Hi Ciberguy - We've been seeing this a lot lately, and these are very
difficult CWS parasite variants to remove. Read ALL of this carefully to
begin with, then try About:Blank Specific and then Basic Cleaning, below
FIRST and then ONLY IF NECESSARY Approach 1 and/or Approach 2 and/or
Approach 3 and/or Approach 4 and/or Approach 5.
********Please post back with your results in detail if possible - what you
tried, what happened, how you ended up - so that we'll know better what to
advise others.********
#########IMPORTANT#########
Before you try to remove spyware using any of the programs below, download
both a copy of LSPFIX here:
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm
AND a copy of Winsockfix
http://www.tacktech.com/pub/winsockfix/WinsockFix.zip
Directions here:
http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=257
The process of removing certain malware may kill your internet connection.
If this should occur, these programs, LSPFIX and WINSOCKFIX, will enable you
to regain your connection.
#########IMPORTANT#########
Approach 1 - If your hijacker is Home Search Assistant or one of these:
- Only The Best
- Home Search Extender
- Shopping Wizard
- res://****.dll/index.html#***** (or simply res .dll)
first see here:
http://www.short-media.com/forum/showthread.php?p=172774#post172774, then
you can try AT YOUR OWN RISK, HSRemove, free, here:
http://www.hsremove.com/. "A few days ago I got hijacked - Nothing new in
that, except this time it was a real [censored] to get rid of. - There were
simply no tools available to remove this "Home Search" thing. Finally I
ended up creating my own tool for it. USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK. And if you
find it helpful, then please do not hesitate to make a contribution."
Approach 2 - You can try this AT YOUR OWN RISK. I normally wouldn't advise
using a malware provider's uninstall, but this particular approach has been
reported to work ONLY IF you have the about:blank CWS variant (there appear
to be at least three or four currently) which leads you to a Search page.
Paste the following IP into your browser:
195.190.118.131
On the screen you arrive at, you see a "Search For" window, and below it a
red "Uninstall Software". Download their uninstaller, uninstall.exe. At this
point I would either use TotalUninstall or make a complete backup/Restore
Point of my system for safety's sake (on the basis of "at least keep what
you've got"). Total Uninstall,
http://www.geocities.com/ggmartau/tu.html or
direct dwnld here:
http://files.webattack.com/localdl834/tun234.zip
Run this uninstall program that you downloaded from the malware site, then
UPDATE them and go to Safe mode to run UPDATED versions CWShredder, AdAware
and SpyBot per the directions in Basic, below.
Approach 3 - Courtesy of "Win" (Win J. Moore) in 24hoursupport.helpdesk
"I had a variant of this CWS.SearchX sucker for about 3 weeks, and I FINALLY
seem to be rid of it for good! It is aka Troj_StartPage.sp and
BackDoor.Agent.BA. This is what I did:
1. Run Regedit, and DELETE the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\AppInit_DLLs
The value of this key may look blank for you, but it is not. They hide the
value so you can't see it. This registry key tells Windows to load the
Trojan DLL every time ANY application is run giving it complete control to
do whatever it wants. So you need to remove it so that the Trojan DLL cannot
load and keep re-infecting your PC. The way to remove the registry key is
not obvious. If you just delete it from RegEdit, since the Trojan DLL is
loaded, it will re-add it right back. (Try it. Delete the AppInit_DLLs
registry key and hit F5. Notice that it's added right back by the Trojan).
So what you have to do is the following which worked for me (many thanks to
"acomputerpro" at the SpywareInfo.com forums!)
2. Rename the HLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
folder to Windows2.
3. Now delete the AppInit_DLLs key under the Windows2 folder.
4. Hit F5 and notice that AppInit_DLLs doesn't come back.
5. Rename the Windows2 folder back to Windows. Now that AppInit_DLLs is
gone, run the latest AdAware 6 to remove the Trojan for good.
6. Reboot your machine, and check the registry and make sure AppInit_DLLs is
still gone.
Your computer should be free of this for good now. Hope it works for you...
It seemed to do the trick for me!"
Approach 4 - If you've already tried CWShredder to get rid of this parasite
(See below, v.159.0.1 or better and fully updated before use), then take a
look at this thread about manual removal of this parasite:
http://www.akadia.com/services/about_blank_virus.html
and this one:
http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread5531.html
and this one:
http://computercops.biz/article-5199-nested-0-0.html
and this one:
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=6437
Approach 5 - I don't usually recommend anything but freeware that I've
confidence in, but AT YOUR OWN RISK, not free ($29.95), Adware Away, here:
http://www.adwareaway.com/ claims to fix it automatically, and several users
now have reported success using it. I would backup my system before using
it, however - always try to "keep what you've got".
___________________________________
About:Blank Specific fixes:
1) See the procedures here:
http://www.pchell.com/support/onlythebest.shtml
and especially here:
http://www.pestpatrol.com/pestinfo/c/cws_aboutblank.asp Pest Patrol (free)
claims to remove at least some of the about:blank variants
2) Download AboutBuster, here:
http://www.malwarebytes.biz/AboutBuster.zip
or here:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4289.html Then, "First unzip all
files from the zip folder to a folder or your desktop. Start it and hit ok.
Then hit update. A new screen should popup. On that screen hit Check for
Updates. If it says it found an update hit Download Updates. If it doesnt it
will automatically tell you and exit. Now for the scanning part. Hit start
and then Ok. The program should start scanning. Then hit exit and reboot.
Once rebooted run About:Buster once more to make sure everything is ok.
The database will be updated very frequently so check your versions once a
day."
3) Download dllfix.exe and CWShredder from here:
http://www.renonce.com/pub/utils/dllfix.exe
and
http://209.133.47.200/~merijn/files/CWShredder.exe
or
http://www.zerosrealm.com/downloads/CWShredder.zip
or
http://downloads.subratam.org/CWShredder.exe
Unzip or install dllfix.exe to its own folder, run it and do options 1 and
2.
Now proceed with the Basic Cleaning steps, below.
4) It has been reported that the evaluation version of Panda Software's
Titanium Antivirus 2004, here:
http://www.pandasoftware.com/regist...&Ref=WW-TIT4-DES&Idioma=2&Country=Us&sec=down
will completely remove about:blank. I have not been able to independently
verify this yet, however, so this is AT YOUR OWN RISK. You'll have to give
them some information, and I expect you may want to uncheck some of the
"opt-in" boxes at the bottom just above and below the send button.
Basic Cleaning - Note that this symptom often indicates the possibility of
other malware. You might want go to this page at Jim Eshelman's site, here:
http://aumha.org/a/noads.htm or here:
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/parasite.htm and wait a little bit (be
patient), while an analysis of a number of possible parasites on your
machine will be made to help you identify and remove them. NOTE: You will
need to disable Ad Blocking in Zone Alarm 3.x, if present or any other Ad
Blocking software which interferes with Java Scripting for this scan to
work. You should get a message between the two lines of **** giving the
results of the scan.
#########IMPORTANT#########
All of these removal tools should be run from Safe mode when possible.
Reboot and test if the malware is fixed after using each tool.
#########IMPORTANT#########
Sometimes the tools below will find files which they are unable to delete
because they are in use. A program called Copylock, here,
http://noeld.com/programs.asp?cat=misc#CopyLock can aid in the process of
"replacing, moving, renaming or deleting one or many files which are
currently in use (e.g. system files like comctl32.dll, or virus/trojan
files.)" Another is Killbox, here:
http://download.broadbandmedic.com/Killbox.exe
Download and run Stinger.exe, here:
http://download.nai.com/products/mcafee-avert/stinger.exe or from the link
on this page:
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/
Download sysclean.com , from Trend Micro, here:
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp along with the latest pattern
file, here:
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp Be sure to read
the "How-to" info here:
http://www.trendmicro.com/ftp/products/tsc/readme.txt (You might also want
to get Art's updater, SYS-UP.Zip, here for future updating of these:
http://home.epix.net/~artnpeg/). (If you download and use the updater from
the beginning, it will automatically handle downloading the other files.)
Place them in a dedicated folder after appropriate unzipping. Disable
Restore if your on XP or ME (directions here:
http://vil.nai.com/vil/SystemHelpDocs/DisableSysRestore.htm), then boot to
Safe mode (HowTo here:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406)
Do a complete scan of your system in Safe mode and clean or delete anything
it finds. Reboot to normal mode and re-run the scan again.
This scan may take a long time, as Sysclean is VERY extensive and thorough.
For the general hijack case, the best way to start is to get Ad-Aware 6.0,
Build 181 or later, here:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/.
UPDATE, set it up in accordance with this:
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=5877 and run this regularly to get
rid of most "spyware/hijackware" on your machine. If it has to fix things,
be sure to re-boot and rerun AdAware again and repeat this cycle until you
get a clean scan. The reason is that it may have to remove things which are
currently "in use" before it can then clean up others.
Then, courtesy of NonSuch at Lockergnome, open Ad-aware then click the gear
wheel at the top and check these options to configure Ad-aware for a
customized scan:
General> activate these: "Automatically save log-file" and "Automatically
quarantine objects prior to removal"
Scanning > activate these: "Scan within archives", "Scan active processes",
"Scan registry", "Deep scan registry," "Scan my IE Favorites for banned
sites," and "Scan my Hosts file"
Tweaks > Scanning Engine> activate this: "Unload recognized processes during
scanning."
Tweaks > Cleaning Engine: activate these: "Automatically try to unregister
objects prior to deletion" and "Let Windows remove files in use after
reboot."
Click "Proceed" to save your settings, then click "Start." Make sure
"Activate in-depth scan" is ticked green, then scan your system. When the
scan is finished, the screen will tell you if anything has been found, click
"Next." The bad files will be listed. Right click the pane and click "Select
all objects" - This will put a check mark in the box at the side, click
"Next" again and click "OK" at the prompt "# objects will be removed.
Continue?"
Another excellent program for this purpose is SpyBot Search and Destroy
available here:
http://security.kolla.de/ SpyBot Support Forum here:
http://www.net-integration.net/cgi-bin/forums/ikonboard.cgi. I recommend
using both normally. After UPDATING and fixing ONLY RED things with SpyBot
S&D, be sure to re-boot and rerun SpyBot again and repeat this cycle until
you get a clean "no red" scan. The reason is that SpyBot sometimes has to
remove things which are currently "in use" before it can then clean up
others.
Note that sometimes you need to make a judgment call about what these
programs report as spyware. See here, for example:
http://www.imilly.com/alexa.htm
A currently common parasite is some malware called CoolWebSearch. Do the
following:
Download, UPDATE before running, and run:
http://209.133.47.200/~merijn/files/CWShredder.exe to remove the parasite.
Be sure to close all instances of IE and OE. You may also get it here if
that link is blocked:
http://www.zerosrealm.com/downloads/CWShredder.zip
There's a good tutorial about CWS and using CWShredder here:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=47#domain
BE SURE that you get v.159.0.1 or later!
You will need to show Hidden files first and then at the end clear the
malware garbage from your System Restore backups after you've cleaned up.
It's best to perform CWShredder (and most other malware fixers too) from
Safe mode and then reboot. AFTER cleaning things up, then you can disable
and then re-enable System Restore. See ******** below.
The following links give instructions on how to do these various functions:
HOW TO Restart in Safe Mode
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406
HOW TO Enable Hidden Files
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2002092715262339
HOW TO Disable/Flush System Restore (do this at the end AFTER cleaning or
use the suggested procedure for XP at the ******'s)
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001111912274039
(WinXP)
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001012513122239
(WinME)
Then download and run:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/iegentabs.reg to restore your
tabs and remove any restrictions that the parasite has put in place.
Now download and run:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/RestoreSearch2.REG to restore
your search functions if they've been affected (as they probably will have
been).
Be sure that you also download and install hotfix Q816093, here:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=816093
which blocks the exploit upon which this parasite family depends.
Another program which performs a similar function to CWShredder (which is no
longer beinging updated unfortunately) is xcleaner_free (there's a more
extensive paid version also) available here which should also be freshly
downloaded and run after you run CWShredder:
http://www.xblock.com/download-freeware.shtml
If they don't fix it then start here:
Download HijackThis, free, here:
http://209.133.47.200/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe (Always download a new
fresh copy of HijackThis [and CWShredder also] - It's UPDATED frequently.)
You may also get it here if that link is blocked:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=3155&file=3&evp=3304750663b552982a8baee6434cfc13
There's a good "How-to-Use" tutorial here:
http://computercops.biz/HijackThis.html
In Windows Explorer, click on Tools|Folder Options|View and check "Show
hidden files and folders" and uncheck "Hide protected operating system
files". (You may want to restore these when you're all finished with
HijackThis.)
Place HijackThis.exe or unzip HijackThis.zip into its own dedicated folder
at the root level such as C:\HijackThis (NOT in a Temp folder or on your
Desktop), reboot to Safe mode, start HT then press Scan. Click on SaveLog
when it's finished which will create hijackthis.log. Now click the Config
button, then Misc Tools and click on Generate StartupList.log which will
create Startuplist.txt
Then go to one of the following forums:
Spyware and Hijackware Removal Support, here:
http://216.180.233.162/~swicom/forums/
or Net-Integration here:
http://www.net-integration.net/cgi-...86d536d57b5f65b6e40c55365e;act=ST;f=27;t=6949
or Tom Coyote here:
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/index.php?act=idx
Register if necessary, then sign in and READ THE DIRECTIONS at the beginning
of the particular site's HiJackThis forum, then copy and paste both files
into a message asking for assistance, Someone will answer with detailed
instructions for the removal of your parasite(s). Be sure you include at
the beginning of your post a description of "What specific
problem(s)/symptoms you're trying to solve" and "What steps you've already
taken."
*******
ONLY IF you've successfully eliminated the malware, you can now make a new,
clean Restore Point and delete any previously saved (possibly infected)
ones. The following suggested approach is courtesy of Gary Woodruff: For XP
you can run a Disk Cleanup cycle and then look in the More Options tab. The
System Restore option removes all but the latest Restore Point. If there
hasn't been one made since the system was cleaned you should manually create
one before dumping the old possibly infected ones.
*******
Once you get this cleaned up, you might want to consider installing Eric
Howes' IESpyAds, SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard here to help prevent this
kind of thing from happening in the future:
IESpyads -
https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm "IE-SPYAD adds
a long list of sites and domains associated with known advertisers,
marketers, and crapware pushers to the Restricted sites zone of Internet
Explorer. Once you merge this list of sites and domains into the Registry,
the web sites for these companies will not be able to use cookies, ActiveX
controls, Java applets, or scripting to compromise your privacy or your PC
while you surf the Net. Nor will they be able to use your browser to push
unwanted pop-ups, cookies, or auto-installing programs on your PC." Read
carefully.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html (Prevents malware Active
X installs) (BTW, SpyWareBlaster is not memory resident ... no CPU or memory
load - but keep it UPDATED) The latest version as of this writing will
prevent installation or prevent the malware from running if it is already
installed, and it provides information and fixit-links for a variety of
parasites.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html (Monitors for attempts to
install malware) Keep it UPDATED. All three Very Highly Recommended
Next, install and keep updated a good HOSTS file. It can help you avoid
most adware/malware. See here:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
(Be sure it's named/renamed HOSTS - all caps, no extension) Additional
tutorials here:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?s=14f3f9225081133297a8acdd11137c5b&showtutorial=51
(detailed) and here:
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewtopic.php?t=410
(overview)
Finally, go to Windows Update and ensure that ALL Critical updates are
installed.
--
Please respond in the same thread.
Regards, Jim Byrd, MS-MVP
In
