Help needed with removal of svchost.exe

[Biggun]

My system is very clean.  All unnecessary files, folder and apps are removed. Malwarebytes detects no infections. My antivirus detects no threats. Roguekiller kills two processes:  both are svchost.exe residing in system32 and SysWow64 folders.  Both processes launch again 30 minutes or so after Rogue kills them.  Would appreciate assistance purging these from my PC

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Hello,
    
 
They call me TwinHeadedEagle around here, and I'll be working with you.
 
     
    
Before we start please read and note the following:

• Limit your internet access to posting here, some infections just wait to steal typed-in passwords.
• Please be patient. I know it is frustrating when your PC isn't working properly, but malware removal takes time.
• 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 More reply options button, that gives you Upload Files option below which you can use to attach your reports. Always attach reports from all tools.
• Always execute my instructions in given order. If for some reason you cannot completely follow one instruction, inform me about that.
• 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.
• 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.

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!
 
 
 
  Rules and policies
 
We won't support any piracy.
That being told, if any evidence of illegal OS, software, cracks/keygens or any other will be revealed, any further assistance will be suspended. If you are aware that there is this kind of stuff on your machine, remove it before proceeding!
The same applies to any use of P2P software: uTorrent, BitTorrent, Vuze, Kazaa, Ares... We don't provide any help for P2P, except for their removal. All P2P software has to be uninstalled or at least fully disabled before proceeding!
 
Failure to follow these guidelines will result with closing your topic and withdrawning any assistance.
 
 
 
 
Can you attach RogueKiller report please?
 
 
 
 

Please download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop.
 
Note: You need to run the version compatibale with your system. 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.

• Double-click to run it. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
• Press Scan button.
• It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please attach it to your reply.
• The first time the tool is run, it makes also another log (Addition.txt). Please attach it to your reply.

[Biggun]

Thank you for your speedy reply, not to mention your generous willingness to assist.  I have attached the RogueKiller and Farbar reports as requested.  I pledge to be prompt with my assignments and replies, but I am heading to bed now... it's 2:30 a.m. here!  Again, my thanks. 

RKreport_SCN_10172014_021052.log

Addition.txt

FRST.txt

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Multiple Resident Protection warning!

Always have one (and no more than one!) AntiVirus program! In this case having more of them will not provide you with better protection - instead they may cause slowness, lock-ups and even mark another ones as harmful, leading to leave your system unstable and even damaged. Please choose only one from the listed below to stay with and uninstall the others:

• AVG AntiVirus 2015
• Microsoft Security Essentials

Uninstallation procedure:

• Press the + R on your keyboard at the same time. Type appwiz.cpl and click OK.
• Search for each uninstalled entry, right-click it and select Uninstall.

This should be done until any other steps will be taken.




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 post it to your reply.

fixlist.txt

[Biggun]

Microsoft Security Essentials is uninstalled

Your Fixlist.txt file is saved to desktop

Farbar has run the fix and generated the attached Fixlog.txt

Thank you. I await your response

Fixlog.txt

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Let's scan one more time:




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 icon and select 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.
If you'll encounter any issues with internet connection after running ComboFix, please visit this link.
If an error about operation on the key marked for deletion will appear after running the tool, please reboot your machine.

[Biggun]

Combofix has scanned/reported.  Log is attached, as requested.

ComboFix.txt

[Biggun]

Quick question:   Each time before I enter the forum for your latest instructions, I deactivate my antivirus and then I run RogueKiller to temporarily kill the two offending processes, because when they are running my Internet access is extremely slow and webpages usually time-out and fail to open.   As per your last instructions I ran ComboFix, however I ran the scan BEFORE the two offending processes relaunched (which they do perhaps 20 or so minutes after they've been killed by Rogue).   Should I run the ComboFix scan again, this time while the two offending processes are present?  And then send that ComboFix log to you?  Would this provide you with a more accurate log?

[TwinHeadedEagle]

This looks clean:
 
 
Scan with TDSSKiller
 
Please download TDSSKiller by Kaspersky and save it to your desktop.

• Right-click on icon and select Run as Administrator to start the tool.
• Click on Change parameters and put a checkmark beside Loaded modules. A reboot will be needed to apply the changes, allow it to do so.
• Your machine may appear very slow and unusable after that - it's normal.
• TDSSKiller will run automaticaly. Click on Change parameters and click OK.
• Click the Start Scan button and wait patiently.

If anything will be found follow this guidelines:

• If a suspicious object is detected, the default action will be Skip, click on Continue.
• 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.
  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:\ drive) in the form of TDSSKiller.[Version]_[Date]_[Time]_log.txt. Please include the contents of that file in your next post.
 
 
 
 

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 icon and select 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.

[Biggun]

Ran TDSSKiller. Scan detected no threats.  Report attached.

Ran Farbar.  Reports attached.

Currently, there have been no changes to the two offending processes, which continue to replicate themselves 10-15 minutes after they have been detected and killed by Roguekiller.

TDSSKiller.3.0.0.40_19.10.2014_21.30.00_log.txt

FRST.txt

Addition.txt

[TwinHeadedEagle]

PC seems clean. I do not see signs of active infection. Rogue Killer sometimes makes false or intentional detections, and you shouldn't worry about this.

 

How is your PC now?

[Biggun]

There's still no change.  The two processes shown in the attached screen grab are still present when I start the PC.  RogueKiller detects them and kills them, however they launch again after about 10 minutes.  During that 10 minutes after RogueKiller does it's work, I enjoy the full bandwidth of my DSL Internet connection.  I am aware when the processes relaunch because suddenly my internet service drops to the point that it may take a minute or more for a webpage to open-- many of the pages fail to open. I see no clue as to what these processes are doing, but they are quite busy using my bandwidth.  Is there anything else we can try?

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Please go to: VirusTotal

 Click the Choose File button.

 Please copy/paste the following text into the 'File name:' box:

 

C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe

C:\WINDOWS\SysWow64\svchost.exe

 

 Click Open then click the Scan it! button just below.

 This will scan the file. Please be patient.

 If you get a message saying File already analyzed: click Reanalyse

 Once scanned, copy and paste the URL from your browser address bar in your next reply.

[Biggun]

As requested, here is the URL for the VirusTotal scan:

 

https://virustotal.com/en/file/121118a0f5e0e8c933efd28c9901e54e42792619a8a3a6d11e1f0025a7324bc2/analysis/1413945974/

 

Although the scan results indicate the file is "Probably harmless," under comments, this one concerns me: "We need to fix this file's reputation, this is a Microsoft signed and verified file.  Like @sunnysky said, check the dll's running under svchost.exe, as malware often injects it's code into this process"

 

I cannot trust my PC to be clean while this process is using most of my Internet bandwidth for some unknown purpose.

[TwinHeadedEagle]

I may have spotted something. Let's run one more scan:
 
 
 
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 icon and select 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.

[Biggun]

As requested............

Addition.txt

FRST.txt

[TwinHeadedEagle]

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 post it to your reply.

fixlist.txt

[Biggun]

Here's the Fixlog.txt file.....

Fixlog.txt

[TwinHeadedEagle]

How is the situation now?

[Biggun]

After more than 24 hours, with fingers crossed, I can report that the infection appears to be gone.  I've run RogueKiller four times, Malwarebytres twice and a full scan with AVG, and all report no threats. The two processes no longer launch (of course I suppose they could be timed to do so later).    From the report logs I've provided, can you detect any clue of a source of this infection?  I try to use great caution, but apparently I slipped up somewhere, somehow.  Are there any additional tests/scans or tips you can provide for future reference?  

 

What's your assessment?  Are we at the point of ending this removal process?   --- except of course the matter of buying you a beer, which I will indeed do with great respect and admiration for this generous service you provide. I only wish I could join you at your local pub and share a few with you.  Having brewed my own for many years, I take great pleasure in sampling the brews of all regions. 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

What's your assessment?  Are we at the point of ending this removal process?   --- except of course the matter of buying you a beer, which I will indeed do with great respect and admiration for this generous service you provide. I only wish I could join you at your local pub and share a few with you.  Having brewed my own for many years, I take great pleasure in sampling the brews of all regions.

 

Thanks for kind words

 

I think you're clean now.

 

 

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:

 

 

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?

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.

• How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows
• How to update Java
• How to update Adobe Reader

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.

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

FiheHippo.com Update Checker - to keep your programs up-to-date.

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 icon and Run as administrator option.
• Make sure that these ones are checked:
  • Remove disinfection tools
  • Purge system restore
  • Reset system settings
• Push Run.
• The program will run for a few seconds and display a notepad report. You do not need to attach it.

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  

[AdvancedSetup]

Glad we could help.

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