Energy app Malware on my PC not showing up so I can't uninstall it.

[Frustrated_Drake]

I recently found that malware called Energy had somehow found its way onto my PC (despite always having Malwarebytes on and never going on sites that I got the warning page for). In any case, I am running Windows 11 and have Malwarebytes Premium, and the offending app is not showing up in my Apps or in my Google Chrome extensions. I do see it as running in my Task Manager after noticing a slow down. I followed it to my Roaming folder where I can see it. I then tried to contact Malwarebytes and found my way here after 30 minutes. I have attached screenshots of what I discovered and would very much appreciate some advice on this. There are about 2 billion offers of help on this and I am not sure exactly what I am doing and don't want to mess up the registry. Thank you.

[AdvancedSetup]

Hello @Frustrated_Drake

 

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

 

 

Thanks

 

 

[Frustrated_Drake]

Okay got these. 

 

Addition.txt FRST.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

 

CHR Notifications: Default -> hxxps://desirefx.os.tc; hxxps://express-news.me; hxxps://pushnott.com; hxxps://www.dndtomb.com; hxxps://www.facebook.com; hxxps://www.fantasynamegenerators.com; hxxps://www.instagram.com; hxxps://www.pinterest.co.uk; hxxps://www.reddit.com

Are you sure you want this enabled or allowed? Push Notifications on your browser appear to be enabled.

https://blog.malwarebytes.com/security-world/technology/2019/01/browser-push-notifications-feature-asking-abused/

Turn notifications on or off - Google Chrome

Web Push notifications in Firefox

 

Please run the following fix and when it has been completed, post back the FIXLOG.txt file.

 

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.

fixlist.txt

Thanks

 

[Frustrated_Drake]

Thank you very much! It must take a lot of patience to deal with frustrated people like myself. 

The fix worked - I no longer see the Energy app working in the background, and it probably cleared a lot of crap I picked up.

I absolutely love the gif on your avatar, and I appreciate the UFP handling this universe threatening situation LOL!

I saw that you advise using a password manager. I tried that before, but with as many websites as I go to (at least 30 a day) it was frustrating to copy and paste all the time. Do you know if there has been improvement in this process, and is there a specific password storing program you can recommend?

And again, thank you!

[AdvancedSetup]

We're not done yet. Please post back the FIXLOG.txt file for review.

The issue today is that there are so many website that get compromised so one has to use a different password on every site otherwise you risk losing control of the other sties or data deleted, etc. We'll talk about that more when we're done, for now, please get me the FIXLOG.txt file.

 

 

[Frustrated_Drake]

I do use a unique password for every website in case something gets compromised and actually write them down in a book for when the website forgets me. But then I avoid clearing the cache bc it's such a pain to look up passwords and re-enter them. Idk if I should even let Chrome remember them.

I attached the file here.Fixlog.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

That log looks good it found and fixed many things. Again, we'll discuss the Password manager when we're done cleaning, just remind me

 

Let me have you run the following

 

 

Microsoft Safety Scanner

Please make sure you Exit out of any other program you might have open so that the sole task is to run the following scan.   
That goes especially for web browsers, make sure all are fully exited out of and messenger programs are exited and closed as well
 

STEP 1

Please set File Explorer to SHOW ALL folders, all files, including hidden ones.  Use OPTION ONE or TWO of this article

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/7078-turn-off-show-all-folders-windows-10-navigation-pane.html

STEP 2

I suggest a new scan for viruses & other malware. This may take several hours, depending on the number of files on the system and the speed of the computer.

The Microsoft Safety Scanner is a free Microsoft stand-alone virus scanner that can be used to scan for & remove malware or potentially unwanted software from a system. 

The download links & the how-to-run-the tool are at this link at Microsoft 

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/intelligence/safety-scanner-download

 

Look on the Scan Options & select the FULL scan.

Then start the scan. Have lots of patience. It may take several hours.

• Once you see it has started, take a long long break;  walk away.  Do not pay credence if you see some intermediate early flash messages on the screen display.  The only things that count are the End result at the end of the run.
• The scan will take several hours.  Leave it alone. It will remove any other remaining threats as it goes along.  Take a very long break, do your normal personal errands .....just do not use the computer during this scan.

This is likely to run for many hours as previously mentioned  ( depending on the number of files on your machine & the speed of the hardware.)

The log is named MSERT.log  and the log will be at C:\Windows\debug\msert.log

Please attach that log with your next reply.

 

 

It is normal for the Microsoft Safety Scanner to show detections during the scan process. It is scanning for basically all bread crumbs or traces of files and registry entries that "might" be or have been part of some infection or previous infection.

That DOES NOT mean the computer is infected. Once the scan has been completed it uploads the log to their Cloud service which then uses Artificial Intelligence to determine if in fact any of the traces are an infection or not.

Then it writes into the log on your computer what it found.

 

 

[AdvancedSetup]

Good day @Frustrated_Drake

Following up to see if you're still with us.

 

[Frustrated_Drake]

Hi! I am. I use my PC a whole lot, and after running the initial Microsoft it was halfway done after 5 1/2 hours (I have huge drives) and I had to stop the scan due to a virtual appointment. It reported the PC was clean up to the point I stopped it (it stopped on my tertiary E: drive), but I have put files and programs on my E: drive that were from dubious sources (but have all been scanned with MalwareBytes but I could have missed something). I have been waiting for an opportunity to run the 10+ hour scan - I am an artist and often have my PC rendering pictures overnight so I have to schedule this when things have cleared up. I know this has a 10 day time frame from when it was downloaded. I have not had any issues since I ran the initial fix, although something may certainly be there. When I have run a full scan I will get back with you. 

Thank you for the reminder and hopefully I will get back with you soon 😊

[AdvancedSetup]

Understood. Just want to make certain you don't have anything else lurking there.

Cheers

 

 

[AdvancedSetup]

Good day, @Frustrated_Drake

Checking back to see if you have time for this. If not that's okay, we'll close the topic then and once you do have time let us know and we can either reopen the topic or you can create a new one.

Thanks

 

[Frustrated_Drake]

Thank you. I am really swamped...I am sorry about that. I am literally dealing with 3 requests at once plus my normal load. I will redownload the Microsoft app per your/website's instructions and run it again when I can spare my PC for 10-12 hours. Also, another staffer contacted me and mentioned a Malware Support Tool. I think her name was Julia. I will respond to her as well and let her know you helped me, unless you think the tools she mentioned will work better.

As far as my PC running well, it is doing far better. I am pretty sure it was the Energy app bc everything seems back to normal. I ran the scan partially and it got to my E: drive before I had to stop it. I do run a lot of things off my E: drive, but always check stuff I download but I could have missed something. The reason I bring this up is I was wondering if any of these tools can do a complete scan of my E: drive alone without the rest of the drives/PC (which was already scanned and no viruses were found)? It is not the biggest drive (5tb) but has LOTS of files and isn't very fast. I plan to replace the drive in a few months, but I do want to check it out.

Thank you for all your help and the consistent follow-ups to make sure I was satisfied. I do appreciate that. 

Clay

[AdvancedSetup]

She is from Support and probably asked you to run our MBST tool.

No pressure, if you think all is well that's fine, but I'd really try to make time to ensure you have backups setup and working properly too.

Take care

 

[AdvancedSetup]

Glad we could help.

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