Yet another IE home page hijacking

Question

JWGJR 0 Newbie Poster

22 Years Ago

My home page in IE is now about:blank. I can manually remove all appropriate registry entries (startpage, etc), and then if I click on the IE icon the arrow turns into an hour glass for 15 seconds or so, then back to an arrow. If I then look at the registry, everything is again set to about:blank. If I click a second time, IE does open.

Here is my hijackthis log

CODELogfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 5:21:58 PM, on 4/13/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

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:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\Video\LogiTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Verizon Online\VisualIPInsight\IPClient.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TEXTBR~1.0\BIN\INSTAN~1.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\E_S0HIC1.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\Program Files\Adaptec\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\devldr32.exe
C:\Palm\HOTSYNC.EXE
C:\Program Files\EPSON\EPSON SMART PANEL for Scanner\ESPMAIN.EXE
C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton Antivirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~2\NORTON~1\NPROTECT.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~2\NORTON~1\SPEEDD~1\NOPDB.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton Antivirus\SAVScan.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\LVComS.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\Video\LowLight.exe
C:\Program Files\Netscape\Netscape\Netscp.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\default\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 17 for hijackthis.zip\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,HomeOldSP = about:blank
N3 - Netscape 7: user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://www.nytimes.com/"); (C:\Documents and Settings\default\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\default\v3xvwlt4.slt\)
N3 - Netscape 7: user_pref("browser.search.defaultengine", "engine://C%3A%5CProgram%20Files%5CNetscape%5CNetscape%5Csearchplugins%5CSBWeb_01.src"); (C:\Documents and Settings\default\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\default\v3xvwlt4.slt\)
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton Antivirus\NavShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {D38BDAB3-3A14-45EE-B059-5EFF27D479F4} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton Antivirus\NavShExt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QD FastAndSafe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LogitechVideoTray] C:\Program Files\Logitech\Video\LogiTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LogitechGalleryRepair] C:\Program Files\Logitech\Video\ISStart.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IPInSightLAN 01] "C:\Program Files\Verizon Online\VisualIPInsight\IPClient.exe" -l
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [InstantAccess] C:\PROGRA~1\TEXTBR~1.0\BIN\INSTAN~1.EXE /h
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EPSON Stylus C82 Series] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\E_S0HIC1.EXE /P23 "EPSON Stylus C82 Series" /O6 "USB001" /M "Stylus C82"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AdaptecDirectCD] C:\Program Files\Adaptec\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Quicken Scheduled Updates.lnk = C:\Program Files\QUICKENW\bagent.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: HotSync Manager.lnk = C:\Palm\HOTSYNC.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: EPSON SMART PANEL for Scanner.lnk = C:\Program Files\EPSON\EPSON SMART PANEL for Scanner\ESPMAIN.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.exe.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Define - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Reference 2001\A\ERS_DEF.HTM
O8 - Extra context menu item: Look Up in &Encyclopedia - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Reference 2001\A\ERS_ENC.HTM
O9 - Extra button: Encarta Encyclopedia (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Encarta Encyclopedia (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Define (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Define (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Dell Home (HKCU)
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\PROGRA~1\INTERN~1\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O16 - DPF: {02BF25D5-8C17-4B23-BC80-D3488ABDDC6B} (QuickTime Object) - http://www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin.cab
O16 - DPF: {33564D57-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71} -
O16 - DPF: {41F17733-B041-4099-A042-B518BB6A408C} - http://a224.g.
O16 - DPF: {75565ED2-1560-4F15-B841-20358DE6A0D1} (ImageControl Class) - http://content.ancestry.com/asfiles/files/install/MFImgVwr.cab
O16 - DPF: {8E0D4DE5-3180-4024-A327-4DFAD1796A8D} (MessengerStatsClient Class) -
O16 - DPF: {9184D21C-9835-42C5-A883-EA8BE7FC048D} (Downloader Class) -
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) -
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) -
O16 - DPF: {E77C0D62-882A-456F-AD8F-7C6C9569B8C7} (ActiveDataObj Class) - https://www-secure.symantec.com/techsupp/activedata/ActiveData.cab
O16 - DPF: {F6BF0D00-0B2A-4A75-BF7B-F385591623AF} (Solitaire Showdown Class) -
/CODE

microsoft:windows virus-malware

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3 Replies
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Latest Post 22 Years Ago Latest Post by lynchmob

Dani AI

Generated 6 Months Ago

This thread shows a typical Internet Explorer homepage hijack driven by a malicious Browser Helper Object. ’s cleanup (removing the BHO and doing the file cleanup in Safe Mode) resolved the immediate symptom and confirmed success, but ’s report of recurrence suggests something persistent was left behind or a secondary component is reinstalling the BHO.

After the visible BHO is removed, validate the system thoroughly rather than assuming the problem is gone. Examine every startup/persistence location (BHOs/toolbars, Run/RunOnce keys, services, scheduled tasks, AppInit_DLLs/COM registrations and ActiveSetup entries) with a tool that lists all autorun points. While launching IE, inspect the running iexplore process to see which DLLs are actually loaded — any unexpected module indicates an active copy. Save and compare HijackThis-style logs before and after cleanup so changes are visible and reversible.

If the hijack returns, treat it as a persistence problem: temporarily prevent restore points from reintroducing files, perform offline or bootable rescue scans (to catch rootkit-like copies), and scan with at least two reputable engines (one antivirus + one anti-malware). After a confirmed clean, create a fresh system restore point and re-enable restore. If unfamiliar with registry or COM cleanup, consider a guided removal tool or reimaging the system for certainty.

To reduce future risk, run periodic autorun audits, keep the OS and browser components patched, avoid browsing with an administrator account, and remove unused startup utilities. These steps both remove the current symptom and close common persistence avenues that cause repeat infections.

All 3 Replies

TallCool1 81 Practically a Posting Shark

22 Years Ago

My home page in IE is now about:blank. I can manually remove all appropriate registry entries (startpage, etc), and then if I click on the IE icon the arrow turns into an hour glass for 15 seconds or so, then back to an arrow. If I then look at the registry, everything is again set to about:blank. If I click a second time, IE does open.

Before you remove anything, turn off System Restore to keep stuff from coming back. While I cannot identify the hijacker, I can identify which files to remove. You need to remove the 02 - BHO (browser helper object) item, as well:

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,HomeOldSP = about:blank

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {D38BDAB3-3A14-45EE-B059-5EFF27D479F4} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll

After fixing, reboot into Safe Mode and delete C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's three resource wasters to remove:

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime

O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last but not least, replace Netscape 7 with Mozilla--it's a much newer version. Netscape 7 is based on Mozilla 1.01 or 1.3, Mozilla is at v1.6 right now.

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JWGJR 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 1 · 2004-04-14T05:23:31+00:00

That seems to have fixed my problem. Thank you for taking the time to help me with it.

John

lynchmob 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 2 · 2004-04-14T08:20:03+00:00

Before you remove anything, turn off System Restore to keep stuff from coming back. While I cannot identify the hijacker, I can identify which files to remove. You need to remove the 02 - BHO (browser helper object) item, as well:
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll/sp.html (obfuscated)
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,HomeOldSP = about:blank
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {D38BDAB3-3A14-45EE-B059-5EFF27D479F4} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll
After fixing, reboot into Safe Mode and delete C:\WINDOWS\System32\ankli.dll
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's three resource wasters to remove:
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last but not least, replace Netscape 7 with Mozilla--it's a much newer version. Netscape 7 is based on Mozilla 1.01 or 1.3, Mozilla is at v1.6 right now.

First time posting here, so please bare with me if this is screwed up coming in. I had the same about:blank situation and followed these basic steps. Everything was cool until today and I had to run through the procedure again, something must activate it and set it off again from time to time, does that sound correct. Basically is this a fix that makes us feel better for the time being or is it really kicking this spyware (or whatever is giving us this "about:blank) off the comp? That thing was driving me mad for 2 weeks, so I'm glad I came across this page, but I don't want to have to keep doing this every other day. Weren't comps created to make life easier??? It's only slowin' mine up and giving me a migrane!

Thanks,
D

Yet another IE home page hijacking

Dani AI

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