Softonic Browser Hijack

[Stuffed]

Windows  7 Professional 64 bit*

 

In early January - I ran MalwareBytes [i have no memory of why] - I ended up finding "PUP.Optional.Softonic A" although that was a total surprise, I also installed and ran HitmanPro. Shortly after, those actions triggered Norton Internet Security to find and remove "RegCurePro"

 

I believed that the issue was cleaned up at that time.

 

This week - I had no real issues,  but subtle things caused me to run MalwareBytes as a safety measure. I downloaded and  installed the latest version - but it did not work. I discovered that the download had been hijacked and had installed a previous version from the Softonic site.

 

I followed the uninstall/reinstall using downloads from Malwarebytes and it appeared in task manager with an Icon at the bottom of the screen that does nothing. I left the computer on overnight and in the morning a Malware bytes screen was active- I scanned for about an hour and it only found quarantine.exe- but no Softonic issues.   On the bottom right I have a mini-window saying Protection disabled - one or more components of protection are disabled. I ended up buying a license but it still warns [on the main window] "Malicious website Protection disabled" - it is not possible to turn that option on clicking the selection immediately reverts.

I tried to download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool- from http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/farbar-recovery-scan-tool/dl/82/ - but Norton says its a virus and deletes the download - what do I do now?

 

[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.
 
 
 
Disable Norton and run FRST.

[Stuffed]

Thanks - attached are the logs

 

I had to try numerous times to get frst64.exe to complete, found may references to others having this problem. In the end I power off all external drives and rebooted and it completes in 5 minutes.

 

When I started this morning - there was no was to get Malwarebytes to start, no icon in the bottom right. However if I cancel it from task manager, and start it again, i get a dashboard it lets me do a scan - still cannot enable Malicious Website Protection.

FRST.txt

Addition.txt

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Fix with AdwCleaner
 
Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode and save the file to your Desktop.

• Right-click on icon and select Run as Administrator to start the tool.
• Wait until the database is updated.
• Accept the Terms of use and click Scan.
• When finished, please click Clean.
• Upon completion, click Report. A log (AdwCleaner[s*].txt) will open.

Please upload report in your reply.
 
Note: Reports will be saved in your system partition, usually at C:\Adwcleaner
 

---

 

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.

[Stuffed]

1.Adwarecleaner - I reran it as requested - I've run it several times in the last few days prior to your request,  but hesitated to delete all "finds"at each run. I include all logs in case you need them - note protector_dll.protectorbho was deleted several time [and I searched with regedit to confirm deletion] and it kept appearing again

 

2. Combofix failed twice with Swxcacls.3xe not writable. I rebooted, deleted its temporary directory on C: and it ran

 

3. When I start Firefox,  it asks to be the default browser  [which it normally is], running the above must have changed that

AdwCleanerR0.txt

AdwCleanerR1.txt

AdwCleanerR2.txt

AdwCleanerR3.txt

AdwCleanerR4.txt

AdwCleanerR5.txt

AdwCleanerR6.txt

AdwCleanerS0.txt

AdwCleanerS1.txt

AdwCleanerS2.txt

AdwCleanerS3.txt

AdwCleanerS4.txt

ComboFix.txt

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Uninstall outdated Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
 
Please download MBAM-clean and save it to your desktop.

• Right-click on mbam-clean.exe icon and select Run as Administrator to start the tool.
• It will ask you to reboot the machine - please do so.

After that follow my next instructions to download & install the newset MBAM version.
 
 
 
Scan with Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
 
Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and save it to your desktop.

• Install the progam and select update.
• Once updated, click the Settings tab, in the left panel choose Detctions & protection and tick Scan for rootkits.
• Click the Scan tab, choose Threat Scan is checked and click Scan Now.
• If threats are detected, click the Apply Actions button. You will now be prompted to reboot. Click Yes.
• Upon completion of the scan (or after the reboot), click the History tab.
• Click Application Logs and double-click the Scan Log.
• At the bottom click Export and choose Text file.

Save the file to your desktop and include its content in your next reply.

[Stuffed]

After I sent  you the logs last night - I used the computer without issues and rebooted several times.  At some point MalwareBytes poppet up and offered to scan, it ran ok. However I know not all was ok.  I am getting warnings about my Drobo {NAS drive] dashboard not working because of missing files, however, this can be ignored for now since the drive is working.

 

I power off and my computer autostarted early this morning to do backups. When I arrived at the computer MalwareBytes has warnings antirootkit DDA drivers are missing reboot to repair.  Shutting down took 20 minutes - operations in progress [with a lot of disk activity]. Malwarebytes did a scan at boot, 25 minute 600K object, no errors found. Another 20 minutes while boot continued - disk still making noises, but a black desktop, I had to ctrl+alt+ESC and force logoff to get a desktop.

 

I will now uninstall as requested.

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Okay, keep me updated.

By disk, you mean hard drive?

[Stuffed]

yes - disk=hard drive - I use both words

 

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

 

uninstalled and reinstalled - I have not entered my license key

 

Ran Malwarebytes - log attached

 

note:  Malicious Website Protection: Disabled - and I still cannot  change that

8feb2015-A-malwarebytes.txt

[TwinHeadedEagle]

I think this is something hardware related, hard drive shouldn't work that way. You should visit repair shop and ask for hard drive check.

[Stuffed]

No - I'm 100% sure its not hardware - I've run backups to that drive today several times and the status lights on the box are good.  Its only a warning that the dashboard software  will not run and I only need that to see drive status of the 4 physical drives in it.  Windows only sees it as a single drive P: I assume that something we did in the last day removed part of the software.

 

I'm now going to reinstall the Drobo dashboard and see.

[Stuffed]

Install with repair option - works ok now

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Good. Keep me updated.

[Stuffed]

Well at this point where do I go next?

 

FireFox still has the hijack that changes the Malwearbytes donload link in  https://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?/topic/146017-mbam-clean-removal-process-2x/ from http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam-download.php to http://malwarebytes-anti-malware.en.softonic.com/download

 

Malwarebytes exhibits strange behaviour indicating it is tainted - e.g. does not always appear on system boot, may take several hours to become usable, and MalicousWebiste protection is always disabled.

[TwinHeadedEagle]

I have already told you to check your hard drive.

[Stuffed]

I know - but that hard drive/NAS is only used for backups no programs run from it. Even if there was something wrong with - only the manufacterer could fix it and I could not afford the repair cost.

 

I can turn it off completely if you want, reboot without it turned on and I will still have the  problems.

[Stuffed]

I suspect a  misunderstanding - when I said earlier "disk still making noises, but a black desktop"

 

I meant - even though the desktop was black - I could hear normal noise drive activity on the local [NOT THE NAS] drives and was  telling me that the computer was still actively booting and not hung up. Those drives are S.M.A.R.T.monitored by Hard DIsk Sentinel and are checked every 5 minutes and are in perfect condition.

 

I thought you were talking about my Drobo 4 drive external box.

[TwinHeadedEagle]

I am not sure how to help you, I do not see signs of infection that could cause this.

 

Open your topic here and describe your issue --> https://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?/forum/6-general-pc-help/

[Naathim]

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!