Internet Security 2010 / Worm.win32.netsky

DarlingDaughter came back from college with a messed up laptop.

I seem to be dealing with the same mess as this fellow
but I am out of my league to do much about it.

"Internet Security 2010" is throwing up so many windows I don't seem to be able to install Avast <<see edit>> or anything-
it has blocked me out of the task manager, and I'm afraid I am stuck.

When I did a cold restart, I got a message that I am infected with worm.win32.netsky

But whatever spyware stuff she has on her laptop can't do much with all these windows popping up.
I am up the proverbial creek without a paddle

BTW, I have recommended your site many times to users on a forum I frequent.
Thanks, and hope I am in the right place... <<Thanks, Orange Blossom, for the move...>>

Deb

<<EDIT>>

To keep this current, I will update by saying that I have been able to download Avast and am running a boot scan now.
I don't know if it is the right way to deal with this porblem, but I will post results when the scan is done.
<<EDIT>>

Okay. Avast is done. I still cannot change my desktop or access ctrl>alt>delete (program manager)

I think I am still in a pickle, so I will wait for you guys. Thanks so much for your help.

Edited by kdeb, 29 January 2010 - 10:46 AM.
Move to AII. ~ OB

I am running Malwarebytes Anti-malware scan now.
which I found here

<<edit>>
Okay, the avast software is having pop-ups about how it has blocked Malware from my computer.
(ISTM that if it was doing its job, it wouldn't be there. Or at least it wouldn't be finding it when another program happenned to be running) It is moving stuff to the chest.

MalwareBytes is still running.

<<edit>>

Okay, it seems that the Malware Bytes has worked.
I have updated Avast and Windows.
I have read your list of PC protection programs, but frankly I am a little lost.

What else should DD have on this PC besides Avast (to keep this thing clean in the future)?
Thanks for the great resources here - I'd have been sunk without 'em.

(I'll make her bring it home so I can update the defs from now on I guess ;) )

Edited by kdeb, 04 February 2010 - 01:31 PM.

Sadly, we are not out of the woods on this one.

I am trying to start in Safe Mode, but I cannot even do that at this point.

The blue info screen which is displayed before it shuts down again is deleted too fast to read....

Hi, good you have run that part.. Please post the scan log..
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.


Next run ATF and SAS: If you cannot access Safe Mode,run in normal ,but let me know.

Note: On Vista, "Windows Temp" is disabled. To empty "Windows Temp" ATF-Cleaner must be "Run as an Administrator".

From your regular user account..
Download Attribune's ATF Cleaner and then SUPERAntiSpyware , Free Home Version. Save both to desktop ..
DO NOT run yet.
Open SUPER from icon and install and Update it
Under Scanner Options make sure the following are checked (leave all others unchecked):
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 yet.

Now reboot into Safe Mode: How to enter safe mode(XP)
Using the F8 Method
Restart your computer.
When the machine first starts again it will generally list some equipment that is installed in your machine, amount of memory, hard drives installed etc. At this point you should gently tap the F8 key repeatedly until you are presented with a Windows XP Advanced Options menu.
Select the option for Safe Mode using the arrow keys.
Then press enter on your keyboard to boot into Safe Mode.

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 or Opera browser click that browser 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 close the program.

NOW Scan with SUPER
Open from the desktop icon or the program Files list
On the left, make sure you check C:\Fixed Drive.
Perform a Complete scan. After scan,Verify they are all checked.
Click OK on the summary screen to quarantine all found items.
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.


Please ask any needed questions,post logs and Let us know how the PC is running now.

boopme, you are super to try and help - thanks so much.

But at this point I can't even start the machine in safe mode.
It just tells me there is a problem and restarts over and over until I close the laptop case.

I am not sure how to do anything at all. Sorry.

Is there still hope? DD says she's gotta have the school files in the hard drive, but all I can see to do is to reinstall windows.

Just to be clear, I don't have the option of running windows as far as I can tell.

Edited by kdeb, 11 February 2010 - 08:04 PM.

Try

•Fixing Logon - Logoff loop with Windows XP install CD and Recovery Console

Sorry - looks like a broken link?

I will search for the topic...


found this one here

WHen it asks which windows installation I want to log into, I can only type one letter.

I am trying to type "CD System32" but I can only get the C to show up.

Sorry to be so helpless...


<<Edit>> Okay, it wanted an installation number not alpha
Now I just have to figure the password...
I have tried the typical defaults - ADMIN, admin, password.
I doubt I would have bothered to change it.
/me gets sinking feeling...

<<edit>>
quick search reveals that you guys (justifiably) can't help with a lost password issue.
Still thinking creatively ;)
Can you tell me if it is case sensitive or not?

<<edit>>
Well, Boopme, I think a reformat is in my immediate future,
but out of respect for your time, I will wait until you post back.
Thank you very much, not only for helping me, but for being a part of this generous site.

<<edit>>
And... to put the icing on the idiot cake, while I was trying a list of passwords,
I missed the "boot from cd" option. I tried restarting windows for the heck of it, and
it took me to a screen that offered a recovery option, which I chose.
But now I think it is reinstalling Windows anyhow. Oh the drama! ;)
(I don't know the roll-eyes emoticon, or I'd put a bunch of them here - lol)

Edited by kdeb, 12 February 2010 - 09:14 AM.

TRy this one ,,see Here is the solution to the logon - logoff issue in Windows XP.
I just tried it and it worked
http://www.winxptutor.com/wsaremove.htm


Not an unwise decision to make. In some instances an infection may have caused so much damage to your system that it cannot be completely cleaned or repaired. Wiping your drive, reformatting, and performing a clean install of the OS or doing a factory restore removes everything and is the safest action but I cannot make that decision for you.

Reformatting a hard disk deletes all data. If you decide to reformat, you can back up all your important documents, data files and photos. The safest practice is not to backup any autorun.ini or .exe files because they may be infected. Some types of malware may disguise itself by adding and hiding its extension to the existing extension of files so be sure you take a close look at the full name. After reformatting, as a precaution, make sure you scan these files with your anti-virus prior to copying them back to your hard drive.

The best proceedure is a low level format. This completely wipes the drive. Then reinstall the OS.
Use the free version of Active@ KillDisk.
Or Darik's Boot And Nuke

The best sources of Information on this are
Reformatting Windows XP
Michael Stevens Tech

Of course also feel free to ask anything on this in the XP forum. They'd be glad to help.

==============================

2 guidelines/rules when backing up

1) Backup all your important data files, pictures, music, work etc... and save it onto an external hard-drive. These files usually include .doc, .txt, .mp3, .jpg etc...
2) Do not backup any executables files or any window files. These include .exe/.scr/.htm/.html/.xml/.zip/.rar files as they may contain traces of malware. Also, .html or .htm files that are webpages should also be avoided.

Download Belarc Advisor - builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware, including Microsoft Hotfixes, and displays the results in your Web browser.
Run it and then print out the results, they may be handy.

Since we don't know exactly which infections we're dealing with here, we should take some precautions before we attempt to move files from the infected machine. Run the following on your clean computer, and make sure you insert your flash drives at the prompt.
Download and Run FlashDisinfector

Please download Flash_Disinfector.exe by sUBs and save it to your desktop.

• Double-click Flash_Disinfector.exe to run it and follow any prompts that may appear.
• The utility may ask you to insert your flash drive and/or other removable drives. Please do so and allow the utility to clean up those drives as well.
• Hold down the Shift key when inserting the drive until Windows detects it to keep autorun.inf from executing if it is present.
• Wait until it has finished scanning and then exit the program.
• Reboot your computer when done.

Note: As part of its routine, Flash_Disinfector will create a hidden folder named autorun.inf in each partition and every USB drive that was plugged in when you ran it. Do not delete this folder...it will help protect your drives from future infection by keeping the autorun file from being installed on the root drive and running other malicious files.

Edited by boopme, 12 February 2010 - 10:06 AM.

Well, i think like it or not, I have reinstalled Windows XP.

I am assuming I will lose all data as if I had done a hard reformat, but it is still cranking so I can't check yet.

I will run the tests you suggest.

Again, thanks.

Ok, let me know,, Yes as said the Format will remove all..
You're welcome.

The reinstallation of Windows hung twice, but persistance paid off and it is reinstalled - I am of course now spending the next 48 hours updating, reinstalling, etc.

Could you direct me to the short list of antivirus requirements for this pristine hard drive of mine?

What I mean is, I had avast on it, and that wasn't enough I guess.
Do I also need antispyware and antitrojan and whatever else?

I tried reading the topics related, but it was a mountain of information.
ty

<<edit>>

I still have a bunch of stuff in my program files. Dunno why or how ro clean. Nothing shows in Add/Remove Programs

<<edit>>

Okay, I did a complete wipe - thanks for the Active KillDisk. I couldn't get the PC to reformat the disk without it.

Running all the windows updates and such :/

Then I will install Avast, MalwareBytes and SuperAntiSpyware.

Thanks again so much, and you can close this as solved.

Edited by kdeb, 12 February 2010 - 04:51 PM.