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Infected By A Click Hijack

Started by shortmort37 , Sep 27 2008 01:17 PM

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22 replies to this topic

#1 shortmort37

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Location:Philly, PA, USA

Posted 27 September 2008 - 01:17 PM

Whenever I google a keyword, e.g., "filezilla", I get the standard list of ordered links with all the text from legimate sites, just as if I had googled on an uninfected computer. However, all of the links have substitutions -- e.g., www.monstermarketplace.com, wowfind.com, filezilla-best-deals.com, etc. The behavior is the same with Firefox as will Internet Explorer 7.

I admit that I read about ComboFix on this site, and that I have run it. However, I have not acted on any of the information in the log. Before I ran it, I followed on the steps in the guide, including the installation of the XP Recovery Console, and disabling all virus protection, firewall and malware protection programs. ComboFix ran to completion, without error, and has created a log file. The hijack I mention above persists.

Please advise of next steps.

Thanks
Dan

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#2 E-Mu

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Posted 27 September 2008 - 01:35 PM

Hi shortmort37,

Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and save it to your desktop. If needed...Instructions with screenshots
alternate download link 1
alternate download link 2

Make sure you are connected to the Internet.
Double-click on Download_mbam-setup.exe to install the application.
When the installation begins, follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
When installation has finished, make sure you leave both of these checked:
Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
Then click Finish.

MBAM will automatically start and you will be asked to update the program before performing a scan.

If an update is found, the program will automatically update itself.
Press the OK button to close that box and continue.
Problems downloading the updates? Manually download them from here and double-click on "mbam-rules.exe" to install.

On the Scanner tab:

Make sure the "Perform Quick Scan" option is selected.
Then click on the Scan button.
If asked to select the drives to scan, leave all the drives selected and click on the Start Scan button.
The scan will begin and "Scan in progress" will show at the top. It may take some time to complete so please be patient.
When the scan is finished, a message box will say "The scan completed successfully. Click 'Show Results' to display all objects found".
Click OK to close the message box and continue with the removal process.

Back at the main Scanner screen:

Click on the Show Results button to see a list of any malware that was found.
Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
When removal is completed, a log report will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to restart your computer. (see Note below)
The log is automatically saved and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM.
The log can also be found here:
C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\mbam-log-date (time).txt
Copy and paste the contents of that report in your next reply and exit MBAM.

Note: If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove, you will be presented with 1 of 2 prompts.
Click OK to either and let MBAM proceed with the disinfection process.
If asked to restart the computer, please do so immediately. Failure to reboot will prevent MBAM from removing all the malware.

Next

Please Download SUPERAntiSypware Free for Home Users...to your desktop.
Before you do anything else,
Reboot your computer in SAFE MODE using the F8 method. To do this, restart your computer and after hearing your computer beep once during startup...
but before the Windows icon appears... press the F8 key repeatedly. A menu will appear with several options.
Use the arrow keys to navigate and select the option to run Windows in "Safe Mode".

SUPERAntiSpyware scan:

Double-click SUPERAntiSypware.exe... use the default settings for installation.
Double-click the icon...created on your desktop... to launch the program.
Click "Yes" ... if asked to update definitions. If not...press the "Check for Updates"...button.
If you encounter any problems while downloading the updates, manually download and unzip them from Here.
Under "Configuration and Preferences", click the Preferences button.
Click the Scanning Control tab.
Under Scanner Options make sure the following are checked (leave all others unchecked):
- Close browsers before scanning.
- Scan for tracking cookies.
- Terminate memory threats before quarantining.
Click the "Close" button to leave the control center screen.
Back on the main screen, under "Scan for Harmful Software" click Scan your computer.
On the left, make sure you check C:\Fixed Drive.
On the right, under "Complete Scan", choose Perform Complete Scan.
Click "Next" to start the scan. Please be patient while it scans your computer.
After the scan is complete, a Scan Summary box will appear with... any items detected. Click "OK".
Make sure everything has a checkmark next to it and click "Next".
A notification will appear that "Quarantine and Removal is Complete".
Click "OK" and then click the "Finish" button to return to the main menu.
Reply "Yes" to the reboot prompt.
Click Close to exit the program.

Please follow both set's of instructions and the post the log from MBAM in your next post and i'll have a look at it.

E-Mu

~ E-Mu ~

"Emu, You Moo, We All Moo for Emu!" <-- Thanks to Animal

"If at first you don't succeed; call it version 1.0"

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#3 shortmort37

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Location:Philly, PA, USA

Posted 27 September 2008 - 03:02 PM

Thanks, E-Mu. I followed the instructions for MBAM, the log file follows. It didn't find anything on the recommended quick scan.

I rebooted in Safe Mode with Networking, and attempted to install SUPERAntiSpyware. However, I received this prompt from "Windows Installer":

"The system administrator has set policies to prevent this installation"

However, I'm the administrator for my desktop; I've never seen a message like this before. Malware?

Here's the MBAM log.

Thanks
Dan

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.28
Database version: 1215
Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3

9/27/2008 3:44:28 PM
mbam-log-2008-09-27 (15-44-28).txt

Scan type: Quick Scan
Objects scanned: 56270
Time elapsed: 4 minute(s), 40 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 0

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

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#4 shortmort37

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Location:Philly, PA, USA

Posted 27 September 2008 - 03:09 PM

Check that; there must be a policy in place in safe mode that prevents software installation. While I didn't complete the installation when booted normally, I did not receive this message and arrived at the "welcome" splash screen.

So, how do I change the policy to permit installation in safe mode?

Thanks
Dan

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#5 shortmort37

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Location:Philly, PA, USA

Posted 27 September 2008 - 06:27 PM

Not having received any advice about the installation problem -- I went ahead and installed it while not in safe mode. It seemed to install OK...

I then booted into safe mode, downloaded the most recent SUPERAntiSpyware updates, and ran a complete scan. It complained about a number of cookies, which I quarantined; but that's all. No memory-resident programs, no malicious registry entries, no infected files.

I rebooted, and repeated what is now my standard test: Google for "filezilla". The click hijacks remain in full force.

This is a very pernicious Trojan. SpyBot, MBAM and SuperAntiSpyware can't turn it up.

What are my next steps? Anyone?

Dan

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#6 shortmort37

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76 posts

Location:Philly, PA, USA

Posted 27 September 2008 - 08:12 PM

Well, this sux. SpyBot, MBAM, and SAS couldn't find any Malware. I just ran STOPzilla -- and it claims to have found 52 infections, from GiantExplorer, Vundo.F to CatchMe. But, I have to give my credit card info over the internet to purchase a registration key, so I can eliminate the infections...

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#7 boopme

To Insanity and Beyond

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Posted 27 September 2008 - 09:44 PM

Please do not pay for anything..
Let's get a second opinion. Turn off SpyBot first then, Run an Online scan with BitDefender . Post that log in your next reply.

How do I get help? Who is helping me?
Staying Updated Calendar of Updates.
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear....
Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook Have you seen..Select Real Security

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#8 shortmort37

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Location:Philly, PA, USA

Posted 28 September 2008 - 07:56 AM

Bit Defender complains:

"Failed to load interface -- You must have administrative rights on this computer; you also must have the Internet Explorer security settings to the Medium level. "

However, I have full administrative rights to this computer; and, while my IE security settings were medium-high, I set to medium, tore down all browser instances and restarted.

Same message.

Dan

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#9 E-Mu

Bleepin' Psychopomp

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Gender:Male
Location:UK

Posted 28 September 2008 - 01:40 PM

Hi Dan, sorry i could not reply sooner ive had a couple of things happen in the last 24hrs.

For this error - You must have administrative rights on this computer - try the following;

- Right-click on program icon
- Select 'Run As'
- Select Option to Run as 'Following User' and select 'Administrator' then enter your password again

E-Mu

~ E-Mu ~

"Emu, You Moo, We All Moo for Emu!" <-- Thanks to Animal

"If at first you don't succeed; call it version 1.0"

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#10 shortmort37

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Location:Philly, PA, USA

Posted 28 September 2008 - 02:10 PM

Nope, that didn't work either. I ran iexplore.exe using the Administrator account (even though my personal account is an administrator account), with security set to medium. I got the same complaint.

At this point, I've run Ad-Aware, SpyBot, MBAM, SUPERAntispyware, Stinger, and STOPzilla. Only STOPzilla purports to have found anything, and it will only eliminate if I cough up twenty bucks. How can I be sure it's really found anything, if none of those other programs have? And why do we think BitDefender will find something they couldn't?

I'm really frustrated at this point; it all seems pretty hit or miss to me. I'm going to go through the prep guide for Hijackthis, and try posting a log over in that forum. If anyone's interested in following up on this case, please look for me over there. And thank you all, for all of your help so far.

Dan

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#11 boopme

To Insanity and Beyond

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54,783 posts

Gender:Male
Location:NJ USA

Posted 28 September 2008 - 02:18 PM

Want to try one more thing first.. Try runnning the Online scan thru safe mode with networking,just a hunch.

How do I get help? Who is helping me?
Staying Updated Calendar of Updates.
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear....
Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook Have you seen..Select Real Security

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#12 shortmort37

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Location:Philly, PA, USA

Posted 28 September 2008 - 02:22 PM

You mean, an online scan using BitDefender in safe mode (w/networking)? OK, I'll try that.

Dan

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#13 boopme

To Insanity and Beyond

Global Moderator
54,783 posts

Gender:Male
Location:NJ USA

Posted 28 September 2008 - 02:24 PM

Yes

How do I get help? Who is helping me?
Staying Updated Calendar of Updates.
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear....
Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook Have you seen..Select Real Security

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#14 shortmort37

Member

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76 posts

Location:Philly, PA, USA

Posted 28 September 2008 - 02:38 PM

I'm in safe mode as I type this; logged in as Administrator, with security settings set to medium, and www.einfodaily.com added as a trusted site.

Could this be part of the exploit?

Installing HiJackThis now...

Dan

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#15 shortmort37

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Location:Philly, PA, USA

Posted 28 September 2008 - 02:42 PM

Wait, here's a tantalizing clue...

While booted in safe mode with networking, I ran my "google filezilla" test. None of the links were hijacked! Hmmm... Something that gets launched in normal boot mode, is compromising my machine.

Why can't any of these A-SW programs find it?! I'm going to repeat the test in normal boot mode now.

Dan