BleepingComputer.com: Slow Windows XP, CPU 100% all the time, end of my tether!

It took 23hrs but... found 3 threats.

C:\Program Files\Sony\Vegas Pro 9.0\Keygen.exe a variant of Win32/Keygen.AR application cleaned by deleting - quarantined
E:\movies\Drumkit From Hell 2\drumkit_from_hell_2_keygen.exe a variant of Win32/Keygen.AA application cleaned by deleting - quarantined
E:\VST.VSTi.Plugin.Pack.210505\UltraFunkSonitusFxRc3.rar a variant of Win32/Keygen.BH application deleted - quarantined


If the graphics card was actually friend, would the screen work at all? I'm wondering if maybe it is, but I can still see so the screen does work. Just not very smoothly and no hibernation/standby option.

Hi,

OK well those files don't seem particularly bad.

Windows has generic drivers which will allow your screen to work. The graphics card and associated drivers simply improve the display and allow for the fancy stuff like 3D graphics and games. I think once we're sure there is no more malware, I will refer you on to another part of the forum so that you may receive help in trying to sort out your graphics card issues.

Update and run a full scan with MalwareByte's Anti-Malware, then post me the log

Click "start" on the taskbar and then click on the "Control Panel" icon.
Please doubleclick the "Add or Remove Programs" icon
A list of programs installed will be "populated" this may take a bit of time.
If they exist, uninstall the following by clicking on the following entries and selecting "remove":

Java™ 6 Update 18
Java™ 6 Update 20
Java™ 6 Update 22
Java™ 6 Update 26
J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 16
Java™ 6 Update 7

Additional instructions can be found here if needed.

Download Security Check by screen317 from here or here.

• Save it to your Desktop.
• Double click SecurityCheck.exe and follow the onscreen instructions inside of the black box.
• A Notepad document should open automatically called checkup.txt; please post the contents of that document.

Casey

Ok thanks very much again. I'll go to work with those three things now, though again Malwarbytes will prob take close to a day to scan..

Ok, for one, almost all of those Java updates were there!! Uninstalling now and in the mean time here's that checkfile:

Results of screen317's Security Check version 0.99.18
Windows XP Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 8
``````````````````````````````
Antivirus/Firewall Check:
Windows Firewall Disabled!
Antivirus out of date! (On Access scanning disabled!)
```````````````````````````````
Anti-malware/Other Utilities Check:
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
CCleaner
Java™ 6 Update 20
Java™ 6 Update 22
Java™ 6 Update 26
Java™ 7
Java™ 6 Update 7
Out of date Java installed!
Adobe Flash Player 10.3.183.5
Mozilla Firefox (x86 en-US..)
````````````````````````````````
Process Check:
objlist.exe by Laurent
Kaspersky Lab Kaspersky PURE avp.exe
``````````End of Log````````````

OK

What stand-alone anti-virus software do you have installed?

Casey

Kaspersky Pure, I think it's working ok..

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.51.1.1800
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: 7698

Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702

13/09/2011 00:15:08
mbam-log-2011-09-13 (00-15-08).txt

Scan type: Full scan (C:\|)
Objects scanned: 411113
Time elapsed: 6 hour(s), 35 minute(s), 58 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)

Hi,

I've posted this in your other topic, but it was unwise of you to seek help for the graphics card yet. We've not finished here and any tools you may have been asked to run in your other topic could have interfered with the ones we are using here.

Fortunately, your logs seem to have come back clean and so we can finish up here.

We Need to Clean Up our Mess
Our work on your machine has left considerable leftovers on your box. Let's clean those up real quick:

• Reopen on your desktop.
  
• Click on
  
• You will be prompted to reboot your system. Please do so.

Below I have outlined a series of categories that outline how you can increase the security of your computer and help prevent reinfection. Please take the time to read through them and follow the advice given.

Keep Windows up-to-date
Microsoft continually releases security and stability updates for its supported operating systems and you should always apply these to help keep your PC secure.

• Windows XP users
  You should visit Windows Update to check for the latest updates to your system. The latest service pack (SP3) can be obtained directly from Microsoft here.

Practice Safe Internet

One of the main reasons people get infected in the first place is that they are not practicing Safe Internet. You practice Safe Internet when you educate yourself on how to properly use the Internet through the use of security tools and good practice. Knowing how you can get infected and what types of files and sites to avoid will be the most crucial step in keeping your computer malware free. The reality is that the majority of people who are infected with malware are ones who click on things they shouldn't be clicking on. Whether these things are files or sites it doesn't really matter. If something is out to get you, and you click on it, it most likely will. Below are a list of simple precautions to take to keep your computer clean and running securely:

• If you receive an attachment from someone you do not know, DO NOT OPEN IT! Simple as that. Opening attachments from people you do not know is a very common method for viruses or worms to infect your computer.
  
  
  
• If you receive an attachment and it ends with a .exe, .com, .bat, or .pif do not open the attachment unless you know for a fact that it is clean. For the casual computer user, you will almost never receive a valid attachment of this type.
  
  
  
• If you receive an attachment from someone you know, and it looks suspicious, then it probably is. The email could be from someone you know infected with a malware that is trying to infect everyone in their address book.
  
  
  
• If you are browsing the Internet and a popup appears saying that you are infected, ignore it!. These are, as far as I am concerned, scams that are being used to scare you into purchasing a piece of software. For an example of these types of popups, or Foistware, you should read this article: Foistware, And how to avoid it.
  
  There are also programs that disguise themselves as Anti-Spyware or security products but are instead scams. For a list of these types of programs we recommend you visit this link: Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites
  
  
  
• Another tactic to fool you on the web is when a site displays a popup that looks like a normal Windows message or alert. When you click on them, though, they instead bring you to another site that is trying to push a product on you. We suggest that you close these windows by clicking on the X instead of the OK button. Alternatively, you can check to see if it's a real alert by right-clicking on the window. If there is a menu that comes up saying Add to Favorites... you know it's a fake.
  
  
  
• Do not go to adult sites. I know this may bother some of you, but the fact is that a large amount of malware is pushed through these types of sites. I am not saying all adult sites do this, but a lot do.
  
  
  
• When using an Instant Messaging program be cautious about clicking on links people send to you. It is not uncommon for infections to send a message to everyone in the infected person's contact list that contains a link to an infection. Instead when you receive a message that contains a link, message back to the person asking if it is legit before you click on it.
  
  
  
• Stay away from Warez and Crack sites! In addition to the obvious copyright issues, the downloads from these sites are typically overrun with infections.
  
  
  
• Be careful of what you download off of web sites and Peer-2-Peer networks. Some sites disguise malware as legitimate software to trick you into installing them and Peer-2-Peer networks are crawling with it. If you want to download a piece of software a from a site, and are not sure if they are legitimate, you can use McAfee Siteadvisor to look up info on the site.
  
  
  
• DO NOT INSTALL any software without first reading the End User License Agreement, otherwise known as the EULA. A tactic that some developers use is to offer their software for free, but have spyware and other programs you do not want bundled with it. This is where they make their money. By reading the agreement there is a good chance you can spot this and not install the software.

Make Internet Explorer more secure

• From within Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu and then click on Options.
  
• Click once on the Security tab
  
• Click once on the Internet icon so it becomes highlighted.
  
• Click once on the Custom Level button.
  
• Change the Download signed ActiveX controls to Prompt
  
• Change the Download unsigned ActiveX controls to Disable
  
• Change the Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe to Disable
  
• Change the Installation of desktop items to Prompt
  
• Change the Launching programs and files in an IFRAME to Prompt
  
• Change the Navigate sub-frames across different domains to Prompt
  
• When all these settings have been made, click on the OK button.
  
• If it prompts you as to whether or not you want to save the settings, press the Yes button.
  
• Next press the Apply button and then the OK to exit the Internet Properties page.

Regularly Update your AntiVirus Software

It is imperative that you update your Antivirus software at least once a week (Even more if you wish). If you do not update your antivirus software then it will not be able to catch any of the new variants that may come out. If you use a commercial antivirus program you must make sure you keep renewing your subscription. Otherwise, once your subscription runs out, you may not be able to update the programs virus definitions.


Make sure your applications have all of their updates

It is also possible for other programs on your computer to have security vulnerability that can allow malware to infect you. Therefore, it is also a good idea to check for the latest versions of commonly installed applications that are regularly patched to fix vulnerabilities. You can check these by visiting Secunia Software Inspector and Calendar of Updates.

Install SpywareBlaster

SpywareBlaster will added a large list of programs and sites into your Internet Explorer settings that will protect you from running and downloading known malicious programs.

A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:

Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware and Malware


Update all these programs regularly
Make sure you update all the programs I have listed regularly. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new malicious programs are released.

Follow this list and your potential for being infected again will reduce dramatically.

Casey

Ok, all done! Thanks very much for your time!! Going to try to solve this last issue of the hardware now.

It appears that this issue is resolved, therefore I am closing the topic. If that is not the case and you need or wish to continue with this topic, please send me or any Moderator a Personal Message (PM) that you would like this topic re-opened.