16 replies to this topic

[Big_V]

Yesterday I started seeing the occasional "Are you shure you want to leave the site" message windows pop up on my laptop. Looking at the task list, I saw I had a load of iexplore.exe processes running, even though I'd just closed my IE window. Manually closing them didn't help, as they just kept respawning. If I managed to close them all down, since at times they spawned faster than I could manually force them closed, a few seconds later another pair of iexplore.exe processes would spawn.

I scanned using McAfee, which (of course) didn't find anything. Then I wondered why I didn't have Malwarebytes installed on that system, so I installed and ran that.

It found, and supposedly took care of:
C:\Users\V\AppData\Local\Temp\ms0cfg32.exe (Exploit.Drop.CFG) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.


The problem is the random iexplore.exe processes keep spawning, and I've seen the "are you shure" message a couple more times.

I did various searches to try to get info on is going on with my system, but didn't come up with a concrete answer and thought I'd seek advice here.

I've attached logs from the things that you seem to want.

Attached Files

•  mbam-log-2012-04-22 (21-05-36).txt   1.99KB   5 downloads
•  Attach.txt   8.33KB   5 downloads
•  DDS.txt   16.74KB   13 downloads
•  Extras.Txt   61.61KB   5 downloads
•  mbam-log-2012-04-23 (19-30-21).txt   1.82KB   6 downloads
•  OTL.Txt   65.15KB   5 downloads

[Elise]

Hello and

Its not uncommon to see more than one iexplore.exe process running. However lets make sure its nothing malicious.

COMBOFIX
---------------
Please download ComboFix from one of these locations:

Bleepingcomputer
ForoSpyware

• Disable your AntiVirus and AntiSpyware applications, usually via a right click on the System Tray icon. They may otherwise interfere with our tools. (Click on this link to see a list of programs that should be disabled. The list is not all inclusive.)
  
• Double click on Combofix.exe and follow the prompts.
  
• As part of it's process, ComboFix will check to see if the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console is installed. With malware infections being as they are today, it's strongly recommended to have this pre-installed on your machine before doing any malware removal. It will allow you to boot up into a special recovery/repair mode that will allow us to more easily help you should your computer have a problem after an attempted removal of malware.
  
• Follow the prompts to allow ComboFix to download and install the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console, and when prompted, agree to the End-User License Agreement to install the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console.

**Please note: If the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console is already installed, or if you are running Vista, ComboFix will continue it's malware removal procedures.

Once the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console is installed using ComboFix, you should see the following message:

Click on Yes, to continue scanning for malware.

When finished, it shall produce a log for you. Please include the C:\Combofix.txt in your next reply.

[Big_V]

 elise025, on 24 April 2012 - 05:43 AM, said:

Its not uncommon to see more than one iexplore.exe process running. However lets make sure its nothing malicious.

I'm not sure I described things correctly. This issue isn't multiple processes, it's multiple processes that I'm not starting and an error window asking "Are you shure" about navigating away from a page when I didn't have IE open in the first place.

I'm seeing iexplore.exe processes when I've closed IE. I'm seeing iexplore.exe processes when I first turn on my system. Without doing anything after a shutdown and restart, there's 2 iexplore.exe processes running in the task manager under processes.

If I manually end process a new process spawns, sometimes multiple processes. I've seen up to a dozen processes listed, and they respawn faster than I can force close them. If I manage to close them all, they all vanish after closing one for some reason, a few seconds later a new pair (or more) would spawn on their own.

Quote

COMBOFIX

When finished, it shall produce a log for you. Please include the C:\Combofix.txt in your next reply.

Downloaded with this computer and copied to the laptop.

After running combofix (but not rebooting), there aren't any random iexplore.exe processes.

Here's the log.

Attached Files

•  ComboFix.txt   10KB   5 downloads

[Elise]

Could you reboot and run Combofix once more. I'd like to see if the detected item came back or not, as it shows up as deleted but shows still signs of being there.

[Big_V]

 elise025, on 24 April 2012 - 09:27 AM, said:

Could you reboot and run Combofix once more. I'd like to see if the detected item came back or not, as it shows up as deleted but shows still signs of being there.

Done

Attached Files

•  ComboFix.txt   9.22KB   2 downloads

[Elise]

That looks better! How are things running at this point?

Please launch MBAM, update it and run a full scan. Post me the resulting log.

[Big_V]

 elise025, on 24 April 2012 - 10:40 AM, said:

That looks better! How are things running at this point? Please launch MBAM, update it and run a full scan. Post me the resulting log.

Still no random iexplore.exe processes, so I'll assume things are good for now.

And this seems like a good indication that I should've gotten around to installing firefox/noscript/adblock on that system before now too.

Thank you for the help.

Attached Files

•  mbam-log-2012-04-24 (11-45-01).txt   1.85KB   2 downloads

[Elise]

Thats good news! The malicious process wan't recreated either.
Lets do one last scan before calling it clean.

ESET ONLINE SCANNER
----------------------------
I'd like us to scan your machine with ESET OnlineScan

• Hold down Control and click on this link to open ESET OnlineScan in a new window.
  
• Click the button.
  
• For alternate browsers only: (Microsoft Internet Explorer users can skip these steps)
  • Click on esetsmartinstaller_enu.exe to download the ESET Smart Installer. Save it to your desktop.
    
  • Double click on the
    icon on your desktop.
• Check "YES, I accept the Terms of Use."
  
• Click the Start button.
  
• Accept any security warnings from your browser.
  
• Under scan settings, check "Scan Archives" and "Remove found threats"
  
• Click Advanced settings and select the following:
  • Scan potentially unwanted applications
    
  • Scan for potentially unsafe applications
    
  • Enable Anti-Stealth technology
• ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin scanning your computer. Please be patient as this can take some time.
  
• When the scan completes, click List Threats
  
• Click Export, and save the file to your desktop using a unique name, such as ESETScan. Include the contents of this report in your next reply.
  
• Click the Back button.
  
• Click the Finish button.

[Big_V]

 elise025, on 24 April 2012 - 01:07 PM, said:

Thats good news! The malicious process wan't recreated either.
Lets do one last scan before calling it clean.

Another good sign is that I can get to the malwarebytes.org site on the system now. I couldn't before.

I've just finished the firefox install, along with adblock and noscript.

I've started the eset install. I'll reply again with the log once it's finished.

[Elise]

Okay, please take your time!

[Big_V]

It found something.

The log is attached.

Attached Files

•  eset.txt   147bytes   4 downloads

[Elise]

It just found the quarantined file, nothing else.

ALL CLEAN
--------------
Your machine appears to be clean, please take the time to read below on how to secure the machine and take the necessary steps to keep it clean

Please do the following to remove the remaining programs from your PC:

• Delete the tools used during the disinfection:
  • Click start > run and type combofix /uninstall, press enter. This will remove Combofix from your computer.

Please read these advices, in order to prevent reinfecting your PC:

• Install and update the following programs regularly:
  • an outbound firewall. If you are connected to the internet through a router, you are already behind a hardware firewall and as such you do not need an extra software firewall.
    A comprehensive tutorial and a list of possible firewalls can be found here.
    
  • an AntiVirus Software
    It is imperative that you update your AntiVirus Software on regular basis.If you do not update your AntiVirus Software then it will not be able to catch the latest threats.
    
  • an Anti-Spyware program
    Malware Byte's Anti Malware is an excellent Anti-Spyware scanner. It's scan times are usually under ten minutes, and has excellent detection and removal rates.
    SUPERAntiSpyware is another good scanner with high detection and removal rates.
    Both programs are free for non commercial home use but provide a resident and do not nag if you purchase the paid versions.
    
  • Spyware Blaster
    A tutorial for Spywareblaster can be found here. If you wish, the commercial version provides automatic updating.
• Keep Windows (and your other Microsoft software) up to date!
  I cannot stress how important this is enough. Often holes are found in Internet Explorer or Windows itself that require patching. Sometimes these holes will allow an attacker unrestricted access to your computer.
  Therefore, please, visit the Microsoft Update Website and follow the on screen instructions to setup Microsoft Update. Also follow the instructions to update your system. Please REBOOT and repeat this process until there are no more updates to install!!
  
• Keep your other software up to date as well
  Software does not need to be made by Microsoft to be insecure. You can use the Secunia Online Software occasionally to help you check for out of date software on yourmachine.
  
• Stay up to date!
  The MOST IMPORTANT part of any security setup is keeping the software up to date. Malware writers release new variants every single day. If your software updates don't keep up, then the malware will always be one step ahead. Not a good thing.

Some more links you might find of interest:

• Miekies' prevention suggestions
  
• So How did I get infected?
  
• Microsoft - 'Security at home'
  
• Calendar of Updates: See which updates have been released.
  
• How to backup your Data with Cobian Backup:because you never know, when your harddisk might fail :wink:
  
• Commonly Used Freeware Replacements: a nice list of freeware programs in all categories, that are regarded as useful by the users of this forum.
  
• osalt: Find (free) open source alternatives to known commercial software.

Please reply to this topic if you have read the above information. If your computer is working fine, this topic will be closed afterwards.

[Big_V]

 elise025, on 25 April 2012 - 12:52 AM, said:

It just found the quarantined file, nothing else.

Great.

Quote

Click start > run and type combofix /uninstall, press enter. This will remove Combofix from your computer.

This did not work.

Also, when I tried to right click the executable on my desktop to get more info about the program location (since I thought the uninstall might be in a specific directory and windows wasn't set to path there) McAfee deleted it as a trojan and deleted it. I didn't catch exactly what it was McAfee thought it was, Artemis(something), and the "view report" option just says it deleted a trojan but doesn't provide details. I'm hoping this is a false positive.

I've removed the other tools, but left Superantispyware and malwarebytes.

Prior to this, McAfee was keeping itself up to date. Unless something is interfering, I keep Windows up to date as well.

Looking at the online scan provided, it seems my Java install was where the vulnerability existed. Java is also supposed to update automatically, but it seems to leave older versions behind.

In any case, thank you again for the help.

[Elise]

Please turn of McAfee and redownload combofix (it indeed detects combofix as Artemis). Right click the file and select Rename. Rename the file to uninstall.exe and run it like that, that should do the trick.

[Big_V]

 Elise, on 25 April 2012 - 09:24 AM, said:

Please turn of McAfee and redownload combofix (it indeed detects combofix as Artemis). Right click the file and select Rename. Rename the file to uninstall.exe and run it like that, that should do the trick.

Yup, that did the uninstall.

I rebooted after and everything should now be up to date and running.

Thank you again for the help.

[Elise]

You are most welcome!

I will request this topic to be closed.

[LDTate]

Since this issue is resolved I will close the thread to prevent others from posting here. If you need assistance please start your own topic and someone will be happy to assist you.