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Bizarre behavior, infection suspected but nothing returns from scans


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To whom it may concern;

Within the past few weeks / months I have noticed some strange behavior from my Windows 10 desktop:

 - Mouse glitches (freezes for a spilt second) almost precisely every second, same with video content, same glitch

 - Private more of Brave browser behaves strange, sometimes will not open

 - Odd startup command entries identified using CCleaner (I deleted these)

I hope it is all in my head and it's just older computer issues (~4 years old) but please let me know if there are any questions about the information I have shared and thank you for your help!  

Addition.txt mb-check-results.zip FRST.txt MBAMSERVICE.LOG.zip

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  • Root Admin

Hello @MortgageMike77

Please temporarily uninstall McAfee Total Protection antivirus and restart the computer. Then run the following.

 

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

image.png

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image.png

 



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 check mark 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.

 

Thanks

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I appreciate the prompt reply!  I did as instructed:

 - removed McAfee total protection and all related files, browser guard as well, then restarted

 - Disabled all MalwareBytes protections and ran a scan with no hits, results attached

 - Ran AdwCleaner with no hits, results attached

 - Restarted and ran FRST64, results attached

 - NOTE: I am consistently unable to post anything to this site while using MalwareBytes Privacy VPN, not sure if this is a symptom of something or simply a security measure on your side.  

Please let me know your thoughts and thank you for your help!

AdwCleaner[S00].txt FRST.txt MalwareBytes Scan results 10152021 1128PM EST.txt Addition.txt

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  • Root Admin

The back end server for Privacy does sometimes block from posting.

 

Please go into Control Panel, Programs, Programs and Features and uninstall the following

CCleaner  (computer experts no longer recommend the use of this program)
 

 

Then run the following fix

 

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.

NOTE-3: As part of this fix it will also reset the network to default settings including the firewall. If you have custom firewall rules you need to save please export or save them first before running this fix.

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.

 

Thanks

 

fixlist.txt

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Hi there!  I completed this task and the issue has persisted.  Residual symptoms to note:

 - mouse cursor still glitching at regular ~1 second intervals

 - Brave browser private mode still bizarre, failed to open on first launch

I attached the 2 files created by the FRST64 program (Fixlog and empty zip file) and replicated the last batch of scans for review.  Not sure if there's anything more that can be done but I appreciate all your help!

malwarebytes scan 10172021 1536hrs.txt AdwCleaner[S04].txt FRST.txt Addition.txt 16.10.2021_01.13.15.zip Fixlog.txt

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  • Root Admin

If the computer is still slow and glitching after this cleaning then it's probably time to consider backing up your data and doing a fresh clean installation of Windows.

Windows 11 is out now but not sure you'd want to install that version yet or not. Perhaps giving it a bit more time to get updates from Microsoft might be better. Then just stick with a clean install of Windows 10 for now.

Backup Software
https://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?/topic/136226-backup-software

 

 

Greg Carmack - MVP 2010-2020 -Clean Install Windows 10
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install/clean-install-windows-10/1c426bdf-79b1-4d42-be93-17378d93e587

How to Create a Local Account While Setting Up Windows 10
https://www.howtogeek.com/442792/how-to-create-a-local-account-while-setting-up-windows-10/

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  • Root Admin

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 to help you better protect your computer and privacy Tips to help protect from infection

Thank you

 

 

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