ADWCleaner detects and quarentines PUP malware, but it doesnt delete it.

[Loki23]

Whenever Discord or Chrome is open, it detects two different kinds of PUP things. Though when I quarentine them and delete them, they come up again when I scan. So it is clearly not getting rid of whatever is doing it. If anyone can offer help with this I would gladly take it...

AdwCleaner[C01].txt

[JSntgRvr]

Let's get the info to get the process started. Be aware it will take many steps and scans to fully remove malware.

Please respond to all future instructions from your helper in a timely manner.

Let's go ahead and run a couple of scans and get some updated logs from your system. Please read the entire post below before starting so that you're more familiar with the process

Then follow each step in the order provided. Unless otherwise asked, please attach all logs

 

Please make the following system changes: Please pay close attention the the instructions in all of the following links.

• If you have not done so already - Enable System Protection and create a NEW System Restore Point  <<<<< Important.
• Temporarily disable your antivirus real-time protection or other security software first only if it blocks or interferes with the scans or downloads.. Make sure to turn it back on once the scans are completed
• Temporarily disable Microsoft SmartScreen to download software below only if needed. Make sure to turn it back on once the downloads are completed
• Disable-Fast-Startup <<<<< Important.
• Show-Hidden-Folders-Files-Extensions

Please run the following scans: Please pay close attention the the instructions in all of the following links.

1. Click the following link and run a  Scan with AdwCleaner
2. Click the following link and run a  Scan with Malwarebytes
      RESTART the computer <<<<< Important.
3. Click the following link and run a  Scan with Farbar Recovery Scan Tool 

Example image of where to click to attach files when posting your reply

[Loki23]

Apollogies for the delay, my internet has been spotty as well as of late, though I am unsure if it is related or not.

Malwarebytes Scan Report 2024-07-31 235031.txtAddition.txtFRST.txtAdwCleaner[S33].txt

[JSntgRvr]

Welcome 
 
I'll be helping you with your computer.
 
Please read this post completely before beginning. If there's anything that you do not understand, please don't hesitate to ask before proceeding.
 
Please take note of the guidelines for this fix:

• Please note that I am a volunteer. I do have a family, a career, and other endeavors that may prevent immediate responses that meet your schedule. Do note that the differences in time zones could present a problem as well. Your patience and understanding will be greatly appreciated.
• First of all, the procedures we are about to perform are specific to your problem and should only be used on this specific computer.
• Do not make any changes to your computer that include installing/uninstalling programs, deleting files, modifying the registry, nor running scanners or tools of any kind unless specifically requested by me.
• Please read ALL instructions carefully and perform the steps fully and in the order they are written.
• If things appear to be better, let me know. Just because the symptoms no longer exist as before, does not mean that you are clean.
• Continue to read and follow my instructions until I tell you that your machine is clean.
• If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to ask before performing the task that I ask of you, and please wait for my reply before you proceed.
• Scanning with programs and reading the logs do take a fair amount of time. Again, your patience will be necessary. 

Let's begin... 

The following Fix will empty these folders:

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

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.

FRST64 was saved as C:\Users\thund\Desktop\FRSTEnglish.exe

• Download the enclosed file  Fixlist.txt
• Save it in the same location FRST64 is saved. (FRSTEnglish.exe)
• Start FRST (FRST64) with Administrator privileges
• This time around Press the Fix button and wait
• When finished, a log file (Fixlog.txt) will pop up and saved in the same location the tool was ran from.

Please attach this file in your next reply.

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

[Loki23]

Alright, I have done exactly as instructed, here are the logs you requested.

Fixlog.txtcureit.logI am not sure what to do with my pc while I wait for a reply, but I'm going to do nothing with it and simply use my laptop while I wait.

Also I totally understand the time thing, I am simply very thankful you are offering to help.

[JSntgRvr]

There were no infected objects detected.

Still detecting PUP malware?

[Loki23]

Yes, when I open ADwCleaner it keeps showing up these two options. Though something I noticed that my mind glossed over. Whenever I would quarentine these, it would only show up as one item in the quarenine tab...

The two programs that seem to cause this still are Discord and Chrome, as when both are closed the detections aren't there, yet when either are open it detects the same two, and when both are open it still only detects two...

[JSntgRvr]

Go to settings in Chrome, select Search Engines, then Manage Search Settings. If you see AVG anywhere, delete it.

[Loki23]

This is all that is showing up on this tab, is this what you meant?... Though I also found something about AVG Secure Search but I'm not sure if it is the thing or not.

Search Engine Results

Other suspicious list -

[JSntgRvr]

Try resetting Chrome:

 

[Loki23]

I did the entire progress up until here, issues are sill persisting, do you want me to continue with the guide?

[JSntgRvr]

I ll be checking on you in the am.

[Loki23]

Okay, I actually decided to try something a friend told me, that being to turn off my wifi and then delete the the quarentined items. I did so but at first they came right back. So I disabled my chrome sync and deleted my past month of chrome search history, cached images etc, the did the same turn off internet and try to kill it process...

It's no longer picking it up, with both Chrome and Discord open fully. Though I have only just been using chrome for a few minutes, I will update if the problem returns somehow.

[Loki23]

Second update, It is still only in the first few minutes but I am pretty sure my browser is hijacked as well. I have been noticing when I search for something it may search through many different quickly going tabs before going to some other search engine with my results.

Example: I Looked up something randomly to test out chrome, and it scrolled me through 4 places, It went fast so I couldn't see two but I saw "Search.Mania" and ended up at "Yahoo" for the search...

Apollogies if this just complicate things a lot :/

[Loki23]

Update 3 - At least currently I am no longer experiencing as much lag with whatever was bogging up my internet with that PUP thing. Though I am simply crossing my fingers that this is not a fluke

[JSntgRvr]

Keep me posted during the day.

[Loki23]

In a few hours I will be going for another few hours because I am driving to my dads house, but I am bringing the pc and I will see how to set it up while up there. I also checked and I am pretty sure that the wifi router here is not infected, and I think it is all a problem with Chrome.

For the past few hours it has only been browser hijacker crap, and nothing else. Do you have any proposed fixes for that? I did see something about going through and in some system in the pc to delete something in the extentions folder, but I'm not sure a bad extention is what caused this...

[JSntgRvr]

With Chrome Off, you can delete the default profile folder. Upon restart Chrome, will be reset to a new profile.

This is the folder you will need to delete:

C:\Users\thund\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default

You can use FRST64 to do this:

FRST64 was saved as C:\Users\thund\Desktop\FRSTEnglish.exe

• Download the enclosed file  Fixlist.txt
• Save it in the same location FRST64 is saved. (FRSTEnglish.exe)
• Start FRST (FRST64) with Administrator privileges
• This time around Press the Fix button and wait
• When finished, a log file (Fixlog.txt) will pop up and saved in the same location the tool was ran from.

Please attach this file in your next reply.

[JSntgRvr]

Make sure Chrome is closed when running the script.

[Loki23]

Bad news, I had to reactivate Google Sync to get access again to this site, and doing so brought both of those damn things back... 

Here is the Fixlog and the picture of the two things being back.

Fixlog.txt

 

[Loki23]

It appears at least for now that the hijacking stopped, but I cant sync my chrome accounts or those two PUP alerts always come back.

[Loki23]

Updating - I decided to clear my syncing data (Which is something I've done multiple times in this entire process) and suddenly activating sync no longer brings the two malware detections back?? 

I will keep updates if anything changes like the hijacking coming back or the two malware detections.

[JSntgRvr]

Meanwhile, lets clean-up.

Please download KpRm by Kernel-panik and save to your Desktop.

• Click on KpRm.exe to run the tool.

Vista/Windows 7/8/10/11 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.

• Put a check mark next to these items:

- Delete tools

- Delete Restore Points

- Create Restore Point

- Delete now

• Click the "Run" button.

• When the tool has finished, it will create and open a log report and delete itself.

A few final recommendations:
 
The following information will help you to keep your computer and data safer as well as improve your overall privacy

• Recommend using a Password Manager for all websites, etc. that require a password. Never use the same password on more than one site.
  https://www.howtogeek.com/780233/best-password-manager/
• Make sure you're backing up your files https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/136226-backup-software/
• Keep all software up to date - PatchMyPC - https://patchmypc.com/home-updater#download     https://patchmypc.com/about-us
• Keep your Operating System up to date and current at all times - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-update-faq-8a903416-6f45-0718-f5c7-375e92dddeb2
• Further tips to help protect your computer data and improve your privacy: https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/258363-tips-to-help-protect-from-infection/
• Please consider installing the following Content Blockers for your Web browsers if you haven't done so already. This will help improve overall security

Malwarebytes Browser Guard

•   Google Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/malwarebytes-browser-guar/ihcjicgdanjaechkgeegckofjjedodee
•   Microsoft Edge: https://support.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/articles/4413298736787-Install-Malwarebytes-Browser-Guard-on-Microsoft-Edge-browser
•   Mozilla Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/malwarebytes/

uBlock Origin

• Google Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ublock-origin/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm
• Microsoft Edge: https://microsoftedge.microsoft.com/addons/detail/ublock-origin/odfafepnkmbhccpbejgmiehpchacaeak
• Mozilla Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin

Cybersecurity basics & protection
 
Everything you need to know about cybercrime
https://www.malwarebytes.com/cybersecurity
 
Further reading if you'd like to keep up on the malware threat scene: Malwarebytes Blog  https://blog.malwarebytes.com/
 
Please review the following to help you better protect your computer and privacy
 
Tips to help protect from infection
 
Hopefully, we've been able to assist you with correcting your system issues.
 
Thank you for using Malwarebytes. Please tell your friends and family if they too need assistance with malware removal.

Regards.