrator to start, & when prompted Allow to run.

Click Scan to scan the system.

When the scan completes > Close out the program > Don't Fix anything!

Don't run any other options, they're not all bad!!!!!!!

Post back the report which should be located on your desktop.

MrC

------->Your topic will be closed if you haven't replied within 3 days!<--------

(If I don't respond within 48 hours, please send me a PM)

[AllyLane]

Thank you for your help MrC.

Log attached.

RKreport1_S_11232012_02d0933.txt

[MrCharlie]

Not much showing....lets run some scans:

Please read the directions carefully so you don't end up deleting something that is good!!

Please note that TDSSKiller can be run in safe mode if needed.

Here's a video that explains how to run it if needed:

Please download the latest version of TDSSKiller from here and save it to your Desktop.

• Doubleclick on TDSSKiller.exe to run the application, then click on Change parameters.
  
  
• Put a checkmark beside loaded modules.
  
  
• A reboot will be needed to apply the changes. Do it.
  
• TDSSKiller will launch automatically after the reboot. Also your computer may seem very slow and unusable. This is normal. Give it enough time to load your background programs.
  
• Then click on Change parameters in TDSSKiller.
  
• Check all boxes then click OK.
  
  
• Click the Start Scan button.
  
  
• The scan should take no longer than 2 minutes.
  
• If a suspicious object is detected, the default action will be Skip, click on Continue.
  
  Any entries like this: \Device\Harddisk0\DR0 ( TDSS File System ) - please choose Skip.
  
• If malicious objects are found, they will show in the Scan results - Select action for found objects and offer three options.
  Ensure Cure (default) is selected, then click Continue > Reboot now to finish the cleaning process.
  
  Note: If Cure is not available, please choose Skip instead, do not choose Delete unless instructed.
  
• A report will be created in your root directory, (usually C:\ folder) in the form of "TDSSKiller.[Version]_[Date]_[Time]_log.txt". Please copy and paste the contents of that file here. There may be 3 logs > so post or attach all of them.
  
• Sometimes these logs can be very large, in that case please attach it or zip it up and attach it.
  

Here's a summary of what to do if you would like to print it out:

If a suspicious object is detected, the default action will be Skip, click on Continue

If you get the warning about a file UnsignedFile.Multi.Generic or LockedFile.Multi.Generic please choose

Skip and click on Continue

Any entries like this: \Device\Harddisk0\DR0 ( TDSS File System ) - please choose Skip.

If malicious objects are found, they will show in the Scan results and offer three (3) options.

Ensure Cure is selected, then click Continue => Reboot now to finish the cleaning process.

Note: If Cure is not available, please choose Skip instead, do not choose Delete unless instructed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can attach the logs if they're too long:

Bottom right corner of this page.

New window that comes up.

MrC

[AllyLane]

OK, that was weird. No log file created. Only found suspicious items.

Also, I was reading some other threads here, some talk about a virus within the svchost.exe process. I have noticed when I run in normal mode, there are dozens (literally) of svchost.exe processes running. Yet when in safe mode, only a few are running. Is it normal to have so many, like 50-100 versions running? Is there a scan available for such a virus, if present?

Thanks

[MrCharlie]

I need to see the logs from TDSSKiller, they should be located in C:\

MrC

[AllyLane]

Attached now. Sorry, I searched C drive for them, even used the find command, my computer weirdly did not bring them up. Rebooted, and they were there.

TDSSKiller.2.8.15.0_24.11.2012_10.19.09_log.txt

TDSSKiller.2.8.15.0_24.11.2012_10.06.54_log.txt

TDSSKiller.2.8.15.0_24.11.2012_10.02.27_log.txt

[MrCharlie]

OK, that scan was clean..............

Please download and run ComboFix.

The most important things to remember when running it is to disable all your malware programs and run Combofix from your desktop.

Please visit this webpage for download links, and instructions for running ComboFix

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofix/how-to-use-combofix

Ensure you have disabled all anti virus and anti malware programs so they do not interfere with the running of ComboFix.

Information on disabling your malware programs can be found Here.

Make sure you run ComboFix from your desktop.

Give it at least 30-45 minutes to finish if needed.

Please include the C:\ComboFix.txt in your next reply for further review.

---------->NOTE<----------

If you get the message Illegal operation attempted on registry key that has been marked for deletion after you run ComboFix....please reboot the computer, this should resolve the problem. You may have to do this several times if needed.

MrC

[AllyLane]

Sorry I haven't been in touch. I had to do a complete reinstall of OS. I found that the virus was affecting my svchost.exe and had somehow deleted the plug and play capabilities, and eventually I couldn't get onto the net or anything.

However, I am still very suspicious. Norton IS is detecting/blocking attempts to connect to my computer and access the above file.

What can I do from here to make sure the virus is gone, and also to protect the new system from future infection? Norton didn't get to this thing in the first place. I need something which will protect me from it early on.

Thanks!

[MrCharlie]

Download a fresh copy of RogueKiller and scan the system.

Please post the new log, MrC

[AllyLane]

Done, log attached

RKreport1_S_11302012_02d1101.txt

[MrCharlie]

Looks OK, you're from Australia correct??

We can run some scans to be sure if you want:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please create a new system restore point before running Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit.

MBAR tutorial

Download Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit from HERE

• Unzip the contents to a folder in a convenient location.
  
• 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.
  
• Click on the Cleanup button to remove any threats and reboot if prompted to do so.
  
• Wait while the system shuts down and the cleanup process is performed.
  
• Perform another scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit to verify that no threats remain. If they do, then click Cleanup once more and repeat the process.
  
• When done, please post the two logs produced they will be in the MBAR folder..... mbar-log.txt and system-log.txt
  

To attach a log if needed:

Bottom right corner of this page.

New window that comes up.

MrC

[AllyLane]

OK done, logs attached. Nothing found apparently.

Also, Norton keeps blocking a computer trying to access my svchost.exe file. Is it possible that someone has seen me come back online and is trying to reinfect my system? What can I do about this?

Yes I am in Australia.

mbar-log-2012-11-30 (14-45-51).txt

system-log.txt

[MrCharlie]

Please download and run ComboFix.

The most important things to remember when running it is to disable all your malware programs and run Combofix from your desktop.

Please visit this webpage for download links, and instructions for running ComboFix

http://www.bleepingc...to-use-combofix

Ensure you have disabled all anti virus and anti malware programs so they do not interfere with the running of ComboFix.

Information on disabling your malware programs can be found Here.

Make sure you run ComboFix from your desktop.

Give it at least 30-45 minutes to finish if needed.

Please include the C:\ComboFix.txt in your next reply for further review.

---------->NOTE<----------

If you get the message Illegal operation attempted on registry key that has been marked for deletion after you run ComboFix....please reboot the computer, this should resolve the problem. You may have to do this several times if needed.

MrC

[AllyLane]

Done. Log is attached.

ComboFix.txt

[MrCharlie]

It looks OK, how's it running???

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please download AdwCleaner from here and save it on your Desktop.

1. Right-click on adwcleaner.exe and select Run As Administrator (for XP just double click) to launch the application.
   
2. Now click on the Search tab.
   
3. Please post the contents of the log-file created in your next post.

Note: The log can also be located at C:\ >> AdwCleaner[XX].txt >> XX <-- Denotes the number of times the application has been ran, so in this should be something like R1.

MrC

[AllyLane]

It is running much better.

I have also been going through your post on Preventative Maintenance (found it on another post) and have updated everything. I have installed Do Not Track Plus and Cookienator as I have had so much trouble with tracking cookies. CPU usage is down to around 12% and memory around 39%, so much lower on both. Programs are loading quicker and browser is fast.

I have tried to install settings for OpenDNS but having trouble, so am gaining some help on their forum.

My other concern I guess is how things will go once I restore my old files etc which were backed up. I am seriously considering buying Pro Malwarebytes as I clearly need better real-time protection than Norton alone.

I had a great deal of trouble downloading and installing Adobe Reader XI, which makes me wonder if something is still here. I will switch to Foxit Reader instead I think.

Log is attached for Adw.

AdwCleanerR1.txt

[MrCharlie]

W7 OpenDNS:

http://windows7theme...te-loading.html

My other concern I guess is how things will go once I restore my old files etc which were backed up. I am seriously considering buying Pro Malwarebytes as I clearly need better real-time protection than Norton alone.

That's a wise choice with todays malware, it's a one time fee > can't beat that.

I had a great deal of trouble downloading and installing Adobe Reader XI, which makes me wonder if something is still here. I will switch to Foxit Reader instead I think.

Use Foxit Reader < it's safer and much faster.

-----------------------------

That log looks OK.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you don't have any questions.........

A little clean up to do....

Please Uninstall ComboFix: (if you used it)

Press the Windows logo key + R to bring up the "run box"

Copy and paste next command in the field:

ComboFix /uninstall

Make sure there's a space between Combofix and /

Then hit enter.

This will uninstall Combofix, delete its related folders and files, hide file extensions, hide the system/hidden files and clears System Restore cache and create new Restore point

(If that doesn't work.....you can simply rename ComboFix.exe to Uninstall.exe and double click it to complete the uninstall)

---------------------------------

Please download OTL from one of the links below: (you may already have OTL on the system)

http://oldtimer.geekstogo.com/OTL.exe

http://oldtimer.geekstogo.com/OTL.com

http://www.itxassoci...T-Tools/OTL.exe

Save it to your desktop.

Run OTL and hit the CleanUp button. (This will cleanup the tools and logs used including itself)

Any other programs or logs you can manually delete.

IE: RogueKiller.exe, RKreport.txt, RK_Quarantine folder, C:\FRST, etc....

-------------------------------

Any questions...please post back.

If you think I've helped you, please leave a comment > click on my avatar picture > click Profile Feed.

Take a look at My Preventive Maintenance to avoid being infected again.

Good Luck and Thanks for using the forum, MrC

[AllyLane]

OK all done. Thanks so much for your time MrC, it is very much appreciated and I have learned a lot from this episode! Smarter computing for me from now on...

I don't have any more questions. Thanks heaps!

[Maurice Naggar]

Glad we could help.

If you need this topic reopened, please send a Private Message to any one of the moderating team members. Please include a link to this thread with your request. This applies only to the originator of this thread.

Other members who need assistance please start your own topic in a new thread. Thanks!