Persistant adware creating pop-ups on Vivaldi web browser

[En-Slime]

Hi, I got a pretty mild case of malware infestation not too long ago but was able to remove just about all of it using malwarebytes premium, adw cleaner, and hitman pro. However, something is still creating pop-ups on my web browser. I've uninstalled and reinstalled my browser, ran windows clean up, and have checked my installed programs and processes. I can't find it, when malwarebytes blocks the pop-up it issued me the message attached. I tried blocking the website, so that it'd at least stop sending pop-ups. Didn't work. It used to be just nonsense junk websites, but just today I got an ad for black desert online and total war arena. I'm pretty impressed it's survived this long, I ran ccleaner as well but that didn't seem to work either. 

[AdvancedSetup]

Hello @En-Slime and

Let's  go ahead and have you reset your browsers to default settings. Then restart the computer and run some scans to make sure it's clean.

 

Please visit each of the following sites and let's reset all of your browsers back to defaults to prevent unexpected issues.
If you are not using one of the browsers but it is installed then you may want to consider uninstalling it as older versions of some software can pose an increase in the potential for an infection to get in.

Internet Explorer
How to reset Internet Explorer settings

Microsoft Edge
How to Reset Microsoft Edge in Windows 10

Firefox
Click on Help / Troubleshooting Information then click on the Refresh Firefox button.

Chrome
Reset Chrome back to defaults to completely clear out issues with Chrome.

• First, go to >> Google Sync << and sign into your account. Make sure you know your password as this will clear it from the browser.
• Scroll down until you see the   "reset sync" button to clear your data from the server and remove your passphrase.
• Now, close all Chrome windows. Chrome cannot be running for the next step. If needed, print this information or use another browser to read the information.
• Press the Windows key + R at the same time, to bring up the run dialog box.
  • 
• Type in (or copy/paste) the following and press Enter:     %localappdata%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\

1. Press Ctrl + A to select all the files and folders.
2. Hold down Ctrl + A and click once on the files "Bookmarks" and "Bookmarks.bak". This will unselect them.
3. With all the files selected (except for your Bookmarks), press the Delete key and click Yes to delete the files and folders.
4. Example of all files and folders selected, except Bookmarks

 

Restart your computer now and then run the following steps below.

 

 

 

Please run the following steps and post back the logs as an attachment when ready.

STEP 01

• If you're already running Malwarebytes 3 then open Malwarebytes and check for updates. Then click on the Scan tab and select Threat Scan and click on Start Scan button.
• If you don't have Malwarebytes 3 installed yet please download it from here and install it.
• Once installed then open Malwarebytes and check for updates. Then click on the Scan tab and select Threat Scan and click on Start Scan button.
• Once the scan is completed click on the Export Summary button and save the file as a Text file to your desktop or other location you can find, and attach that log on your next reply.
• If Malwarebytes won't run then please skip to the next step and let me know on your next reply.

STEP 02

Please download AdwCleaner by Malwarebytes and save the file to your Desktop.

• Right-click on the program 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 if any items were found.
• After reboot, a log file will be opened. Copy its content into your next reply.

 

RESTART THE COMPUTER Before running Step 3

STEP 03
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

Ron

 

[En-Slime]

Threat Scan Malwarebytes 3 3-18-2018.txt

adw cleaner scan 3-18-2018.txt

FRST.txt

Addition.txt

[En-Slime]

did not work

[AdvancedSetup]

Well, it looks like that browser has its own settings, sync, etc. that would also need to be reset. I've never used it myself, but here is a link that says it can be fully reset.

Please follow the directions on this topic and let me know if it corrects the issue for you.

https://help.vivaldi.com/article/full-reset-of-vivaldi/

Ron

 

 

[En-Slime]

okay reset vivaldi and did another set of scans. I'll post again if I see anything.

malwarebytes scan 3-20-18.txt

adw cleaner 3-20-18.txt

FRST.txt

Addition.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

With the vivaldi browser reset that should correct the issue. 

You do have couple items that should be corrected.

GroupPolicy: Restriction <==== ATTENTION
GroupPolicy\User: Restriction <==== ATTENTION

You also have an odd entry for a Scheduled Task

Task: {59F37368-7C4E-4AA8-A426-B8A4D99F7B37} - System32\Tasks\Update S1-8-22 => C:\Windows\explorer.exe hxxp://altakho.ru <==== ATTENTION

Ron

 

 

[En-Slime]

2 minutes ago, AdvancedSetup said:

Task: {59F37368-7C4E-4AA8-A426-B8A4D99F7B37} - System32\Tasks\Update S1-8-22 => C:\Windows\explorer.exe hxxp://altakho.ru <==== ATTENTION

That's it! Do you know how I can remove those?

[AdvancedSetup]

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

That should fix it.

Ron

 

[En-Slime]

Thank you

[AdvancedSetup]

Please reboot the computer afterward if it does not on its own.  Then keep an eye on it and see if anything else crops up. Otherwise, we should be about done here now.

You're quite welcome.

Ron

 

[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 topic 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