Malware help needed ( Thank you! )

[Quentin]

Hi all, the following incident happened today and I suspect that my PC has been attacked by malware of which the free version of malwarebytes that's installed here (after conducting the scan) isn't able to detect and remove it.

The incident goes like this:

- Whenever I power up or restart my pc and reaches the windows main screen, I'm prompted to open the following file and directory:

' C:\Users\quentin\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\smcs.exe '

- Subsequently, I went over to the above directory (i.e. ' C:\Users\quentin\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows ') and realized that the smcs.exe file does not exist in this particular folder.

As such, I'm kindly seeking your help to remove this potential malware on my pc.

Currently, I'm not experiencing any trouble in terms of slowing down of speed or abnormal operations on my pc but somehow I feel that this smcs.exe file is up to no good. However, I'm not able to completely remove this. Wondering what can I do to get rid of this please ..?

Thank you so much.

Best Regards,

Quentin

[kevinf80]

Hello Quentin and welcome to Malwarebytes, Follow the instructions at this link and post the requested logs: https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/9573-im-infected-what-do-i-do-now/ Thank you, Kevin

 

[Quentin]

Kevin, thank you for the prompt response!

Please see the 3 logs attached in this reply. Note the user name that appears in logs are my second name. Quentin is my English name.

With gratitude,

Q

Addition - quentin 28 sep 17.txt

FRST - quentin 28 sep 17.txt

MWByte threat scan - quentin 28 sep 17.txt

[kevinf80]

Run FRST one more time:

Type the following in the edit box after "Search:".

smcs.exe

Click Search Files button and post the log (Search.txt) it makes to your reply.

[Quentin]

Kevin, please see attached document for Search.txt. Thank you.

Search.txt

[kevinf80]

Thanks for that log, continue please:

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,

Please open Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.   On the Settings tab > Protection Scroll to and make sure the following are selected: Scan for Rootkite Scan within Archives   Scroll further to Potential Threat Protection make sure the following are set as follows: Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUP`s) set as :- Always detect PUP`s (recommended) Potentially Unwanted Modifications (PUM`s) set as :- Alwaysdetect PUM`s (recommended)   Click on the Scan make sure Threat Scan is selected, A Threat Scan will begin. With some infections, you may or may not see this message box. 'Could not load DDA driver'   Click 'Yes' to this message, to allow the driver to load after a restart. Allow the computer to restart. Continue with the rest of these instructions. When the scan is complete if anything is found make sure that the first checkbox at the top is checked (that will automatically check all detected items), then click on the Quarantine Selected Tab If asked to restart your computer to complete the removal, please do so When complete click on Export Summary after deletion (bottom-left corner) and select Copy to Clipboard. Wait for the prompt to restart the computer to appear, then click on Yes. After the restart once you are back at your desktop, open MBAM once more to retrieve the log. To get the log from Malwarebytes do the following:   Click on the Reports tab > from main interface. Double click on the Scan log which shows the Date and time of the scan just performed. Click Export > From export you have two options: Copy to Clipboard - if seleted right click to your reply and select "Paste" log will be pasted to your reply Text file (*.txt) - if selected you will have to name the file and save to a place of choice, recommend "Desktop" then attach to reply   Please use "Copy to Clipboard, then Right click to your reply > select "Paste" that will copy the log to your reply… Next. Download AdwCleaner by Malwarebytes onto your Desktop. Or from this Mirror   Right-click on AdwCleaner.exe and select Run as Administrator (for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 users) Accept the EULA (I accept), then click on Scan Let the scan complete. Once it's done, make sure that every item listed in the different tabs is checked and click on the Clean button. This will kill all the active processes Once the cleaning process is complete, AdwCleaner will ask to restart your computer, do it After the restart, a log will open when logging in. Please copy/paste the content of that log in your next reply Next, Download Microsoft's " Malicious Software Removal Tool" and save direct to the desktop Ensure to get the correct version for your system.... 32 Bit version: https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/confirmation.aspx?FamilyId=AD724AE0-E72D-4F54-9AB3-75B8EB148356&displaylang=en 64 Bit version: https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/confirmation.aspx?FamilyId=585D2BDE-367F-495E-94E7-6349F4EFFC74&displaylang=en Right click on the Tool, select “Run as Administrator” the tool will expand to the options Window In the "Scan Type" window, select Quick Scan Perform a scan and Click Finish when the scan is done. Retrieve the MSRT log as follows, and post it in your next reply: 1) Select the Windows key and R key together to open the "Run" function 2) Type or Copy/Paste the following command to the "Run Line" and Press Enter: notepad c:\windows\debug\mrt.log The log will include log details for each time MSRT has run, we only need the most recent log by date and time.... Let me see those logs, also tell me if there are any remaining issues or concerns.... Thank you, Kevin...

 

fixlist.txt

[Quentin]

Kevin, please see attached documents, thanks!

I've written in red below (after the dotted line) for comments on things that didn't happen to me or didn't conduct.

Also, I realized my hard disk has a lot more space freed up and PC moving a lot faster now ..

 

----------

Please open Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.
 

• On the Settings tab > Protection Scroll to and make sure the following are selected:
  Scan for Rootkite
  Scan within Archives
   
• Scroll further to Potential Threat Protection make sure the following are set as follows:
  Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUP`s) set as :- Always detect PUP`s (recommended)
  Potentially Unwanted Modifications (PUM`s) set as :- Alwaysdetect PUM`s (recommended)
   
• Click on the Scan make sure Threat Scan is selected,
• A Threat Scan will begin.
• With some infections, you may or may not see this message box.
  'Could not load DDA driver' (didn't receive a prompt for this)

 

• Click 'Yes' to this message, to allow the driver to load after a restart.
• Allow the computer to restart. Continue with the rest of these instructions. (didn't restart the PC)
• When the scan is complete if anything is found make sure that the first checkbox at the top is checked (that will automatically check all detected items), then click on the Quarantine Selected Tab (didn't notice any checkbox; however, no items were quarantined)
• If asked to restart your computer to complete the removal, please do so (didn't restart the PC)
• When complete click on Export Summary after deletion (bottom-left corner) and select Copy to Clipboard.
• Wait for the prompt to restart the computer to appear, then click on Yes.
• After the restart once you are back at your desktop, open MBAM once more to retrieve the log.

To get the log from Malwarebytes do the following:
 

• Click on the Reports tab > from main interface.
• Double click on the Scan log which shows the Date and time of the scan just performed.
• Click Export > From export you have two options:
  Copy to Clipboard - if seleted right click to your reply and select "Paste" log will be pasted to your reply
  Text file (*.txt) - if selected you will have to name the file and save to a place of choice, recommend "Desktop" then attach to reply (as I didn't restart PC on previous step, I just exported the summary from previous step and saved it in .txt and attached here in this reply)

 

 

• Please use "Copy to Clipboard, then Right click to your reply > select "Paste" that will copy the log to your reply…

Next.

Download AdwCleaner by Malwarebytes onto your Desktop.

Or from this Mirror
 

• Right-click on AdwCleaner.exe and select Run as Administrator (for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 users)
• Accept the EULA (I accept), then click on Scan
• Let the scan complete. Once it's done, make sure that every item listed in the different tabs is checked and click on the Clean button. This will kill all the active processes
• Once the cleaning process is complete, AdwCleaner will ask to restart your computer, do it
• After the restart, a log will open when logging in. Please copy/paste the content of that log in your next reply

Next,

Download Microsoft's " Malicious Software Removal Tool" and save direct to the desktop

Ensure to get the correct version for your system....

32 Bit version:
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/confirmation.aspx?FamilyId=AD724AE0-E72D-4F54-9AB3-75B8EB148356&displaylang=en

64 Bit version:
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/confirmation.aspx?FamilyId=585D2BDE-367F-495E-94E7-6349F4EFFC74&displaylang=en

Right click on the Tool, select “Run as Administrator” the tool will expand to the options Window
In the "Scan Type" window, select Quick Scan
Perform a scan and Click Finish when the scan is done.

Retrieve the MSRT log as follows, and post it in your next reply:

1) Select the Windows key and R key together to open the "Run" function
2) Type or Copy/Paste the following command to the "Run Line" and Press Enter:

notepad c:\windows\debug\mrt.log

The log will include log details for each time MSRT has run, we only need the most recent log by date and time....

Let me see those logs, also tell me if there are any remaining issues or concerns....

Thank you,

Kevin...

AdwCleaner[C0] - quentin 1 oct 17.txt

MBAM log - quentin 1 oct 17.txt

MSRT - quentin 1 oct 17.txt

[kevinf80]

Yes I appreciate your red prompts, those instructions you quote are only there incase they happen, I try to cover all eventualities. I would like to see the log from FRST fix, "fixlog.txt" That instruction was the first step of my last reply...

Thank you,

Kevin

[Quentin]

Please see attached doc

Fixlog - quentin 1 oct 17.txt

[kevinf80]

Thanks for that log, what is happening with your system now, any remaining issues or concerns...?

[Quentin]

The smcs.exe file has stopped prompting upon logging in Windows.

PC seems to be working good now.

By the way, based on your review, were there actually anything wrong with my PC? And what's the smcs.exe file? Malware?

Also, can you kindly suggest what tools should I run next time in order to clean up my PC (freeing up space) like how you helped me based on the actions from your detailed post previously?

Thanks!

[kevinf80]

Yes there was malware on your system. smcs.exe -https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/smcs.exe-21303.html and http://www.threatexpert.com/files/smcs.exe.html

Run the following to clean up:

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 may 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 Practices Do I need a Registry Cleaner? Take care and surf safe Kevin...

 

[kevinf80]

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!