Problems with vmxclient malware (and others?)

It only appears in the Task Manager Applications as "client". After a reboot, when it first appears, for only a few seconds it shows "vmxclient" before shifting to the generic "client". You cannot stop the application (does nothing) or view the associated process, or anything else. It even loads and runs in safe mode (Win 7).

 

I have tried to remove it with McAfee Antivirus (default), SuperAntiSpyware, RKill, Adwcleaner, Malwarebytes, and hitman. Other than cookies, all these programs report nothing detected. Zemana goes into error and will not scan (dl and installed twice) and Spyhunter does not install, both the original and new versions (Run does nothing).

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanx

Hi

Welcome

I'll be helping you with your computer.

Please read this post completely before beginning. If there's anything that you do not understand, please don't hesitate to ask before proceeding.

Please take note of the guidelines for this fix:

• Please note that I am a volunteer. I do have a family, a career, and other endeavors that may prevent immediate responses that meet your schedule. Do note that the differences in time zones could present a problem as well. Your patience and understanding will be greatly appreciated.
• First of all, the procedures we are about to perform are specific to your problem and should only be used on this specific computer.
• Do not make any changes to your computer that include installing/uninstalling programs, deleting files, modifying the registry, nor running scanners or tools of any kind unless specifically requested by me.
• Please read ALL instructions carefully and perform the steps fully and in the order they are written.
• If things appear to be better, let me know. Just because the symptoms no longer exist as before, does not mean that you are clean.
• Continue to read and follow my instructions until I tell you that your machine is clean.
• If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to ask before performing the task that I ask of you, and please wait for my reply before you proceed.
• Scanning with programs and reading the logs do take a fair amount of time. Again, your patience will be necessary.

Let's begin...
 
 The computer is infected with a variant of the SmartService Rootkit.

You will need another computer to download FRST64 to a USB drive, run FRST64 in the Recovery Environment, then back in Normal Mode.

Please download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool in an uninfected computer and save it to a flash drive (Pen Drive).

Note: You need to run the version compatible with your system. If you are not sure which version applies to your system download both of them and try to run them. Only one of them will run on your system, that will be the right version. In your case is FRST64.exe

Please also download the attached file  Fixlist.txt   1.89KB   37 downloads and save it in the same location the FRST64 is saved in the flash drive.

Boot to the Recovery Console's Command prompt in the infected computer.

• Restart the computer
• Once you've seen your BIOS splashscreen (the computer manufacturer logo), tap the F8 key repeatedly until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears
• Use the arrow keys to select Repair your computer, and press on Enter
• Select your keyboard layout (US, French, etc.) and click on Next
• Click on Command Prompt to open the command prompt
  Note: If you can't access the Recovery Environment using the F8 method above, you'll need to create a Windows installation or repair media. It can be made on the computer itself or another one running the same version of Windows as the one you plan to use it on. For more information, check out this tutorial on SevenForums.
• To enter the Recovery Environment with Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, follow the instructions in this tutorial on EightForums
• Note: If you can't access the Recovery Environment using the method above, you'll need to create a Windows installation or repair media. It can be made on the computer itself or another one running the same version of Windows as the one you plan to use it on. For more information, check out this tutorial.
• To enter the Recovery Environment with Windows 10, follow the instructions in this tutorial on TenForums
  Note: If you can't access the Recovery Environment using the method above, you'll need to create a Windows installation or repair media. It can be made on the computer itself or another one running the same version of Windows as the one you plan to use it on. For more information, check out this tutorial on TenForums.

Once in the Command Prompt:

• Insert the USB drive containing FRST64 and the Fixlist
• In the command window type in notepad and press Enter.
• The notepad opens. Under File menu select Open.
• Select "Computer" and find your flash drive letter and close the notepad.
• In the command window type e:\frst64 and press Enter
  Note: Replace letter e with the drive letter of your flash drive.
• The tool will start to run.
• When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
• First press the Scan button. That will deactivate the rootkit, once the scan is finished, press the Fix button.
• These actions will make two logs, a Fixlog.txt and a FRST.txt logs in the flash drive. Please copy and paste them in your reply.
• Once finished in the Recovery Environment, restart the computer in Normal Mode.
  
  Please download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop.
  
  Note: You need to run the version compatible with your system. If you are not sure which version applies to your system download both of them and try to run them. Only one of them will run on your system, that will be the right version. In your case is FRST64.

• Double-click to run it. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
• Make sure that under Optional Scans, there is a checkmark on Addition.txt.
• Press Scan button.
• It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please copy and paste it to your reply.
• The tool will also produce another log (Addition.txt ). Please attach this to your reply.
• I will expect the following reports:
  
  Frst.txt produced in the Recovery Console
  Fixlog.txt produced in the Recovery Console
  Frst.txt produced in Normal Mode
  Addition.txt produced in Normal Mode

Had to make a modification to your instructions. In recovery mode, the computer did not recognize the flash drives. It saw all 6 hard drives and the 2 DVD drives, but no flash drives. So, in safe mode, I copied the files from the flash drive into one of my non-system drives and ran things from there.

 

All requested files are attached. To avoid confusion, all files produced in Recovery Console are renamed "-recovery".

 

"client" does not appear in Task Manager

Nice job. Lets scan for remnants.

 

 

• Highlight the entire content of the quote box below.

Start::  
2018-04-09 22:10 - 2018-04-09 22:10 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\rtaikbe
2018-04-09 21:45 - 2018-04-09 21:45 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\wdmhezl
2018-04-08 22:53 - 2018-04-08 22:53 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\spogzmr
2018-04-08 22:37 - 2018-04-08 22:37 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\zaedxrw
2018-04-08 22:32 - 2018-04-08 22:32 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\Zemana
2018-04-08 22:04 - 2018-04-08 22:04 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\cgnpmax
2018-04-08 21:06 - 2018-04-08 21:06 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\snhtudz
2018-04-08 19:45 - 2018-04-08 19:45 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\lmcgwun
2018-04-08 12:34 - 2018-04-08 12:34 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\dsmacwu
2018-04-08 09:11 - 2018-04-08 09:11 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\lsevpwb
2018-04-07 23:30 - 2018-04-07 23:30 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\sbrkhld
2018-04-07 23:06 - 2018-04-07 23:06 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\cgctwxr
2018-04-07 22:44 - 2018-04-07 22:44 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\cgixwhb
2018-04-07 22:11 - 2018-04-07 22:11 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\timdewl
2018-04-07 21:17 - 2018-04-07 21:17 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\dtkewgb
2018-04-07 20:42 - 2018-04-07 20:42 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\exnubir
2018-04-07 19:39 - 2018-04-07 19:39 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\pwemlcg
2018-04-07 14:25 - 2018-04-07 14:25 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\dtkgupz
2018-04-07 14:05 - 2018-04-07 14:05 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\lmhetzr
2018-04-07 13:48 - 2018-04-10 01:13 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\wmcagent
2018-04-07 13:48 - 2018-04-09 00:31 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\cshmoxw
2018-04-07 13:40 - 2018-04-10 01:13 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\updgtxv
2018-04-07 13:40 - 2018-04-07 13:40 - 000000000 ____D C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\pwnskmt
Task: {2F22B3F4-BCC0-44EC-B1D9-F73EE3D6ED89} - System32\Tasks\{0C506EC8-3693-4667-BA5B-89B91815F90A} => C:\Windows\system32\pcalua.exe -a C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\Temp\jre-8u91-windows-au.exe -d C:\Windows\SysWOW64 -c /installmethod=jau FAMILYUPGRADE=1 <==== ATTENTION
FirewallRules: [{A933D4ED-EEC0-4CD1-A77E-063C3475E953}] => (Allow) LPort=1542
FirewallRules: [{AE61DAAE-0065-4D2B-B12C-F97CE7FCEB50}] => (Allow) LPort=1542
FirewallRules: [{E1C794D8-189E-46FC-BEAE-0F7FD56D24D4}] => (Allow) LPort=53
FirewallRules: [{B3C3DF6F-A990-4B36-AD57-95114F3A8310}] => (Allow) LPort=53
Task: {1307A37A-DEC1-41B0-B47E-7AD9CC52B73C} - System32\Tasks\JLWBG1 => C:\ProgramData\TomorrowGames\TomorrowGames.exe <==== ATTENTION
Task: {2F22B3F4-BCC0-44EC-B1D9-F73EE3D6ED89} - System32\Tasks\{0C506EC8-3693-4667-BA5B-89B91815F90A} => C:\Windows\system32\pcalua.exe -a C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\Temp\jre-8u91-windows-au.exe -d C:\Windows\SysWOW64 -c /installmethod=jau FAMILYUPGRADE=1 <==== ATTENTION
Task: {4183C453-B01D-433B-A68D-F5B6C43B327B} - System32\Tasks\HICUMPPRPJHOOWEK => C:\ProgramData\Service1104\Service1104.exe <==== ATTENTION
Task: {73828B25-4B44-4185-9AFE-54B4E5A781FF} - \SpyHunter3 -> No File <==== ATTENTION
Task: {8B51EA3E-352E-4A5D-9661-4F994B7F023D} - System32\Tasks\6253e592-bb4d-4573-842e-b53052c568c3 => C:\Program Files (x86)\CinePlus-1.44V05.09\6253e592-bb4d-4573-842e-b53052c568c3.exe <==== ATTENTION
Task: {97D15D91-12F0-4C98-8933-45EC188E4448} - System32\Tasks\ZIYBY => C:\ProgramData\Service0561\Service0561.exe <==== ATTENTION
Task: C:\Windows\Tasks\HICUMPPRPJHOOWEK.job => C:\ProgramData\Service1104\Service1104.exe <==== ATTENTION
BHO-x32: No Name -> {B69F34DD-F0F9-42DC-9EDD-957187DA688D} -> No File
Toolbar: HKU\S-1-5-21-3262072605-1154667163-2834110714-1000 -> &RoboForm Toolbar - {724D43A0-0D85-11D4-9908-00400523E39A} -  No File
Toolbar: HKU\S-1-5-21-3262072605-1154667163-2834110714-1000 -> No Name - {57434C32-2D53-5000-76A7-7A786E7484D7} -  No File
ContextMenuHandlers1: [ReaConverter7_std] -> {0C83C06D-41F5-4666-B1C2-0923EA75EB10} => C:\PROGRA~2\REACON~1\NCONTE~1.DLL -> No File
ContextMenuHandlers4: [ReaConverter7_std] -> {0C83C06D-41F5-4666-B1C2-0923EA75EB10} => C:\PROGRA~2\REACON~1\NCONTE~1.DLL -> No File
ContextMenuHandlers6: [ReaConverter7_std] -> {0C83C06D-41F5-4666-B1C2-0923EA75EB10} => C:\PROGRA~2\REACON~1\NCONTE~1.DLL -> No File
Task: {73828B25-4B44-4185-9AFE-54B4E5A781FF} - \SpyHunter3 -> No File <==== ATTENTION
Task: {2F22B3F4-BCC0-44EC-B1D9-F73EE3D6ED89} - System32\Tasks\{0C506EC8-3693-4667-BA5B-89B91815F90A} => C:\Windows\system32\pcalua.exe -a C:\Users\Rod\AppData\Local\Temp\jre-8u91-windows-au.exe -d C:\Windows\SysWOW64 -c /installmethod=jau FAMILYUPGRADE=1 <==== ATTENTION
EMPTYTEMP:
Reboot:
End::

• Right click on the highlighted text and select Copy.
• Start FRST (FRST64) with Administrator privileges
• Press the Fix button. FRST will process the lines copied above from the clipboard.
• When finished, a log file (Fixlog.txt) will pop up and saved in the same location the tool was ran from.

Please copy and paste its contents in your next reply.

 

 

RogueKiller

• Download the right version of RogueKiller for your Windows version (32 or 64-bit)
• Once done, move the executable file to your Desktop, right-click on it and select Run as Administrator (for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 users)
• Click on the Start Scan button in the right panel, which will bring you to another tab, and click on it again (this time it'll be in the bottom right corner)
• Wait for the scan to complete
• On completion, the results will be displayed
• Check every single entry (threat found), and click on the Remove Selected button
• On completion, the results will be displayed. Click on the Open Report button in the bottom left corner, followed by the Open TXT button (also in the bottom left corner)
• This will open the report in Notepad. Copy/paste its content in your next reply

AdwCleaner - Fix Mode

• Download AdwCleaner and move it to your Desktop
• Right-click on AdwCleaner.exe and select Run as Administrator (for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 users)
• Accept the EULA (I accept), then click on Scan
• Let the scan complete. Once it's done, make sure that every item listed in the different tabs is checked and click on the Clean button. This will kill all active processes
  
• Once the cleaning process is complete, AdwCleaner will ask to restart your computer, do it
• After the restart, a log will open when logging in. Please copy/paste the content of that log in your next reply

Your next reply(ies) should therefore contain:

• Copy/pasted RogueKiller clean log
• Copy/pasted AdwCleaner clean log

 

 

Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.

• Double-click mb3-setup-1878.1878-3.4.5.2467.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
• Once the program has fully updated, Proceed with the Scan options and select "Threat Scan".
• The Scan Pane is the introduction to scan-related options in the program. When you click Scan in the Menu Pane, you will see the screen shown below.

• After a scan has been executed, scan results are displayed.
• Put a checkmark on all detected and click on "Quarantine Selected"
• Selected reports may be viewed on screen, or exported to a text file for later viewing. Please note that only manual (on demand) scans are available for users of the free version of Malwarebytes.

You may export to your clipboard or to a text (TXT) file. Export to a .txt file and post its contents.

 

 

 

All log files attached.

Again, thank you for all your help. Donation on its way

How is the computer doing?

No problems. We are good. Thanx :D

Congratulations. Use this application to remove quarantined items.

Please download DelFix by Xplode and save to your Desktop.

• Double-click on delfix.exe to run the tool.
  Vista/Windows 7/8/10 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.
• Put a check mark next to these items:
  - Remove disinfection tools
  - Create registry backup
  
  .
• Click the "Run" button.
• When the tool has finished, it will create and open a log report (DelFix.txt)

Since there are no signs of infection anymore in your logs I guess we're done here.

Windows Updates

Keeping Windows up to date is one of the first steps in having a safe and secure system.

• How To Change Windows Update Settings
• How To Check For & Install Windows Updates

Keeping your programs up-to-date

As for safe browsing habits, you can find tons of guides, tutorials, articles, etc. online that will highlight the basics you need to follow (only visit websites you trust, do not click on ads, do not download files from untrusted sources, use a password manager, always verify the URL of a website and make sure it's correctly typed, etc.), and even what you can do if you want to take it a step further (create a fake email address for spam emails, browse the web in a privacy mode, etc.). Here are a few:

• The Ultimate Guide to Secure your Online Browsing: Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer on Heimdal Security
• Seven Useful Habits For A Safer Internet on Kapsersky Blog
• Tips for Secure Web Browsing: Cybersecurity 101 on VeraCode
• Safe browsing habits on Internet Safety Project Wiki

As you can see, there are plenty of resources out there. Simply Googling "good browsing habits" or "safe browsing habits" should allow you to find a lot of them.

Other recommendations

It's your job to be careful when browsing the web and downloading files if you don't want to get infected. Therefore, if you use your brain (common sense) when browsing the web, downloading programs and files, etc., you have far less chances to get infected by a malware. If for example you're not sure if a website is legitimate or not, or if a file is safe to download and execute, or if a program looks "too good" to be free, I suggest you to avoid going to that website, downloading that file or using that program.
Here are a few guides, tutorials, articles, etc. that you could read in order to learn more about computer protection and security to improve your current computer protection setup but also improve your good web browsing and computer usage practices :

• Answers to common security questions - Best Practices by quietman7
• How Malware Spreads - How did I get infected by quietman7
• Simple and easy ways to keep your computer safe and secure on the Internet by Lawrence Abrams (aka Grinler)
• How to Prevent Malware by miekiemoes
• Tips & Advice on StaySafeOnline.org

Best regards.

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.