I have an extreemly anoying virus or adwear on my pc which keeps changing my home page to 'about:blank' which is rubbish search engine that gives you results from all different porn sites no matter what you search for. Since picking up the bug i have been swamped in pop-up ads for everything under the sun!
Ive downloaded HijackThis and i would be very grateful if you could advise me on what i need to delete from my system. THANK YOU!!!

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 09:38:56, on 17/05/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Personal Firewall\NISUM.EXE
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\E_S10IC 2.EXE
C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\QCDriver3\LVCOMS.EXE
C:\Program Files\Logitech\ImageStudio\LogiTray.exe
C:\windows\system32\msbb.exe
C:\Program Files\Tiscali\tkonnect\tkonnect.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\DESKTO~1\skinkers.exe
C:\Program Files\Sony Corporation\Image Transfer\SonyTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Personal Firewall\ccPxySvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Works Shared\wkcalrem.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\EPSON\EBAPI\SAgent2.exe
C:\Program Files\Paltalk\pnetaware.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\ymsgr_tray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\slserv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\ImageStudio\LowLight.exe
C:\WINDOWS\sllights.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Ally Noble\Desktop\HijackThis.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {00A0A40C-F432-4C59-BA11-B25D142C7AB7} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\mskceo.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {0982868C-47F0-4EFB-A664-C7B0B1015808} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\mskhhe.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {0BA1C6EB-D062-4E37-9DB5-B07743276324} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdaim.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {25F7FA20-3FC3-11D7-B487-00D05990014C} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\mskpkc.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {447160CD-ECF5-4EA2-8A8A-1F70CA363F85} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msibkd.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {7CA381DD-72E9-4DAA-BBD6-B65C7C56315A} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\glk.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {94927A13-4AAA-476A-989D-392456427688} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msjfbl.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {CC916B4B-BE44-4026-A19D-8C74BBD23361} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msedah.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {FCADDC14-BD46-408A-9842-CDBE1C6D37EB} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msnkmi.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\msdxm.ocx
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WorksFUD] C:\Program Files\Microsoft Works\wkfud.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Microsoft Works Portfolio] C:\Program Files\Microsoft Works\WksSb.exe /AllUsers
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Microsoft Works Update Detection] C:\Program Files\Microsoft Works\WkDetect.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DXM6Patch_981116] C:\WINDOWS\p_981116.exe /Q:A
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DownloadWare] "C:\Program Files\DownloadWare\dw.exe" /H
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccRegVfy] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccRegVfy.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [windows auto update] msblast.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EPSON Stylus C44 Series] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\E_S10IC 2.EXE /P23 "EPSON Stylus C44 Series" /O6 "USB001" /M "Stylus C44"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RealTray] C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe SYSTEMBOOTHIDEPLAYER
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LVCOMS] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\QCDriver3\LVCOMS.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LogitechGalleryRepair] C:\Program Files\Logitech\ImageStudio\ISStart.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LogitechImageStudioTray] C:\Program Files\Logitech\ImageStudio\LogiTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [msbb] c:\windows\system32\msbb.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [tkonnect] C:\Program Files\Tiscali\tkonnect\tkonnect.exe updatemode
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ ] C:\Program Files\Sys28\launch.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Yahoo! Pager] C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\ypager.exe -quiet
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DesktopWengerCluster] C:\PROGRA~1\DESKTO~1\skinkers.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msmc] C:\WINDOWS\System32\msgked.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DealHelperDown] "C:\Documents and Settings\Ally Noble\Local Settings\Temp\ms22.tmp"
O4 - Startup: PalNetaware.lnk = C:\Program Files\Paltalk\pnetaware.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Image Transfer.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: AOL 8.0 Tray Icon.lnk = C:\Program Files\AOL 8.0b\aoltray.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Works Calendar Reminders.lnk = ?
O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel present
O6 - HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel present
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Researcher (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Related (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Show &Related Links (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Real.com (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Messenger (HKLM)
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/
O16 - DPF: {166B1BCA-3F9C-11CF-8075-444553540000} (Shockwave ActiveX Control) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/s...irector/sw.cab
O16 - DPF: {33564D57-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71} - http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...22/wmv9VCM.CAB
O16 - DPF: {41F17733-B041-4099-A042-B518BB6A408C} - http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52/...eInstaller.exe
O16 - DPF: {A17E30C4-A9BA-11D4-8673-60DB54C10000} (YahooYMailTo Class) - http://us.dl1.yimg.com/download.yaho...ymmapi_416.dll
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/s...sh/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {F5820AD3-9B20-423E-B2AA-7AF2B4055746} (CRegistryDownload Class) - http://download.paltalk.com/download/0.x/regdload.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{D1BC9D04-999C-4EF3-B711-D74B6C68966C}: NameServer = 212.74.114.193 212.74.112.66

Ally, the bad news is you have the W32.Blaster.Worm. The good news is you can remove it. Go to This page for instructions. Next download, update and run
CWShredder
Click Fix, don't just scan. Let it fix everything it asks about.

Please download and run the following :

1) SpyBot Search and Destroy
After installing SpyBot Search & Destroy, first press Online, and search for, put a check mark at, and install all updates.
Next, close all Internet Explorer windows, hit 'Check for Problems', have SpyBot remove all the items it marks in red.

2) Ad-Aware
After installing Ad-Aware, and before running the program, first press “check for updates now".
Click "Connect" and install all updated components available. Click 'Finish'.
Press "Scan Now", then 'next', and let Ad-Aware scan your drives.
It will find a number of "bad" files and registry keys. Click 'Next' again.
Check all found items, and click 'next' once more.
It will ask you whether you'd like to remove all checked items. Click OK.

Always reboot the computer between each program - both of these may find things that they need to have a reboot of the machine to clear - please reboot and let them finish.

Come back and post a fresh HijackThis log as there will be more to do.

Thank You Nirvana! I got rid of over 300 "bad" files from my pc. I was pulling my hair out before, but now everything seems to be running very smoothly!

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 17:30:54, on 18/05/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Personal Firewall\NISUM.EXE
C:\Program Files\Norton Personal Firewall\ccPxySvc.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\EPSON\EBAPI\SAgent2.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\E_S10IC 2.EXE
C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\QCDriver3\LVCOMS.EXE
C:\Program Files\Logitech\ImageStudio\LogiTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Tiscali\tkonnect\tkonnect.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\DESKTO~1\skinkers.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\slserv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Sony Corporation\Image Transfer\SonyTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Works Shared\wkcalrem.exe
C:\Program Files\Paltalk\pnetaware.exe
C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\ymsgr_tray.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\ImageStudio\LowLight.exe
C:\WINDOWS\sllights.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Ally Noble\Desktop\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.co.uk/
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\msdxm.ocx
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WorksFUD] C:\Program Files\Microsoft Works\wkfud.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Microsoft Works Portfolio] C:\Program Files\Microsoft Works\WksSb.exe /AllUsers
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Microsoft Works Update Detection] C:\Program Files\Microsoft Works\WkDetect.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DXM6Patch_981116] C:\WINDOWS\p_981116.exe /Q:A
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccRegVfy] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccRegVfy.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EPSON Stylus C44 Series] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\E_S10IC 2.EXE /P23 "EPSON Stylus C44 Series" /O6 "USB001" /M "Stylus C44"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RealTray] C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe SYSTEMBOOTHIDEPLAYER
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LVCOMS] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\QCDriver3\LVCOMS.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LogitechGalleryRepair] C:\Program Files\Logitech\ImageStudio\ISStart.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LogitechImageStudioTray] C:\Program Files\Logitech\ImageStudio\LogiTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DeskMateAutoUpdate] C:\PROGRA~1\DESKMA~1\DeskMateAutoUpdate.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [tkonnect] C:\Program Files\Tiscali\tkonnect\tkonnect.exe updatemode
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ ] C:\Program Files\Sys28\launch.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Yahoo! Pager] C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\ypager.exe -quiet
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DesktopWengerCluster] C:\PROGRA~1\DESKTO~1\skinkers.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DealHelperDown] "C:\Documents and Settings\Ally Noble\Local Settings\Temp\ms22.tmp"
O4 - Startup: PalNetaware.lnk = C:\Program Files\Paltalk\pnetaware.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Image Transfer.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Works Calendar Reminders.lnk = ?
O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel present
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Researcher (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Real.com (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Messenger (HKLM)
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/
O16 - DPF: {166B1BCA-3F9C-11CF-8075-444553540000} (Shockwave ActiveX Control) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/s...irector/sw.cab
O16 - DPF: {33564D57-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71} - http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...22/wmv9VCM.CAB
O16 - DPF: {41F17733-B041-4099-A042-B518BB6A408C} - http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52/...eInstaller.exe
O16 - DPF: {A17E30C4-A9BA-11D4-8673-60DB54C10000} (YahooYMailTo Class) - http://us.dl1.yimg.com/download.yaho...ymmapi_416.dll
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/s...sh/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {F5820AD3-9B20-423E-B2AA-7AF2B4055746} (CRegistryDownload Class) - http://download.paltalk.com/download/0.x/regdload.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{D1BC9D04-999C-4EF3-B711-D74B6C68966C}: NameServer = 212.74.112.66 212.74.112.67

Ally, please check back tomorrow and i'll post the rest of the fixes, too busy just now.......Time difference etc.

Important: Create a folder on the C: drive called C:\HJT.
You can do this by going to My Computer (Windows key+e) then double click on C: then right click and select New then Folder and name it HJT.
Move HijackThis into this folder. When you run HijackThis from this folder and have it "Fixed checked" it will create a backup file of modifications to use if restore is necessary. Please delete the old copy so it can't be used.

Restart HijackThis and put checks next to the following, close all browser windows (including this one) then click on 'Fix Checked':

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WorksFUD] C:\Program Files\Microsoft Works\wkfud.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ ] C:\Program Files\Sys28\launch.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DealHelperDown] "C:\Documents and Settings\Ally Noble\Local Settings\Temp\ms22.tmp"

If you didn't set these restrictions then fix this one also:

O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel present

I have followed you instructions from the your last post, thanks once again! I wasn't able to move HJT, so i created a shortcut in the folder and have stored all the back-up files in there after 'fixing' them. Are we all sorted? Or do i need to do more?

You should be good to go now, happy surfing! Call again if you have any more problems. You won't if you follow this advice:

To reduce the potential for spyware infection in the future, I strongly recommend installing SpywareBlaster and SpyWareGuard and IE/Spyad.

SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard are by JavaCool and both are free programs. SpywareBlaster will prevent spyware from being installed and consumes no system resources. SpywareGuard offers realtime protection from spyware installation attempts.

More info and download is available at:
SpywareBlaster: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
SpywareGuard: http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareguard.html


IE/Spyad places over 4000 websites and domains in the IE Restricted list which will severely impair attempts to infect your system. It is free.

More info and download is available at:
IE/Spyad: http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm