Virus - possibly Virut

Hello,
Lately Firefox has began denying me entry to anti-virus sites or Microsoft.com. It redirects to a spammy search site. I can, however, view these sites using AOL VR. From what I've read, it seems I have Virut. Here is a Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.40
Database version: 2692
Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3

25/08/2009 16:58:16
mbam-log-2009-08-25 (16-58-14).txt

Scan type: Full Scan (C:\|)
Objects scanned: 132739
Time elapsed: 26 minute(s), 26 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 4
Registry Values Infected: 1
Registry Data Items Infected: 3
Folders Infected: 1
Files Infected: 6

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\{19127ad2-394b-70f5-c650-b97867baa1f7} (Backdoor.Bot) -> No action taken.
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\{43bf8cd1-c5d5-2230-7bb2-98f22c2b7dc6} (Backdoor.Bot) -> No action taken.
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\{19127ad2-394b-70f5-c650-b97867baa1f7} (Backdoor.Bot) -> No action taken.
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\{43bf8cd1-c5d5-2230-7bb2-98f22c2b7dc6} (Backdoor.Bot) -> No action taken.

Registry Values Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network\UID (Malware.Trace) -> No action taken.

Registry Data Items Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Data: c:\windows\system32\sdra64.exe -> No action taken.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Data: system32\sdra64.exe -> No action taken.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit (Hijack.Userinit) -> Bad: (C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,C:\WINDOWS\system32\sdra64.exe,) Good: (Userinit.exe) -> No action taken.

Folders Infected:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lowsec (Stolen.data) -> No action taken.

Files Infected:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lowsec\local.ds (Stolen.data) -> No action taken.
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lowsec\user.ds (Stolen.data) -> No action taken.
C:\WINDOWS\system32\7.tmp (Trojan.Agent) -> No action taken.
C:\WINDOWS\system32\8.tmp (Trojan.Agent) -> No action taken.
C:\WINDOWS\system32\A.tmp (Trojan.Agent) -> No action taken.
C:\WINDOWS\system32\sdra64.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> No action taken.

I saw a video recommending that I download Dr. Watt's CleanIt and scan CD, however when I try to download these, in AOL, they load for about two minutes then show an error message. I am running Windows XP.

Thanks

From what I've read, it seems I have Virut.

That's certainly a possibility, but let's not jump to conclusions. First of all. . . why do you suspect that you have Virut?

Next, try to run these. Please note that the following scan may take some time to run.

Please download ATF Cleaner by Atribune & save it to your desktop.

• Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.
• Under Main "Select Files to Delete" choose: Select All.
• Click the Empty Selected button.
• If you use Firefox browser click Firefox at the top and choose: Select All
• Click the Empty Selected button.
  If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.
• If you use Opera browser click Opera at the top and choose: Select All
• Click the Empty Selected button.
  If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.
• Click Exit on the Main menu to clos
  
  ***************************************************
  
  Please download and scan with SUPERAntiSpyware Free
  • Double-click SUPERAntiSypware.exe and use the default settings for installation.
  • An icon will be created on your desktop. Double-click that icon to launch the program.
  • If it will not start, go to Start > All Prgrams > SUPERAntiSpyware and click on Alternate Start.
  • If asked to update the program definitions, click "Yes". If not, update the definitions before scanning by selecting "Check for Updates". (If you encounter any problems while downloading the updates, manually download them from here. Double-click on the hyperlink for Download Installer and save SASDEFINITIONS.EXE to your desktop. Then double-click on SASDEFINITIONS.EXE to install the definitions.)
  • In the Main Menu, click the Preferences... button.
  • Click the "General and Startup" tab, and under Start-up Options, make sure "Start SUPERAntiSpyware when Windows starts" box is unchecked.
  • Click the "Scanning Control" tab, and under Scanner Options, make sure the following are checked (uncheck all others):[list]
  • Close browsers before scanning.
  • Scan for tracking cookies.
  • Terminate memory threats before quarantining.
• Click the "Close" button to leave the control center screen and exit the program.
• Do not run a scan just yet.

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". When logging in, do NOT log in under the account titled "Admin" or "Administrator"

Scan with SUPERAntiSpyware as follows:

• Launch the program and 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 and click "Next".
• After the scan is complete, a Scan Summary box will appear with potentially harmful items that were 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.
• If asked if you want to reboot, click "Yes" and reboot normally.
• To retrieve the removal information after reboot, launch SUPERAntispyware again.
  • Click Preferences, then click the Statistics/Logs tab.
  • Under Scanner Logs, double-click SUPERAntiSpyware Scan Log.
  • If there are several logs, click the current dated log and press View log. A text file will open in your default text editor.
  • Please copy and paste the Scan Log results in your next reply.
• Click Close to exit the program.

~Blade


In your next reply, please include the following:
Answer to the above question.
SUPERAntiSpyware Log

Hello,
I've yet to run the scans, but will shortly. I found reader_s.exe on my system, and also have 3 re-appearing porn shortcuts on my desktop. Could these be one virus, or am I battling against a couple here?

Take care, I'll post my log here ASAP

I found reader_s.exe on my system

Do you have that log?

Virut is one thing you don't want to waste time trying to remove.

I found reader_s.exe on my system

Do you have that log?

Virut is one thing you don't want to waste time trying to remove.

I don't, sorry.

Reformatting completely seems like my best bet. I don't own a Windows XP disc so I'll take it to the repair shop. Will cost a bit of money though.

I uploaded my explorer.exe to a virus scan online and Virut was indeed found in it.

Has Virut ever survived a reformat in the past?

I recently saw virut come back after a repair shop reloaded the computer, they were lazy and uninformed, the poster ended up getting the full reinstall disks from their manufacturer and reloading themselves.

I'm afraid I have very bad news.

Your system is infected with a nasty variant of Virut, a polymorphic file infector with IRCBot functionality which infects .exe, .scr files, downloads more malicious files to your system, and opens a back door that compromises your computer. According to this Norman White Paper Assessment of W32/Virut, some variants can infect the HOSTS file and block access to security related web sites. Other variants of virut can even penetrate and infect .exe files within compressed files (.zip, .cab, rar). Virux is an even more complex file infector which can embed an iframe into the body of web-related files and infect script files (.php, .asp, .htm, .html, .xml). When Virut creates infected files, it also creates non-functional files that are corrupted beyond repair and in some instances can disable Windows File Protection. In many cases the infected files cannot be disinfected properly by your anti-virus. When disinfection is attempted, the files become corrupted and the system may become irreparable. The longer virut remains on a computer, the more critical system files will become infected and corrupt so the degree of infection can vary.

The virus disables Windows File Protection by injecting code into the "winlogon.exe" process that patches system code in memory.

CA Virus detail of W32/Virut

The virus has a number of bugs in its code, and as a result it may misinfect a proportion of executable files....some W32/Virut.h infections are corrupted beyond repair.

McAfee Risk Assessment and Overview of W32/Virut

There are bugs in the viral code. When the virus produces infected files, it also creates non-functional files that also contain the virus...Due to the damaged caused to files by virut it's possible to find repaired but corrupted files. They became corrupted by the incorrect writing of the viral code during the process of infection. undetected, corrupted files (possibly still containing part of the viral code) can also be found. this is caused by incorrectly written and non-function viral code present in these files.

AVG Overview of W32/Virut

• miekiemoes' Blog on Virut.
• Virut and other File infectors - Throwing in the Towel?

This kind of infection is contracted and spread by visiting remote, crack and keygen sites. These type of sites are infested with a smörgåsbord of malware and an increasing source of system infection. However, the CA Security Advisor Research Blog says they have found MySpace user pages carrying the malicious Virut URL. Either way you can end up with a computer system so badly damaged that recovery is not possible and it cannot be repaired. When that happens there is nothing you can do besides reformatting and reinstalling the OS.

...warez and crack web pages are being used by cybercriminals as download sites for malware related to VIRUT and VIRUX. Searches for serial numbers, cracks, and even antivirus products like Trend Micro yield malcodes that come in the form of executables or self-extracting files...quick links in these sites also lead to malicious files. Ads and banners are also infection vectors...

Keygen and Crack Sites Distribute VIRUX and FakeAV

If your computer was used for online banking, has credit card information or other sensitive data on it, you should disconnect from the Internet until your system is cleaned. All passwords should be changed immediately to include those used for banking, email, eBay, paypal and online forums. You should consider them to be compromised. You should change each password using a clean computer and not the infected one. If not, an attacker may get the new passwords and transaction information. If using a router, you need to reset it with a strong logon/password so the malware cannot gain control before connect again. Banking and credit card institutions should be notified of the possible security breach. Because your computer was compromised please read:

• How Do I Handle Possible Identify Theft, Internet Fraud and CC Fraud?
• What Should I Do If I've Become A Victim Of Identity Theft?
• Identity Theft Victims Guide - What to do

Virut is not effectively disinfectable. Your best option is to perform a full reformat as there is no guarantee this infection can be completely removed. In most instances it may have caused so much damage to your system files that it cannot be completely cleaned or repaired. In many cases the infected files cannot be deleted and anti-malware scanners cannot disinfect them properly. Many experts in the security community believe that once infected with this type of malware, the best course of action is to wipe the drive clean, reformat and reinstall the OS. Reinstalling Windows without first wiping the entire hard drive with a repartition and/or format will not remove the infection. The reinstall will only overwrite the Windows files. Any malware on the system will still be there afterwards. Please read:

• When should I re-format? How should I reinstall?
• Help: I Got Hacked. Now What Do I Do?
• Where to draw the line? When to recommend a format and reinstall?

So, if I get the computer repair shop to completely reformat the computer and reinstall the OS, I should be okay? I'm really not too bothered about having it reformatted, I just had the motherboard replaced two weeks ago so I lost most of my precious files then, nothing precious on here now, that's for sure.

Just make sure the repair techs understand what Virut is.

Some reinstall disks recreate a recovery partition which can be reinfected with virut from saved data

Some recovery partitions are infected by virut so they need to be wiped also.

Nasty business

So what exactly should I ask the repair techs to do? Thanks by the way, you've been very helpful!

Edited by Davesche, 28 August 2009 - 08:43 AM.

Sorry for the double post. I'm using a router at the moment. If a reformat and reinstall of the OS will rid me of Virut, is it possible that it has logged my IP and can return afterwards?

A router has a hardware firewall and should be setup with a password to protect it from any infections, most internet connections use a dynamc ip that will change when you turn off your router.

Infections or hackers scan for open connections accross ranges of IP's, that's why a hardware firewall, NAT, a software firewall and having windows patched is so important.