Quote box for Step #8
- Download AboutBuster. Unzip it to c:\aboutbuster but don't run it yet we'll do that later on down in this list in SAFE MODE.
- Print out these instructions so you have them handy as some of the steps need to be done in safe mode and you may not be able to go online. We need IE to remain closed throughout the process. With that in mind, read through the instructions and download all necessary files ahead of time. Opening IE may cause the fix to fail
- Make sure your PC is configured to show hidden files. Open Windows Explorer & Go to "Tools" => "Folder Options". Click on the "View" tab and make sure that "Show hidden files and folders" is checked. Also uncheck "Hide protected operating system files" and untick "hide extensions for known file types". Now click "Apply to all folders". Click "Apply" then "OK"
- Reboot to Safe Mode => How do I boot into safe mode?
- Run HijackThis and put checks next to all the following, then click "Fix Checked":
- R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\lqqct.dll/sp.html#96676
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\lqqct.dll/sp.html#96676
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\lqqct.dll/sp.html#96676
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\lqqct.dll/sp.html#96676
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\lqqct.dll/sp.html#96676
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\lqqct.dll/sp.html#96676
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\lqqct.dll/sp.html#96676
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = http://red.clientapps.yahoo.com/cus...//www.yahoo.com
R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {41D261AF-74ED-449F-EEC7-1D4FC649FA14} - C:\WINDOWS\appnm32.dll
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - (no file)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [appjj32.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\appjj32.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [apiyg.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\apiyg.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Jcewnubo] C:\WINDOWS\System32\wipqsev.exe- Delete the following files if present (If you get an error when deleting a file. Right click on the file and check to see if the read only attribute is checked. if it is uncheck it and try again.):
- C:\WINDOWS\appnm32.dll
C:\WINDOWS\system32\appjj32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\apiyg.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\wipqsev.exe- Browse to c:\aboutbusterand double click on aboutbuster.exe. When the tool is open press the OK button, then the Start button, then the OK button, and then finally the Yes button. It will start scanning your computer for files. If it asks if you would like to do a second pass, allow it to do so.When finished, press the "Save log" button. I will want a copy of that log after all steps are completed here.
- Copy the contents of the Quote Box below (Listed after all steps) to Notepad. Name the file as fix.reg. Change the Save as Type to All Files. Save this file on the desktop
- Then double-click on the fix.reg file, and when it prompts to merge say yes, and this will clear some registry entries left behind by the process.
- Run Ad-Aware with the latest update.
- Download the latest version of Ad-Aware (Ad-Aware SE Build 1.03) from here.
- If you have a previous version of Ad-Aware installed, during the installation of the new version you will be prompted to uninstall or keep the older version - be sure to uninstall the previous version.
- After installing Ad-aware, you will be prompted to update the program and run a full scan. De-select all boxes so that it does not run.
- Manually run "Ad-Aware SE Personal" and from the main screen Click on "Check for Updates Now".
- Once the definitions have been updated:
- Reconfigure Ad-Aware for Full Scan as per the following instructions:
- Launch the program, and click on the Gear at the top of the start screen.
- Under General Settings the following boxes should all be checked off: (Checked will be indicated by a green circle with a check mark in it, Un-Checked is a red circle with an X in it. If it is greyed out, those features are only available in the retail version.)
- "Automatically save logfile"
- Automatically quarrantine objects prior to removal"
- Safe Mode (always request confirmation)
- Prompt to update outdated confirmation) - Change to 7 days.
- Click the "Scanning" button (On the left side).
- Under Drives & Folders, select "Scan within Archives"
- Click "Click here to select Drives + folders" and select your installed hard drives.
- Under Memory & Registry, select all options.
- Click the "Advanced" button (On the left hand side).
- Under "Shell Integration", select "Move deleted files to Recycle Bin".
- Under "Log-file detail", select all options.
- Click on the "Defaults" button on the left.
- Type in the full url of what you want as your default homepage and searchpage e.g. http://www.google.com.
- Click the "Tweak" button (Again, on the left hand side).
- Expand "Scanning Engine" by clicking on the "+" (Plus) symbol) and select the following:
- "Unload recognized processes during scanning."
- "Obtain command line of scanned processes"
- "Scan registry for all users instead of current user only"
- Under "Cleaning Engine", select the following:
- "Automatically try to unregister objects prior to deletion."
- "During removal, unload explorer and IE if necessary"
- "Let Windows remove files in use at next reboot."
- "Delete quarrantined objects after restoring"
- Click on "Safety Settings" and select "Write-protect system files after repair (Hosts file, etc)"
- Click on "Proceed" to save these Preferences.
- Click on the "Scan Now" button on the left.
- Under "Select Scan Mode, be sure to select "Use Custom Scanning Options".
- Close all programs except ad-aware.
- Click on "Next" in the bottom right corner to start the scan.
- Run the Ad-Aware scan and allow it to remove everything it finds and then REBOOT - Even if not prompted to.
- After you log back in, Ad-Aware may run to finalize the scan and remove any locked files that it may of found. Allow it to finish.
- Clean out temporary and temporary Internet files. Go to "Start" => "Run" and type in the box: "cleanmgr". Let it scan your system for files to remove. Make sure these 3 are checked and then press "ok" to remove:
- Temporary Files
- Temporary Internet Files
- Recycle Bin
- Reboot to normal mode.
- NOTE: Two, possibly three files may have been deleted from your computer by the hijacker and may need to be replaced:
- Control.exe. If control. exe is missing go to merijn and download the version of control.exe for your operating system. If you are running Windows 2000, copy it to c:\winnt\system32\. For Windows XP, copy it to c:\windows\system32\.
- hosts (with no extension). Download the Hoster. Press "Restore Original Hosts" and press "OK". Exit Program. Note: if you were using a custom Hosts file you will need to replace any of those entries yourself
- SDHelper.dll (if you are using Spybot Search & Destroy). If you have Spybot S&D installed and SDHelper.dll is missing, replace it with this one. Copy the file to the folder containing your Spybot S&D program (normally C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy)
- Additionally, Please check your ActiveX security settings. They may have been changed by this CWS variant to allow ALL ActiveX!! If they have been changed, reset your active x security settings in IE as recommended.In IE, click on "Tools" => "Internet Options" and under the "Security" tab, click on "Custom Level" and make sure that the following settings are correct:
- Download signed ActiveX controls (Prompt)
- Download unsigned ActiveX controls (Disable)
- Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe (Disable)
- Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins (Enabled) (This actually refers to Java and Flash, not ActiveX)
- Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting (Prompt)
- Do an online scan at TrendMicro's site. Let it remove any infected files found.
- Finally, when you are all done, please post the new HJT log and the AboutBuster log here for review.
REGEDIT4
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Uninstall\HSA]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Uninstall\SE]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Uninstall\SW]
