Smitfraud-c.Toolbar888 Problem

[Shaba]

Hi

Yes, that did the trick.

Well those infections aren't new but new versions of them are coming almost daily so it's understandable that anti-virus and anti-malware products just can't keep up wit it.

Please do an online scan with Kaspersky Online Scanner. You will be prompted to install an ActiveX component from Kaspersky, Click Yes.

• The program will launch and then start to download the latest definition files.
• Once the scanner is installed and the definitions downloaded, click Next.
• Now click on Scan Settings
• In the scan settings make sure that the following are selected:
  
  o Scan using the following Anti-Virus database:
  
  + Extended (If available otherwise Standard)
  
  o Scan Options:
  
  + Scan Archives
  + Scan Mail Bases
  
• Click OK
• Now under select a target to scan select My Computer
• The scan will take a while so be patient and let it run. Once the scan is complete it will display if your system has been infected.
• Now click on the Save as Text button
• Save the file to your desktop.
• Copy and paste that information in your next post.

Post:

- a fresh HijackThis log
- kaspersky report

[DrJohn]

Hello Shaba,

I can't seem to get Kaspersky to install. Both the online scanner and the free 30-day download version report an error during the install process. I've set IE security to medium, disabled the various anti-malware tools I'm running, and still no luck. Not sure what the problem is.

After this experience, I'm starting to rely on Linux more and more, especially for Web surfing.

[Shaba]

Hi

What error it gives?

You can try also this instead:

Please print these instructions out, or write them down, as you can't read them during the fix.

Please download MWav:

• Unzip it to its predetermined directory (C:\Kaspersky)
• Locate kavupd.exe in the new folder and double-click to Update.
• If your firewall gives any messages about this program accessing to internet, allow it.
• If it says the signatures are more than 30 days old, keep trying, until you get the actual definition updates.
• When you see Updates Downloaded Successfully, hit Enter to continue.
• Restart onto Safe Mode and locate the Kaspersky folder.
• Locate mwavscan.com and double-click on it to launch the MWAV Scanner.

Now lets do the settings:

• Leave the Default Settings checked.
• Add a check to Drives
• This will light up All Drives
• Add a check to Scan all Files
• Click Scan Clean to begin.

This scan might take around 3+ hours to finish when set to scan everything.

• Please be sure it has finished before proceeding.
• Once the Scan has finished, all entries identified as Infected, will be displayed in the lower panel.
• Highlight everything that is inside the lower panel and hit Ctrl+C at the same time to copy.
• Open an empty notepad file and paste the results (Ctrl+V) to it. Save the notepad to your desktop, name it as you want (e.g; MWav Results).

Reboot into normal Windows and post the results here along with a fresh HijackThis log.

[DrJohn]

Online scanner:
I get the prompts to install the ActiveX control, etc., to which I click yes/agree/allow. On the page http://www.kaspersky.com/kos/english/kavwebscan.html, the blue squares travel back and forth in Initialize Kaspersky Online Scanner, but after several minutes it stops, and reports the following:

Failed to load Kaspersky Online Scanner ActiveX control!

You must have administrative rights on this computer;
you also must have the IE security settings to the Medium level.

My XP account is a member of the administrators group, and the IE security settings are set to Medium. I've reset this to the default, and otherwise gone through each IE security setting to make sure ActiveX controls can be enabled, and all seems to be OK.

Installing downloaded version of Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6.0:

The install process terminates with this error:

Installation interrupted.

Installation ended prematurely because of an error.

[DrJohn]

I've continued to try different things, but my machine will not run for more than a few minutes in safe mode before it locks up. I was able to download MWAV and its updates, and launch it in safe mode, but the machine locked up before it completed its scan. Perhaps this is due to damage caused by the malware infection.

I forgot to mention before, but I noticed that the malware changed my system time along with the time/date display preferences.

[Shaba]

Hi

Then run MWAV in normal mode.

[DrJohn]

Hello Shaba,

Below is the text from the Virus Log Information box. It looks like a couple stragglers were still on the hard drive.

*********************
File C:\AppArchive\SmithFraudFix\SmitfraudFix.exe tagged as not-a-virus:RiskTool.Win32.Reboot.f. No Action Taken.
File C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Spybot - Search & Destroy\Recovery\WinAgentqt.zip infected by "Password-protected-EXE" Virus. Action Taken: File Renamed.
File C:\Documents and Settings\john\Desktop\SmitfraudFix\Reboot.exe tagged as not-a-virus:RiskTool.Win32.Reboot.f. No Action Taken.
File C:\System Volume Information\_restore{91F76253-14F0-44B2-B890-4163D86A67A7}\RP94\A0012492.exe infected by "Trojan-Downloader.Win32.PurityScan.eg" Virus. Action Taken: File Deleted.
File C:\WINDOWS\system32\T3\dlltk67.exe infected by "Trojan.Win32.BHO.ab" Virus. Action Taken: File Deleted.

[Shaba]

Hi

That looks good

Any problems left?

[DrJohn]

Hello Shaba,

I think that will do it. A million thanks for all your help.

-- DrJohn

[Shaba]

Hi

Then you're clean!

Now that you are clean, please follow these simple steps in order to keep your computer clean and secure:

• Disable and Enable System Restore. - If you are using Windows XP then you should disable and re-enable system restore to make sure there are no infected files found in a restore point.
  
  You can find instructions on how to enable and reenable system restore here:
  
  Windows XP System Restore Guide

Reenable system restore with instructions from tutorial above

• Make your Internet Explorer more secure - This can be done by following these simple instructions:
• From within Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu and then click on Options.
• Click once on the Security tab
• Click once on the Internet icon so it becomes highlighted.
• Click once on the Custom Level button.
• Change the Download signed ActiveX controls to Prompt
  
• Change the Download unsigned ActiveX controls to Disable
  
• Change the Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe to Disable
  
• Change the Installation of desktop items to Prompt
  
• Change the Launching programs and files in an IFRAME to Prompt
  
• Change the Navigate sub-frames across different domains to Prompt
  
• When all these settings have been made, click on the OK button.
  
• If it prompts you as to whether or not you want to save the settings, press the Yes button.
• Next press the Apply button and then the OK to exit the Internet Properties page.

• Use an AntiVirus Software - It is very important that your computer has an anti-virus software running on your machine. This alone can save you a lot of trouble with malware in the future.

See this link for a listing of some online & their stand-alone antivirus programs:

Virus, Spyware, and Malware Protection and Removal Resources

• Update your AntiVirus Software - It is imperitive that you update your Antivirus software at least once a week (Even more if you wish). If you do not update your antivirus software then it will not be able to catch any of the new variants that may come out.
  
  
• Use a Firewall - I can not stress how important it is that you use a Firewall on your computer. Without a firewall your computer is succeptible to being hacked and taken over. I am very serious about this and see it happen almost every day with my clients. Simply using a Firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk greatly.
  
  For a tutorial on Firewalls and a listing of some available ones see the link below:
  
  Understanding and Using Firewalls
  
  
• Visit Microsoft's Windows Update Site Frequently - It is important that you visit http://www.windowsupdate.com regularly. This will ensure your computer has always the latest security updates available installed on your computer. If there are new updates to install, install them immediately, reboot your computer, and revisit the site until there are no more critical updates.
  
  
• Install Ad-Aware - Install and download Ad-Aware. ou should also scan your computer with program on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software in conjunction with Spybot.
  
  A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
  
  Using Ad-aware to remove Spyware, Malware, & Hijackers from Your Computer
  
  
• Install SpywareBlaster - SpywareBlaster will added a large list of programs and sites into your Internet Explorer settings that will protect you from running and downloading known malicious programs.
  
  A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
  
  Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware and Malware
  
  
• Update all these programs regularly - Make sure you update all the programs I have listed regularly. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new malicious programs are released.

Follow this list and your potential for being infected again will reduce dramatically.

Here are some additional utilities that will enhance your safety

• IE/Spyad <= IE/Spyad places over 4000 websites and domains in the IE Restricted list which will severely impair attempts to infect your system. It basically prevents any downloads (Cookies etc) from the sites listed, although you will still be able to connect to the sites.
• MVPS Hosts file <= The MVPS Hosts file replaces your current HOSTS file with one containing well know ad sites etc. Basically, this prevents your coputer from connecting to those sites by redirecting them to 127.0.0.1 which is your local computer
• Winpatrol <= Download and install the free version of Winpatrol. a tutorial for this product is located here:
  Using Winpatrol to protect your computer from malicious software

Stand Up and Be Counted ---> Malware Complaints <--- where you can make difference!

The site offers people who have been (or are) victims of malware the opportunity to document their story and, in that way, launch a complaint against the malware and the makers of the malware.

Also, please read this great article by Tony Klein So How Did I Get Infected In First Place

Happy surfing and stay clean!