Aurora virus aggravations...

[carolerose]

Please help! Aurora pop-ups continue to appear even though I've run through Norton's trojan horse removal procedure several times. I was reading other entries in this forum and was going to attempt a fix prescribed to others members, but because they were customized recommendations based on their personal computer's "health" I wanted to ask first hand.

I'm unfamiliar with the products you'd like downloaded and, in fact, this is the first time I've ever posted to a forum so not sure what kind of info you need from me... Any specific guidance you can provide would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance! :)

[DMR]

Hi carolerose, welcome to the site. :)

You're right about the fact that portions of the Aurora fix are "customized" for the particular computer in question, but the general Aurora removal procedure is the same for all computers. Most of the reason that instructions are customized is due to the fact that a computer is rarely infected with Aurora alone; there are almost always other "unwanted guests" on a given system.

The detection and removal programs used in the cleaning processes are trusted and reputable, and we'll walk you through any questions you might have in terms of using them.

The first thing we need to do is have you run the HijackThis utility; it will give us a good "snapshot" of the state of your computer:

Download the (free) HijackThis utility:

http://www.stevewolfonline.com/Downloads/DMR/Spyware%20Tools/HJT/HijackThis.exe

Once downloaded, follow these instructions to install and run the program:

Create a folder outside of any Temp/Temporary folders for HJT and move it there now. A folder such such as C:\HijackThis or C:\Spyware Tools\HijackThis will do.

Run HijackThis, but do not have HJT fix anything yet; only have it scan your system! Once the scan is complete, the "Scan" button will turn into an option to "Save log...". Save the log in the folder you created for HiajckThis, open the log in Windows Notepad, and cut-n-paste the entire contents of the log here.

The log contents will tell us a lot about what "nasties" have crept into your system, and once we analyse the log we can tell you what to do from there.

[carolerose]

Thank you so much for the prompt response and the help! I've installed, run, and pasted the HijackThis log below... Thanks again! :)

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 3:15:03 PM, on 7/10/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\csrss.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\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.exe
c:\windows\system32\vdjfznm.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\navapw32.exe
C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SpySweeper.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 3.0\PhotoshopElementsFileAgent.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7Debug\mdm.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 3.0\PhotoshopElementsDeviceConnect.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\WRSSSDK.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Center\SymWSC.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\wbem\wmiprvse.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\alg.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\hhyrlpxrle.exe
C:\SpywareTools\HijackThis.exe

F2 - REG:system.ini: Shell=Explorer.exe C:\WINDOWS\Nail.exe
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {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
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NAV Agent] C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\navapw32.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SpySweeper] "C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SpySweeper.exe" /startintray
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Install Pending Files.LNK = C:\Program Files\SIFXINST\SIFXINST.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=39204&clcid=0x409
O16 - DPF: {3FE16C08-D6A7-4133-84FC-D5BFB4F7D886} (WebGameLoader Class) - http://www.miniclip.com/ricochet/ReflexiveWebGameLoader.cab
O16 - DPF: {9B03C5F1-F5AB-47EE-937D-A8EDA626F876} (Anonymizer Anti-Spyware Scanner) - http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/promotions/spywaredetector/WebAAS.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{B3C9C0BE-457A-49B8-AFFB-FEBD09E76369}: NameServer = 69.50.176.196,195.225.176.110
O23 - Service: Adobe Active File Monitor (AdobeActiveFileMonitor) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 3.0\PhotoshopElementsFileAgent.exe
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Auto Protect Service (navapsvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Photoshop Elements Device Connect (PhotoshopElementsDeviceConnect) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 3.0\PhotoshopElementsDeviceConnect.exe
O23 - Service: PictureTaker - LANovation - C:\WINDOWS\System32\PCTKRNT.SYS
O23 - Service: ScriptBlocking Service (SBService) - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\SYMANT~1\SCRIPT~1\SBServ.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Network Drivers Service (SNDSrvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: System Startup Service (SvcProc) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\svcproc.exe
O23 - Service: Webroot Spy Sweeper Engine (svcWRSSSDK) - Webroot Software, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\WRSSSDK.exe
O23 - Service: SymWMI Service (SymWSC) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Center\SymWSC.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe

[DMR]

Not bad; aside from Aurora, I only see one other infection indicated in your log.

Here's the standard Aurora fix, with slight additions to deal with the other infection you have:

You will need to disconnect from the Internet for most of the cleaning procedures, so you should print out the following instructions or save them into a text file using Notepad.

* Download the free trial version of Ewido Security Suite here:
http://www.ewido.net/en/download/
Install it, and update the definitions to the newest files. Do NOT run a scan yet.

* Download Nailfix from here:
http://www.noidea.us/easyfile/file....050515010747824
Unzip it to the desktop but please do NOT run it yet.

* Open the Services utility in your Administrative Tools control panel.

- In the list of services, locate the service named "System Startup Service" or "SvcProc" and double-click on it.

- In the General tab of the Properties window that opens, click the Stop button.

- Once the service is stopped, choose Disabled in the "Startup Type" drop-down menu and then click OK. Close the Services utility after that.

* Next, reboot your computer in Safe Mode by doing the following:
1) Restart your computer
2) After hearing your computer beep once during startup, but before the Windows icon appears, press F8.
3) Instead of Windows loading as normal, a menu should appear
4) Select the first option, to run Windows in Safe Mode.

For additional help in booting into Safe Mode, see the following site:
http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtml

* Once in Safe Mode, double-click on Nailfix.cmd. Your desktop and icons will disappear and reappear, and a window should open and close very quickly (this is normal).

* Then run Ewido, and run a full scan. Save the logfile from the scan.

* Next run HijackThis, click Scan, and put a check in the box to the left of:

F2 - REG:system.ini: Shell=Explorer.exe C:\WINDOWS\Nail.exe
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{B3C9C0BE-457A-49B8-AFFB-FEBD09E76369}: NameServer = 69.50.176.196,195.225.176.110
O23 - Service: System Startup Service (SvcProc) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\svcproc.exe

Close all open windows except for HijackThis and click Fix Checked.

* Once HJT finishes the fix, click on the "Config" button in the lower right corner of HijackThis' main window.

- In the next window click on the "Misc Tools" button at the top then click the "Delete an NT service" button. Type the following in the box and click OK:

svcproc

- Close HijackThis

* Open Windows Explorer, and in the Folder Options->View settings under the Tools menu, select "show hidden files and folders", and uncheck "Hide protected operating system files" and "Hide extentions for known file types".

- Locate and delete the following files (note that ewido may have deleted some of these already):

C:\WINDOWS\hhyrlpxrle.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Nail.exe
C:\WINDOWS\svcproc.exe

- For every user account listed under C:\Documents and Settings, delete the entire contents of these folders (but not the folders themselves):

Important: One of the normal steps in eliminating malicious programs is to entirely delete the contents of all Temp folders. Given that, if any data that you care about is living in those Temp folders, you need to move it to a safe location now, or it will be erased along with everything else!

1. Cookies
2. Local Settings\Temp
3. Local Settings\History
4. Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files

- Delete the entire content of your C:\Windows\Temp folder.

- Delete the entire content of your C:\Windows\Prefetch folder.

Note- If you get any messages concerning the deletion of system files such as desktop.ini or index.dat, just choose to delete those files; they'll be automatically regenerated by Windows if needed. Windows will allow you to delete the versions of those files which exist in sub-folders within the main Temp/Temorary folders, but might not let you delete the versions of those files that exist in the main Temp folders themselves; this is normal and OK.

- Empty your Recycle Bin.

* Restart your computer in normal mode and post a new HijackThis log, as well as the log from the Ewido scan.

[carolerose]

Great news! I've downloaded and updated Ewido as instructed, but the Nailfix link is giving me an error... Could you please re-post the link? THANKS!!!

[DMR]

The nailfix link seems to be broken; here's an alternate link that will work.