msconfig-startup

[Guest]

I just ran a check of my msconfig-startup XP PRO to shut down unwanted
programs and found several. I also found two programs with no letters for the
name and command, just a series of squares and n with an accent mark above
it. Under location they say SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion...
and I can't tell where this file is located. I don't think they're Microsoft
programs. The first time I tried to shut them down, they came back after
reboot as two more entries checked and running. I unchecked these and
rebooted and the rogue program seems to have finnally shut down. I'm posting
this in the security forum, wondering if this is some kind of a spy program
on my computer? Can anyone tell me the location and if I can delete this
program?

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Bodidleysquat" <[email protected]>

| I just ran a check of my msconfig-startup XP PRO to shut down unwanted
| programs and found several. I also found two programs with no letters for the
| name and command, just a series of squares and n with an accent mark above
| it. Under location they say SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion...
| and I can't tell where this file is located. I don't think they're Microsoft
| programs. The first time I tried to shut them down, they came back after
| reboot as two more entries checked and running. I unchecked these and
| rebooted and the rogue program seems to have finnally shut down. I'm posting
| this in the security forum, wondering if this is some kind of a spy program
| on my computer? Can anyone tell me the location and if I can delete this
| program?



If you are using any version of Sun Java that is prior to JRE Version 5.0,
then you are strongly urged to remove any/all versions that are prior to JRE
Version 5.0. There are vulnerabilities in them and they are actively being exploited.
It is possible that is how you got infected with malware.

Therefore, it is highly suggested that if there are any prior versions of Sun Java
to Version 5 on the PC that they be removed and Sun Java JRE Version 5.0 Update 6
be installed ASAP.

http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp


For non-viral malware...

Please download, install and update the following software...

* Ad-aware SE v1.06
http://www.lavasoft.de/
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
http://www.lavasoft.de/ms/index.htm

* SpyBot Search and Destroy v1.4
http://security.kolla.de/
http://www.safer-networking.org/microsoft.en.html

* SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html

After the software is updated, I suggest scanning the system in Safe Mode.

I also suggest downloading, installing and updating BHODemon for any Browser Helper Objects
that may be on the PC.

* BHODemon

http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=3550&file=11&evp=245a87539eea8ed6904332b4b8b8442d

For viral malware...

* Download MULTI_AV.EXE from the URL --
http://www.ik-cs.com/programs/virtools/Multi_AV.exe

To use this utility, perform the following...
Execute; Multi_AV.exe { Note: You must use the default folder C:\AV-CLS }
Choose; Unzip
Choose; Close

Execute; C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT
{ or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS }

NOTE: You may have to disable your software FireWall or allow WGET.EXE to go through your
FireWall to allow it to download the needed AV vendor related files.

C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT -- { or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS}
This will bring up the initial menu of choices and should be executed in Normal Mode.
This way all the components can be downloaded from each AV vendor's web site.
The choices are; Sophos, Trend, McAfee, Kaspersky, Exit this menu and Reboot the PC.

You can choose to go to each menu item and just download the needed files or you can
download the files and perform a scan in Normal Mode. Once you have downloaded the files
needed for each scanner you want to use, you should reboot the PC into Safe Mode [F8 key
during boot] and re-run the menu again and choose which scanner you want to run in Safe
Mode. It is suggested to run the scanners in both Safe Mode and Normal Mode.

When the menu is displayed hitting 'H' or 'h' will bring up a more comprehensive PDF help
file. http://www.ik-cs.com/multi-av.htm

Additional Instructions:
http://pcdid.com/Multi_AV.htm


* * * Please report back your results * * *

 

[Guest]

David, thank's for info. I did find an earlier version of Java (I forget the
V.#) in my add-remove programs and did delete it. I've now got J2SE 5 update
2,4, & 6 listed. For security, I'm pretty cheap, I use Trend Micro free
online virus checker/malware checker/spyware checker (they offer two styles
Windows kernal & Java Kernal and I always checked using the Java because it
just seemed faster). I also check with the latest vesion Adaware SE personal
and neither of these caught it. I'm also using a free registry cleaner called
Ccleaner which seems to be a pretty nice program.

Anyway, those two entries are still there in my msconfig-startup and the
checkboxes remain unchecked after several restarts. Maybe they will disapear
if I run the registry cleaner again, if deleting that older version of java
helped?

From: "Bodidleysquat" <[email protected]>

| I just ran a check of my msconfig-startup XP PRO to shut down unwanted
| programs and found several. I also found two programs with no letters for the
| name and command, just a series of squares and n with an accent mark above
| it. Under location they say SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion...
| and I can't tell where this file is located. I don't think they're Microsoft
| programs. The first time I tried to shut them down, they came back after
| reboot as two more entries checked and running. I unchecked these and
| rebooted and the rogue program seems to have finnally shut down. I'm posting
| this in the security forum, wondering if this is some kind of a spy program
| on my computer? Can anyone tell me the location and if I can delete this
| program?



If you are using any version of Sun Java that is prior to JRE Version 5.0,
then you are strongly urged to remove any/all versions that are prior to JRE
Version 5.0. There are vulnerabilities in them and they are actively being exploited.
It is possible that is how you got infected with malware.

Therefore, it is highly suggested that if there are any prior versions of Sun Java
to Version 5 on the PC that they be removed and Sun Java JRE Version 5.0 Update 6
be installed ASAP.

http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp


For non-viral malware...

Please download, install and update the following software...

* Ad-aware SE v1.06
http://www.lavasoft.de/
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
http://www.lavasoft.de/ms/index.htm

* SpyBot Search and Destroy v1.4
http://security.kolla.de/
http://www.safer-networking.org/microsoft.en.html

* SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html

After the software is updated, I suggest scanning the system in Safe Mode.

I also suggest downloading, installing and updating BHODemon for any Browser Helper Objects
that may be on the PC.

* BHODemon

http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=3550&file=11&evp=245a87539eea8ed6904332b4b8b8442d

For viral malware...

* Download MULTI_AV.EXE from the URL --
http://www.ik-cs.com/programs/virtools/Multi_AV.exe

To use this utility, perform the following...
Execute; Multi_AV.exe { Note: You must use the default folder C:\AV-CLS }
Choose; Unzip
Choose; Close

Execute; C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT
{ or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS }

NOTE: You may have to disable your software FireWall or allow WGET.EXE to go through your
FireWall to allow it to download the needed AV vendor related files.

C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT -- { or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS}
This will bring up the initial menu of choices and should be executed in Normal Mode.
This way all the components can be downloaded from each AV vendor's web site.
The choices are; Sophos, Trend, McAfee, Kaspersky, Exit this menu and Reboot the PC.

You can choose to go to each menu item and just download the needed files or you can
download the files and perform a scan in Normal Mode. Once you have downloaded the files
needed for each scanner you want to use, you should reboot the PC into Safe Mode [F8 key
during boot] and re-run the menu again and choose which scanner you want to run in Safe
Mode. It is suggested to run the scanners in both Safe Mode and Normal Mode.

When the menu is displayed hitting 'H' or 'h' will bring up a more comprehensive PDF help
file. http://www.ik-cs.com/multi-av.htm

Additional Instructions:
http://pcdid.com/Multi_AV.htm


* * * Please report back your results * * *

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Bodidleysquat" <[email protected]>

| David, thank's for info. I did find an earlier version of Java (I forget the
| V.#) in my add-remove programs and did delete it. I've now got J2SE 5 update
| 2,4, & 6 listed. For security, I'm pretty cheap, I use Trend Micro free
| online virus checker/malware checker/spyware checker (they offer two styles
| Windows kernal & Java Kernal and I always checked using the Java because it
| just seemed faster). I also check with the latest vesion Adaware SE personal
| and neither of these caught it. I'm also using a free registry cleaner called
| Ccleaner which seems to be a pretty nice program.
|
| Anyway, those two entries are still there in my msconfig-startup and the
| checkboxes remain unchecked after several restarts. Maybe they will disapear
| if I run the registry cleaner again, if deleting that older version of java
| helped?
|


There should be only ONE version, the latest, of Sun Java installed and that should be v5
update 6.
*ALL* other versions should be removed.

Did you scan with SpyBot S&D v1.4 ?

Did you install SuperAntiSpyware ?

Did you download and scan using at least one of the AV modules of the Multi AV Scanninmg
Tool ?