Browser-like windows pop up at shutdown, MalwareBytes found nothing

[Mister_Ed]

I've had funky things going on with my computer. MalwareBytes and Avast both will have pop-ups saying they blocked malicious sites when no browser is even open, and on shutdown of the computer, what look like a bunch of browser windows pop up during the shutdown process. Nothing is found on any scans at this point.

 

Here is the FRST file:

 

FRST.txt

 

Here is the Addition.txt file:

 

Addition.txt

 

(EDIT: I had to just attach the files, since it said my post was too long when I copied and pasted them.)

 

Any help would be appreciated. The computer seems to be running just fine, but I don't trust it enough to really use it with the idea that hidden stuff might be running in the background.

 

 

 

 

[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.
• I volunteer to help you, so please, do not ask for help for your company/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.

 

 

---

You actually have some unwanted software and Adware lefovers.

---

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:

• avast Free Antivirus
• Norton Internet Security

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.

---

Scan with Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

Please re-run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.

• First of all, select update.
• Once updated, click the Settings tab, in the left panel choose Detection & 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 newest Scan Log.
• At the bottom click Export and choose Text file.

Save the file to your desktop and upload your next reply.

[Mister_Ed]

OK, I removed Norton (forgot it was on there, haven't used it for years), and ran the requested scan.

 

Here is the scan log (no threats were found):

 

scan_9-12.txt

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

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 upload them into your next reply.

[Mister_Ed]

Here are the new scan files:

 

FRST.txt

 

Addition.txt

 

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Are you still having issues?

[Mister_Ed]

Yes, exactly the same issues. I frequently get messages from Avast and Malwarebytes about them detecting threats and blocking harmful sites, often when I don't even have any browsers open, and when I shut down the computer, several things that look like browser windows pop up right before the computer shuts down. I get the feeling that something is secretly running some kind of browser invisibly in the background and it just shows up when I'm shutting down the computer as the computer is shutting down all programs that are still running. 

 

No additional programs show up on the Task Manager, and I have no way of discerning if any of the long list of processes and services are not legitimate.

[TwinHeadedEagle]

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 upload them into your next reply.

[Mister_Ed]

Here are the new files:

 

FRST.txt

 

Addition.txt

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Please re-run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.

• Click the History tab.
• Click Application Logs and click on the newest Protection Log.
• At the bottom click Export and choose Text file.

Save the file to your desktop and attach it in your next reply.

[Mister_Ed]

The most recent Protection Log is for the few minutes since I started up today. It has nothing in it. I'm attaching yesterday's Protection Log:

 

ProtectionLog_9-14.txt

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Do you still have ads and popups?

[Mister_Ed]

The problem remains the same as when I started this thread. Let me try to see if i can explain the symptoms more clearly.

 

While I am using the computer, the only obvious symptoms are that I get frequent messages from Avast and Malwarebytes saying that they have blocked a malicious site or a threat has been detected. (I've had at least a dozen of these messages during the time it took to type this message.) This can happen whether or not I currently have any web browsers open. I don't actually experience any visible pop-ups or ads.

 

However, whenever I shut down the computer, during the shut down process SEVERAL browser windows (at least they look like browser windows to me, displaying web pages I am not familiar with) come up on the screen briefly as the computer is shutting down. I presume the computer is closing these as part of the shut down process.

 

I therefore get the distinct impression that SOMEHOW, something is running all these browser windows, going to various sites, hidden in the background somewhere (they certainly don't show up as applications in the Task Manager. I suppose they could be showing up as processes or services, but I've no idea how I would identify them there), and I only see them as the computer closes them all during shut down.

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Does it happen in all browsers?

[Mister_Ed]

Does it happen in all browsers?

 

I don't understand your question. I've told you, while I am using the computer, nothing happens except frequent messages from Avast and Malwalbytes that they have blocked a threat or a malicious site. I get these messages no matter what browser I am using at the time, or even if I am not using a browser at all. It is when I am shutting down the computer that I see multiple windows appear, during the shut down process, that appear to be browser windows (since they contain various unfamiliar websites). However, those windows don't look like they are from either of the browsers that I use (Chrome or Internet Explorer). They are simply windows, without the format or toolbars (or even the address window, I think) of those browser programs. They only appear so I can see them in the moments before the computer shuts down, so I only get a very brief look at them as the computer closes them as part of the shut down process. No such additional browsers show up as Applications in the Task Manager. They are clearly hiding themselves and running in the background.

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Okay, thank you for detailed explanation.

Uninstall some programs

We need to uninstall some unwanted/unneeded programs.

• Press the + R on your keyboard at the same time. Type appwiz.cpl and click OK.
• Search there for each entry mentioned below, right-click the entry and click Uninstall one at a time

The list of programs to uninstall:

• MapsGalaxy Internet Explorer Toolbar
• ss helper 1.74
• YAC(Yet Another Cleaner!)

After completing uninstalls, please manually reboot your machine!

Note: If you get the message like: An error occurred while trying to uninstall, just press Yes.

Note: If you are unable to uninstall all programs, please inform me, but continue with other steps.

---

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.

---

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.
• Accept the Terms of use.
• Wait until the database is updated.
• Click Scan.
• When finished, please click Cleaning.
• Your PC should reboot now.
• After reboot, logfile will be opened. Copy its content into your next reply.

Note: Reports will be saved in your system partition, usually at C:\Adwcleaner

fixlist.txt

[Mister_Ed]

As far as the uninstalling goes...

 

MapsGalaxy Internet Explorer Toolbar gives an error that says:

 

"There was a problem starting C:\Program Files(x86)\MapsGalaxy_39\bar\1.bin\39bar.dll The specified module could not be found."

 

And it remains on the program list.

 

ss helper 1.74 gave the "an error ocurred while trying to uninstall" message, but when I clicked yes it at least disappeared from the Program list

 

YAC doesn't appear in the list at all, so I cannot even attempt to uninstall it. (This strikes me as suspicious.)

 

I'm rebooting now, even though it doesn't seem like it actually uninstalled anything.

[Mister_Ed]

Here is the Fixlog from FRST:

 

Fixlog.txt

 

Here is the log from AdwCleaner:

 

AdwCleanerC1.txt

 

 

[Mister_Ed]

I am cautiously optimistic at this point. I have not been getting any threat detection warnings from either Avast or Malwarebytes for the past hour or so, and last time I shut down the computer I saw no browser windows.

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Excellent

Keep me updated in few hours.

[Mister_Ed]

Everything still looks good. Thanks!

 

How much does a really good beer cost in Serbia, anyway? 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

It is not about beer, you can donate any amount you wish or can afford. Thank you

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 show your appreciation 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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