Member Avatar for AWebber

I have a very annoying pop-up in my task bar tell ing me to download antimalware because of an infection. It keeps flashing between a "Question Mark" and a "No Entry" symbol.

Here is my HiJackThis log:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 6:13:38 PM, on 9/1/2006
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\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\devldr32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\PCODEC\isamonitor.exe
C:\Program Files\PCODEC\pmsngr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\GWMDMMSG.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\BestBuy\HelpExpress\HXDL.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Andrew\Desktop\hjt\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page =
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL =
R3 - URLSearchHook: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! Toolbar Helper - {02478D38-C3F9-4EFB-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {202a961f-23ae-42b1-9505-ffe3c818d717} - C:\Program Files\PCODEC\isaddon.dll
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! IE Services Button - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yiesrvc.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Protection Bar - {fe2d25c1-c1db-4b5e-9390-af1cb5302f32} - C:\Program Files\PCODEC\iesplugin.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE NvQTwk,NvCplDaemon initialize
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [GWMDMMSG] GWMDMMSG.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [GWMDMpi] C:\WINDOWS\GWMDMpi.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdReg] C:\WINDOWS\Updreg.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [HXDL.EXE] C:\Program Files\BestBuy\HelpExpress\HXDL.EXE -from="HXIUL.EXE" -to="HXIUL.EXE" -run
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AIM] C:\Program Files\AIM95\aim.exe -cnetwait.odl
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Check Local Printer.lnk = C:\Program Files\KXP6X00\Chkpnt.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: AOL Instant Messenger.lnk = C:\Program Files\AIM95\aim.exe
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:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Yahoo! Services - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yiesrvc.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\AIM95\aim.exe
O9 - Extra button: Yahoo! Messenger - {E5D12C4E-7B4F-11D3-B5C9-0050045C3C96} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\YahooMessenger.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Messenger - {E5D12C4E-7B4F-11D3-B5C9-0050045C3C96} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\YahooMessenger.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
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=
O18 - Protocol: ms-help - {314111C7-A502-11D2-BBCA-00C04F8EC294} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Help\hxds.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O21 - SSODL: bestreak - {874443fe-aa33-4ebf-a6ac-73208787e62d} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\viruxz.dll
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPodService - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) (MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS) - Unknown owner - c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exe" -sSQLEXPRESS (file missing)
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Driver Helper Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe


Please help me get rid of this!

Andrew

  • 3 Contributors
  • 3 Replies
  • 242 Views
  • 2 Weeks Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by dlh6213

Dani AI

Generated

This is the typical “rogue anti‑spyware” scenario (fake scanner + task‑bar warnings) rather than a benign Windows alert. ’s suggestion to remove the unfamiliar codec and to use HijackThis to clear suspicious startup/Browser Helper Object entries is a correct start; is also right to point out this belongs to the SpywareQuake/rogue‑AV family and so needs a complete cleanup rather than just deleting a single DLL. (juniper.net)

Recommended, safe workflow (in order):

  1. Back up personal files to external media and disconnect the machine from the network.
  2. Reboot to Safe Mode (F8) and run an up‑to‑date anti‑malware scanner (Malwarebytes Anti‑Malware is effective against many rogue AVs). Update definitions, run a full scan and quarantine all detections; repeat until clean. If the machine blocks downloads, fetch the scanner on a clean PC and transfer it. (forums.malwarebytes.com)
  3. Use Autoruns (Sysinternals) to inspect and disable/delete any remaining auto‑start items, BHOs, services and AppInit DLLs that look unfamiliar; Autoruns shows the precise Registry & file locations so you can remove stubborn startup entries safely. (learn.microsoft.com)
  4. After quarantine, reboot normally and run a second‑opinion on‑demand scanner (for example Microsoft Safety Scanner or an ESET online scan) to confirm no leftovers. (bleepingcomputer.com)

Finish-up and cautions:

  • Once confident the system is clean, turn System Restore off and back on to clear infected restore points (do this only after a successful cleanup). Keep a clean restore point after re‑enabling. (learn.microsoft.com)
  • If the infection persists, consider an offline rescue disk or a clean OS reinstall. When in doubt, preserve important data and ask an experienced remover to validate logs (HijackThis/MBAM/Autoruns logs are helpful).

Recommended Answers

All 3 Replies

Member Avatar for dlh6213

Go to Add/Remove Programs in your Control Panel and remove PCODEC, if present

Scan with HJT and have it fix the following entries:

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {202a961f-23ae-42b1-9505-ffe3c818d717} - C:\Program Files\PCODEC\isaddon.dll
O21 - SSODL: bestreak - {874443fe-aa33-4ebf-a6ac-73208787e62d} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\viruxz.dll

Be sure to close ALL browser windows before hitting the 'Fix' button.

Go to the following locations and delete the highlighted file and folder:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\viruxz.dll

C:\Program Files\PCODEC

Empty your Recycle Bin and reboot.

Let us know if you continue to have problems.

Member Avatar for DMR

viruxz.dll is a component of the "SpywareQuake" family of infections, but simply deleting the dll will not remove all traces fo the infection.

Complete SpywareQuake removal instructions, including visual/graphical aids, can be found here; please work through the steps in the automated removal section of the instructions fully and completely.
When you've finished the procedure, please post the contents of the C:\Program Files\RoguesScanFix\task.txt log file, the log report generated by the Panda online scan, and a new HijackThis log.

Member Avatar for dlh6213

Thanks DMR :)

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