My log; can anyone identify malware here?

Hi orinda...

Sorry to take so long...Had to go into work...

I see your running PAL Spyware Remover.  I recommend that you uninstall and remove this program as it is on the list of "Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites".  Go to the page and search for PAL Spyware Remover. Link => http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Please print out or copy these instructions\tutorials to Notepad as the internet will be unavailble to you at certain points of the removal process. Make sure to work through all the Steps in the exact order in which they are listed below. If there's anything that you don't understand, ask your question(s) before moving on with the fixes.

Hi orinda...

I'm sorry about your problems with PAL Spyware remover...:smileymad: Your right...they should be hung!

I am going through your new log now....Am I to understand that you have uninstalled McAfee, Symatec, and Trend Micro?  I will make my "FIX" according to your answer so reply back asap.

As far as Ad-Aware SE 1.06 and Spybot S&D 1.4 I can tell you from personal expirience that they work well together and uninstall without problems if you want to remove them.  As a matter of fact I am running NAV2005 (with NIS), MS Antispyware, Spy Sweeper 4.0.3, CounterSpy, Ad-aware, and Spybot.  All these programs work together without problems.  I run all these for reasons such as yours...so I can give first hand expirience.

As far as Antivirus goes...you cannot run on the internet or have e-mail withoput running AV...it is just to "bad" out there running bare.  Also I can personally recommend (I recommend it to everybody as running without an AV is dangerous)  the free Antivirus AVG 7.0 from Grisoft.  I ran it on my other computer since it's release and was quite happy with it.  I'm now running another AV (for testing purposes) on it called NOD32 (not free thought) from ESET.

While you are waiting for me please follow these recommendations...it's still your choice as it is your PC but I highly recommend you follow my advice.

1. Download, install, setup, and run Ad-aware SE 1.06 and Spybot S&D 1.4 per the instructions found at http://forum.malwareremoval.com/viewtopic.php?t=13

2. Download the free AVG from http://free.grisoft.com/softw/70free/setup/avg70free_323a539.exe. A refernce guide can be found at http://free.grisoft.com/softw/70free/doc/avg_fre_ref_en_70_12.pdf

I'll post back asap

Kent

Okay, on your recommendation I will download the programs you mention. Yes, you are correct that I do NOT want anything from McAfee or TrendMicro.  I don't mean to say anything bad about TrendMicro because their Tech people were very responsive--it's just that it seems to have gotten corrupted and it does not update or scan without error. I did try to uninstall and reinstall the TrendMicro program several times, I also installed a patch and a system cleaner (which they sent me), but was unable to get it to run properly. So off it must go ;-(    

It's disappointing to me that Dell ships with so much beepin software pre-installed because much of this is impossible to remove.

I also don't need windows messenger or AOL messenger. Both are aggravating programs and I tried to uninstall but both have stubbornly remained.

Thanks again, Dobhar; you are a saint ;-)

~Orinda

Wow. That was pretty impressive.

First, I downloaded and ran Ad-Aware. It found 200 objects... Bargin Buddy, Tracking cookie, IBIS Toolbar, and others. I Quarentined and deleted all of these.... Then, on a lark I decided to run the program again to see if all those things were really gone... The scan returned one object, Bargin Buddy again. I deleted it and ran the scan again, and it was clean.

Then, I downloaded and ran Spybot... I had a problem here. First it turned up four files (including Bargin Buddy) before it produced an "error during check" message. Still I could select the four objects it did find and I was able to quarentine and delete them. I ran it again and it found nothing but still produced the error message. I tried updating to the latest version and ran again, but got the same result and error.

Then I ran Ad-aware again and it turned up nothing. Those are the best result I've had in weeks, so I'm very happy even if Spybot choked.

Then I downloaded and ran AVG virus protection. The scan took over an hour, and returned no viruses found.

The system already seems to be running better... for example when I rebooted everything came up very fast.

I am going to run the Ad-aware program again to see if anything is there. I'll report back again soon. But so far, this is *very* encouraging.

Message Edited by dobhar on 06-05-2005 10:47 PM

Hi orinda...

Your HJT log looks quite clean to me but we need to do a couple items to get rid of the McAffee Antispyware entry

Step 1.
==========
Let's get rid of the McAfee Antispyware service...
- Click "Start" button then select "Run"
-  Type "services.msc" (without quotes) then hit OK
- Scroll down and find the service called.

McAfee AntiSpyware Real-Time Scanner

- Right-click on Service and choose "Properties"
- On the "General" tab under "Service Status" click the "Stop" button to stop the service
- Beside "Startup Type" in the dropdown menu select "Disabled"
- Click Apply then OK. Exit the Services utility
(Note: If the service isn't listed go skip Step 2 and go on to Step 3 but advise me that service was not there)

Step 2.
==========
Let's delete that service
- Start HijackThis
- Click "Config" button
- Click "Misc Tools" button
- click "Delete an NT Service" button
- Copy and Paste the bold test below in the "Delete an NT Service" window

McAfeeAntiSpyware

- Click "OK"
- Close HijackThis

Step 3.
==========
- Close all Windows and Programs
- Start HijackThis...
- Select\check the following entries, Double-check to make sure that only these entries are checked.

O16 - DPF: {74D05D43-3236-11D4-BDCD-00C04F9A3B61} (HouseCall Control) - http://a840.g.akamai.net/7/840/537/2004061001/housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/xscan53.cab
O23 - Service: McAfee AntiSpyware Real-Time Scanner (McAfeeAntiSpyware) - Unknown owner - c:\progra~1\mcafee\MCAFEE~1\MssSrv.exe (file missing)

- Click the "Fix checked" button.

Step 4.
==========
- Reboot your computer
- Post back a fresh new HJT log

Hummm.... I guess I spoke too soon. I decided to test my new multi-layered protection by going to the Drudge website (This is a news headline site.) Well, sure enough, 3 pop-ups as soon as I connected. So much for the immunization function in Spybot.

I'm doing a new Ad-aware scan now, but I have to go pick someone up at the airport. I may not report back again until morning.

;-(

~Orinda

1. 
   
2. Disable and Enable System Restore. - If you are using Windows ME or XP then you should disable and reenable system restore to make sure there are no infected files found in a restore point. You can find instructions on how to enable and reenable system restore here:
   
   Managing Windows Millenium System Restore or Windows XP System Restore Guide
   
   Renable system restore with instructions from tutorial above
3. 
   
   
4. Make your Internet Explorer more secure - This can be done by following these simple instructions:
   
   1. 
      
   2. From within Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu and then click on Options.
   3. 
      
   4. ]Click once on theSecurity tab
   5. 
      
   6. Click once on the Internet icon so it becomes highlighted.
   7. 
      
   8. Click once on the Custom Level button.
      
      1. 
         
      2. Change the Download signed ActiveX controls to Prompt
      3. 
         
      4. Change the Download unsigned ActiveX controls to Disable
      5. 
         
      6. Change the Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe to Disable
      7. 
         
      8. Change the Installation of desktop items to Prompt
      9. 
         
      10. Change the Launching programs and files in an IFRAME to Prompt
      11. 
          
      12. Change the Navigate sub-frames across different domains to Prompt
      13. 
          
      14. When all these settings have been made, click on the OK button.
      15. 
          
      16. If it prompts you as to whether or not you want to save the settings, press the Yes button.
      17. 
          
      
      
   9. Next press the Apply button and then the OK to exit the Internet Properties page.
   10. 
       
   
   
   
5. Use an AntiVirus Software - It is very important that your computer has an anti-virus software running on your machine. This alone can save you a lot of trouble with malware in the future. See this link for a listing of some online & their stand-alone antivirus programs:
   Virus, Spyware, and Malware Protection and Removal Resources
6. 
   
   
7. Update your AntiVirus Software - It is imperitive that you update your Antivirus software at least once a week (Even more if you wish). If you do not update your antivirus software then it will not be able to catch any of the new variants that may come out.
8. 
   
   
9. Use a Firewall - I can not stress how important it is that you use a Firewall on your computer. Without a firewall your computer is succeptible to being hacked and taken over. I am very serious about this and see it happen almost every day with my clients. Simply using a Firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk greatly. For a tutorial on Firewalls and a listing of some available ones see the link below:
   Understanding and Using Firewalls
10. 
    
    
11. 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.
12. 
    
    
13. Install Spybot - Search and Destroy - Install and download Spybot - Search and Destroy with its TeaTimer option. This will provide realtime spyware & hijacker protection on your computer alongside your virus protection. You should also scan your computer with program on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software. A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
    Using Spybot - Search & Destroy to remove Spyware , Malware, and Hijackers
14. 
    
    
15. Install Ad-Aware - Install and download Ad-Aware. ou should also scan your computer with program on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software in conjunction with Spybot. A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
    Using Ad-aware to remove Spyware, Malware, & Hijackers from Your Computer
16. 
    
    
17. Install SpywareBlaster - SpywareBlaster will added a large list of programs and sites into your Internet Explorer settings that will protect you from running and downloading known malicious programs. A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
    Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware and Malware
18. 
    
    
19. Install IE-SPYAD - IE-SPYAD adds a list of sites and domains associated with advertisers, marketers, and crapware pushers to the Restricted sites zone of Internet Explorer. A tutorial on installing & using IE-SPYAD can be found here:
    Using IE-Spyad to enhance your privacy and security
20. 
    
    
21. Update all these programs regularly - Make sure you update all the programs I have listed regularly. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new malicious programs are released.
22. 
    

Message Edited by dobhar on 06-06-200511:26 PM

Message Edited by dobhar on 06-06-2005 11:26 PM