scan detected Hosts Hijack file

[gvfan]

A scan with Zemana Anti-Malware found a hosts hijack file.  The program repaired it after the scan.  Is this something I should continue to be concerned about?  I have attached the FRST logs, as well as the log file from the Zemana scan.

 

 

FRST.txt

Addition.txt

Zemana 2016.11.28-21.39.07-i0-t92-d1.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Not sure why or what it found. There are some odd entries in the logs but not necessarily malware. Let me have you run the following please.

 

 

Please visit this web page and read the ComboFix User's Guide:

• Once you've read the article and are ready to use the program you can download it directly from the link below.
• Important! - Please make sure you save combofix to your desktop and do not run it from your browser
• Direct download link for: ComboFix.exe
• Please make sure you disable your security applications before running ComboFix.
• Once Combofix has completed it will produce and open a log file.  Please be patient as it can take some time to load.
• Please attach that log file to your next reply.
• If needed the file can be located here:  C:\combofix.txt
• NOTE: If you receive the message "illegal operation has been attempted on a registry key that has been marked for deletion", just reboot the computer.

[gvfan]

Attached is the ComboFix Log you requested.

Please note that ComboFix did not disconnect my computer from the internet or change my clock format as stated in the tutorial.

I rebooted after the log was generated and a window appeared informing me my search page had been changed to Microsoft.  it did give me the option to reject and stay with Google, which I did.

I also received a couple of pop ups from WinPatrol that informed me of new startup programs/services.  I rejected them.

 

ComboFix Log.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

It's possible that the hosts file was being read by a program at the same time your Zenma software was scanning and it thought it was tampered. Don't see any signs of a real threat but we can do some other scans if you'd like, just to make sure. Let me know.

Thanks

Ron

 

[gvfan]

After getting your reply, I started another Zemana scan.  It immediately identified the host hijack file as a threat.  I stopped the scan and exited Zemana.  I then ran a MBAM threat scan.  MBAM did not find any threats. Perhaps the hosts hijack is a Zemana false positive.  However, I would like to run whatever additional scans you see appropriate to make sure the machine is clean.

Thanks for your help. 

 

[AdvancedSetup]

Please restart the computer first and then run the following steps and post back the logs when ready.

STEP 01
Please download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop.

• Shutdown your antivirus to avoid any conflicts.
• Right click over JRT.exe and select Run as administrator on Windows Vista or Windows 7, double-click on XP.
• The tool will open and start scanning your system.
• Please be patient as this can take a while to complete.
• On completion, a log (JRT.txt) is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.
• Post the contents of JRT.txt into your next reply message
• When completed make sure to re-enable your antivirus

STEP 02

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 Clean.
• 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

STEP 03
Download Sophos Free Virus Removal Tool and save it to your desktop.
 

• Double click the icon and select Run
• Click Next
• Select I accept the terms in this license agreement, then click Next twice
• Click Install
• Click Finish to launch the program
• Once the virus database has been updated click Start Scanning
• If any threats are found click Details, then View Log file (bottom left-hand corner)
• Copy and paste the results in your reply
• Close the Notepad document, close the Threat Details screen, then click Start cleanup
• Click Exit to close the program
• If no threats were found, please confirm that result.

STEP 04
Please download the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop.

Note: You need to run the version compatible with your system. You can check here if you're not sure if your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit

• Double-click to run it. When the tool opens, click Yes to disclaimer.
• Press the 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 also makes another log (Addition.txt). If you've, run the tool before you need to place a check mark here.
• Please attach the Additions.txt log to your reply as well.

 

Thanks

[gvfan]

Attached are the logs you requested.  The Sophos Free Virus Removal Tool did not find any threats.

I did not run the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool as administrator.

Thanks for your help.

JRT.txt

AdwCleaner.txt

FRST.txt

Addition.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Just some minor stuff.

Please download the attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop.
NOTE. It's important that both files, FRST or FRST64 and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.

NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on this particular machine. Running this on another machine may cause damage to your operating system.

Run FRST or FRST64 and press the Fix button just once and wait.
If the tool needs a restart please make sure you let the system restart normally and let the tool complete its run after restart.
The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt). Please attach or post it to your next reply.

Note: If the tool warned you about an outdated version please download and run the updated version.

fixlist.txt

 

[gvfan]

Attached is the log you requested. I will wait to hear back from you.

Thanks for help.

Fixlog.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

All looks pretty good at this point. If Zenmana is still detecting a hosts file hijack then you should contact their support for a possible false positive from their product, or ask why it's detecting it as one.

 

 

[gvfan]

I tried to remove combofix in accordance with the tutorial. A window appeared advising me I needed to close MBAM and Avast AV, so I thought it was running  the scan program again instead of an uninstall.  For this reason I closed the warning window.  Another window appeared telling me I could damage my machine if I proceeded without closing MBAM and Avast.  I closed this window and did not check OK.  A window then appeared stating combofix had been uninstalled.

Thinking it may have not uninstalled properly I attempted to restore the computer to a restore point I created after I ran the FRST Fixlog earlier today.  I was informed I had no restore points.  What happened here?  Did I mess something up trying to close the combo fix uninstall?  The computer appears to be running properly.

[AdvancedSetup]

Difficult to say. I would not think they would be gone, but please go make sure that it looks ok. Manually go create a new System Restore Point now and let me know if it's off or unable to create one.

 

[gvfan]

All the restore points prior to the ComboFix uninstall do not appear.  I did create a new restore point, deleted a file, then did a system restore. The deleted file was restored. System restore appears to be working properly. It looks like the ComboFix uninstall as I performed it may have resulted in the deletion of restore points.

is there any thing else I should do to check system intregrity?

Thank you for your help with this. I appreciate it.

[AdvancedSetup]

No, think you're good to go now. I'll give you a closing speech about tool removal and how to prevent future infections, etc. 

 

At this time there are no more signs of an infection on your system.
However if you are still seeing any signs of an infection please let me know.

Let's go ahead and remove the tools and logs we've used during this process.

Most of the tools used are potentially dangerous to use unsupervised or if ran at the wrong time.
They are often updated daily so if you went to use them again in the future they would be outdated anyways.

The following procedures will implement some cleanup procedures to remove these tools.
 
Download Delfix from here and save it to your desktop. (you may already have this)

• Ensure Remove disinfection tools is checked.
• Click the Run button.
• Reboot

Any other programs or logs that are still remaining, you can manually delete. (right click.....Delete)
IE: RogueKiller.exe, RKreport.txt, RK_Quarantine folder, C:\FRST folder, FRST-OlderVersion folder, MBAR folder, etc....AdwCleaner > just run the program and click uninstall.

 
If there are any other left over Folders, Files, Logs then you can delete them on your own.
 
Please visit the following link to see how to delete old System Restore Points. Please delete all of them and create a new one at this time.
How to Delete System Protection Restore Points in Windows 7 and Windows 8

Remove all but the most recent Restore Point on Windows XP

As Java seems to get exploited on a regular basis I advise not using Java if possible but to at least disable java in your web browsers
How do I disable Java in my web browser? - Disable Java

A lot of reading here but if you take the time to read a bit of it you'll see why/how infections and general damage are so easily inflicted on the computer. There is also advice on how to prevent it and keep the system working well. Don't forget about good, solid backups of your data to an external drive that is not connected except when backing up your data. If you leave a backup drive connected and you do get infected it can easily damage, encrypt, delete, or corrupt your backups as well and then you'd lose all data.
Nothing is 100% bulletproof but with a little bit of education you can certainly swing things in your favor.

• How Malware Spreads - How did I get infected
• Best Practices for Safe Computing - Prevention of Malware Infection
• Avoiding those unwanted free applications
• A close look at how Oracle installs deceptive software with Java updates
• IAC / Ask.com toolbars
• Malwarebytes Unpacked Blog

If you're not currently using Malwarebytes Premium then you may want to consider purchasing the product which can also help greatly reduce the risk of a future infection.

 

[AdvancedSetup]

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!