Peer sharing site blocked on a single computer ( all browsers)

[paraggi2109]

I am certain there is something embedded in my computer preventing my connection to TPB, but Malwarebytes ( free) doesn't detect anything. Any address that I type into any browser that includes the words “pirate” and “bay”, I am sure this is not a browser settings issue since browser settings are synced on all computers. No antivirus, windows defender does not indicate any blocking events.   DO I require a paid version of Malwarebytes to remove this or is there another product more suitable for this kind of malware? 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

[alvarnell]

I for one will offer you no help in solving this. Not only are downloads from this site probably breaking the law, they are more often than not malware. There is absolutely no legitimate reason for anybody to frequent such sites.

[exile360]

I will offer this: if you use any sort of VPN software or web filtering solution, it may be blocking based on that.  If it is a work machine or one managed by someone else (such as your parents, for example) then it could be some sort of filtering/parental control software at work.  If you use any sort of filtering/blocking browser plugins, ad blocking solutions or similar, that could also be the cause.  The fact that it happens with all browsers would indicate that it is some sort of filtering solution such as a VPN, work management software/tool, parental control application, or even some type of blocking HOSTS file in use on the system.

The Premium version of Malwarebytes does include numerous real-time protection components not included in the free version, but the on-demand scan engine itself is identical so a scan with the Premium version would yield the same results, though it is possible that one of the real-time protection modules might detect or block something that the scan engine itself does not.

With all of that said, it doesn't sound like an infection based on the behaviors you describe, which is why I suggested what I did in my first paragraph.  We obviously do not endorse or condone piracy of any kind, however we are not the internet police either and Malwarebytes itself generally focuses on detecting actual malware along with PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) such as adware and the like, so detecting the likes of third party web filtering solutions, VPNs, work administration tools, and parental control software would not be within the scope of what Malwarebytes would detect.

Edited November 27, 2020 by exile360

[paraggi2109]

27 minutes ago, alvarnell said:

I for one will offer you no help in solving this. Not only are downloads from this site probably breaking the law, they are more often than not malware. There is absolutely no legitimate reason for anybody to frequent such sites.

 

[paraggi2109]

Exile360

Thank you for your rapid response.  I’ll try the premium version just to eliminate malware as a suspect. It makes since that this is local since I cannot find any other account of this online.  I’ll re-examine settings, but I don’t have VPN, its not a work computer, no web filtering, and parent are dead.

Thanks!

 

Alvarnell

Thanks for sharing. Personally I am a firm believer in peer sharing and support it whole heartedly, I have been sharing music, recorded from the radio and movies recorded from tv since the 1960’s.  I am a creator, I am flattered when people steal my work, distributers and publishers on the other hand are furious about this. I could go on all day, but I’ll spare you.

 

[alvarnell]

Just to be clear, I have no problem with peer sharing in general and support the use and efficiency of torrents for legitimate purposes. It's TPB that I find enormously dangerous to most users.

[exile360]

By the way, if the blocks are coming from your ISP/network connection, you could potentially get around it using a VPN (one that doesn't filter sites based on content), and Malwarebytes actually does offer a VPN that you can try for free, and is compatible with Macs.  It is called Malwarebytes Privacy and if you want to give it a try you can find more info and download it here (just click the Free Trial button and enter a valid email address to give it a try, or use your existing Malwarebytes account email if you are already a Malwarebytes customer).

[Massimiliano]

2 hours ago, paraggi2109 said:

I am certain there is something embedded in my computer preventing my connection to TPB, but Malwarebytes ( free) doesn't detect anything. Any address that I type into any browser that includes the words “pirate” and “bay”, I am sure this is not a browser settings issue since browser settings are synced on all computers. No antivirus, windows defender does not indicate any blocking events.   DO I require a paid version of Malwarebytes to remove this or is there another product more suitable for this kind of malware? 

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

thanks

 

You mentioned Windows Defender.

I assume therefore that you are not a macOS user so this is not the correct forum.

However, piracy remains wrong as @alvarnell said

[paraggi2109]

 

Yes, I did realize and was just about to re post in the right forum when I began receiving responses here. I will post there, although I think the suggestions, I have received here would concern both platforms. As for IP address, VPN, internet server, I am currently standing behind two computers within 10 feet of each other, one cannot connect to any address with any combination of the word “pirate” and “bay”, (but can connect to any other torrent peer sharing site)  and the other which can. The message I am receiving is “connection refused”. 

As for morality and ethics, though probably out of place on a technical support forum, if this is what it appears to be, a surreptitious invasion of my computer by corporate sabotage, I would think it should be a concern for everyone.

I’ll see if anyone has experienced this on the PC forum.

Thank you for your help

[alvarnell]

@AdvancedSetup Please move to Windows forum and possibly merged with OP's discussion there.

[AdvancedSetup]

Hello @paraggi2109

Your topic has been moved to the Malware Removal forum for one-on-one support in detecting or removing malware threats.

NOTE: We are not here to judge what you do with your computer, however, we will not assist you in directly pirating data or performing illegal operations on purpose. We will only help you to detect and remove malware.

Please run the following for me on the affected Windows computer and we'll see what we can do to remove any found infection.

 

 

Please run the following steps and post back the logs as an attachment when ready.
Temporarily disable your antivirus or other security software first. Make sure to turn it back on once the scans are completed.
Temporarily disable Microsoft SmartScreen to download software below if needed. Make sure to turn it back on once the scans are completed.
If you still have trouble downloading the software please click on Reveal Hidden Contents below for examples of how to allow the download.
 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

When downloading with some browsers you may see a different style of screens that may block FRST from downloading. The program is safe and used hundreds of times a week by many users.

Example of Microsoft Edge blocking the download

 

 

STEP 01

• If you already have Malwarebytes installed then open Malwarebytes and click on the Scan button. It will automatically check for updates and run a Threat Scan.
• If you don't have Malwarebytes installed yet please download it from here and install it.
• Once installed then open Malwarebytes and select Scan and let it run.
• Once the scan is completed make sure you have it quarantine any detections it finds.
• If no detections were found click on the Save results drop-down, then the Export to TXT  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 there were detections then once the quarantine has completed click on the View report button, Then click the Export drop-down, then the Export to TXT  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 the computer restarted to quarantine you can access the logs from the Detection History, then the History tab. Highlight the most recent scan and double-click to open it. Then click the Export drop-down, then the Export to TXT  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 in your next reply that the scanner would not run.

STEP 02

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

• Double-click to run the program
• Accept the End User License Agreement.
• Wait until the database is updated.
• Click Scan Now.
• When finished, if items are found please click Quarantine.
• Your PC should reboot now if any items were found.
• After reboot, a log file will be opened. Attach or 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 checkmark here each time
• Please attach the Additions.txt log to your reply as well.
• On your next reply, you should be attaching frst.txt and additions.txt to your post, every time.

 

Thank you

 

[paraggi2109]

Hello

I have run the utilities as requested and attached the four txt files to this post. Both MWB and ADW scans are clean.  In a possibly related matter, I am no longer able to create a post here ( I tried to re post this in the Windows forum before it was transferred there) , I am being blocked by a SPAM filter that detects SPAM in the wording of my post even when the post is blank.  Not initially thinking that it could be related to this issue I clicked through to support and submitted a support request (ticket 3284500).  When I was asked to run the support tool and submit the log I began to wonder if this behavior could be just another symptom of the same problem.

Thank you for your assistance

FRST.txt Addition.txt Addition.txt adwscan.txt

[paraggi2109]

I see I missed one of the logs

MWBscan.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Thank you for the logs, however the missing one is the AdwCleaner log. The one labeled adwscan is not from the AdwCleaner tool.

 

[AdvancedSetup]

I would recommend that you uninstall Bonjour from the Control Panel

Bonjour

 

What exactly is mDNSResponder.exe? (Bonjour)

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/howto/what-is-mdnsresponder-exe-and-why-is-it-running/

MDNSResponder, also known as Bonjour, is Apple’s native zero-configuration networking process for Mac that was ported over to Windows and associated with MDNSNSP.DLL.  On a Mac or iOS device, this program is used for networking nearly everything.  On Windows, this process is only necessary for sharing libraries via iTunes and other Mac applications like the Apple TV that were ported to Windows.  Bonjour allows different computers running iTunes to communicate with each other regardless of network configuration, this is because it enables automatic network discovery.

What Is mDNSResponder.exe / Bonjour and How Can I Uninstall or Remove It?
https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/6456/what-is-mdnsresponder.exe-bonjour-and-how-can-i-uninstall-or-remove-it/

 

 

Please download the attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop or location where you ran FRST from.
NOTE. It's important that both files, FRST or FRST64, and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.

Please make sure you disable any real time antivirus or security software before running this script. Once completed make sure you re-enable it.

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 that cannot be undone.

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) or wherever you ran FRST from. 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.

NOTE-1:  This fix will run a scan to check that all Microsoft operating system files are valid and not corrupt and attempt to correct any invalid files. It will also run a disk check on the restart to ensure disk integrity. Depending on the speed of your computer this fix may take 30 minutes or more.

NOTE-2: As part of this fix all temporary files will be removed. If you have any open web pages that have not been bookmarked please make sure you bookmark them now as all open applications will be automatically closed. Also, make sure you know the passwords for all websites as cookies will also be removed. The use of an external password manager is highly recommended instead of using your browser to store passwords.

The following directories are emptied:

• Windows Temp
• Users Temp folders
• Edge, IE, FF, Chrome and Opera caches, HTML5 storages, Cookies and History
• Recently opened files cache
• Flash Player cache
• Java cache
• Steam HTML cache
• Explorer thumbnail and icon cache
• BITS transfer queue (qmgr*.dat files)
• Recycle Bin

Important: items are permanently deleted. They are not moved to quarantine. If you have any questions or concerns please ask before running this fix.

The system will be rebooted after the fix has run.

fixlist.txt

Thanks

 

[paraggi2109]

I have attached the missing adware txt. I uninstalled bonjour, but I have to say I surrendered to  this war horse years ago,  I’m not sure why it keeps coming back I have a feeling it returns when I run the Epson network configuration.  I ran the FRST64 program, (I actually ran it twice, you’ll find 2 logs). The first time the reboot went to windows boot screen and I just clicked continue. When the operation didn’t appear to have been successful, I ran it again thinking I should have gone into safe mode. But the second reboot didn’t stop at the boot screen. The second operation doesn’t appear to have succeeded either.

 

AdwCleaner[S34].txt Fixlog.txt Fixlog2.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

It's very late for me. I'll check back on you again sometime this weekend

 

Let me have you run a different scanner to double-check. I don't expect it to find anything, but no harm in checking.

I would suggest a free scan with the ESET Online Scanner

Go to https://download.eset.com/com/eset/tools/online_scanner/latest/esetonlinescanner.exe

• It will start a download of "esetonlinescanner.exe"
• Save the file to your system, such as the Downloads folder, or else to the Desktop.
• Go to the saved file, and double click it to get it started. 
• When presented with the initial ESET options, click on "Computer Scan".
• Next, when prompted by Windows, allow it to start by clicking Yes 
• When prompted for scan type, Click on Full scan 
• Look at & tick  ( select )   the radio selection "Enable ESET to detect and quarantine potentially unwanted applications"   and click on Start scan button.
• Have patience.  The entire process may take an hour or more. There is an initial update download.
• There is a progress window display.
• You should ignore all prompts to get the ESET antivirus software program.   ( e.g.  their standard program).   You do not need to buy or get or install anything else.
• When the scan is completed, if something was found, it will show a screen with the number of detected items.  If so, click the button marked “View detected results”.
• Click The blue “Save scan log” to save the log.
• If something was removed and you know it is a false finding, you may click on the blue ”Restore cleaned files”  ( in blue, at bottom).
• Press Continue when all done.  You should click to off the offer for “periodic scanning”.

 

 

[paraggi2109]

SO, this appears to have worked. I attached the scan text, honestly, I can’t see anything on the list that hasn’t been on my computer for a long time, but apparently there was something. Unless the malware works sporadically.  I discovered that the reason I was being blocked by the SPAM filter on the forum was because of my VPN (protonmail) somehow incompatible with your anti SPAM software.

I have to say, I am amazed and more than impressed with the quality of service I have received. Malwarebytes is obviously far more than a simple utility. As a result, I will be upgrading to Premium

Thank you

NB

I happen to live in the city where William Shatner was born. I’ve lived in the Roddenberry universe since episode 1 appeared in 1966. I’ll be retiring this year to Talus IV

 

 

ESETscan.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Awesome, glad that we were able to resolve your issue. Please rename FRST64.exe to uninstall.exe and run it. That will remove itself and all files it created in the c:\frst folder.

I'll go ahead and close your topic. The closing speech will include a link with information on helping you to better protect your data and privacy.

Take care and stay safe out there

 

[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.

Please review the following for Tips to help protect from infection

Thank you