[Dan]

Spyware/Malware/Adware Removal Guide
I decided I'd put together a little guide for anyone that may need it.. Good Luck!
Last Updated: November 27th, 2009
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Follow the following steps, and post back with the MalwareBytes and HijackThis log (a privacy notice - the logs may show the Windows Username of user)

• Clean up all the junk, therefore saving time on the scans.
  

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  • Download and Install CCleaner - Link 1 || Link 2 (for installation instructions, see end of post)
    
  • Run the program. It will start with the "Cleaner" (on the left), under the Windows Tab (see attached pic). Check what you'd like to be cleaned (for my recommendation - see attached pic).
    
  • Before hitting "Run Cleaner", on the bottom right, go to the "Applications" tab (on top, next to "Windows" tab) and make sure its not removing anything you want to keep (the programs on that list aren't being removed, rather the temp files *of* those programs). If you aren't sure about the Applications tab, you can just un-check everything.
    
  • Hit "Run Cleaner" (bottom right).
  
  
  
• Malwarebytes AntiMalware
  

  BleepingComputer.Com said:

  The process of cleaning your computer may require you to temporarily disable some security programs. If you are using SpyBot Search and Destroy, please refer to Note 2 at the bottom of this page.
  
  Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and save it to your desktop.
  alternate download link 1
  alternate download link 2

  • Make sure you are connected to the Internet.
    
  • Double-click on mbam-setup.exe to install the application.
    
  • When the installation begins, follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
    
  • When installation has finished, make sure you leave both of these checked:
    • Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
      
    • Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
    
    
  • Then click Finish.

  MBAM will automatically start and you will be asked to update the program before performing a scan.

  • If an update is found, the program will automatically update itself.
    
  • Press the OK button to close that box and continue.
    
  • If you encounter any problems while downloading the updates, manually download them from here and just double-click on mbam-rules.exe to install.

  On the Scanner tab:

  • Make sure the "Perform Quick Scan" option is selected.
    
  • Then click on the Scan button.
    
  • If asked to select the drives to scan, leave all the drives selected and click on the Start Scan button.
    
  • The scan will begin and "Scan in progress" will show at the top. It may take some time to complete so please be patient.
    
  • When the scan is finished, a message box will say "The scan completed successfully. Click 'Show Results' to display all objects found".
    
  • Click OK to close the message box and continue with the removal process.

  Back at the main Scanner screen:

  • Click on the Show Results button to see a list of any malware that was found.
    
  • Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
    
  • When removal is completed, a log report will open in Notepad.
    
  • 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 (or PM it to me, as it may show some private information) and exit MBAM.

  Note:
  -- If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove, you may be asked to reboot your computer so it can proceed with the disinfection process. Regardless if prompted to restart the computer or not, please do so immediately. Failure to reboot normally (not into safe mode) will prevent MBAM from removing all the malware.
  
  Note 2:
  -- MBAM may make changes to your registry as part of its disinfection routine. If you're using other security programs that detect registry changes (like Spybot's Teatimer), they may interfere with the fix or alert you after scanning with MBAM. Please disable such programs until disinfection is complete or permit them to allow the changes. To disable these programs, please view this topic: How To Temporarily Disable Your Anti-virus, Firewall And Anti-malware Programs
  
  When finished, be sure to re-enable your AV and malware scan tools if they were disabled
  
  
  
• Spybot Search & Destroy - see this
  
  That's it for the removal! I hope your computer is back to normal (or better then that)! Just to make sure all's clean, do this last step:
  
  
  
• HijackThis
  

  Quote

  • Download and Install HijackThis
    
  • Run it, and click "Do a System Scan and Save a Logfile (example)
    
  • Post the logfile here (or PM it to me, as it may show some private information). I will try to respond as soon as I can.

Done!
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Now a tip or two to *keep* your computer clean:

• Get a good Antivirus. I highly recommend Avast! (and its free!) [one great feature]
  
• Never use Internet Explorer. Use Firefox with Adblock Plus (click on this link running FF).

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Feel free to post with any questions or comments!

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Attached File(s)

•  ccleaner.jpg (67.92K)
  Number of downloads: 2

[cynic]

I recently got rid of AVG and I am now using the Panda online version. Seems to be good, so far.

[Dan]

cynic, on Nov 20 2009, 10:47 AM, said:

I recently got rid of AVG and I am now using the Panda online version. Seems to be good, so far.

I've read some great reviews of Panda.. even malware-wise. *But*, if someone were already infected (which is what I'm assuming in the OP), then its not necessarily going to help, as some malware/virii block specific programs from accessing the internet.. and Panda's entire virus defs database is web-based (definitely before the first full scan).

[cynic]

Dan, on Nov 21 2009, 11:25 AM, said:

I've read some great reviews of Panda.. even malware-wise. *But*, if someone were already infected (which is what I'm assuming in the OP), then its not necessarily going to help, as some malware/virii block specific programs from accessing the internet.. and Panda's entire virus defs database is web-based (definitely before the first full scan).

That is what I read in the reviews as well. Clean up your system before installing it. I think it was PCMag that rated it the best free program.

[aishel]

Windows Security Essentials seems to be doing a great job.

[Dan]

aishel, on Nov 21 2009, 10:41 PM, said:

Windows Security Essentials seems to be doing a great job.

http://www.pcmag.com...,2353699,00.asp

[Hezakiah]

Just before Shabbos, I got hit with something that blocked all exe files (AVG,Malwarebytes,ect,ect) and kept popping up "Your computer is infected" over and over,layer after layer.

Seeing that I never throw anything out, I took an old 8 gig hard drive off the shelf,pulled my 120 gig drive out, installed Win XP, AVG, and Malwarebytes on the 8 gig and set it as a master drive. I then set my normal drive as a slave and ran the Malwarebytes and AVG to clean it up.Pulled the eight and stuck the 120 back in.Since there is only one drive in there now, the slave works as a master. If it gets infected again,I just have to stick in the 8 again,update the virus and malware files and fix it.

It was a "False Trogen Alert" ,two of them on there BTW. This is the second time I got one of those trying to sell me whatever anti-virus they were hawking. Setting up an emergency hard drive stops this cyber-blackmail cold.

BTW, you can download all kinds of anti-virus ,malware and spyware protection at WWW.filehippo.com. There is also lots of other usefull programs there like Open Office, audio and video programs,ect. It's all freeware, shareware and trial progs and the site is clean.

[Dan]

Hezakiah, on Nov 29 2009, 10:49 AM, said:

It was a "False Trogen Alert" ,two of them on there BTW. This is the second time I got one of those trying to sell me whatever anti-virus they were hawking. Setting up an emergency hard drive stops this cyber-blackmail cold.

BTW, you can download all kinds of anti-virus ,malware and spyware protection at WWW.filehippo.com. There is also lots of other usefull programs there like Open Office, audio and video programs,ect. It's all freeware, shareware and trial progs and the site is clean.

Nice post. Two points: 1. If you were using Firefox - I can't understand how you got the False Trojan in the first place (as it sounds like you have a decent amount of computer knowledge); 2. FH is great - I even linked to them in the OP for some of the apps

[ookamikun]

Don't forget about combofix.

If you're unable to delete malware/virus dlls from system32, download and burn ubuntu, boot into trial and you'll be able to get rid of them without any problems.

If your computer is in serious trouble, you can use minipe. It's a bootable mini os with antivirus tools, registry editors and more. I used it to get rid of a virut infection.

[Dan]

ookamikun, on 04 January 2010 - 11:50 PM, said:

Don't forget about combofix.

If you're unable to delete malware/virus dlls from system32, download and burn ubuntu, boot into trial and you'll be able to get rid of them without any problems.

If your computer is in serious trouble, you can use minipe. It's a bootable mini os with antivirus tools, registry editors and more. I used it to get rid of a virut infection.

Thanks! I didn't want to post about Combofix as an initial fix.. if things got to that stage I would've mentioned it (or mentioned going to bp). Regarding removing sys32 files - no reason to boot a whole OS! Killbox or the like can delete on reboot. Can you give more details on MiniPE? I've used UBCD4WIN (uses BartPE) before, but never heard of MiniPE.

[ookamikun]

Dan, on 05 January 2010 - 10:31 AM, said:

Thanks! I didn't want to post about Combofix as an initial fix.. if things got to that stage I would've mentioned it (or mentioned going to bp). Regarding removing sys32 files - no reason to boot a whole OS! Killbox or the like can delete on reboot. Can you give more details on MiniPE? I've used UBCD4WIN (uses BartPE) before, but never heard of MiniPE.

Killbox is only effective against regular viruses/malware. If a virus appends an init string to the end of a system file or is able to set itself as a high priority system object, neither killbox nor safe mode will help you.

MiniPE is a bootable OS with a lot of toys. Several different AV soft, backup, ghosting, registry editors, file editors, etc. While it's loaded, you can also run some soft from a usb drive. I think mbam works with it.

[Dan]

ookamikun, on 05 January 2010 - 10:51 AM, said:

Killbox is only effective against regular viruses/malware. If a virus appends an init string to the end of a system file or is able to set itself as a high priority system object, neither killbox nor safe mode will help you.

Didn't realize you were discussing such an extreme case. Though I still don't understand why you need to download a full linux package; a small bootcd should do the job.. that's probably what you meant.

Quote

MiniPE is a bootable OS with a lot of toys. Several different AV soft, backup, ghosting, registry editors, file editors, etc. While it's loaded, you can also run some soft from a usb drive. I think mbam works with it.

Very interesting.. maybe I'll try it right now..

[ookamikun]

Dan, on 05 January 2010 - 10:59 AM, said:

Didn't realize you were discussing such an extreme case. Though I still don't understand why you need to download a full linux package; a small bootcd should do the job.. that's probably what you meant.

I think I had a problem with windows based boot cd too.

It's good to have Ubuntu on cd anyway. You can use it to move files between a Mac and an NTFS external drive. And no worries of permission/ownership issues.

[Dan]

ookamikun, on 05 January 2010 - 11:06 AM, said:

I think I had a problem with windows based boot cd too.

It's good to have Ubuntu on cd anyway. You can use it to move files between a Mac and an NTFS external drive. And no worries of permission/ownership issues.

Yeah, some computers won't boot with he UBCD4WIN i've made.. I'm not sure why. Otherwise I only use linux-based live cds.. Maybe I'll give MiniPE a try one of these days..