BleepingComputer.com: Website Redirections, Chrome won't open

Hello,

My computer appears to have some sort of virus. I am getting popups and annoying redirects to sites like "flurrysearch.com" when I use IE, and the Google Chrome process terminates as soon as I attempt to begin it.

HijackThis had an error when it attempted to get write privileges to my hosts file, and I think the virus changed my hosts file in some way. I looked at the file itself and it appeared to have added attempts to block sites like Google on it. I was unable to edit the file and remove these suspect lines.

Anyway, attached is my HijackThis log.

Please help me with this problem as soon as you can, as resolving this issue is sort of important.

Thanks,
Caleb Wysor.

This post has been edited by TheBigCW: 06 March 2011 - 06:22 PM
Reason for edit: Moved to Am I Infected from XP.

Hello, it's possible you had an infection similar to this,so run these programs and see how you are after.

Please follow our Removal Guide here Remove System Tool and SystemTool .
After reading how the malware is misleading you ...
You will move to the Automated Removal Instructions

After you completed that, post your scan log here,let me know how things are.
The log is automatically saved and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM.
Copy and paste the contents of that report in your next reply. Be sure to post the complete log to include the top portion which shows MBAM's database version and your operating system.

Hello. I appeared to have fixed Chrome. It was an issue with a part of Microsoft Office, and I can now use Chrome properly. I had 11 (wow!) infected items. I guess I will have to tell the primary user of this computer (who is not me) to be a more responsible internet user. Anyway, if this could be moved to the Malware logs section, that would be quite great. I have here the Malwarebytes log, and I'll run any other tests if you like.





Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.50.1.1100
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: 5984

Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 (Safe Mode)
Internet Explorer 7.0.5730.13

3/7/2011 9:30:08 PM
mbam-log-2011-03-07 (21-30-08).txt

Scan type: Full scan (C:\|)
Objects scanned: 271962
Time elapsed: 23 minute(s), 28 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 3
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 3
Files Infected: 5

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{BEAC7DC8-E106-4C6A-931E-5A42E7362883} (Adware.GameVance) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\GamevanceText.DLL (Adware.GameVance) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\gvtl (Adware.GameVance) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
C:\documents and settings\Debbie\application data\Mozilla\extensions\{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}\textlinks@gamevance.com (Adware.GamesVance) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\documents and settings\Debbie\application data\Mozilla\extensions\{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}\textlinks@gamevance.com\chrome (Adware.GamesVance) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\documents and settings\Debbie\application data\Mozilla\extensions\{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}\textlinks@gamevance.com\components (Adware.GamesVance) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
C:\system volume information\_restore{46de8921-1d39-44d2-a9e9-64119261f211}\RP374\A0119627.exe (Rogue.InternetSecurityEssentials) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\documents and settings\Debbie\application data\Mozilla\extensions\{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}\textlinks@gamevance.com\chrome.manifest (Adware.GamesVance) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\documents and settings\Debbie\application data\Mozilla\extensions\{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}\textlinks@gamevance.com\install.rdf (Adware.GamesVance) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\documents and settings\Debbie\application data\Mozilla\extensions\{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}\textlinks@gamevance.com\chrome\gvtextlinks.jar (Adware.GamesVance) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\documents and settings\Debbie\application data\Mozilla\extensions\{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}\textlinks@gamevance.com\components\fftextlinks.xpt (Adware.GamesVance) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Are you still redirecting?

Run an online scan next.

Please perform a scan with Eset Online Antiivirus Scanner.
This scan requires Internet Explorer,Opera or Firefox to work. Vista/Windows 7 users need to run Internet Explorer as Administrator.
To do this, right-click on the IE icon in the Start Menu or Quick Launch Bar on the Taskbar and select Run As Administrator from the context menu.

• Click the green button.
  
• Read the End User License Agreement and check the box:
  
• Check .
  
• Click the button.
  
• Accept any security warnings from your browser.
  
• Check
  
• Check Remove found threats and Scan potentially unwanted applications. (If given the option, choose "Quarantine" instead of delete.)
  
• Click the Start button.
  
• ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin scanning your computer.
  
• If offered the option to get information or buy software at any point, just close the window.
  
• The scan will take a while so be patient and do NOT use the computer while the scan is running. Keep all other programs and windows closed.
  
• When the scan completes, push
  
• Push , and save the file to your desktop as ESETScan.txt.
  
• Push the button, then Finish.
  
• Copy and paste the contents of ESETScan.txt in your next reply.

Note: A log.txt file will also be created and automatically saved in the C:\Program Files\EsetOnlineScanner\ folder.
If you did not save the ESETScan log, click > Run..., then type or copy and paste everything in the code box below into the Open dialogue box:

C:\Program Files\ESET\EsetOnlineScanner\log.txt

• Click Ok and the scan results will open in Notepad.
  
• Copy and paste the contents of log.txt in your next reply.

-- Some online scanners will detect existing anti-virus software and refuse to cooperate. You may have to disable the real-time protection components of your existing anti-virus and try running the scan again. If you do this, remember to turn them back on after you are finished.

NOTE: In some instances if no malware is found there will be no log produced.

I'm not using much IE, but I used it for about 15 minutes or so and I'm not getting the redirects.

The scan found 1 result, a file I didn't recognize. I think the primary user of the computer downloaded it.

Anyway, here's the log.


-----


C:\lost\Nero 6 Ultra\Nero-6.6.1.15a.exe Win32/Toolbar.AskSBar application deleted - quarantined

ASKSBAR.DLL is a file that most likely was installed by you (or the other user) at some point, this would not have arrived preinstalled on your computer. This ASKSBAR.DLL file will run as a BHO in your browser everytime you browse the internet. Normally this is also found with one or more other Askbar files on your computer, if you did not install this intentionally on your computer then I recommend removing this as soon as possible or disabling your browser BHOs. This has been reported as spyware or adware by many, this goes by the name "Ask Bar" or search assistant, and may lead to advertisements or popups.


Rerun MBAM (MalwareBytes) like this:

Open MBAM in normal/regular mode and click Update tab, select Check for Updates,when done
click Scanner tab,select Quick scan and scan (normal mode).
After scan click Remove Selected, Post new scan log and Reboot into normal mode.

Are there any other issues on here now?

Hello.

No, I am not experiencing any other majour issues.


Here is the log. It did not find the AskBar, so I manually uninstalled it and removed the registry entries.


---

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.50.1.1100
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: 5997

Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 7.0.5730.13

3/9/2011 7:45:43 AM
mbam-log-2011-03-09 (07-45-43).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 176779
Time elapsed: 7 minute(s), 16 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)

Excellent! If there are no more problems or signs of infection, you should Create a New Restore Point to prevent possible reinfection from an old one. Some of the malware you picked up could have been saved in System Restore. Since this is a protected directory your tools cannot access to delete these files, they sometimes can reinfect your system if you accidentally use an old restore point. Setting a new restore point AFTER cleaning your system will help prevent this and enable your computer to "roll-back" to a clean working state.

The easiest and safest way to do this is:

• Go to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools and click "System Restore".
  
• Choose the radio button marked "Create a Restore Point" on the first screen then click "Next". Give the R.P. a name, then click "Create". The new point will be stamped with the current date and time. Keep a log of this so you can find it easily should you need to use System Restore.

• Then use Disk Cleanup to remove all but the most recently created Restore Point.
  
• Go to Start > Run and type: Cleanmgr
  
• Click "Ok". Disk Cleanup will scan your files for several minutes, then open.
  
• Click the "More Options" tab, then click the "Clean up" button under System Restore.
  
• Click Ok. You will be prompted with "Are you sure you want to delete all but the most recent restore point?"
  
• Click Yes, then click Ok.
  
• Click Yes again when prompted with "Are you sure you want to perform these actions?"
  
• Disk Cleanup will remove the files and close automatically.

Vista Users can refer to these links: Create a New Restore Point and Disk Cleanup.

Tips to protect yourself against malware and reduce the potential for re-infection:

• Simple and easy ways to keep your computer safe.
  
• How did I get infected?, With steps so it does not happen again!.
  
• Hardening Windows Security - Part 1 & Part 2.
  
• Configuring Internet Explorer for Practical Security and Privacy - How to Secure Your Web Browser.
  
• Your Guide To Staying Safe Online.
  
• Use Task Manager to close pop-up messages to safely exit malware attacks.

• Avoid gaming sites, pirated software, cracking tools, keygens, and peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing programs. They are a security risk which can make your computer susceptible to a smörgåsbord of malware infections, remote attacks, exposure of personal information, and identity theft. Many malicious worms and Trojans spread across P2P file sharing networks, gaming and underground sites. Users visiting such pages may see innocuous-looking banner ads containing code which can trigger pop-up ads and malicious Flash ads that install viruses, Trojans and spyware. Ads are a target for hackers because they offer a stealthy way to distribute malware to a wide range of Internet users. The best way to reduce the risk of infection is to avoid these types of web sites and not use any P2P applications. Read P2P Software User Advisories and Risks of File-Sharing Technology.

• Keeping Autorun enabled on USB and other removable drives has become a significant security risk due to the increasing number of malware variants that can infect them and transfer the infection to your computer. To learn more about this risk, please read:

• USB-Based Malware Attacks.
  
• When is AUTORUN.INF really an AUTORUN.INF?.
  
• Please disable Autorun asap!.

Thanks for all your help!

Sincerely,
Caleb Wysor