Malware that opens shopping links when browser/pc is inactive

[doctordood32]

Hi i had the same problem and created a thread earlier this year but lost access to my email and account and the issue has come back.

Previous thread: 

So a few days ago the same thing happened, i locked my computer and was away for an hour and come back and an amazon link is open and i am 100% sure i didn't open it, it's malware/adware that i have had before and i recall maurice telling me it was removed but seems it wasn't removed and was dormant on my PC. Please help me clean this infection, thank you. 

 

[doctordood32]

@Maurice Naggar

[AdvancedSetup]

Hello @doctordood32

 

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 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

[doctordood32]

On 11/8/2021 at 10:38 PM, AdvancedSetup said:

Hello @doctordood32

 

 

Hello, thanks for your reply. I have another issue that started yesterday. A more serious one. My computer seems to be stuck at a high % of memory being used and is very unresponsive. When i check task manager, the memory usage is around 35-39% even if i close all current applications open. This started yesterday night and my computer becomes unresponsive often. It's very slow and i was barely able to open chrome and upload these files. I don't know what could have caused it as i didn't make any changes yesterday. I really need help on fixing this as i can't use my computer if this isn't fixed immediately. My cpu usage is near 0 but memory 35-39% yet it feels like my memory is 90% because my computer is unresponsive and takes minutes to perform a single action and sometimes just crashes so i have to manually close the file/application through task manager. I'm trying to open malwarebytes but it's unresponsive and not opening, but if i recall the scan had no detections found when i did it a few days ago.

Addition_18-11-2021 18.08.48.txt FRST_18-11-2021 18.08.48.txt AdwCleaner[S10].txt AdwCleaner[S09].txt

[doctordood32]

malwarebyteslog.txt

[doctordood32]

My CPu usage is 1-2%, sometimes spikes but is really low and my memory is really high. 

[AdvancedSetup]

Is this a business computer? Why are there over 30 profile accounts on this system?

There are multiple errors listed in the Event Logs section as well.

The computer doesn't look to be exactly infected, but could use quite a bit of love in cleaning it up.

I see it is quite old as well

BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 1802 01/28/2014

 

[doctordood32]

8 minutes ago, AdvancedSetup said:

Is this a business computer? Why are there over 30 profile accounts on this system?

There are multiple errors listed in the Event Logs section as well.

The computer doesn't look to be exactly infected, but could use quite a bit of love in cleaning it up.

I see it is quite old as well

BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 1802 01/28/2014

 

No it's not a business computer, all those profile accounts were created by me for something i'd rather not get into right now. What errors and how do i fix them? the scans didn't bring anything up so i am certain the adware or whatever it may be is still on my computer. And yes it's an old computer but i cannot afford to upgrade and this is sufficient for what i need it for, atleast it was before the memory usage issue started occurring since yesterday. If i recall my original thread, maurice thought it was due to cache? but it seems that didn't do the trick as i have the same "infection/adware" again now and it won't show up on any malware removal software.

[AdvancedSetup]

Can you please show me a screenshot of what you're seeing?

What browser is this happening in?

 

[doctordood32]

30 minutes ago, AdvancedSetup said:

Can you please show me a screenshot of what you're seeing?

What browser is this happening in?

 

When i leave my computer idle, i lock it and go away for a short while, maybe 30 minutes, i come back and shopping link is open, sometimes more than once. The most recent one was this: 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HCS5CWF/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=isaver04-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B08HCS5CWF&linkId=dde2db2a2791c279afba9b23660f7d72

 

It's usually an amazon shopping link for a product but i think once there was another website besides amazon, but that was back when i made the original thread. Google chrome was left open. When i made the original thread, it used to happen with firefox but since it came back, it happens with chrome. I come back to my computer and a shopping link like the one above is open and i am 100% sure i didn't open it because i'm not american and don't use that version of amazon anyways, it's for sure some kind of adware type of malware that is doing it but i can't find out where it's coming from.

Edited November 18, 2021 by AdvancedSetup
Disabled hyperlink

[doctordood32]

And it seems to only occur when my computer is locked or inactive for a certain number of time which causes the adware to open such links. What i can try is remove/delete my chrome cache, leave my computer idle and see if it happens, this way we can know if it has something to do with the cache like maurice thought so in the original thread.

[AdvancedSetup]

Okay, since it's happening in Google Chrome at the moment please clean up Google Chrome.

https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/258938-resetting-google-chrome-to-clear-unexpected-issues/

Then once that's done, restart the computer. Then get me new Farbar logs

FRST and Addition

Thanks

 

[doctordood32]

9 minutes ago, AdvancedSetup said:

Okay, since it's happening in Google Chrome at the moment please clean up Google Chrome.

https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/258938-resetting-google-chrome-to-clear-unexpected-issues/

Then once that's done, restart the computer. Then get me new Farbar logs

FRST and Addition

Thanks

 

I use the guest user on chrome and not any accounts. I do have gmail accounts but i never login. The last time i logged into one was october the 12th and i never sync so even if that particular account did contain some kind of adware, it wouldn't affect me due to no sync taking place. I deleted my cache just now to see if it makes a difference.

[AdvancedSetup]

It still save a ton of JUNK in all profiles. I don't use a profile either (rarely use Chrome actually, only to support users such as yourself)

Please clean it up as well as you possibly can.

 

[doctordood32]

15 minutes ago, AdvancedSetup said:

It still save a ton of JUNK in all profiles. I don't use a profile either (rarely use Chrome actually, only to support users such as yourself)

Please clean it up as well as you possibly can.

 

Yes i have deleted cache and cleaned up as well as i could. I don't see how this is going to change the malware scan though, it didn't show anything before and it won't show anything now.

[AdvancedSetup]

I'm not asking for a malware scan. I'd like to get some Farbar scans please.

 

Please do the following so that we can get started and see what's going on.

The Farbar Recovery Scan Tool is a free Windows utility designed to create troubleshooting logs for your computer. These logs help our Support team to identify and resolve issues with your computer.

There are two versions of the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool available for download: 32-bit and 64-bit.
To find which operating system is installed on your computer, refer to Microsoft's article: 32-bit and 64-bit Windows: Frequently asked questions

Download and launch Farbar Recovery Scan Tool

1. Download the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool
   Do not click on any Ads.
    
2. Locate the file you downloaded on your computer.
   Downloaded files are often saved to the Downloads folder.
    
3. Double-click the downloaded file to run the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool.
   
   
    
4. A Windows protected your PC notification may appear. This notification is from the Windows Defender SmartScreen Filter which prevents unfamiliar apps from running on your PC.
   Disable smart screen ONLY if it interferes with software we may have to use:  What is SmartScreen and how can it help protect me?
   
        a.  Click More info.
   
   
        b.  Click Run anyway.
   
   
5. When the User Account Control window appears, click Yes.
   
   
   
    
6. To accept the Disclaimer of warranty, click Yes.
   
   
   
    
7. Ensure only the boxes listed below are checked
   
   

   Registry  Services  Drivers
   Processes  Internet  One month
   Addition.txt
   
   
   
    

8. Disable any Antivirus software you have installed ONLY if it stops software we may use from working.
   Please remember to re-enable any Antivirus software when we are finished running scans
   
   Click Scan. The scan may take a few minutes to complete.
   
   
    

9. When the scan completes, Farbar Recovery Scan Tool shows two messages:

• Scan completed. FRST.txt is saved in the same directory FRST is located.
  
  

• Addition.txt is saved in the same directory FRST is located.
  
  
   

• Click OK to close each message window

 

Please attach both of those logs on your next reply, DO NOT copy/paste the contents of the logs directly

 

 

 

 

[doctordood32]

FRST_18-11-2021 22.21.48.txtAddition_18-11-2021 22.21.48.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Thank you. Let me check it out.

 

[AdvancedSetup]

Please uninstall the following

Java 8 Update 261

 

 

Please consider changing your default DNS Server settings. Please choose one provider only

DNS is what lets users connect to websites using domain names instead of IP addresses

• Google Public DNS: IPv4   8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4   IPv6   2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844
• Cloudflare: IPv4   1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1   IPv6   2606:4700:4700::1111 and 2606:4700:4700::1001
• OpenDNS: IPv4   208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220  IPv6  2620:119:35::35 and 2620:119:53::53
• DNSWATCH: IPv4   84.200.69.80 and 84.200.70.40   IPv6  2001:1608:10:25::1c04:b12f and 2001:1608:10:25::9249:d69b

The Ultimate Guide to Changing Your DNS Server
https://www.howtogeek.com/167533/the-ultimate-guide-to-changing-your-dns-server/

Here is a YouTube video on Changing DNS settings if needed

 

Please disable Sandboxie, or don't allow it to block fixes we're making.

 

 

 

 

[AdvancedSetup]

Please run the following fix

 

Please download the attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the C:\Users\PC\Downloads\   location where you ran Farbar from.
NOTE. It's important that both files, C:\Users\PC\Downloads\FRST64 (4).exe, 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.

fixlist.txt

Thanks

 

[AdvancedSetup]

Once the above fix has been ran please run the following.

 

SecurityCheck by glax24              

I would like you to run a tool named SecurityCheck to inquire about the current security update status of some applications.

• Download SecurityCheck by glax24: https://tools.safezone.cc/glax24/SecurityCheck/SecurityCheck.exe
• If Microsoft SmartScreen blocks the download, click through to save the file
• This tool is safe.   Smartscreen is overly sensitive.
• If SmartScreen blocks the file from running click on More info and Run anyway
• Right-click  with your mouse on the Securitycheck.exe  and select "Run as administrator"  and reply YES to allow to run & go forward
• Wait for the scan to finish. It will open a text file named SecurityCheck.txt Close the file.  Attach it with your next reply.
• You can find this file in a folder called SecurityCheck, C:\SecurityCheck\SecurityCheck.txt

 

 

Thank you

 

 

[doctordood32]

37 minutes ago, AdvancedSetup said:

Please run the following fix

 

Please download the attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the C:\Users\PC\Downloads\   location where you ran Farbar from.
NOTE. It's important that both files, C:\Users\PC\Downloads\FRST64 (4).exe, 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.

fixlist.txt 8.88 kB · 0 downloads

Thanks

 

Hi thanks for the fixlist, however i do not wish to delete my browser history or the reading list/bookmarks. And if you reset the network settings, does that mean i will have to reconfigure my internet connection from scratch? i'd like to avoid doing that because i had quite a few issues setting it up, currently i mobile tether my wifi to my PC.

[doctordood32]

Also, when i open farbar, i get a popup saying "Failed to update (1)". I can click ok and use the application as normal though. This was freshly downloaded today and it has always given me this error from what i can remember.

[AdvancedSetup]

Well then sorry, I don't really know how to help you then. Perhaps @Maurice Naggar can offer advice. Cleaning browsers is the #1 way to correct stuff like this.

You're on an ancient system in the first place that is not supported by Microsoft anymore. You have over 30 user profiles which that alone can be a nightmare trying to manage as each profile can contain it's own set of files and issues.

I'd like to help you but I don't have unlimited time to piece meal and go into process monitor logs etc to see specifically which single instance is causing your issue and why provided a broad stroke brush to clean, clear the majority of issues/reasons something like this would happen.

 

[Maurice Naggar]

@doctordod32    My views is that you should follow all suggestions outlined by Advancedsetup.  I can tell you he puts in a lot of effort to best help each case.

>

As to the Chrome browser, what follows is some very basic things I suggest as starters.  This is not a one-shot-cure-all.   Just some basics.

These here are the next steps ( after doing the ones above) if your PC has the Google CHROME browser.

Using just the Chrome browser, signin to your Google account ( if not signed in already)  https://chrome.google.com/
Then go to https://chrome.google.com/sync?
Scroll down the page, press the "CLEAR DATA" button, to clear the Chrome data from your Google account.

[   2   ]

for Chrome, while Chrome is running:
Press & hold SHIFT+CTRL+Del keys  on keyboard to get menu for clearing browsing data:

Check mark the line  "Browsing history"

Check mark the line "Download history"

Check mark the lined "Cached images and files"
and press Clear Data button  ( in blue )

[   3   ]

After that, make real sure that Chrome is "NOT" set to reload the pages from the last session

Go into the settings menu of Chrome by first clicking  the control icon of Chrome on upper right of the adress bar

Then look deeper in SETTINGS

Make real sure it is "NOT" set to "continue where you left off"

.

[   4   ]

See this article on our Malwarebytes Blog
https://blog.malwarebytes.com/security-world/technology/2019/01/browser-push-notifications-feature-asking-abused/

 

You want to disable the ability of each web browser on this machine from being able to allow "push ads". That means Chrome, Firefox, or Edge browser (on Windows 10), or on Opera.

Scroll down to the tips section "How do I disable them".

[   5   ]

I suggest you install the Malwarebytes Browser guard for Chrome  --- if it does not already have it.

To get & install the Malwarebytes Browser Guard extension for Chrome,

 

Open this link in your Chrome   browser: 

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/malwarebytes/ihcjicgdanjaechkgeegckofjjedodee

Then proceed with the setup.    Afterwards, EXIT out of Chrome browser.  Then you could restart it as needed.  See if that helps.

Again, this is not a fix-all / not a cure-all.