iamuotg.exe + igfxmtc.exe trouble - unknXwn

[unknXwn]

Hi all,  I have the same issue  I have been battling malware since infection last night and I have zeroed in on 3 folders in the AppData/Local folder: "auovemb", "csaentd", and "igfxmtc".  These folders are locked up good.  Can't delete/rename, or even look inside them.  In order to look inside them, I installed Ubuntu bash terminal and cd'ed inside to peek around.  I tried deleting these using sudo and chmod 777 but no dice. 

 

Of these 3 folders, only igfxmtc has an executable that's running in taskman.  Can't end that process either.   I also had two unnamed processes in taskman that, when I opened their file location, it brought me to SysWOW64/svchost.exe .  I ended those tasks and the issue with my Chrome browser redirecting with ciytpage was non-existent....til reboot of course.  I've since used alot of tools to scan, and they've all found a few things, but nothing has detected these three folders and their contents. 

 

That said, I'm patiently watching this thread to see if a solution occurs. 

 

thanks.

[Aura]

Hi unknXwn

My name is Aura and I'll be assisting you with your malware issue. Since we'll be working together, you can call me Aura or Yoan, which is my real name, it's up to you! Now that we've broke the ice, I'll just ask you a few things during the time we'll be working together to clean your system and get it back to an operational state.

• As you'll notice, the logs we are asking for here are quite lenghty, so it's normal for me to not reply exactly after you post them. This is because I need some time to analyse them and then act accordingly. However, I'll always reply within 24 hours, 48 hours at most if something unexpected happens
• As long as I'm assisting you on Malwarebytes Forums, in this thread, I'll ask you to not seek assistance anywhere else for any issue related to the system we are working on. If you have an issue, question, etc. about your computer, please ask it in this thread and I'll assist you
• The same principle applies to any modifications you make to your system, I would like you to ask me before you do any manipulations that aren't in the instructions I posted. This is to ensure that we are operating in sync and I know exactly what's happening on your system
• If you aren't sure about an instruction I'm giving you, ask me about it. This is to ensure that the clean-up process goes without any issue. I'll answer you and even give you more precise instructions/explanations if you need. There's no shame in asking questions here, better be safe than sorry!
• If you don't reply to your thread within 3 days, I'll bump this thread to let you know that I'm waiting for you. If you don't reply after 5 days, it'll be closed. If you return after that period, you can send me a PM to get it unlocked and we'll continue where we left off;
• Since malware can work quickly, we want to get rid of them as fast as we can, before they make unknown changes to the system. This being said, I would appreciate if you could reply to this thread within 24 hours of me posting. This way, we'll have a good clean-up rhythm and the chances of complications will be reduced
• I'm against any form of pirated, illegal and counterfeit software and material. So if you have any installed on your system, I'll ask you to uninstall them right now. You don't have to tell me if you indeed had some or not, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Plus, this would be against Malwarebytes Forums's rules
• In the end, you are the one asking for assistance here. So if you wish to go a different way during the clean-up, like format and reinstall Windows, you are free to do so. I would appreciate you to let me know about it first, and if you need, I can also assist you in the process
• I would appreciate if you were to stay with me until the end, which means, until I declare your system clean. Just because your system isn't behaving weirdly anymore, or is running better than before, it doesn't mean that the infection is completely gone
  This being said, I have a full time job so sometimes it'll take longer for me to reply to you. Don't worry, you'll be my first priority as soon as I get home and have time to look at your thread
  

This being said, it's time to clean-up some malware, so let's get started, shall we?

Follow the instructions in the thread below, and provide me both FRST logs (FRST.txt and Addition.txt). You can attach them in your next post, or copy/paste their content.

https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/9573-im-infected-what-do-i-do-now/

[unknXwn]

I'm just gonna pop in here real quick.  I have the same "igfxmtc.exe" issue.  I also have a couple other folders that contain malware in AppData/Local.  "auovemb" and "csaentd".  Sometimes they'll come up on Task Manager and hog some RAM and CPU. Right now, they haven't come up.  Yes, in that Local folder, I also have the folder named "igfxmtc".

Either way, I have those issues and a "citypage.local" redirect that's on my browsers, so whenever I search something, it'll quickly show me Google's results, then I'll see "citypage.local....etc" redirecting me to Bing's results. 

Also, this thing is not letting me delete the folders/files, or even view the contents of the folders [the bad ones referenced above].  I've also tried Windows 10's reset and "Fresh Install" options but they do nothing.  It goes to the UAC prompt, I hit Yes, and nothing happens. 

One last thing, I got FRST to work and I'll attach the files below, but RogueKiller crashed consistently once it actually started scanning, around 25 seconds into the scan process. I suspect this malware is the cause of all this. 

I've used a Bash/Ubuntu console to view the contents of these folders, but obviously it's telling me "Permission Denied" when I try to delete them.  I've also tried deleting them with admin Powershell.  To depict everything, I've attached screenshots of my task manager showing the tasks, 6 of which are disguised as windows tasks [but I went to open the location and they trace back to one of these folders, usually "csaentd"... and other screenshots show the contents of the folders, thanks to Linux. 

FYI, I'm using a Surface Pro, and it's been a real pain to try and boot a Win10 recovery USB from it, aka impossible. 

Addition.txt

FRST.txt

[unknXwn]

Hi, thanks for your assistance with this.  This would be the first time I've ever called on help in a forum for this sort of thing. Aside from the infected Surface tablet, I have a Win10/Linux laptop and a Win10 desktop, both of which have been clean for a long time.  So, I'm able to use those to assist in recovering the tablet. 

[Aura]

Awesome. Alright, open FRST, and copy/paste the following inside the text box. Once done, click on the Fix button. A fixlog.txt should be created on your desktop. Attach it here afterwards.

Start::
CMD: bcdedit.exe /set {bootmgr} displaybootmenu yes
CMD: bcdedit.exe /set {default} recoveryenabled yes
CMD: fltmc instances
CMD: dir C:\Windows\system32\drivers
End::

 

[unknXwn]

Here you go.

Fixlog.txt

[Aura]

Thank you. You'll need a USB Flash Drive for the next part, and the fixlist.txt will need to be downloaded and moved on the USB from another (clean) computer.

Farbar Recovery Scan Tool (FRST) - Recovery Environment Scan
Follow the instructions below to download and execute a scan on your system with FRST from the Recovery Environment, and provide the logs in your next reply.

Item(s) required:

• USB Flash Drive (size depend on if you have to create a USB Recovery or Installation media)
• CD/DVD (optional: only needed if you need to create a Recovery or Installation media and your USB Flash Drive is too small)
• Another computer (optional: only needed if you cannot work from the infected computer directly)
  

Preparing the USB Flash Drive

• Download the right version of FRST for your system:
  
  • FRST 64-bit
    
• Move the executable (FRST.exe or FRST64.exe) on your USB Flash Drive
• Download the attached fixlist.txt, and move it on your USB Flash Drive as well
  

Boot in the Recovery Environment

• Plug your USB Flash Drive in the infected computer
• To enter the Recovery Environment with Windows Vista and Windows 7, follow the instructions below:
  
  • Restart the computer
  • Once you've seen your BIOS splashscreen (the computer manufacturer logo), tap the F8 key repeatedly until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears
  • Use the arrow keys to select Repair your computer, and press on Enter
  • Select your keyboard layout (US, French, etc.) and click on Next
  • Click on Command Prompt to open the command prompt
    Note:If you can't access the Recovery Environment using the F8 method above, you'll need to create a Windows installation or repair media. It can be made on the computer itself or another one running the same version of Windows as the one you plan to use it on. For more information, check out this tutorial on SevenForums.
    
• To enter the Recovery Environment with Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, follow the instructions in this tutorial on EightForums
  Note:If you can't access the Recovery Environment using the method above, you'll need to create a Windows installation or repair media. It can be made on the computer itself or another one running the same version of Windows as the one you plan to use it on. For more information, check out this tutorial.
• To enter the Recovery Environment with Windows 10, follow the instructions in this tutorial on TenForums
  Note:If you can't access the Recovery Environment using the method above, you'll need to create a Windows installation or repair media. It can be made on the computer itself or another one running the same version of Windows as the one you plan to use it on. For more information, check out this tutorial on TenForums.
  

Once in the command prompt

• In the command prompt, type notepad and press on Enter
• Notepad will open. Click on the File menu and select Open
• Click on Computer/This PC, find the letter for your USB Flash Drive, then close the window and Notepad
• In the command prompt, type e:\frst.exe (for the x64 version, type e:\frst64.exe and press on Enter
• Note: Replace the letter e with the drive letter of your USB Flash Drive
• FRST will open
• Click on Yes to accept the disclaimer
• Click on the Fix button and wait for the scan to complete
• A log called fixlog.txt will be saved on your USB Flash Drive. Attach it in your next reply
  

fixlist.txt

[unknXwn]

Did that little bit of code unlock my bootmgr so I can now boot from usb?  If not, this may be where the story ends. I've been to the screen where I can disable TPM and secure boot, but I'm unable to select boot priority.  It never presents me with the options.  I think it was easier with Win8. I'm currently using diskpart to format my flash drive, the slow way, unfortunately, it now has to write 60gigs or so for the format. 

[Aura]

You don't need to create a bootable USB to access the RE. Since we enabled the Recovery Options, you should be able to enter it using one of the various methods listed in the tutorials I linked.

[unknXwn]

Well, I managed to get to the Memory Diagnostic Tool by holding shift while hitting restart.... but this will not get me into that recovery environment. I'll keep sifting the tutorial and trying other methods with the hardware buttons. 

 

EDIT: figured it out. one moment. ...

Edited November 29, 2017 by unknXwn

[unknXwn]

OK, finally. here you go

Fixlog.txt

[unknXwn]

So, that was cool.  I figured since I had the RE open, I'd boot from USB, so I made a Ubuntu live USB, booted into it, and cd'ed into the Local folder, and found that those 3 folders are gone!

Decided to get back into Windows and so far, it appears everything is back to normal.  No bad processes in Task Manager, the folders are removed, and the CityPage redirect is non-existent now. I'll run RogueKiller again.......and it has not crashed yet!

 

This is all very good and very quick, I wish I had reached out sooner!  I was battling this all day yesterday.  Let me know if there's any further log/process you want me to do, so we can confirm all is well. 

 

Thanks

[Aura]

Awesome! Now, you should be able to install and run a scan with Malwarebytes.

Malwarebytes - Clean Mode

• Download and install the free version of Malwarebytes
  Note: If you have Malwarebytes already installed, you don't need to install it again. Simply start from the next bullet point
• Once Malwarebytes is installed, launch it and let it update his database. You might have to click on the little arrow by Scan Status in the middle right pane for it to do so
• Once the database update is complete, click on the Scan tab, then select the Threat Scan button and click on Start Scan
• Let the scan run, the time required to complete the scan depends of your system and computer specs
• Once the scan is complete, make sure that the first checkbox at the top is checked (which will automatically check every detected item), then click on the Quarantine Selected button
  
  • If it asks you to restart your computer to complete the removal, do so
    
• Click on Export Summary after the deletion (in the bottom-left corner) and select Copy to Clipboard. Paste the content in your next reply
  

 

[unknXwn]

OK, I admit I first ran RogueKiller and it found 6-7 items which I took the suggested action.  Then I ran MBAM, and have attached the log from that below. I have the JSON files from the RogueKiller, but can't directly attach them here because of the uploader limitations.

mbam log.txt

[Aura]

Did you quarantine the threats Malwarebytes detected? Also, you can .zip the JSON files and attach the .zip here.

[unknXwn]

Yes I did  quarantine them.  See attached ZIP w/JSON's

RKreport_SCN_11292017_144100.zip

[Aura]

Good Now let's run a scan with AdwCleaner.

AdwCleaner - Fix Mode

• Download AdwCleaner and move it to your Desktop
• 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 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
  

 

[unknXwn]

See attached.  

AdwCleaner[C1].txt

[Aura]

Thank you. Now, let's run a new scan with FRST, and provide me a fresh set of logs. I'll look for remnants that needs to be removed.

[unknXwn]

Here ya go

Addition.txt

FRST.txt

[Aura]

Almost done!

Farbar Recovery Scan Tool (FRST) - Fix mode
Follow the instructions below to execute a fix on your system using FRST, and provide the log in your next reply.

• Download the attached fixlist.txt file, and save it on your Desktop (or wherever your FRST.exe/FRST64.exe executable is located)
• Right-click on the FRST executable and select Run as Administrator (for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 users)
• Click on the Fix button
  
• On completion, a message will come up saying that the fix has been completed and it'll open a log in Notepad
• Copy and paste its content in your next reply
  

How's your system behaving? Are there any other issues to address?

fixlist.txt

[unknXwn]

OK, done, I attached the fixlog.  It's still booting to the Windows Boot Manager, by the way.  That's not a huge issue, as I have been considering dual-booting this, and having the boot manager load by default makes this process super easy.  Is there a way I can turn it off if need be?  I understand that I should be able to access it on an as-needed basis by holding Shift+Restart. 

 

Thank YOU!

Fixlog.txt

Edited November 30, 2017 by unknXwn

[Aura]

To turn off the Windows Boot Manager, enter this command in an elevated command prompt.

bcdedit.exe /set {bootmgr} displaybootmenu no

And no problem, you're welcome!

Since there are no signs of infection anymore in your logs, and you just told me that there are no more issues left to address, I guess we're done here. We'll wrap it up by running DelFix to delete the tools and logs that were used in this clean-up.

DelFix
Follow the instructions below to download and execute DelFix.

• Download DelFix and move the executable to your Desktop
• Right-click on DelFix.exe and select Run as Administrator (for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 users)
• Check the following options :
  
  • Activate UAC
  • Remove disinfection tools
  • Create registry backup
  • Purge system restore
  • Reset system settings
    
• Once all the options mentionned above are checked, click on Run
• After DelFix is done running, a log will open. Please copy/paste the content of the output log in your next reply
  

Tips, tricks, advice and recommendations

Now it's time to give you some tips, tricks, advice and recommendations on how to protect your system and prevent you from being infected in the future. This is where I'll explain basic security measures that you should take to protect and harden your system, and also make sure it stays as safe and secure as possible against hackers and malware. You are free to ignore the recommendations listed below, although I obviously do not recommend it. If you have any questions about one of the points covered in the speech below, feel free to ask me your questions here directly so I can answer them and guide you.

Windows Updates

Keeping Windows up to date is one of the first steps in having a safe and secure system. The Security Updates that Windows receives are meant to fix exploits and flaws in it that makes it more secure and not exploitable by hackers. In order to do that, you should always install the Security Updates, known as "Important Updates" on your Windows system. These updates are released on the second Tuesday of every month, but some are also released before if they are emergency/critical Security Updates. Let's make sure that you have all your Important Updates and Recommended Updates installed and that your Windows Updates are set to be installed automatically.

• How To Change Windows Update Settings
• How To Check For & Install Windows Updates
  

Keeping your programs up-to-date

Like keeping Windows updated, keeping your installed programs up-to-date is another important step in having a safe and secure system. Outdated programs can be exploited by hackers and malware to infect a system and take it over. This is especially true today with the rise of Exploit Kits (and also 0-days) which is one of the biggest attack vectors to distribute malware. Therefore, you should always keep vulnerable programs like Adobe Flash Player, Adobe Shockwave Player, Java, Silverlight, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, VLC Media Player, etc. updated to their most recent version (even better, you don't have to install them if you don't use them). Programs like UCheck, SecuniaPSI and Heimdal Free will scan your system for outdated programs, and help you identify them, as well as update them.

• UCheck Documentation
• How to detect vulnerable and out-dated programs using Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI)
  

Anti-Virus

Note: The programs listed below are all free to use or they have some sort of trial. Some of them have a paid version that provides more features, while a lot of other good programs only have a paid version but aren't listed there (such as Kaspersky and ESET Antivirus products).

• Sophos Home
• Bitdefender Free Antivirus
• Emsisoft Anti-Malware - Free 30 day trial. Once it expires, EAM enters into a freeware mode where it is still considered an Antivirus program, but without real-time protection
• Avira Free Antivirus
• avast! Free Antivirus
  

Anti-Malware, Anti-Exploit and Anti-Ransomware

Having a decent security setup (which also includes an Antivirus) is the most crucial step to protect a system. These programs are additional layers of defence that will prevent a system from being infected, or if it somehow ends up infected, help mitigate the infection and remediate it. Fortunately, the new Malwarebytes 3 bundle all these layers in one, easy to use and efficient product. Malwarebytes 3 offers Malware, Web, Exploit and Ransomware protection modules that works together in order to keep your system protected and stop an infection at multiple level.

• Malwarebytes - Comes with a free trial of the Premium version for 14 days, after which it reverts back to the Free version
  

Note: Please note that only the Premium version of Malwarebytes 3 offers real-time protection (Malware, Web, Exploit and Ransomware). The free version only allows you to scan your system for threats and remove them.

Firewall

Starting in Windows Vista, the Windows Firewall greatly improved and will satisfy the needs of most users. If you do not have an Internet Suite Antivirus program (which includes a firewall) and you want to use a 3rd party firewall, you can consider the options below.

• GlassWire - Has both a free and paid version (with different packages)
• Windows Firewall Control - Gives you more control over your Windows Firewall
• TinyWall - Lightweight firewall implementing the Windows Firewall and giving you more control over it
  

Web Browsers and Web Browsing

Web Browsers could be considered as the closest door between a malware and your system. This is where most malware goes through to infect a system, and therefore it should be the program(s) you want to secure the most. There are two ways of going about it: hardening your web browser via extensions, and having good browsing habits. 

Hardening your web browser means to install extensions that will help it protect itself (and your system on the same occasion) against Exploit Kits, MiTM attacks, etc. but also you at the same time. Here are a few extensions that I recommend you to install.

• uBlock Origin: Efficient multi-purpose blocker that is lightweight on RAM and CPU usage (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera and most Chromium and Firefox-based browsers)
• HTTPS Everywhere: Extension that converts your HTTP (unencrypted) requests to HTTPS (encrypted) ones (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Opera)
• Web of Trust: Website reputation, rating and review extension that will help you quickly identify bad and suspicious sites from good ones (every web browsers)
• NoScript: NoScript is a script blocker (Java, Flash, JavaScript, etc.) for Mozilla Firefox and Firefox-based browsers (Mozilla Firefox and Firefox-based web browsers)
• uMatrix: For advanced users, a point and click matrix-like extensions that allow you to control requests done on a webpage (based on source, destination and type) (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Opera)
• LastPass: Secure password manager allowing you to create, manage, and use passwords you save in your LastPass account (every web browser)
  

As for safe browsing habits, you can find tons of guides, tutorials, articles, etc. online that will highlight the basics you need to follow (only visit websites you trust, do not click on ads, do not download files from untrusted sources, use a password manager, always verify the URL of a website and make sure it's correctly typed, etc.), and even what you can do if you want to take it a step further (create a fake email address for spam emails, browse the web in a privacy mode, etc.). Here are a few:

• The Ultimate Guide to Secure your Online Browsing: Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer on Heimdal Security
• Seven Useful Habits For A Safer Internet on Kapsersky Blog
• Tips for Secure Web Browsing: Cybersecurity 101 on VeraCode
• Safe browsing habits on Internet Safety Project Wiki
  

As you can see, there are plenty of resources out there. Simply Googling "good browsing habits" or "safe browsing habits" should allow you to find a lot of them.

Other recommendations

Even if you follow every recommendation that I listed here, in the end, it's also your job to be careful when browsing the web and downloading files if you don't want to get infected. Therefore, if you use your brain (common sense) when browsing the web, downloading programs and files, etc., you have far less chances to get infected by a malware. If for example you're not sure if a website is legitimate or not, or if a file is safe to download and execute, or if a program looks "too good" to be free, I suggest you to avoid going to that website, downloading that file or using that program.

Here are a few guides, tutorials, articles, etc. that you could read in order to learn more about computer protection and security to improve your current computer protection setup but also improve your good web browsing and computer usage practices :

• Answers to common security questions - Best Practices by quietman7
• How Malware Spreads - How did I get infected by quietman7
• Simple and easy ways to keep your computer safe and secure on the Internet by Lawrence Abrams (aka Grinler)
• How to Prevent Malware by miekiemoes
• Tips & Advice on StaySafeOnline.org
  

The End!

And that's it! Now that you know more about how to protect your computer and secure it, you're good to go back to your online activities, but in a safe and secure way! You are also free to stay on the forums and ask for help in different topics if you ever need to. Just make sure that you post your question/issue in the right section to get the best assistance possible. And if you ever get infected again (which I hope you wont!), you can always comeback in this section to get another checkup with one of our trained malware removal member.

Do you have any questions before I close this thread?

[unknXwn]

I tried the command line you suggested, but for some reason, it didn't work out...

[Aura]

This is PowerShell. You need to be in the command prompt (cmd.exe).