Malware invasion - help, please

F Secure OK

Hi

Yes, I've already done that and F Secure is updating itself fine.

I also did a Spybot scan and it found nothing - not even Virtumonde which was there before and which seems to be causing everyone persistent problems.

Well done!

Val
 
Well congrats, it appears your system is all clean Are you still noticing any problems? If not, it's time to secure your system to prevent against further intrusions.


THESE STEPS ARE VERY IMPORTANT

Let's reset system restore
Reset and Re-enable your System Restore to remove infected files that have been backed up by Windows. The files in System Restore are protected to prevent any programs changing those files. This is the only way to clean these files: You will lose all previous restore points which are likely to be infected. Please note you need Administrator Access to do clean the restore points.

1. Turn off System Restore.
On the Desktop, right-click My Computer.
Click Properties.
Click the System Restore tab.
Check Turn off System Restore.
Click Apply, and then click OK.

2. Reboot.

3. Turn ON System Restore.
On the Desktop, right-click My Computer.
Click Properties.
Click the System Restore tab.
UN-Check *Turn off System Restore*.
Click Apply, and then click OK.
NOTE: only do this ONCE,NOT on a regular basis



Now lets uninstall ComboFix:
  • Click START then RUN
  • Now type Combifxx /u in the runbox and click OK

Next we remove all used tools.


  • Double-click OTMoveIt3.exe.
  • Click the CleanUp! button.
  • Select Yes when the
    Begin cleanup Process?
    prompt appears.
  • If you are prompted to Reboot during the cleanup, select Yes.
  • The tool will delete itself once it finishes, if not delete it by yourself.

Note: If you receive a warning from your firewall or other security programs regarding OTMoveIt attempting to contact the internet, please allow it to do so.


UPDATING WINDOWS AND INTERNET EXPLORER

IMPORTANT: You Need to Update Windows and Internet Explorer to protect your computer from the malware that is around on the Internet. Please go to the windows update site to get the critical updates.

If you are running Microsoft Office, or any portion thereof, go to the Microsoft's Office Update site and make sure you have at least all the critical updates installed (Free) Microsoft Office Update.


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.



The following are recommended third party programs that are designed to keep your computer clean. A link as well as a brief description is included with each item.

  • hosts file:
    • Every version of windows has a hosts file as part of them.
    • In a very basic sense, they are used to locate webpages.
    • We can customize a hosts file so that it blocks certain webpages.
    • However, it can slow down certain computers.
    • This is why using a hosts file is optional!!
    Download it here. Make sure you read the instructions on how to install the hosts file. There is a good tutorial here
    If you decide to download the hosts file, the slowdown problems can usually be avoided by following these steps:
    1. [*]Click the start button (at the lower left hand corner of your screen) [*]Click run [*]In the dialog box, type services.msc [*]hit enter, then locate dns client [*]Highlight it, then double-click it. [*]On the dropdown box, change the setting from automatic to manual. [*]Click ok


Just a final reminder for you. I am trying to stress these two points.
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!!! Make sure you do this about every 1-2 weeks.
Make sure all of your security programs are up to date.
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.



Once again, please post and tell me how things are going with your system... problems etc.

Have a great day,
Blade :cool:
 
No problems, all appears clean now.

Many, many thanks!

Following your directions to keep it that way: Windows can't find Combifxx to uninstall it. I downloaded it on this laptop and dropped it on to the desktop. I sent Windows to the Desktop folder where the .exe file is, but it still says it can't find it.

Any ideas?

Is it important to follow the directions for uninstalling in that order?

Thanks,

Val
 
Hi

Is the file still named as CombiFxx.exe? If not, then it can't be found. Is the file in c:\documents and settings\Val\Desktop folder? Please let me know the location (exact folder path) and how the file is named.
 
Hi Val

Let's try uninstalling with a batch file.

Open notepad and then copy and paste the bolded lines below into it. Go to File > save as and name the file fixes.bat, change the Save as type to all files and save it to your desktop.
@echo off
c:
cd\Documents and Settings\Val\Desktop
CombiFxx /u

Double-click on fixes.bat file to execute it.
 
? Sticking?

(Lack of) Progress Report:

It executed but seems to have stuck, there is a blue dialogue box on the screen, empty except for a flashing underscore icon, nothing more is happening, and the CombiFxx.exe icon is still on my desktop.

Val
 
Hi

Ok. In that case please remove CombiFxx.exe file and following folders manually (if they exist):
c:\QooBox
c:\ComboFix

Let me know how it goes :)
 
Progress

Dropped
CombiFxx.exe
c:\QooBox
c:\CombiFxx

into the Recycle bin and emptied it.

Still have on the desktop:

dds.com
ATF-Cleaner and
HJT


The usual overnight F Secure scan found this:

Result: 2 malware found

Backdoor.Win32.TDSS.bkw (virus)
C:\_OTMoveIt\MovedFiles\12282008_105135\Qoobox\Quarantine\C\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\__.zip\TDSSmhlt.sys
C:\_OTMoveIt\MovedFiles\12282008_105135\Qoobox\Quarantine\C\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\__.zip Action: renamed

I presume these are ones that the OT MoveIt had already dealt with.


Just remains now to finish working through your list. I thought I was updating regularly, F Secure and Microsoft were on 'automatic updates'. Just goes to show needs greater vigilance!

Many many thanks.

Val
 
Still have on the desktop:

dds.com
ATF-Cleaner and
HJT
Click to expand...
Of those you may delete dds.com file. Uninstall HijackThis thru add/remove programs. I recommend keeping ATF Cleaner and running it occasionally to get rid of needless temporary items.

I presume these are ones that the OT MoveIt had already dealt with.
Click to expand...
Yes. Those will be removed when you run CleanUp! action from OTMI as instructed :)
 
Nearly there!

Yes, those 2 malware items disappeared from the next F Secure report after the Cleanup. Thanks.

F Secure has, however, identified 68 files it can't scan (probably doesn't need to) the first one is:

File C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Spybot - Search & Destroy\Recovery\FraudAntiVirusLab.zip\sbRecovery.reg is encrypted

Can I safely delete these 68 zipped and encrypted files from that folder?

I am having trouble downloading and installing Service Pack 3 for XP, but I think I just need to work through all the Microsoft help/knowledgebase/instructions to find out what is preventing the installation.

Cold here, was minus 5 deg C this morning, my car wouldn't start and XP Service Pack 3 wouldn't download - but Yay!! - my computer is working again and so 2009 promises to get a off to a good start.

Unless you need further progress reports, you can probably archive this now. Many thanks again and I hope you have a wonderful life!

Val
 
Can I safely delete these 68 zipped and encrypted files from that folder?
Click to expand...

Yes, you may delete files in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Spybot - Search & Destroy\Recovery folder.

I am having trouble downloading and installing Service Pack 3 for XP, but I think I just need to work through all the Microsoft help/knowledgebase/instructions to find out what is preventing the installation.
Click to expand...
If you need help with that I'm sure people at http://forums.pcpitstop.com will help you :)

Have a successful year 2009!


Since this issue appears to be resolved ... this Topic has been closed. Glad I could help. :)

Note:If it has been four days or more since your last post, and the helper assisting you posted a response to that post to which you did not reply, your topic will not be reopened. At that point, if you still require help, please start a new topic and include a fresh HijackThis log and a link to your previous thread.

If it has been less than four days since your last response and you need the thread re-opened, please send me or MOD a private message (pm). A valid, working link to the closed topic is required.
 
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