possible malware problem - unable to play games - receiving error

Hi, Jennifer,

It looks as if you may have installed some malware along with those games that you downloaded.

I am reviewing your log. In the meantime, you can help me by addressing the following:

* If you have disabled System Restore in an attempt to begin cleaning malware, please enable it now. We will flush System Restore when we are finished cleaning and we are sure that everything is running smoothly.

* If you are using any cracked software, please remove it. Definition of cracked software HERE.

* If you are using any P2P (file sharing) programs, please remove them before we clean your computer.  The nature of such software and the high incidence of malware in files downloaded with them is counter productive to restoring your PC to a healthy state. That includes BitTorrent and similar programs. There is a list HERE.    

* If this computer belongs to someone else, do you have authority to apply the fixes we will use?

* After we begin working, please print or copy all instructions to Notepad in order to assist you when carrying out procedures. Please follow all instructions in sequence. Do not, on your own, install/re-install any programs or run any fixes or scanners that you have not been instructed to use because this may cause conflicts with the tools that I am using. Please note that these fixes are not instantaneous. Most infections require more than one round to properly eradicate.

* During the course of our cleanup please do not do any additional online work or surfing until we have verified that your system is clean.

* We may be using some specialized tools during our fix. Certain embedded files that are part of legitimate programs or specialized fix tools such as process.exe, restart.exe, SmiUpdate.exe, reboot.exe, ws2fix.exe, prcviewer.exe and nircmd.exe may at times be detected by some anti-virus/anti-malware scanners as a "RiskTool", "Hacking tool", "Potentially unwanted tool", or even "malware (virus/trojan)" when that is not the case. Such programs have legitimate uses in contexts where an authorized user or administrator has knowingly installed it. These detections do not necessarily mean the file is malware or a bad program. It means it has the potential for being misused by others. Anti-virus scanners cannot distinguish between "good" and "malicious" use of such programs, therefore they may alert you or even automatically remove them.

* If your replies do not fit in one post while we are handling your issue, please reply to yourself until all text is submitted. It may take several posts.

I look forward to your reply so we can begin cleaning.

Instructions posted for this user are customized for this user only. The tools used may cause damage if used on a computer with different infections. If you think you have similar problems, please post a log at the top of this board to start a new forum topic.

Jennifer, are you ready to begin cleaning the malware?

Yes, I'm ready.  Tonight, I'll be home all night (2-6-09) and be in and out all weekend.

Do  you want to pick and day and time to do this?  I work 8 AM - 4:30 PM EST M-F.

If that would be easier, to schedule this, let me know.

Jennifer

I'll just post the instructions and you can get to them when you are at the computer.

Please disable Spybot's Teatimer via MSCONFIG:
http://www.netsquirrel.com/msconfig/msconfig_vista.html

When you get to the Startup tab, UNcheck the entry for TeaTimer until this is over...
1. Open Spybot
2. Click Mode -> Advanced Mode
3. Click Yes
4. Click Tools (located in the bottom left corner) -> Resident
5. Uncheck 'Resident "TeaTimer" (Protection of over-all system settings) active'
6. Then close Spybot.
Reboot.
Verify that Teatimer is not running.
After ALL cleaning of your system has been completed and we have confirmed that your computer is clean, reverse these steps and re-enable the protection applets for TeaTimer.

  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.
  Alternatively, you can update through MBAM's interface from a clean computer,
  copy the definitions (rules.ref) located in
  C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes'
  Anti-Malware from that system to a usb stick or CD and then copy it to the infected machine.

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 along with a fresh HijackThis log into your next reply 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.

-- 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.

Below is the list after I ran the scan:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.33
Database version: 1654
Windows 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1

2/7/2009 7:43:52 PM
mbam-log-2009-02-07 (19-43-52).txt

Scan type: Quick Scan
Objects scanned: 46655
Time elapsed: 4 minute(s), 42 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 1
Registry Keys Infected: 6
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 1

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
C:\Program Files\iWin Games\iWinGamesHookIE.dll (Adware.BHO) -> Delete on reboot.

Registry Keys Infected:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\iehlprobj.iehlprobj.1 (Adware.BHO) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{8ca5ed52-f3fb-4414-a105-2e3491156990} (Adware.BHO) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{8ca5ed52-f3fb-4414-a105-2e3491156990} (Adware.BHO) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{8ca5ed52-f3fb-4414-a105-2e3491156990} (Adware.BHO) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{495874fe-4a82-4ad1-9476-0b957e0b95eb} (Adware.BHO) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{e3ed53c5-7ad5-4df5-9734-afb6e7e5d9db} (Adware.BHO) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
C:\Program Files\iWin Games\iWinGamesHookIE.dll (Adware.BHO) -> Delete on reboot.

I'll let you know if I run into any more problems.

Thanks for your help,

Jennifer

I rebooted and tried to play the same game and got the same error, which reads the following:

"big fish games process error 0x80004005 - create message from file"

I can't figure out how to send you a copy of the error as an attachment.  I've tried cutting and pasting but it didn't show.

Any suggestions?

Jennifer

We are not finished yet.

Uninstall that game. Reboot,  and reinstall it. Some game(s) downloaded adware to your computer, so after you install the new game, update MBAM and run another scan. Then post the log along with a fresh HijackThis log.

* Please note: Big Fish Games is not recommended, so if you still have problems, you will need to remove it and not install it again.

Hi,

Below is the updated run list after I reran Mbam.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.33
Database version: 1738
Windows 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1

2/8/2009 5:56:56 PM
mbam-log-2009-02-08 (17-56-56).txt

Scan type: Quick Scan
Objects scanned: 47677
Time elapsed: 2 minute(s), 40 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 0

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

What's next?

Jennifer

 MBAM did not find any malware. Are you still having problems playing your games?

One I was able to get into.  The others won't allow me in it.  I think someone from the game company's website is supposed to call me tomorrow.  I'm wondering if I should try deleting the games, reinstalling them and see if they work.

I'll try that and if it still doesn't work, I'll see what the tech guy from their company has to say.  I'll let you know.

Again, thank you for your help.

Okay, good luck. As I said, what they install may have malware with it, so be sure to scan afterward. If the games do not work without those files, you will have to make a choice.