Mail.Ru / smartinf.ru [PUP]

[petertron]

hello all!

 

long story short, i performed a 'schoolboy error' and clicked a link that installed rubbish on my browser.

 

i have managed to manually fix the browser so it is no longer hijacked.

i have removed the Mail.Ru add-on from firefox.

i have managed to uninstall the program related to Mail.Ru / smartinf.ru.

i have run mawarebytes & avast.

 

now everything seems ok, but...

 

i still have a problem, and i am hoping someone here can help.

 

upon restarting, firefox automatically boots, even though it is not supposed to, and i have checked msconfig.

i have discovered (by running a diagnostic startup) that there is a problem when i click the os to boot on startup.

when it boots up, it automatically boot firefox with the smartinf.ru homepage (even though clicking the google homepage button gets rid of it).

 

i have discovered the problem, but i require assisstance in remedying it.

i have attached a jpeg of my msconfig, and you will notice the command line that is highlighted for the os has been replaced by russian text.

 

how is this resolved?

 

br

 

barry

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Hello,
    
 
They call me TwinHeadedEagle around here, and I'll try to help your with your issue.
 
     
    
Before we start please read and note the following:

• We're primarily oriented on malware removal here, so you must know that some issues just cannot be solved and you must be prepared for this. Some tools we use here will remove your browser search history, so backup your important links and all the files whose loss is unacceptable.
• 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. Keep in mind that private life gets in the way too. Note that we may live in totally different time zones, what may cause some delays between answers.
• 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.
• 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 not covered in my instructions 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.
 
 

---

 
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.

[petertron]

hey twineagle,

 

cheers for getting back to me

 

erm, i can't seem to locate the 'attach' button for the files

[TwinHeadedEagle]

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.

[petertron]

ah, got it!

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 upload it to your reply.
 
 
 

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.

fixlist.txt

[petertron]

ok, my pc restarted and i have a fixlog file in my downloads folder, uploading now.

 

just a heads up:

 

i'm shooting off to work at 18:00 and i'll be back at 20:00

Fixlog.txt

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Okay, run ComboFix when you can.

[petertron]

here you go!

ComboFix.txt

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Very good. How is your PC behaving now?

[petertron]

what did you make of the log files, what happened?

did you see any problems there?

i read through them and noticed some Mail.Ru / http://orbevod.ruevidence within those logs.

 

there is something though:

while the process was going, i had an icon appear on my desktop called 'the internet that looked like the internet explorer logo.

at some point during those scans, internet explorer overid firefox to become my primary web browser.

when i click on it, it goes to the smartin.ru home page.

i have google chrome as my backup secondary browser, and that is still controlled by smartinf.ru.

 

so both google chrome and internet explorer are still hijacked by the smartinf.ru homepage.

[TwinHeadedEagle]

I remove some bad entries.
 
 
 
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:
  

  createsrpoint;autoclean;emptyalltemp;ipconfig /flushdns;b

• 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)

Post its content into your next reply.

[petertron]

i'm starting to understand the process by which you work with the finished logs.

i was under the impression that these apps we have been using actually found bad entries and deleted them themselves

 

at the same time you were seeking out bad entries, i was doing the same thing.

with the previous FRST & Combifix logs, i was reading them a few times to spot bad entries.

i should have mentioned that, but i thought "you're the profesional here, let him do his job without too many interuptions".

 

i spotted these following entries in the zoek scan:

 

==== Firefox Start and Search pages ======================

 

user_pref("browser.search.selectedEngine", "ПоиÑк@Mail.Ru");
user_pref("keyword.URL", "
 

==== All HKCU SearchScopes ======================

 

{FFEBBF0A-C22C-4172-89FF-45215A135AC7} ?????@Mail.Ru  Url="http://go.mail.ru/search?q={SearchTerms}&fr=ntg"
 

==== shortcuts in Quick Launch ======================
C:\Users\peter tron\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Mail.Ru.lnk - C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe http://www.mail.ru/cnt/8136

 

==== shortcuts After Repair ======================
C:\Users\peter tron\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Mail.Ru.lnk - C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

zoek-results.log

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Can you reset Chrome?

 

https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/3296214?hl=en

 

Firefox too:

 

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/reset-preferences-fix-problems

[petertron]

done.

 

chrome still has four russian items in the toolbar, but the homepage is default to google.

 

firefox was (seemingly) working ok beforehand, but is reset now.

 

one more thing:

 

when i sent you previous txt files and you said you 'removed some bad entries', i was wondering how that would affect me.

if you're editing my posted txt files on your pc, how would that edited information remove bad entries on my pc?

unless you were physically on my pc, i don't see how these bad entries were removed.

[TwinHeadedEagle]

They were removed using Fixlist.txt.

 

 

Export your bookmarks
https://support.goog...wer/96816?hl=en


Close all Chrome windows and tabs.
Go to the Start menu > Control Panel.
Click Programs and Features.
Double-click Google Chrome.
Click Uninstall from the confirmation dialog. Delete your user profile information, like your browser preferences, bookmarks, and history, select the "Also delete your browsing data" checkbox.


Click Start, copy in search %LOCALAPPDATA%\ and remove folder Google

Download Chrome
https://www.google.c...rowser/desktop/

[petertron]

done.

 

i'm still puzzled at how one text file edited on one pc can affect someone elses, without that edited file being given to them to run on their pc.

how does that work?

 

i'm grateful that it does, but still..

 

were my previous copied-and-pasted bad entries similar to what you found (and removed)?

[TwinHeadedEagle]

This is something that I've been learning for years, and I don't have time now to explain everything. 

 

Is your PC okay now?

[petertron]

it seems fine.

 

restarts booting ff, chrome & ie don't show any bad stuff.

 

i take it any background bad stuff was (hopefully) taken care of by the previous apps?

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Correct. We checked your PC completely
 
 
 
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

• How Malware Spreads - How did I get infected

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:

 
 
CCleaner - 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.
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  

[petertron]

excellent!

 

so i shall go ahead and delete frst, combifix & zoek (and associated txt files)?

 

i am reading through what you just posted.

at the moment, i have:

windows firewall

avast (free)

malwarebytes (free)

ccleaner

auslogics

adblocker+

 

shall i continue reading the posted links in my own time before discussing the downloading of the recommended software?

after that, run delfix?

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Delfix utility will delete all used tools.

 

Yes, you can read and set everything when you can.

[petertron]

i'm going to download these:

 

Malwarebytes' Anti-Exploit

McShield

Unchecky (foistware??)

 

i must admit, i have windows update turned off, as i recall once i had an update and it buggered up things and i had to roll it back!

i'm starting to see that this should be on at all times.

 

as for windows firewall, does this do a decent enough job, or would you say there are better 3rd party ones out there?

[TwinHeadedEagle]

I am using Windows Firewall and I personally think it is fine. But if you're going to feel safer, then try something 3rd party.

[AdvancedSetup]

Glad we could help.

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