BleepingComputer.com: Infected with System Restore

Hello,

It appears that I have been infected by System Restore. Desktop & start menu is empty. A ton of error messages popped up followed my the System Restore rogue. I can get into Explorer by right clicking the start menu button. All files are 'hidden'. I was able to navigate to REGEDIT & removed the DiableTaskManager key. I can now get into Task Manager and use the run function (explorer /n, /e, /select, c:\) to get into My Computer. From here I was able to show hidden files. I can open and run MBAM and SAS, but I cannot update them. MBAM found a trojan and removed it on startup. I no longer get the error messages and System Restore agent, but all files remain 'hidden'.

The DDS log is attached. I was unable to successfully run GMER. When I launch the exe it begins to scan immediately. A few seconds later it pauses, then I get a BSOD & the system restarts. I have also attached the MBAM and SAS logs, but as mentioned, I was unable to successfully update the definitions prior to the scans.

Thank you for taking the time to help!

Hello and Welcome to the forums!

My name is Gringo and I'll be glad to help you with your computer problems.

Somethings to remember while we are working together.

• Do not run any other tool untill instructed to do so!
  
• Please Do not Attach logs or put in code boxes.
  
• Tell me about any problems that have occurred during the fix.
  
• Tell me of any other symptoms you may be having as these can help also.
  
• Do not run anything while running a fix.

We apologize for the delay in responding to your request for help. Here at Bleeping Computer we get overwhelmed at times, and we are trying our best to keep up. Please note that your topic was not intentionally overlooked. Our mission is to help everyone in need, but sometimes it takes just a little longer to get to every request for help. No one is ignored here.

Click on the Watch Topic Button and select Immediate Notification and click on proceed, this will help you to get notified faster when I have replied and make the cleaning process faster.


The first thing I would like you to do is run this for me - http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/grinler/unhide.exe after it is complete restart the computer and continue with these steps


Download and run OTL

Download OTL by Old Timer and save it to your Desktop.

• Double click on OTL.exe to run it.
  
• Under Output, ensure that Minimal Output is selected.
  
• Under Extra Registry section, select Use SafeList.
  
• Click the Scan All Users checkbox.
  
• Under the Custom Scan box paste this in
  
  
  %TEMP%\smtmp\*.* /s
  
  
• Click on Run Scan at the top left hand corner.
  
• When done, two Notepad files will open.
  
  • OTL.txt <-- Will be opened and the that I need posted back here
    
  • Extra.txt <-- Will be minimized - save this one on your desktop in case I ask for it later
  
  
• Please post the contents of OTListIt.txt in your next reply.

information and logs:

In your next post I need the following


• .logs from OTL
  
• let me know of any problems you may have had

Gringo

Logs attached.

pen Notepad.
Copy all text from the following code box and paste it into Notepad window:

@echo off
xcopy "C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Local Settings\Temp\smtmp\1\*" "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\" /s
xcopy "C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Local Settings\Temp\smtmp\2\*" "C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\" /s
xcopy "C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Local Settings\Temp\smtmp\3\*" "C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\" /s
xcopy "C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Local Settings\Temp\smtmp\4\*" "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\" /s 
exit

Save the file as fix.bat.

Double click fix.bat to run it.
A pop-up window will open and you'll see number of files being copied.
The window will close, when all copying is done.

Done

Hello

how are things looking?

Everything from the right side of my Start Menu is still missing (Control Panel, My Computer, etc). All files are now visable again. I was also able to update MBAM & SAS w/o error. I have not yet run scans.

Hello

see if this helps


You can restore the defaults for the Start Menu, Accessories and Administrative Tools as follows:

• Restore Accessories Program Files Menu with accrestore.zip for XP
  
  • Extract (unzip) the tool, double-click on it to run and ensure that the following check boxes are checked (as shown below):
  
  
  
  • Then click on the Restore button.

gringo

It says "Accessories group has been restored", however the entire right side of my start menu and the accessories folder is still missing ... even after restart.

Hello

read this and see if it helps - http://www.coolnerds.com/XP/StartMenu/xpStartMenu.htm


gringo

That worked. Should I be running any additional scans?

Hello

I Would like you to do the following.

Please print out or make a copy in notpad of any instructions given, as sometimes it is necessary to go offline and you will lose access to them.

Run Combofix:

You may be asked to install or update the Recovery Console (Win XP Only) if this happens please allow it to do so (you will need to be connected to the internet for this)

Before you run Combofix I will need you to turn off any security software you have running, If you do not know how to do this you can find out >here< or >here<

Combofix may need to reboot your computer more than once to do its job this is normal.

You can download Combofix from one of these links. I want you to save it to the desktop and run it from there.

Link 1
Link 2
Link 3

1. Close any open browsers or any other programs that are open.
2. Close/disable all anti virus and anti malware programs so they do not interfere with the running of ComboFix.

Double click on combofix.exe & follow the prompts.
When finished, it will produce a report for you.

Note 1: Do not mouseclick combofix's window while it's running. That may cause it to stall

Note 2: If you recieve an error "Illegal operation attempted on a registery key that has been marked for deletion." Please restart the computer

"information and logs"

In your next post I need the following


• Log from Combofix
  
• let me know of any problems you may have had
  
• How is the computer doing now?

Gringo

Everything ran smoothly until after restart. Combofix sat at creating log file for quite a long time. I killed it and found the log.

Hello

It did not finish so I want to try this, I want you to run combofix in safe mode but it is very important that when combofix reboots the computer for you to direct it back into safe mode so it can finish the scan.

Boot into Safe Mode

Reboot your computer in Safe Mode.

• If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power.
  
• Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on.
  
• Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again.
  
• Ensure that the Safe Mode option is selected.
  
• Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.
  
• Login on your usual account.

after combofix has finished its scan please post the report back here.

Gringo

Same thing.