John,
You are having too much fun.

I toasted a machine myself the other day,
also in the interest of science.
Good report!
Ron Chamberlin
MS-MVP
"JohnF." <everett.mcgill@remove_this_to.email.gmail.com.me> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Investigation Report - MSAS beta 1.0.501
>
> Platform:
> HP Vectra VL PIII 600mHz 128MB ram
>
> OS:
> Windows 2000 Pro SP4 plus Sec/Crit updates as of MAR 01 2005
> - logged in with local admin privileges
>
> Software:
> Office 97 Pro
> Symantec Corporate Antivirus 9
> - Program v. 9.0.0.338
> - Scan Engine v. 1.4.1.12
> - def file v. 03/01/05 rev. 8
>
> I installed the following:
> 1. Atomic Clock Sync
> 2. SpiderPilot Toolbar
> 3. Kazaa 3.0
> 4. Comet Cursor Plus with Starware Adzapper
> 5. MySearch Toolbar
> 6. FlashTalk
>
> I then uninstalled all these applications using the control panel
> Add/Remove Applet.
>
> I visited a cracks/serial numbers webpage and was invited to install a
> component that would give me
>
> "Unlimited downloads" capability. After I installed this control, the
> following showed up in my Add/Remove list:
>
> Media Pass
> CTXPLS
> Internet Optimizer
> ShopAtHomeSelect Cashback
> The Bullseye Network
>
> CERES was already in my Add/Remove list even though I had uninstalled
> applications.
>
> I then installed MSAS beta 1.0.509. While installing, it signalled that
> VX2.Transponder was trying to load,
> do you wish to remove. I said yes. Then it said CoolWebSearch was trying
> to load, do you wish to Remove, I said Yes. I went to the File menu and
> selected Check for Updates. Spyware definitions were updated from 5678 to
> 5693 successfully.
>
> I then selected to run the scan in full mode with all options checked.
>
> Results:
> 26 Spyware threats detected
> 5 memory processes infected
> 137 files infected
> 614 registry keys infected
>
>
> The 26 threats were as follows: (REMOVE recommended unless noted
> otherwise)
>
> 1. VX2.ABetterInternet.Transponder.Ceres -
> 2. AproposMedia -
> 3. AvenueMedia.DyFuCA -
> 4. PeopleOnPage -
> 5. eXact.bullseyeNetwork -
> 6. InstaFinder -
> 7. eXact.ISEXEng -
> 8. WindUpdates -
> 9. eXact.Downloader -
> 10. eXact.BargainBuddy -
> 11. My Search Bar -
> 12. Claria.GAIN -
> 13. Comet Systems -
> 14. Twain Tech -
> 15. KaZaA (quarantine) -
> 16. WinPup -
> 17. AltNet -
> 18. Windows AdTools -
> 19. Claria -
> 20. eXact.SearchBar -
> 21. eXact.Cashback -
> 22. Claria.DashBar -
> 23. IST.ISTbar -
> 24. ALTnet P2P -
> 25. ShopAtHome -
> 26. Unclassified.Spyware.39 -
>
> Claria.Gain tried to install while reviewing and I selected to Remove from
> the Toast Prompt.
>
> I clicked on CONTINUE and checked SEND TO SPYNET, files were reported, the
> removal/quarantine process ran.
>
> A review of the Add/Remove list reveals the following still listed:
> CERES
> Media Pass
> ShopAtHomeSelect CashBack
>
> The Tasklist shows:
> dmontvol.exe
> fcctr.exe
> MediaPass.exe
> MediaPassK.exe
> ShopAtHomeSelect Cash Back
>
> Regedit HKEY_Local_Machine/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Run reveals:
> ap9h4qmo - c:\winnt\system32\ap9h4qmo.exe
> w79f34O - fcctr.exe
> Media Pass - c:\Program Files\Media Pass\MediaPass.exe
>
> Rebooted into Normal Mode for another quick review. Don't want to boot to
> SAFE MODE unless necessary.
>
> Upon reboot, Error: could not locate INF file 'C:\WINNT\inf\CC_43.inf'.
>
> - Tasklist reveals no new LISTED processes
> - Add/Remove list reveals no new apps
> - Registry reveals ap9hqmo is gone and gah95on6 is now present
>
>
> I go to Add/Remove to uninstall these still present items:
> CERES - a web assisted delete process with "match the Number" process -
> CERES leaves the list
> Media Pass - Removed from list ShopAtHomeSelect Cashback - uses a match
> the number process as well, must be to defeat automated spyware tools.
>
> Recommends reboot, I do.
> - No INF error this time.
> - Tasklist shows fcctr.exe still running
> - Add/Remove list appears clean
> - Registry "RUN" still shows W79f34O
>
> Ran a Full Scan again with all options selected:
> 1. Does not pickup fcctr.exe as a bug
> 2. WindUpdates (a vxd file was found)
>
> Selected to Remove.
>
> W79f34O removed from Registry manually. Rebooted.
> - Task Manager List is now clean
> - Registry RUN list is clean
>
> fcctr.exe found in system32 folder, 240KB file no ownership info -
> compiled but some text reveals multiple languages supported, registry info
> mentioning winnint.ini and session manager.
>
>
> Summary:
>
> Spyspotter was not installed this time, maybe it was one of the numerous
> popups CERES was throwing up last time that I clicked on to get rid of.
> The second pass picked up an errant vxd file which probably couldn't be
> deleted until the process owner was gone.
>
> Meanwhile, I don't know what W79f34O alias fcctr.exe is or what put it
> there. Aagh! - more detailed testing... If I see it again, i will run
> it under scrutiny.
>
> Again, the temp locations are harboring the install files still and this
> time I looked under windows and found atomic.exe still in the folder.
> Well this test was done merely by uninstalling MSAS 501 and then getting
> infected and then installing 509 - not exactly a pristine test bed for 509
> but I'll do that next time - I still need to find a homepage hijacker.
>
>
>
>
>
> I welcome comments and questions!
>
> Thanks for reading!!!
>
>