Infected after Crypto Scam, FRST and MBytes logs included.

[gdenko]

I hope someone can assist. I fell victim to a crypto scam, and I ran malwarebytes that same day after some damage was done, but I don't feel like I've gotten everything. I'm running the relevant scans and including them as instructed.

I did a regular scan on MalwareBytes to produce the logs, I am not sure if that is the same as Threat Scan but I didn't find that type of scan on it. I also did a rootkit scan last night and included that. I know the crypto mining files always get called viruses but they're from years ago, and were fine.

The attached image shows the virused files I removed on the same day I was first hit (01/15/2024).

Addition.txt FRST.txt mbytes threat.txt mwb rootkit.txt

[Maurice Naggar]

Hello.  My name is Maurice. I will guide you.

• Removing pesky malware can be an involved set of tasks over separate runs. Have much patience. Follow my directions. 
• Please don't run any other scans, download, install or uninstall any programs while I'm working with you.
• Only run the tools I guide you to.
• Do not run online games while case is on-going. Do not do any free-wheeling web-surfing.
• The removal of malware isn't instantaneous, please be patient.
• Cracked or or hacked or pirated programs are not only illegal, but also will make a computer a malware victim. Having such programs installed, is the easiest way to get infected. It is the leading cause of ransomware encryptions. It is at times also big source of current trojan infections. Please uninstall them now, if any are here, before we start the cleaning procedure.
• Please stick with me until I give you the "all clear".
• If your system is running Discord, please be sure to Exit out of it while this case is on-going.

  Do these 2 steps so that ALL folders & Files are set to SHOW, plus also, Turn OFF Windows Fast start.
  1. Show-Hidden-Folders-Files-Extensions
  https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/299345-show-hidden-folders-files-extensions/

  2. Disable-Fast-Startup
  https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/299350-disable-fast-startup/

3. I would like a report set for review. This is a report only. This is the first beginning step so I can see what is what on this particular machine.

Please download MALWAREBYTES MBST Support Tool

Once you start it click Advanced >>> then Gather Logs

Have patience till the run has finished.
Attach the mbst-grab-results.zip from the Desktop to your reply..

[gdenko]

I've enabled show extensions, and fast start was already disabled. Here is the latest report

mbst-grab-results.zip

[Maurice Naggar]

There is a serious infection of a fake "Googleupdater" scheduled task along with two bundled "googleupdater" services.

Please run the following custom script. Read all of this before you start. The meaning of the "Fix button" operation here is just to run a custom script just for this particular machine.

NOTE-1:  This custom 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 remove the "GoogleUpdater" exploit malware infection. It will attempt to clear Cache files of web browsers.  It will attempt to clear temporary file areas. It rebuilds the Winsock. Depending on the speed of your computer this fix may take 50-55 minutes or more.

Please Close all open work before you actually do begin this run.

FRSTENGLISH program location:   Downloads folder. The tool is already on system. That is what we will use.

Please download the attached fixlist.txt file and save it to Downloads

Fixlist.txt- < - - - -

NOTE. It's important that both files, FRSTENGLISH, and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.

Right-click with your mouse on  FRSTENGLISH and select "Run as Administrator" and reply Yes and allow it to proceed when prompted. That is important.

next, press the Fix button just once and wait.

You will see a green-color scroll display while FRST is running.
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 Downloads folder (Fixlog.txt) . 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.

The system will be rebooted after the fix has run. Attach FIXLOG.txt with next reply.

NOTICE: For potential outside readers,  This script was written specifically for this user, for use on this particular machine. Running this on another machine may cause harm.

[gdenko]

I ran the fix, and restarted as it requested. Windows tried to run updates but I have an ongoing problem of it failing updates, if that is relevant. It says "couldn't finish installing updates" and undoes the updates a few times and then boots, but it has been like this for over a month.

I've attached the fixlog below.

Fixlog.txt

[Maurice Naggar]

The custom-fix run is good. Next, some housekeeping, and then one Scan.  
Start Malwarebytes. Click Settings ( gear ) icon. Next, let us make real sure that Malwarebytes does NOT register with Windows Security Center

Click the Security Tab. Scroll down to

"Windows Security Center"

Click the selection to the left  for the line "Always register Malwarebytes in the Windows Security Center".
{ We want that to be set as Off   .... be sure that line's  radio-button selection is all the way to the Left.  thanks. }

This will not affect any real-time protection of the Malwarebytes for Windows    😃.

• now Click the General tab.
• Under Application updates, click the Check for updates button.

When it shows a new version available, Accept it and let it proceed forward.  Be sure it succeeds.

If prompted to do a Restart, just please follow all directions.

Let me know how that goes.    Next, the Malwarebytes scan

Next, click the small x on the Settings line to go to the main Malwarebytes Window.   Next click the blue button marked Scan.

 

When the scan phase is done, be real sure you Review and have all detected lines items check-marked on each line on the left. That too is very critical.

>>>>>>      👉      You can actually click the topmost left  check-box  on the very top line to get ALL lines  ticked   ( all selected).         <<<<     💢

 

Please double verify you have that TOP  check-box tick marked.   and that then, all lines have a tick-mark

 

Then click on Quarantine  button.

 

Then, locate the Scan run report;  export out a copy;  & then attach in with your  reply.
See https://support.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038479194-View-Reports-and-History-in-Malwarebytes-for-Windows-v4

Do Stick with me. There is more to do.

Edited January 27 by Maurice Naggar

[gdenko]

Just now, Maurice Naggar said:

Malwarebytes does NOT register with Windows Security Center

Click the Security Tab. Scroll down to

"Windows Security Center"

Click the selection to the left  for the line "Always register Malwarebytes in the Windows Security Center".
{ We want that to be set as Off   .... be sure that line's  radio-button selection is all the way to the Left.  thanks. }

Hello. I don't have premium MalwareBytes so it is not letting me update this setting. Do I need it to proceed?

[Maurice Naggar]

Please do ALL the rest of the steps.  Please.

[gdenko]

I have done them, and quarantined the 2 (utorrent) files that it found. Attached below.

 

 

mbytes quarantined scan.txt

[Maurice Naggar]

Let's do one run  with Malwarebytes Adwcleaner. 

It will not take much time, 

First download & save it

download link

 

Then go to where the EXE file is saved. Start Adwcleaner.  Do not rush. 

 

Reply YES at the Windows prompt to allow the program to proceed and make changes. That is the usual Windows security prompt.

 

Now On the left side of the AdwCleaner window, click on “Dashboard” and then click “Scan” to perform a computer scan.

This can take several minutes.

When the AdwCleaner scan is completed it will display all of the items it has found. Click on the “Quarantine” button To remove what it found.

 

AdwCleaner "may" prompt you to save any open files or data as the program 'may' need to close any open programs before it starts to clean.

Click on the “Continue” button to finish the removal process.

 

 

Guide article

 

Attach the clean log from Adwcleaner when all completed. For example AdwCleaner[C00],txt

[gdenko]

Done, here are the logs

AdwCleaner[C00].txt

[Maurice Naggar]

A nice cleanup on adwares, it seems, somehow involving Chrome. Fatkun Batch Download Image was found and removed.

One other scan here.

TrendMicro HouseCall scan
from this Link

First, Download & Save to your Downloads folder the appropriate HouseCallLauncher
Once the download is complete, go to where the Housecalllauncher is saved & double-click it to start it.

The program will check with TrendMicro & do a update run.

Next it will show the Disclosure window.

Click Next to proceed.

The end user license agreement is presented.   Click the Accept radio button & click Next to proceed.

I suggest a CUSTOM scan on C drive.

IF you wish a Full scan or a Custom scan, first click on the Settings

then you can select which drives you want to include in the scan.

The default is a Quick scan.

Click Scan now when ready.

The scan progress will then be displayed.   Monitor the progress or just leave it alone until it finishes this phase.

When the scan phase has completed, if any items are tagged, you will see a list, showing  the file & its location, the classification of the threat, the type, risk, and Action option.

If you see an item that you know is safe, you can click the Action  , and select Ignore.

When all done & ready, click the Fix now button.
The "Summary" at the end at "Review Results" is what matters.

[gdenko]

I ran the scan and restarted, it caught 6 file (related to my old crypto mining files mostly) and I removed them all with the Fix button.

[Maurice Naggar]

Go ahead and do a new scan with a different scanner.

Dr.Web CureIt!

Please download the Dr.Web CureIt! anti-virus utility
https://free.drweb.com/

 

You will need to send them an email to obtain a link to download the scanner, please do so

• The downloaded file will normally have a unique name such as:  q7a9tr4p.exe
• Close all open applications and locate the downloaded file and double-click to run it
• The program will take a moment to launch and bring up the License and Update screen
• Place a check mark to agree to the terms and then click on the Continue button
• Click the underlined link Select objects for scanning
• On the top left click the Scanning objects that should automatically check all objects
• Click the small wrench and make sure there is a check on Automatically apply actions to threats
• Then click the large button on bottom right Start scanning
• Once the scan has completed there will be a link named Open report click that and a log named cureit.log should open in Notepad
• The log is saved in the folder named Doctor Web in the top of your user profile folders
• Please attach that log on your next reply

[gdenko]

Done with the latest scan, attached below.

cureit.log

[Maurice Naggar]

Hello. As a next step, I suggest the following:
This is for a scan with ESET Onlinescanner (free). ESET is a well-respected, well-known entity and tool. ESET Onlinescanner checks for viruses, other malware, adwares, & potentially unwanted applications.
This here you can start & once it is under way, you can leave the machine alone & let it run over-night. No need to keep watch once it starts the actual scan run.

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.

If upon launching the Esetonlinescanner, there is a windows-message box displaying

A driver cannot load on this device. Driver ehdrv.sys

then, please, TICK the check-box

"Don't show this message again"

and then, click the Close button on that window-box. The ESET scan will proceed forward.

• 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 CUSTOM scan  and select C drive to be scanned
• 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 may step away from machine &. Let it be. That is, once it is under way, you should leave it running. It will run for several hours.

• At screen "Detections occurred and resolved" click on blue button "View detected results"
• On next screen, at lower left, click on blue "Save scan log"
• View where file is to be saved. Provide a meaningful name for the "File name:"
• On last screen, set to Off (left) the option for Periodic scanning
• Click "save and continue"
• Please attach the report file so I can review

[gdenko]

Done with the ESET scan, it detected all the old crypto stuff again, and also something with lightshot. Never seen that before.

 

ESET Scan Log.txt

[Maurice Naggar]

Now a different scan with another security scanner. 

You should first Close as many of your open-user app-screens as possible. That is to say, Exit all that you do not need to have open.

This with Kaspersky KVRT tool.

Download Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool (KVRT) from here: https://www.kaspersky.com/downloads/thank-you/free-virus-removal-tool and save to your Desktop.

Next, Select the Windows Key and R Key together, the "Run" box should open.



Drag and Drop KVRT.exe into the Run Box.



C:\Users\Trading\DESKTOP\KVRT.exe will now show in the run box.



add

-dontencrypt

Note the space between KVRT.exe and -dontencrypt

C:\Users\Trading\DESKTOP\KVRT.exe -dontencrypt 

should now show in the Run box.



That addendum to the run command is very important.


To start the scan select OK in the "Run" box.



The Windows Protected your PC window "may" open, IF SO then select "More Info"



A new Window will open, select "Run anyway"



A EULA window will open, tick both confirmation boxes then select "Accept"



Go slow & careful on this part.  In the new window select "Change Parameters"

 

• In the new window ensure the following boxes are ticked:
  • System memory
  • Startup objects
  • Boot sectors
  • System drive

• Then select "OK" and "Start scan“.

The Kaspersky tool is very thorough so will take a considerable time to complete, please allow it to finish. Also while Kaspersky runs do not use your PC for anything else.. you

• completed: If entries are found, there will be options to choose. If "Cure" is offered, leave as it is. For any other options change to "Delete", then select "Continue".
• Usually, your system needs a reboot to finish the removal process.
• Logfiles can be found on your systemdrive (usually C: ), similar like this:

Reports are saved here C:\KVRT2020_Data\Reports and look similar to this report_20240201_203000.klr

• Right click direct onto those reports, select > open with > Notepad.
• Save the files and attach them with your next reply
• Have lots of patience, as this will most likely run for many hours.
• Also, be aware I am a volunteer here. I help here as personal time permits. I am not on all the time.

[gdenko]

I came back to my PC after letting it scan for some hours, and it had restarted while I was gone..I don't know if Kaspersky did it, but here is the log anyway. Let me know if it looks incomplete. There isn't much on it.

report_2024.01.31_14.42.00.txt

[gdenko]

I did run it again, so here is the newer one.

report_2024.01.31_17.54.23.txt

[Maurice Naggar]

Kaspersky KVRT found no virus, no threat.  How is the system at this point ?

The Microsoft Safety Scanner is a free Microsoft stand-alone virus scanner that can be used to scan for & remove malware or potentially unwanted items from a system. This tool does not install. It is run on-demand.

This link is for the 64-bit version of MSERT.exe . Be sure you save the file first

Upon completion of the save, 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

Launch MSERT.exe
Accept the agreement terms of Microsoft
Select CUSTOM scan
Look on Scan Options & select CUSTOM scan & then select the C drive to be scanned.

Then start the scan. Have lots of patience. Once you start the scan & you see it started, then leave it be.

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 screen display. The only things that count are the End result at the end of the run.
Again, any on-screen display about repeat 'infection' is not to be relied on. Ignore those.
We only rely on the end result that is on the log-report-file.

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

The log is named MSERT.log

the log will be at

Windows\debug\msert.log
Please attach that log with your reply

It is normal for the Microsoft Safety Scanner to show 'detections' during the scan process on the screen itself.

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.

[gdenko]

The system has been fine during all of this. No signs of anything strange.  Here are the latest logs.

 

 

 

msert.log

[Maurice Naggar]

Hi. Safety Scanner scan result All Good.

Results Summary:
----------------
No infection found.
Successfully Submitted MAPS Report
Successfully Submitted Heartbeat Report
Microsoft Safety Scanner Finished On Thu Feb  1 16:41:20 2024

Question: Have you looked today on Malwarebytes ? I would like to see a copy of today's Malwarebytes Scan.
Then, locate the Scan run report;  export out a copy;  & then attach in with your  reply.
See https://support.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038479194-View-Reports-and-History-in-Malwarebytes-for-Windows-v4

 

I believe this system is good-to-go.  We just want to get one generic Readout report.

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

[gdenko]

Here are the two scan results.

It is a relief to hear that it looks fine now, thank you for all of the time you've spent helping me here. I really appreciate it.

A question - is there a reason that you recommend all of these scans and in this specific order, instead of one or two complete scans?

 

SecurityCheck.txt mbytes 2-2-2024.txt

[Maurice Naggar]

Comment. I often do like to run ESET Onlinescanner first.  But the order I used here does not carry significance. All the scanners that we use here are known and trusted.

The Malwarebytes scan result is Perfect.

These applications need your attention. Insuring they are Up-to-date is part of Security practice.
Notepad++ (32-bit x86) v.8.5.3  Warning! Download Update

Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 v.14.0.4734.1000  Warning! This software is no longer supported. Please use latest Microsift Office, Office Online or LibreOffice

TeamViewer v.15.49.3  Warning! Download Update

Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64) - 14.32.31332 v.14.32.31332.0  Warning! Download Update

Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x86) - 14.32.31332 v.14.32.31332.0  Warning! Download Update

TreeSize Free V4.7 (64 bit) v.4.7  Warning! Download Update
  
WinRAR 5.91 (64-bit) v.5.91.0  Warning! Download Update

mIRC v.7.63 Warning! Download Update

Windscribe v.2.6.14  Warning! Download Update
 
VLC media player v.3.0.12  Warning! Download Update
 
Google Chrome v.121.0.6167.85  Warning! Download Update

Mozilla Thunderbird (x64 en-US) v.115.4.2  Warning! Download Update
  
Windows Live Essentials v.16.4.3528.0331  Warning! This software is no longer supported.

Bonjour v.3.0.0.10  Warning! Your pc does not need this.UNINSTALL.