LeCarGuy Posted May 27, 2017 ID:1130711 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Hi there, I have been struggling for over a week now with removing Adware.Elex and Adware.Ghoskwa. Every time I restart it is a matter of minutes and my PC is infected again. Apps I've tried include: JRT, Adware cleaner, Malwarebytes scan,Avast antivirus scan, eset online scan and sophos virus removal tool. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinf80 Posted May 27, 2017 ID:1130716 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Hello LeCarGuy and welcome to Malwarebytes, My screen name is kevinf80, i`m here to help clean up your system. Make sure to run all scans from accounts with Administrator status, continue as follows please: Anyone other than the original starter of this thread please DO NOT follow the instructions and advice posted as replies here, my help and advice is NOT related to your system and will probably cause more harm than good... Change the download folder setting in the Default Browser only. so all of the tools we may use are saved to the Desktop:Google Chrome - Click the "Customize and control Google Chrome" button in the upper right-corner of the browser. Choose Settings. at the bottom of the screen click the "Show advanced settings..." link. Scroll down to find the Downloads section and click the Change... button. Select your desktop and click OK.Mozilla Firefox - Click the "Open Menu" button in the upper right-corner of the browser. Choose Options. In the downloads section, click the Browse button, click on the Desktop folder and the click the "Select Folder" button. Click OK to get out of the Options menu.Internet Explorer - Click the Tools menu in the upper right-corner of the browser. Select View downloads. Select the Options link in the lower left of the window. Click Browse and select the Desktop and then choose the Select Folder button. Click OK to get out of the download options screen and then click Close to get out of the View Downloads screen. NOTE: IE8 Does not support changing download locations in this manner. You will need to download the tool(s) to the default folder, usually Downloads, then copy them to the desktop.Change default download folder location in Edge -Boot to a user account with admin status, select start > file explorer > right click on "Downloads" folder and select "Properties" In the new window select "Location" tab > clear the text field box and type in or copy/paste %userprofile%\Desktop > select "Apply" then "OK"Safari Select settings (looks like cog wheel, top r/h corner) from the list select "Preferences" in the new window with "General Tab" selected, expand dropdown from "save downloaded files to" box, then select "other" from the new window navigate to and select "Desktop" Be aware you are not changing the Browser download folder location, you are changing the user’s download directory location..... Next, Follow the instructions in the following link to show hidden files:http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/show-hidden-files-and-folders-in-windows-vista/ Next, Download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop. Alternative download option: http://www.techspot.com/downloads/6731-farbar-recovery-scan-tool.htmlNote: You need to run the version compatible with your system (32 bit or 64 bit). 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. If your security alerts to FRST either, accept the alert or turn your security off to allow FRST to run. It is not malicious or infected in any way... Be aware FRST must be run from an account with Administrator status... Double-click to run it. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.(Windows 8/10 users will be prompted about Windows SmartScreen protection - click More information and Run.) Make sure Addition.txt is checkmarked under "Optional scans" Press Scan button to run the tool.... It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please copy and paste it to your reply. The tool will also make a log named (Addition.txt) Please attach that log to your reply. Next,Scan with HitmanProIn any case don't remove on your own anything that Hitman Pro detects! This scanner is really good for checking, it has however been known for deleting files instead of curing them, in some cases this may render the machine unbootable. Any removals will be done manually after careful analysis of the scan results! Please download HitmanPro by SurfRight 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. If the program won't run please run it while holding down the left CTRL key until it's loaded! Click on the Next button. You must agree with the terms of EULA (if asked). Check the box beside No, I only want to perform a one-time scan to check this computer. Click on the Next button. The program will start to scan the computer. It would only take several minutes. When the scan is done click on drop-down menu of the found entries (if any) and choose - Apply to all => Ignore. If there isn't a dropdown menu when the scan is done then please don't delete anything and close HitmanPro!Navigate to C:\ProgramData\HitmanPro\Logs, open the report and include it it your next reply. Click on the Next button. Click on the Save Log button. Save that file to your desktop. Please include that logfile in your next reply. Don't forget to re-enable your security! Let me see those logs in your reply... Thank you, Kevin..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeCarGuy Posted May 27, 2017 Author ID:1130739 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Hello Kevinf80, Thank you for your reply and assistance. Please see the log files attached. FRST.txt Addition.txt HitmanPro_20170527_1311.log Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinf80 Posted May 27, 2017 ID:1130751 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Thanks for those logs, continue with the following: Download attached fixlist.txt file (end of reply) and save it to the Desktop, or the folder you saved FRST into. "Do not open that file" NOTE. It's important that both FRST and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work. Open FRST and press the Fix button just once and wait. The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt) or the folder it was ran from. Please post it to your reply. Next, Open Malwarebytes, select > "settings" > "protection tab" Scroll down to "Scan Options" ensure Scan for Rootkits and Scan within Archives are both on.... Go back to "DashBoard" select the Blue "Scan Now" tab...... When the scan completes deal with any found entries... Then select "Export Summary" then "Text File (*.txt)" name that log and save , you can copy or attach that to your reply... Next, Download AdwCleaner by Xplode onto your Desktop. Or from this Mirror Double click on Adwcleaner.exe to run the tool Click on the Scan in the Actions box Please wait fot the scan to finish.. When "Waiting for action.Please uncheck elements you want to keep" shows in top line.. Click on the Cleaning box. Next click OK on the "Closing Programs" pop up box. Click OK on the Information box & again OK to allow the necessary reboot After restart the AdwCleaner(C*)-Notepad log will appear, please copy/paste it in your next reply. Where * is the number relative to list of scans completed... Next,Emsisoft Emergency Kit Click Here to download Emsisoft Emergency Kit. The download will automatically start after a moment. Save EmsisoftEmergencyKit.exe to your Desktop. Double click on EmsisoftEmergencyKit.exe (Windows Vista/7/8/10 users: Accept UAC warning if it is enabled). A screen like this will appear: Leave everything as it is, then click Extract. This will unpack Emsisoft Emergency Kit to the EEK folder located in the root drive (usually C:\). Once the extraction is done, an icon will appear on your Desktop. Double click it to start Emsisoft Emergency Kit. Wait for Emsisoft Emergency Kit to finish loading signatures. A screen like this should appear: Choose Yes, then wait for EEK to finish updating. Choose Malware Scan under the Scan button. When EEK asks to activate PUP detection, choose Yes. Wait for the scan to finish. If EEK detects something, all detected items will be displayed. Place a checkmark before everything, then choose Quarantine Selected. If Emsisoft Emergency Kit asks to reboot, please do so immediately. The scan log is located in Logs -> Scan Logs. Click on the entry of the latest scan, choose Export and save the report on your Desktop. Please Copy and Paste the contents of the scan log in your next reply. Let me see those logs, also tell me if there are any remaining issues or concerns... Thank you, Kevin... fixlist.txt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeCarGuy Posted May 27, 2017 Author ID:1130773 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Hi, please see logs below Fixlog.txt Log.txt AdwCleaner[C3].txt Scan_170527-164027.txt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinf80 Posted May 27, 2017 ID:1130779 Share Posted May 27, 2017 How is your PC responding now, any remaining issues or concerns...? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeCarGuy Posted May 27, 2017 Author ID:1130828 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Hi, I have not noticed anything strange as yet. I will keep an eye on it though and get back to you if I anything changes. Thank you for the assistance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinf80 Posted May 27, 2017 ID:1130831 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Thanks for the update and kind words, if no issues return clean up as follows... Navigate to and delete the following, (if present):C:\ProgramData\Emsisoft C:\Users\{your user name}\Desktop\start emergency kit scanner - Shortcut.lnk C:\EEK C:\Users\{your user name}\Desktop\EmsisoftEmergencyKit.exe Next, Download "Delfix by Xplode" and save it to your desktop. Or use the following if first link is down:"Delfix link mirror" If your security program alerts to Delfix either, accept the alert or turn your security off. Double Click to start the program. If you are using Vista or higher, please right-click and choose run as administrator Make Sure the following items are checked: Remove disinfection tools <----- this will remove tools we have used. Purge System Restore <--- this will remove all previous and possibly exploited restore points, a new point relative to system status at present will be created. Reset system settings <--- this will reset any system settings back to default that were changed either by us during cleansing or malware/infection Now click on "Run" and wait patiently until the tool has completed. The tool will create a log when it has completed. We don't need you to post this. Any remnant files/logs from tools we have used can be deleted… Next, Read the following links to fully understand PC Security and Best Practices, you may find them useful....Answers to Common Security Questions and best PracticesDo I need a Registry Cleaner? Take care and surf safe Kevin... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeCarGuy Posted May 28, 2017 Author ID:1130883 Share Posted May 28, 2017 Hi Kevin, The Issue seems resolved. I have not received any strange pop-ups and there are no new folders on the C-Drive. I have done some scans now and all is clean. Thank you for your assistance again. You explained everything well, making it real simple to follow instructions. I appreciate the articles you provided and will read through them today. good bye Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinf80 Posted May 28, 2017 ID:1130903 Share Posted May 28, 2017 You`re very welcome LeCarGuy, comeback anytime.... Regards, Kevin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Root Admin AdvancedSetup Posted June 5, 2017 Root Admin ID:1133315 Share Posted June 5, 2017 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! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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