Spyware Guard 2008 - Removal help

dwisti · January 12, 2009

I have a similar problem as this fellow. My computer is infected with Spyware Guard 2008. I tried to install Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware v1.32. It seems Spyware Guard 2008 is blocking the mbam-setup.exe. I rebooted into safe mode and was able to install Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware by renaming mbam-setup.exe to just setup.exe. At the end, I was sure to place a checkmark next to the following:

Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

Then I clicked Finish but it seems Spyware Guard 2008 is blocking the execution of Anti-Malware. I have not tried to run HijckThis to create a log. I'm currently creating an image of the infected drive.

Any advice on my next step would be greatly appreciated.

David

AdvancedSetup · January 13, 2009

Please download the following scanning tool. GMER

Open the zip file and copy the file
gmer.exe
to your Desktop.
Double click on
gmer.exe
and run it.
It may take a minute to load and become available.
Do not make any changes. As soon as it's done and the
COPY
button is available click on the
COPY
button.
DO NOT
Click on the
SCAN
button.
This will place the scan in your clipboard. Paste that into notepad or into your next reply post please.
Click OK and quit the GMER program.

dwisti · January 13, 2009

Tried to run GMER.exe but it looks like Spyware Guard 2008 kills the task. I renamed the GMER.exe and was able to get it to run. I said no to the dialog,

WARNING !!!

GMER has found system modification, which might have been caused by ROOTKIT activity. Do you want to fully scan your system ?

Here's the log:

GMER 1.0.14.14536 - http://www.gmer.net

Rootkit scan 2009-01-12 21:17:50

Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3

---- System - GMER 1.0.14 ----

Code E161A2A8 ZwEnumerateKey

Code E165D4C0 ZwFlushInstructionCache

Code BACA3EAB pIofCallDriver

---- Devices - GMER 1.0.14 ----

AttachedDevice \FileSystem\Ntfs \Ntfs symsnap.sys (StorageCraft Volume Snap-Shot/StorageCraft)

---- Threads - GMER 1.0.14 ----

Thread 4:156 BACA4D66

---- Services - GMER 1.0.14 ----

Service C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\TDSSpqlt.sys (*** hidden *** ) [sYSTEM] TDSSserv.sys <-- ROOTKIT !!!

---- EOF - GMER 1.0.14 ----

AdvancedSetup · January 13, 2009

You will want to print out or copy these instructions to Notepad for Safe Mode/offline reference!

These steps are for member

dwisti only

. If you are a lurker, do NOT try this on your system!

If you are not

dwisti

and have a similar problem, do NOT post here; start your own topic

Do not run or start any other programs while these utilities and tools are in use!

Do NOT run any other tools on your own or do any fixes other than what is listed here.

If you have questions, please ask before you do something on your own.

But it is important that you get going on these following steps.

STEP01

Reconfigure Windows XP to show hidden files:

To enable the viewing of Hidden files follow these steps:

* Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.

* Double-click on the My Computer icon.

* Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options.

* After the new window appears select the View tab.

* Put a checkmark in the checkbox labeled Display the contents of system folders.

* Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Show hidden files and folders.

* Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide file extensions for known file types.

* Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled Hide protected operating system files.

* Press the Apply button and then the OK button and exit My Computer.

* Now your computer is configured to show all hidden files.

STEP02

Download and install

CCleaner

CCleaner
Double-click on the downloaded file "ccsetup215.exe" and install the application.
Keep the default installation folder "C:\Program Files\CCleaner"
Uncheck "Add CCleaner Yahoo! Toolbar and use CCleaner from your browser"
Click finish when done and close
ALL PROGRAMS
Start the
CCleaner
program.
Click on
Registry
and
Uncheck
Registry Integrity so that it does not run
Click on
Options
-
Advanced
and
Uncheck
"Only delete files in Windows Temp folders older than 48 hours"
Click back to
Cleaner
and under SYSTEM uncheck the Memory Dumps and Windows Log Files
Click on
Run Cleaner
button on the bottom right side of the program.
Click OK to any prompts

STEP03

Disable your AntiVirus and AntiSpyware

applications, usually via a right click on the System Tray icon. They may otherwise interfere with our tools.

This should apply to AVG8:

To

disable the Resident Shield

, please:

open AVG User Interface

double-click on the Resident Shield

un-tick the option Resident Shield active

save the changes.

STEP04

Please download and run the following file to repair file and registry permissions

fixacl.exe

STEP05

Download
FixPolicies.exe
by Bill Castner and save it to your desktop.
Double click on FixPolicies.exe to run it.
Click on Install. It will create a folder named FixPolicies on your desktop.
Open the FixPolicies folder.
Double click on
Fix_policies.cmd
to run it. Command Prompt will open and close quickly this is normal.
Reboot your computer after it runs
This fix may prove temporary. Active malware may revert these changes at your next startup. You can safely run the utility again.
Note: some malware will block the running of this tool. So if you cannot run Fixpolicies, then, RENAME the EXE file to something like Mytool.exe and then run it.

STEP06

Download this INF repair file by MS-MVP Miekiemoes:

http://users.telenet.be/bluepatchy/miekiemoes/tools/VArestorepolicies.zip

Unzip the download. Open the folder

VArestorepolicies

and

Right-click

the file inside,

VArestorepolicies.INF

and choose

Install

STEP07

If you have a prior copy of Combofix, delete it now !

Download ComboFix from one of these locations, saving to DESKTOP:

Link 1

Link 2

* IMPORTANT !!! Save ComboFix.exe to your Desktop

If your I.E. browser shows a warning message at the top, do a Right-Click on the bar and select Download, saving it to the Desktop.

Disable your AntiVirus and AntiSpyware
applications, usually via a right click on the System Tray icon. They may otherwise interfere with our tools
Double click on Combo-Fix.exe & follow the prompts.
If and only if you are prompted to download a new version of Combofix, reply NO .
As part of it's process, ComboFix will check to see if the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console is installed. With malware infections being as they are today, it's strongly recommended to have this pre-installed on your machine before doing any malware removal. It will allow you to boot up into a special recovery/repair mode that will allow us to more easily help you should your computer have a problem after an attempted removal of malware.
Follow the prompts to allow ComboFix to download and install the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console, and when prompted, agree to the End-User License Agreement to install the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console.

**Please note: If the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console is already installed, ComboFix will continue it's malware removal procedures.

Once the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console is installed using ComboFix, you should see the following message:

Click on Yes, to continue scanning for malware.

Please watch Combofix as it runs, as you may see messages which require your response, or the pressing of OK button.

IF

you should see a message like this:

then, be sure to write down fully and also copy that into your next reply here and then await for my response.

When finished, it shall produce a log for you. Please include the

C:\ComboFix.txt

in your next reply.

-------------------------------------------------------

A caution -

Do not run Combofix more than once.

Do not touch your mouse/keyboard until the scan has completed, as this may cause the process to stall or your computer to lock.

The scan will temporarily disable your desktop, and if interrupted may leave your desktop disabled.

If this occurs, please reboot to restore the desktop.

Even when ComboFix appears to be doing nothing, look at your Drive light.

If it is flashing, Combofix is still at work.

STEP08

IF

and only

IF

the Combofix has worked without exceptions, only then, do the following. IF it has exceptions, then please provide all details and put that in a reply pronto, and STOP, and await my reply.

Only if Combofix has a good finish:

I'm going to have you get and run a special tool. It will hopefully take out most remains of this beast. Keep in mind that not all files I list here will be found on your system; so do not be alarmed. This is a general-type list of typical infectors.

Download

The Avenger

by Swandog46 from

here

.

Unzip/extract it to a folder on your desktop.
Double click on
avenger.exe
to run
The Avenger
.
Click
OK
.
Make sure that the box next to
Scan for rootkits
has a tick in it and that the box next to
Automatically disable any rootkits found
does
not
have a tick in it.

Copy

all

of the text in the below textbox to the clibpboard by highlighting it and then pressing

Ctrl+C

.

Files to delete:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\brsvc01a.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\brss01a.exe

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TDSSixgp.dll

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TDSSproc.log

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TDSSwkod.log

C:\Documents and Settings\Chelsea\Local Settings\Temp\TDSSe8db.tmp

c:\windows\system32\drivers\msqpdxserv.sys

C:\resycled

D:\resycled

e:\resycled

f:\resycled

g:\resycled

c:\windows\system32\TDSSweat.dat

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\TDSSmqlt.sys

C:\windows\system32\drivers\tdssserv.sys

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\TDSSmact.sys

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDSSfpmp.dll

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDSSwpyd.dat

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDSStkdv.log

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDSSotxb.dll

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDSScrrn.dll

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDSSbvqh.dll

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDSSjnmx.dll

c:\windows\system32\TDSShrxr.dll

c:\windows\system32\TDSSkkbi.log

c:\windows\system32\TDSSlrvd.dat

c:\windows\system32\TDSSlxwp.dll

c:\windows\system32\TDSSnmxh.log

c:\windows\system32\TDSSoiqt.dll

c:\windows\system32\TDSSrhyp.log

c:\windows\system32\TDSSrtqp.dll

c:\windows\system32\TDSSsihc.dll

c:\windows\system32\TDSSxfum.dll

c:\windows\system32\TDSSmtve.dat

c:\windows\system32\TDSSnirj.dat


Drivers to delete:

tdss

tdssserv

TDSSserv.SYS

Service_TDSSSERV.SYS

Legacy_TDSSSERV.SYS

msqpdxserv.sys

msqpdxserv


Registry keys to delete:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\TDSSserv.sys

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\network\TDSSserv.sys

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Services\tdssserv

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\tdssserv

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\tdssdata

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\tdss

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\tdssserv.sys

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SafeBoot\Network\tdssserv.sys

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\tdssserv

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\LEGACY_TDSSSERV

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\LEGACY_TDSSSERV

In the avenger window, click the
Paste Script from Clipboard
icon,
button.
:!:
Make sure that what appears in Avenger
matches exactly
what you were asked to Copy/Paste from the Code box above.
Click the
Execute
button.
You will be asked
Are you sure you want to execute the current script?
.
Click
Yes
.
You will now be asked
First step completed --- The Avenger has been successfully set up to run on next boot. Reboot now?
.
Click
Yes
.
Your PC will now be rebooted.
Note:
If the above script contains Drivers to delete: or Drivers to disable:, then
The Avenger
will require two reboots to complete its operation.
If that is the case, it will force a BSOD on the first reboot. This is normal & expected behaviour.
After your PC has completed the necessary reboots, a log should automatically open. Please copy/paste the contents of
c:\avenger.txt
into your next reply.

Not all the items will be found; so do not worry. Hopefully enough of the rootkit will be removed so that we can continue forward with more cleaning.

If you get a blue screen abort when it reboots, please write down all the information, STOP codes and description.

and then reboot the system again.

STEP09

Download DDS and save it to your desktop from one of these 3 locations

1

http://www.techsupportforum.com/sectools/sUBs/dds

2

http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/sUBs/dds.scr

3

http://www.forospyware.com/sUBs/dds

Disable any script blocker if your antivirus/antimalware has it.

Then double click

dds.scr

to run the tool.

When done, DDS.txt will open.

Click Yes at the next prompt for Optional Scan.

When done, DDS will open two (2) logs:
1. DDS.txt
2. Attach.txt
[*]
Save both reports to your desktop.

Please include the following logs in your next reply:

DDS.txt

Attach.txt

Please then reply with a copy of

C:\Combofix.txt

,

C:\Avenger.txt

, and a new

HijackThis

RE-Enable your AntiVirus and AntiSpyware

applications.

dwisti · January 13, 2009

Got to Step 5. Can't run FixPolicies.exe. Tried to rename but it still will not run.

dwisti · January 13, 2009

Got to Step 5. Can't run FixPolicies.exe. Tried to rename but it still will not run.

Sorry, I finally got it to run by renaming it. Moving to step 6...

dwisti · January 13, 2009

Got to step 7. Ran combofix.exe. Microsoft Recovery Console was not installed. I connected the Ethernet for internet but I must have click ok to install too quickly. The install of Microsoft Recovery Console failed with an error dialog.

Wrote down this message and click ok to reboot.

ComboFix has detected the presence of rootkit activity and needs to reboot the machine

Kindly not down on paper, the name if each file. We may need it later

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\TDSSpqlt.sys

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDSSoiqt.dll

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDSSmtvd.dat

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDSShrxr.dll

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDSSmtql.dll

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDSSxfum.dll

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDSSlxwp.dll

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDSSkkbi.log

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDSSnmxh.log

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDSSsahc.dll

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TDSSrhyp.log

Once I turned on the computer again. It started running combofix again automatically. It's on the dialog box to install recovery console. Not sure what I should do next. Waiting reply...

AdvancedSetup · January 13, 2009

If it can install the Recovery Console please let it. IF not then go ahead and proceed and let it run and it should be able to remove that infection.

Then we'll run some scans to ensure it was removed.

dwisti · January 13, 2009

If it can install the Recovery Console please let it. IF not then go ahead and proceed and let it run and it should be able to remove that infection.
Then we'll run some scans to ensure it was removed.

Tried to install Recovery Console but it failed again. Combofix did its thing, log is attached. The Spyware Guard 2009 program is on the desktop so I'm not sure if we got everything. Funny, the title bar in the start menu says Spyware Guard 2008 but the GUI title is now 2009. I'm stopping here and awaiting further instructions.

ComboFix 09-01-10.01 - dwisti 2009-01-13 8:49:36.1 - NTFSx86

Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.1.2600.3.1252.1.1033.18.2047.1375 [GMT -5:00]

Running from: c:\documents and settings\dwisti.PROG\Desktop\Combo-Fix.exe

WARNING -THIS MACHINE DOES NOT HAVE THE RECOVERY CONSOLE INSTALLED !!

.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Other Deletions )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

.

c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DLLs\ieModule.dll

c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Protect\svhost.exe

c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\svhost.exe

c:\program files\Microsoft Common

c:\program files\Microsoft Common\svchost.exe

c:\windows\IE4 Error Log.txt

c:\windows\reged.exe

c:\windows\spoolsystem.exe

c:\windows\sys.com

c:\windows\syscert.exe

c:\windows\sysexplorer.exe

c:\windows\system32\drivers\TDSSpqlt.sys

c:\windows\system32\java2.sys c:\windows\system32\snjava.dll

c:\windows\system32\TDSShrxr.dll

c:\windows\system32\TDSSkkbi.log

c:\windows\system32\TDSSlxwp.dll

c:\windows\system32\TDSSmtql.dll

c:\windows\system32\TDSSmtvd.dat

c:\windows\system32\TDSSnmxh.log

c:\windows\system32\TDSSoiqt.dll

c:\windows\system32\TDSSrhyp.log

c:\windows\system32\TDSSsahc.dll

c:\windows\system32\TDSSxfum.dll

c:\windows\system32\winscenter.exe

c:\windows\vmreg.dll

.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Drivers/Services )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

.

-------\Service_TDSSserv.sys

-------\Legacy_TDSSserv.sys

((((((((((((((((((((((((( Files Created from 2008-12-13 to 2009-01-13 )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

.

2009-01-12 21:52 . 2009-01-12 21:52 <DIR> d-------- c:\program files\CCleaner

2009-01-12 13:31 . 2009-01-12 13:31 <DIR> dr-h----- C:\VProRecovery

2009-01-12 12:05 . 2009-01-12 12:05 <DIR> d-------- c:\documents and settings\dwisti\Application Data\Subversion

2009-01-12 11:42 . 2009-01-12 11:44 <DIR> d-------- c:\program files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

2009-01-12 11:42 . 2009-01-12 11:42 <DIR> d-------- c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\Malwarebytes

2009-01-12 11:42 . 2009-01-04 18:38 38,496 --a------ c:\windows\system32\drivers\mbamswissarmy.sys

2009-01-12 11:42 . 2009-01-04 18:38 15,504 --a------ c:\windows\system32\drivers\mbam.sys

2009-01-12 10:17 . 2009-01-12 10:17 <DIR> d-------- c:\program files\Spyware Guard 2009

2009-01-10 20:10 . 2009-01-10 20:10 <DIR> d-------- c:\documents and settings\dwisti.PROG\Application Data\Download Manager

2009-01-09 12:48 . 2009-01-09 12:48 <DIR> d-------- c:\documents and settings\dwisti.PROG\Application Data\ImgBurn

2009-01-09 12:45 . 2009-01-09 12:45 <DIR> d-------- c:\program files\ImgBurn

2009-01-06 12:40 . 2009-01-06 12:40 4,785 --a------ C:\bng01.cfg.bak

2009-01-06 12:40 . 2009-01-06 12:40 4,785 --a------ C:\bng01.cfg

2008-12-25 17:39 . 2008-12-25 18:02 <DIR> d-------- c:\documents and settings\dwisti.PROG\Application Data\dvdcss

.

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Find3M Report ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

.

2009-01-13 14:05 --------- d-----w c:\documents and settings\LocalService\Application Data\VMware

2009-01-13 14:05 --------- d-----w c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware

2009-01-13 03:32 --------- d-----w c:\documents and settings\dwisti.PROG\Application Data\Skype

2009-01-13 02:26 --------- d-----w c:\documents and settings\dwisti.PROG\Application Data\skypePM

2009-01-12 02:49 --------- d-----w c:\documents and settings\dwisti.PROG\Application Data\VMware

2009-01-09 16:31 --------- d-----w c:\program files\Mozilla Thunderbird

2009-01-09 15:20 --------- d-----w c:\program files\Beyond Compare 3

2009-01-05 14:41 349 ----a-w C:\mountusr.cmd

2008-12-12 17:40 --------- d-----w c:\documents and settings\dwisti.PROG\Application Data\vlc

2008-12-12 17:34 --------- d-----w c:\program files\VideoLAN

2008-12-12 14:19 --------- d-----w c:\program files\Xvid

2008-12-12 13:58 --------- d-----w c:\program files\GBA Media

2008-12-11 06:45 --------- d-----w c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft Help

2008-12-09 15:10 --------- d-----w c:\documents and settings\dwisti.I2SNET\Application Data\Infineon

2008-12-08 18:17 --------- d-----w c:\program files\LinkMaster

2008-12-08 15:43 --------- d-----w c:\program files\KEPServerEx

2008-11-18 12:13 --------- d-----w c:\program files\SBLManager

2008-11-17 21:29 --------- d-----w c:\program files\InteractX

2008-06-13 13:30 88,761 ----a-w c:\windows\inf\pxiclean.exe

2004-03-15 21:51 114,688 ----a-w c:\program files\internet explorer\plugins\LV71ActiveXControl.dll

2003-05-01 13:36 114,688 ----a-w c:\program files\internet explorer\plugins\LV7ActiveXControl.dll

2006-01-23 14:32 131,072 ----a-w c:\program files\internet explorer\plugins\LV80ActiveXControl.dll

2007-02-08 14:48 133,920 ----a-w c:\program files\internet explorer\plugins\LV82ActiveXControl.dll

2007-07-24 22:03 118,784 ----a-w c:\program files\internet explorer\plugins\LV85ActiveXControl.dll

2008-06-26 02:51 118,784 ----a-w c:\program files\internet explorer\plugins\LV86ActiveXControl.dll

.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Reg Loading Points ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

.

*Note* empty entries & legit default entries are not shown

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\shelliconoverlayidentifiers\1TortoiseNormal]

@="{C5994560-53D9-4125-87C9-F193FC689CB2}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{C5994560-53D9-4125-87C9-F193FC689CB2}]