Extremely slow computer and blank processes in task manager.

[HandsomeArrow]

I desperately need help. My computer has been completely fine, and despite not visiting any suspicious sites or downloading any weird files, my computer is suddenly freaking out. Most processes constantly blink in and out of not responding, There are several blank processes in task manager, but when I click on any of them they all vanish

 

I have farbar's recovery tool installed, but don't know what to do from here. 

[kevinf80]

Hello HandsomeArrow and welcome to Malwarebytes, Continue with the following: If you do not have Malwarebytes installed do the following: Download Malwarebytes version 4 from the following link: https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download/thankyou/ Double click on the installer and follow the prompts. When the install completes or Malwarebytes is already installed do the following: 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 quarantine any found entries... To get the log from Malwarebytes do the following:   Click on the Detection History tab > from main interface. Then click on "History" that will open to a historical list 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 http://i.imgur.com/Spcusrh.pngRun 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 Quarantine 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 Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop. Alternative download option: http://www.techspot.com/downloads/6731-farbar-recovery-scan-tool.html Note: 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. Let me see those logs in your reply... Thank you, Kevin....

[HandsomeArrow]

FRST_05-11-2020 17.37.59.txtAddition_05-11-2020 17.37.59.txtAddition_05-11-2020 17.37.59.txtFRST_05-11-2020 17.37.59.txtFRST_05-11-2020 17.37.59.txt

# -------------------------------
# Malwarebytes AdwCleaner 8.0.8.0
# -------------------------------
# Build:    10-08-2020
# Database: 2020-09-29.1 (Cloud)
# Support: https://www.malwarebytes.com/support
#
# -------------------------------
# Mode: Clean
# -------------------------------
# Start:    11-05-2020
# Duration: 00:00:09
# OS:       Windows 10 Pro
# Cleaned:  2
# Failed:   0

***** [ Services ] *****

No malicious services cleaned.

***** [ Folders ] *****

No malicious folders cleaned.

***** [ Files ] *****

No malicious files cleaned.

***** [ DLL ] *****

No malicious DLLs cleaned.

***** [ WMI ] *****

No malicious WMI cleaned.

***** [ Shortcuts ] *****

No malicious shortcuts cleaned.

***** [ Tasks ] *****

No malicious tasks cleaned.

***** [ Registry ] *****

Deleted       HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppContainer\Storage\microsoft.microsoftedge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\Children\001\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage\dotomi.com
Deleted       HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppContainer\Storage\microsoft.microsoftedge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\Children\001\Internet Explorer\EdpDomStorage\dotomi.com

***** [ Chromium (and derivatives) ] *****

No malicious Chromium entries cleaned.

***** [ Chromium URLs ] *****

No malicious Chromium URLs cleaned.

***** [ Firefox (and derivatives) ] *****

No malicious Firefox entries cleaned.

***** [ Firefox URLs ] *****

No malicious Firefox URLs cleaned.

***** [ Hosts File Entries ] *****

No malicious hosts file entries cleaned.

***** [ Preinstalled Software ] *****

No Preinstalled Software cleaned.

*************************

[+] Delete Tracing Keys
[+] Reset Winsock

*************************

AdwCleaner_Debug.log - [7581 octets] - [05/11/2020 17:58:32]
AdwCleaner[S00].txt - [1880 octets] - [05/11/2020 17:58:53]

########## EOF - C:\AdwCleaner\Logs\AdwCleaner[C00].txt ##########

Malwarebytes didn't log its scan because it found nothing.

 

FRST_05-11-2020 17.37.59.txt

Addition_05-11-2020 17.37.59.txt Addition_05-11-2020 17.37.59.txt FRST_05-11-2020 17.37.59.txt Shortcut_05-11-2020 17.37.59.txt Shortcut_05-11-2020 17.37.59.txt Shortcut_05-11-2020 17.37.59.txt

[kevinf80]

Hello HandsomeArrow,

There are no obvious signs of Malware or Infection showing in your logs, lets run another indepth scan...

Download Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool (KVRT) from here: https://www.kaspersky.com/downloads/thank-you/free-virus-removal-tool and save to your Desktop. Select the Windows Key and R Key together, the "Run" box should open. Drag and Drop KVRT.exe into the Run Box. C:\Users\{your user name}\DESKTOP\KVRT.exe will now show in the run box. add -dontcryptsupportinfo Note the space between KVRT.exe and -dontcryptsupportinfo C:\Users\{your user name}\DESKTOP\KVRT.exe -dontcryptsupportinfo should now show in the Run box. That addendum to the run command is very important, when the scan does eventually complete the resultant report is normally encrypted, with the extra command it is saved as a readable file. Reports are saved here C:\KVRT_data\Reports and look similar to this report_20200727_103821.klr Right click direct onto that report, select > open with > Notepad. Save that file and attach to your reply. To start the scan select OK in the "Run" box. The Windows Protected your PC window will open, select "More Info" A new Window will open, select "Run anyway" A EULA window will open, tick both confirmation boxes then select "Accept" In the new window select "Change Parameters" In the new window ensure all selection boxes are ticked, then select "OK" The scan should now start... When complete if entries are found there will be options, if "Cure" is offered leave as is. For any other options change to "Delete" then select "Continue" When complete, or if nothing was found select "Close" Attach the report information as previously instructed....   Thank you,   Kevin...

[HandsomeArrow]

<Report>
    <Metadata Version="1" PCID="{2FD92948-A7C8-E91A-0050-2857184C0C9B}" LastModification="2020.11.06 20:45:13.118" />
    <EventBlocks>
        <Block0 Type="Scan" Processed="814541" Found="0" Neutralized="0">
            <Event0 Action="Scan" Time="132491848828342920" Object="" Info="Started" />
            <Event1 Action="Scan" Time="132491907131179493" Object="" Info="Finished" />
        </Block0>
    </EventBlocks>
</Report>
 

[kevinf80]

Hello HandsomeArrow,

That log is also clean, what is happening with your systm now, any remaining issues or concerns...?

Thank you,

Kevin...

[HandsomeArrow]

Just now, kevinf80 said:

Hello HandsomeArrow,

That log is also clean, what is happening with your systm now, any remaining issues or concerns...?

Thank you,

Kevin...

Yes, but not as severe. My computer is mostly functioning fine with an occasional hiccup. My worry is that it night be hardware related, as I recently upgraded to a modern gaming PC, and can’t find any signs of a virus

[kevinf80]

Hiya HandsomeArrow,

Set windows up for "Clean Boot" mode, full instructions here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/929135 Basically all none MS services are disabled, see how your system runs in that mode..   Thank you,   Kevin..

[HandsomeArrow]

Hey, when I was going to turn off the startup items, I found an item that's just called "program"

 

 

I can disable it, which I did, but I *can't* click "Open file location" or "Properties". Is this a windows service, corrupted, or something else entirely?

[kevinf80]

Hello HandsomeArrow

Open Taskmanager > select "Start-up" from the header entries, start-up entries will populate. Right click on "Start-up Impact" in the new window list ensure the following are checkmarked as well 

"Start-up type" and "Command line"

With those two entries ticked you should see what the mystery "Program" is related to... let me know the outcome.. I`ve attached an image for reference..

Thank you,

Kevin

[HandsomeArrow]

Nope, still can't click on either option. Any other ideas? 

[kevinf80]

Hello HandsomeArrow,

Thanks for the update, continue:

Scan with Autoruns Please download Sysinternals Autoruns from the following link: https://live.sysinternals.com/autoruns.exe save it to your desktop. Note: If using Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 10 then you also need to do the following:   Right-click on Autoruns.exe and select Properties Click on the Compatibility tab Under Privilege Level check the box next to Run this program as an administrator Click on Apply then click OK   Double-click Autoruns.exe to run it. Once it starts, please press the Esc key on your keyboard. Now that scanning is stopped, click on the Options button at the top of the program and verify that the following are checked, if they are unchecked, check them: Hide empty locations Hide Windows entries   Click on the Options button at the top of the program and select Scan Options... then in the Autoruns Scan Options dialog enable/check the following two options: Verify code signatures Check VirusTotal.com   Once that's done click the Rescan button at the bottom of the Autoruns Scan Options dialog and this will start the scan again, this time let it finish. When it's finished and says Ready. on the lower left of the program window, please click on the File button at the top of the program and select Save and save the file to your desktop and close Autoruns. Right click on the file on your desktop that you just saved and hover your mouse over Send To and select Compressed (zipped) Folder Attach the ZIP folder you just created to your next reply Thank you, Kevin

[HandsomeArrow]

DESKTOP-T36LH59.rar

[kevinf80]

Hello HandsomeArrow,

Can you open autoruns log again, scroll to the indicated entry in the attached image. Right click on that entry and select "Delete"

Does that clear the empty TM entry..?

Thank you,

Kevin

Edited November 12, 2020 by kevinf80

[HandsomeArrow]

13 hours ago, kevinf80 said:

Hello HandsomeArrow,

Can you open autoruns log again, scroll to the indicated entry in the attached image. Right click on that entry and select "Delete"

Does that clear the empty TM entry..?

Thank you,

Kevin

Hey, I tried deleting the red entries, and was able to delete most of them, a pair of them simply wouldn't let themselves be deleted, "The specified file could not be found", and both files came up as "Default" in reged, and refused to be deleted. It did not remove the entry in task manager.

[HandsomeArrow]

13 hours ago, kevinf80 said:

Hello HandsomeArrow,

Can you open autoruns log again, scroll to the indicated entry in the attached image. Right click on that entry and select "Delete"

Does that clear the empty TM entry..?

Thank you,

Kevin

Hey, I tried deleting the red entries, and was able to delete most of them, a pair of them simply wouldn't let themselves be deleted, "The specified file could not be found", and both files came up as "Default" in regeditor , and refused to be deleted. It did not remove the entry in task manager. HOWEVER, upon re-scanning with AutoRuns, the entire column from before disappeared. I think two of those entries may have been duplicates?

[kevinf80]

There was only one entry to remove, I had it encompassed in red. What is happening with your PC now, any remaining issues or concerns...?

[kevinf80]

any progress...?

[HandsomeArrow]

9 minutes ago, kevinf80 said:

any progress...?

Yes! Sorry about the delay, I thought I had already sent a message. After deleting that entry, my PC has returned to normal. I'm still not entirely sure what it was, as nothing flagged it (including virustotal.)But it appears to be gone. 

[kevinf80]

Hiya HandsomeArrow,

Thanks for the update, if no remaining issues continue to clean up...

Delete KVRT.exe, navigate to and delete C:\KVRT_Data folder Next, Right click on FRST here: C:\Users\Nate\Downloads\FRST64.exe and rename uninstall.exe when complete right click on uninstall.exe and select "Run as Administrator" If you do not see the .exe appended that is because file extensions are hidden, in that case just rename FRST64 to uninstall That action will remove FRST and all created files and folders... Next, Install the following if needed.. Run Windows Disk Clean Up Utility - https://neosmart.net/wiki/disk-cleanup/ Malwarebytes Browser Guard (Free) for Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/addon/malwarebytes/ Malwarebytes Browser Guard (Free) for Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/malwarebytes-browser-guar/ihcjicgdanjaechkgeegckofjjedodee From there you should be good to go... 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.

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