I've been enlisted by a friend to remove Hacktool.Rootkit, but I can't seem to get rid of it. It seems to be acting differently than the other reports I've read. The computer was infected in a similar way (IM about pictures) but Norton isn't constantly popping up errors, it only finds it when I do a manual scan. The infected file is msdirectx.sys. Here is the HijackThis log:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 8:47:48 PM, on 1/4/2006
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\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:\WINDOWS\system32\carpserv.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\AccessDirect\dadapp.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\QuickSet\quickset.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\DSentry.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_04\bin\jusched.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\SYMANT~1\vptray.exe
C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Manager\ViewMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\iedriver.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\AccessDirect\DadTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1135180716\ee\AOLSoftware.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lockbar.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AWS\WEATHE~1\Weather.exe
c:\windows\system32\palsp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell Support\DSAgnt.exe
C:\Program Files\Plaxo\2.6.2.7\PlaxoHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\Digital Line Detect\DLG.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\SYMANT~1\DefWatch.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$MICROSOFTBCM\Binn\sqlservr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\SYMANT~1\Rtvscan.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\bcmwltry.exe
C:\Program Files\Symantec_Client_Security\Symantec AntiVirus\VPC32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\NPCOG\LOCALS~1\Temp\Temporary Directory 1 for RootkitRevealer.zip\RootkitRevealer.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\NPCOG\LOCALS~1\Temp\Z.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\NPCOG\Desktop\HijackThis (Rootkit Removal)\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.dell.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://channels.aimtoday.com/search/aimtoolbar.jsp
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = C:\DOCUME~1\NPCOG\LOCALS~1\Temp\\promptZango.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.dell.com
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.dell.com
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.myway.com/mysearch/?ptnrS=BW
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://www.dell.com/
R3 - URLSearchHook: AOLTBSearch Class - {EA756889-2338-43DB-8F07-D1CA6FB9C90D} - C:\Program Files\AOL\AOL Toolbar 2.0\aoltb.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: DriveLetterAccess - {5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswshx.dll
O2 - BHO: AOL Toolbar Launcher - {7C554162-8CB7-45A4-B8F4-8EA1C75885F9} - C:\Program Files\AOL\AOL Toolbar 2.0\aoltb.dll
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {014DA6C9-189F-421a-88CD-07CFE51CFF10} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: AOL Toolbar - {DE9C389F-3316-41A7-809B-AA305ED9D922} - C:\Program Files\AOL\AOL Toolbar 2.0\aoltb.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /installquiet
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CARPService] carpserv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPLpr] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DadApp] C:\Program Files\Dell\AccessDirect\dadapp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Dell QuickSet] C:\Program Files\Dell\QuickSet\quickset.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DVDSentry] C:\WINDOWS\System32\DSentry.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [dla] C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_04\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [vptray] C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\SYMANT~1\vptray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ViewMgr] C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Viewpoint Manager\ViewMgr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iedriver] C:\WINDOWS\System32\iedriver.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdateManager] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sonic\Update Manager\sgtray.exe" /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HostManager] C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1135180716\ee\AOLSoftware.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [fresxstyle] lockbar.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LonPS2] c:\windows\system32\repcale.exe c:\windows\system32\palsp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [fresxstyle] lockbar.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Weather] C:\PROGRA~1\AWS\WEATHE~1\Weather.exe 1
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DellSupport] "C:\Program Files\Dell Support\DSAgnt.exe" /startup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Aim6] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\Launch\AOLLaunch.exe" /d locale=en-US ee://aol/imApp
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PlaxoUpdate] C:\Program Files\Plaxo\2.6.2.7\PlaxoHelper.exe -a
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [fresxstyle] lockbar.exe
O4 - Startup: PowerReg Scheduler V3.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Digital Line Detect.lnk = ?
O8 - Extra context menu item: &AIM Search - res://C:\Program Files\AIM Toolbar\AIMBar.dll/aimsearch.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: &AOL Toolbar Search - res://c:\program files\aol\aol toolbar 2.0\aoltbhtml.dll/search.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Search - http://edits.mywebsearch.com/toolbaredits/menusearch.jhtml?p=ZNfox000
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msjava.dll (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msjava.dll (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: AOL Toolbar - {3369AF0D-62E9-4bda-8103-B4C75499B578} - C:\Program Files\AOL\AOL Toolbar 2.0\aoltb.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe
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
O9 - Extra button: WeatherBug - {AF6CABAB-61F9-4f12-A198-B7D41EF1CB52} - C:\PROGRA~1\AWS\WEATHE~1\Weather.exe (HKCU)
O16 - DPF: {1239CC52-59EF-4DFA-8C61-90FFA846DF7E} (Musicnotes Viewer) - http://www.musicnotes.com/download/mnviewer.cab
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {31E68DE2-5548-4B23-88F0-C51E6A0F695E} (Microsoft PID Sniffer) - https://support.microsoft.com/OAS/ActiveX/odc.cab
O16 - DPF: {A8F2B9BD-A6A0-486A-9744-18920D898429} (ScorchPlugin Class) - http://www.sibelius.com/download/software/win/ActiveXPlugin.cab
O20 - Winlogon Notify: NavLogon - C:\WINDOWS\System32\NavLogon.dll
O23 - Service: DefWatch - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\SYMANT~1\DefWatch.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec AntiVirus Client (Norton AntiVirus Server) - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\SYMANT~1\Rtvscan.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Driver Helper Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: WLTRYSVC - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE
O23 - Service: Z - Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com - C:\DOCUME~1\NPCOG\LOCALS~1\Temp\Z.exe

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

Recommended Answers

All 3 Replies

Your log shows signs of a few different infections. Please do the following:

You will need to close/quit all web browser programs and disconnect from the Internet for much of the following, so you should print out these instructions or save them into a text file with Notepad.

1. Use your Add/Remove Programs control panel to uninstall WeatherBug; it has spyware components.


2. Download and install the following utilities:

CCleaner - www.ccleaner.com
Webroot Spy Sweeper (14 day free trial) - http://www.webroot.com/shoppingcart...4011&vcode=DT02
Microsoft Anti-Spyware beta - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...&displaylang=en
ewido anti-malware (14 day free trial) - http://www.ewido.net/en/download/

- Open Spy Sweeper, click on "Options", and then click on "Update Definitions" under the Program Options tab. Do not run a scan yet; just close the program once the update completes.

- Open ewido. In the main screen, click "Update" and click "Start Update". After the update process completes, exit from Ewido.

- Open MS Antispyware beta. Make sure the "AntiSpyware Autoupdater" feature is enabled, and that it has downloaded the most current antispyware updates. Close the program after you've verified this.

- Open Norton and make sure that it has the most current virus definitions installed. Again- don't scan yet, just close the program once it's updated.


3. Run HijackTHis again, put a check mark next to the following entries, and then click the "Fix checked" button:

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = C:\DOCUME~1\NPCOG\LOCALS~1\Temp\\promptZango.html
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.myway.com/mysearch/?ptnrS=BW
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {014DA6C9-189F-421a-88CD-07CFE51CFF10} - (no file)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iedriver] C:\WINDOWS\System32\iedriver.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [fresxstyle] lockbar.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LonPS2] c:\windows\system32\repcale.exe c:\windows\system32\palsp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [fresxstyle] lockbar.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Weather] C:\PROGRA~1\AWS\WEATHE~1\Weather.exe 1
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [fresxstyle] lockbar.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Search - http://edits.mywebsearch.com/toolba...html?p=ZNfox000
O9 - Extra button: WeatherBug - {AF6CABAB-61F9-4f12-A198-B7D41EF1CB52} - C:\PROGRA~1\AWS\WEATHE~1\Weather.exe (HKCU)

4. Reboot into safe mode (you get to the safe mode boot option by hitting the F8 key as your computer is starting up).

Open CCleaner.
- Go to Options-> Advanced: Uncheck "Only delete files in Windows Temp folders older than 48 hours"
- Go to Options>CustomFolders>Add Folder>Navigate to these folders (click on bold file once and hit OK) :
* C:\Windows\Temp
* C:\Windows\Prefetch
* C:\Documents and Settings\<Your Profile>\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\ (This will delete all your cached internet content including cookies.)
* C:\Documents and Settings\<Your Profile>\Local Settings\Temp
* C:\Documents and Settings\<any other user's Profile>\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
* C:\Documents and Settings\<Any other user's Profile>\Local Settings\Temp
* C:\Documents and Settings\<Your Profile>\Cookies
* C:\Documents and Settings\<Any other users Profile>\Cookies
Hit OK

- In left pane, scroll down to "Advanced, Custom Folders", put a check in Custom Folders

- Click on Run Cleaner

It may take a while for the program to perform its cleaning, so be patient. Close the program when it has finished.


- Run Norton, MS Antispyware, and ewido; have the programs fix all malicious items they find.

When ewido finds the first malicious object on your system, it will ask you if it should clean it. When it asks this, put a checkmark in the lower left corner of the box that says "Perform action on all infections", then choose clean and click OK.
Save the log file that ewido will create after it finishes scanning; you'll be including that log in your next post here.


- Run Spy Sweeper.
* Under the Sweep Options tab, select ALL options under 'What to Sweep'.
* Click the "Sweep" icon and then "Start" to begin scanning.
*When the scan completes, click Next to automatically quarantine all detected items.
*Click the Results icon, select Session Log, and then click Save to File. Save the scan results to your desktop and close Spy Sweeper.


5. 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".

- Look for the following files and delete them if found:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\iedriver.exe
lockbar.exe
c:\windows\system32\repcale.exe c:\windows\system32\palsp.exe
msdirectx.sys
msnt.exe
haxdrv.sys
msdrv.exe
sdkcore.exe

- Delete the C:\Program Files\AWS folder entirely.


6. Empty your Recycle Bin, reboot normally, run HijackThis again, and post the new log. Also post the logs that ewido and Spy Sweeper generated.

Thanks a ton, the computer is running great! I don't have the logs as I already returned the computer, but I'm pretty sure the computer is clean. Thanks again!

Glad we could help. :)
Don't hesitate to ask if you need help in the future.

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