How To Remove Spydawn (removal Instructions)

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How To Remove Spydawn (removal Instructions)

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Grinler View Member Profile	Feb 12 2007, 10:02 PM Post #1
Bleep Bleep! Group: Admin Posts: 31,022 Joined: 24-January 04 From: USA Member No.: 3	How to remove SpyDawn (Removal Instructions) What these programs do: SpyDawn is a rogue anti-spyware application that is installed on your computer without your permission using Trojans and other malware. These types of programs are typically installed when a user installs what they think is an audio or video codec, but in reality is a Trojan that downloads and installs SpyDawn. When run, SpyDawn pretends to be a anti-spyware application but instead provides exaggerated or fake results of Spyware found on your computer. In order to clean the found items you must purchase the full commercial version of the SpyDawn software. These false results are actually used as a scare tactic to have you purchase the SpyDawn. It goes without saying that you should not purchase this software. Spydawn Screenshot When infected with this software you will also see fake taskbar alerts stating that you have running spyware applications on your computer. This is another scare tactic used to have you purchase the software. When you click on the alert it will load SpyDawn and run a scan as described above. The title for this fake security alert is System alert! and the text for this alerts is: System has detected a number of active spyware applications that may impact the performance of your computer. Click the icon to get rid of unwanted spyware by downloading an up-to-date anti-spyware solution. An example of the fake alert is shown below: SpyDawn Fake Security alert Tools Needed for this fix: SmitFraudFix (Automated Fix) FixSD (Only needed for manual fix) Symptoms in a HijackThis Log: O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SpyDawn] C:\Program Files\SpyDawn\SpyDawn.exe /h Add/Remove Programs control panel entry: SpyDawn 3.1 Guide Updates: 02/12/07 - Initial guide creation. 02/13/07 - Fixed the FixSD.reg link 02/14/07 - Updated guide to include automated fix Choose the removal method you would like to use: Automated Removal (Easier, but requires a working Internet connection.) Manual Removal (Should be used if automated method does not work.) Automated Removal Instructions for SpyDawn: Print out these instructions as we will need to close every window that is open later in the fix. Download SmitfraudFix.exe from here and save it to your desktop: SmitFraudFix.exe Confirm that the file SmitfraudFix.exe now resides on your desktop, but do not double-click on the icon as of yet. We will use it in later steps. The icon will look like the one below: Next, please reboot your computer into Safe Mode by doing the following: Restart your computer After hearing your computer beep once during startup, but before the Windows icon appears, press F8. Instead of Windows loading as normal, a menu should appear Select the first option, to run Windows in Safe Mode. When you are at the logon prompt, log in as the same user that you had performed the previous steps as. When your computer has started in safe mode, and you see the desktop, close all open Windows. Now, double-click on the SmitFraudfix icon that should be residing on your desktop.The icon will look like the one below: When the tool first starts you will see a credits screen. Simply press any key on your keyboard to get to the next screen. You will now see a menu as shown in the image below. Press the number 2 on your keyboard and the press the enter key to choose the option *Clean (safe mode recommended).* The program will start cleaning your computer and go through a series of cleanup processes. When it is done, it will automatically start the Disk Cleanup program as shown by the image below. This program will remove all Temp, Temporary Internet Files, and other files that may be leftover files from this infection. This process can take up to a few hours depending on your computer, so please be patient. When it is complete, it will close automatically and you will should continue with step 11. When Disk Cleanup is finished, you will be presented with an option asking Do you want to clean the registry ? (y/n). At this screen you should press the Y button on your keyboard and then press the enter key. When this last routine is finished, you will be presented with a red screen stating Computer will reboot now. Close all applications. You should now press the spacebar on your computer. A counter will appear stating that the computer will reboot in 15 seconds. Do not cancel this countdown and allow your computer to reboot. Once the computer has rebooted, you will be presented with a Notepad screen containing a log of all the files removed from your computer. Examine this log, and when you are done, close the Notepad screen. Your computer should now be free of the SpyDawn infection. If you are still having problems with spyware after completing these instructions, then please follow the steps outlined in the topic linked below: Preparation Guide For Use Before Posting A Hijackthis Log Manual Removal Instructions for SpyDawn: These steps may appear to be long and daunting. They are, though, quite easy to do and consist of so many steps only because I have written them in an extremely detailed manner. Print out these instructions as we will need to close every window that is open later in the fix. Download FixSD.reg to your desktop by right clicking on the following link and then selecting Save Link As or Save File as, depending on your browser. FixSD.reg Download Link Confirm that the file FixVBS.reg now resides on your desktop as we will need it later. Download SmitfraudFix.exe from here and save it to your desktop: SmitFraudFix.exe Confirm that the file SmitfraudFix.exe now resides on your desktop, but do not double-click on the icon as of yet. We will use it in later steps. The icon will look like the one below: Go to your desktop and double click on the FixSD.reg file that you downloaded earlier. When it asks if you would like to merge the information, press the Yes button and then the OK button. Click on the Start button and then select the Run option. In the Open: field type c:\windows\system32 and then press the OK button. When the folder appears, if it says These files are hidden, click on the Show the contents of this folder option. We now need to make it so you can see hidden files. Click on the Tools menu and select Folder Options. Click on the View tab. Under the Hidden files and folders category select Show hidden files and folders. Uncheck Hide protected operating system files. Press Apply and then OK. If you still can not see the file, then undo these changes and skip to step 11. Scroll through the list of files in this folder and look for higehsg.dll. Right-click on higehsg.dll and select rename. Rename the file to higehsg.dll.bad. Look for the file xkrdk.dll and rename the file to xkrdk.dll.bad Look for the file geplxss.dll and rename the file to geplxss.dll.bad Look for the file tvomnc.dll and rename the file to tvomnc.dll.bad Note: Please rename any of the above files that you may find. If you do not find any of these files, then you should post a note about it in the Am I Infected? forum. After you rename the file, you can close the System32 folder window. Next, please reboot your computer into Safe Mode by doing the following: Restart your computer After hearing your computer beep once during startup, but before the Windows icon appears, press F8. Instead of Windows loading as normal, a menu should appear Select the first option, to run Windows in Safe Mode. When you are at the logon prompt, log in as the same user which you had done the previous steps. When your computer has started in safe mode and you see the desktop, click on the Start Menu button. Click on the Control Panel option. Double-click on the Add or Remove Programs icon. Find the entry for SpyDawn 3.1 and double-click on it to uninstall them if found. Follow the prompts to uninstall the program, but do not allow it to reboot the computer if it asks. When it has completed uninstalling you can close Add or Remove Programs and your Control Panel. Delete the following files and folders (Do not be concerned if this folder does not exist): C:\Windows\System32\higehsg.dll.bad C:\Windows\System32\geplxss.dll.bad C:\Windows\System32\xkrdk.dll.bad C:\Windows\System32\tvomnc.dll.bad C:\Program Files\SpyDawn\ Close all open Windows. Now, double-click on the SmitFraudfix icon that should be residing on your desktop.The icon will look like the one below: When the tool first starts you will see a credits screen. Simply press any key on your keyboard to get to the next screen. When the tool first starts you will see a credits screen. Simply press any key on your keyboard to get to the next screen. You will now see a menu as shown in the image below. Press the number 2 on your keyboard and the press the enter key to choose the option *Clean (safe mode recommended).* The program will start cleaning your computer and go through a series of cleanup processes. When it is done, it will automatically start the Disk Cleanup program as shown by the image below. This program will remove all Temp, Temporary Internet Files, and other files that may be leftover files from this infection. This process can take up to a few hours depending on your computer, so please be patient. When it is complete, it will close automatically and you will should continue with step 25. When Disk Cleanup is finished, you will be presented with an option asking Do you want to clean the registry ? (y/n). At this screen you should press the Y button on your keyboard and then press the enter key. When this last routine is finished, you will be presented with a red screen stating Computer will reboot now. Close all applications. You should now press the spacebar on your computer. A counter will appear stating that the computer will reboot in 15 seconds. Do not cancel this countdown and allow your computer to reboot. Once the computer has rebooted, you will be presented with a Notepad screen containing a log of all the files removed from your computer. Examine this log to see what files were found, and when you are done, close the Notepad screen. We next perform an online scan with Panda to find any possible inactive remnants from this infection: Panda Online Once you are on the Panda site click the Scan your PC button A new window will open...click the Check Now button Enter your Country Enter your State/Province Enter your e-mail address and click send Select either Home User or Company Click the big Scan Now button If it wants to install an ActiveX component allow it It will start downloading the files it requires for the scan (Note: It may take a few minutes) When download is complete, click on Local Disks to start the scan When the online scan has been completed, let it remove what it finds, and then you can close Internet Explorer. Your computer should now be free of the SpyDawn infection. If you are still having problems with spyware after completing these instructions, then please follow the steps outlined in the topic linked below: Preparation Guide For Use Before Posting A Hijackthis Log This is a self-help guide. Use at your own risk. BleepingComputer.com can not be held responsible for problems that may occur by using this information. If you would like help with any of these fixes, you can post a HijackThis log in our HijackThis Logs and Analysis forum. If you have any questions about this self-help guide then please post those questions in our AntiVirus, Firewall and Privacy Products and Protection Methods forum and someone will help you. -------------------- Lawrence Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook

Grinler View Member Profile	Feb 13 2007, 11:53 PM Post #2
Bleep Bleep! Group: Admin Posts: 31,022 Joined: 24-January 04 From: USA Member No.: 3	Fixed the FixSD.reg download link. -------------------- Lawrence Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook

Grinler View Member Profile	Feb 14 2007, 08:33 AM Post #3
Bleep Bleep! Group: Admin Posts: 31,022 Joined: 24-January 04 From: USA Member No.: 3	Updated for: C:\Windows\System32\xkrdk.dll -------------------- Lawrence Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook

Grinler View Member Profile	Mar 1 2007, 02:39 PM Post #4
Bleep Bleep! Group: Admin Posts: 31,022 Joined: 24-January 04 From: USA Member No.: 3	Updated for the new file: C:\Windows\System32\geplxss.dll -------------------- Lawrence Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook

Grinler View Member Profile	Mar 2 2007, 10:33 AM Post #5
Bleep Bleep! Group: Admin Posts: 31,022 Joined: 24-January 04 From: USA Member No.: 3	Updated for new infector: C:\Windows\System32\tvomnc.dll -------------------- Lawrence Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook

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