Member Avatar for chazzman

I am having endless headaches from Spyware attacks. My symptoms thus far have been:

Homepage kept changing
Searchbar kept appearing at bottom of browser pages
New pages would open without request throughout session

Each time I ran AdAware or CW Shredder, it would find the same things. CW Shredder would delete the CWS Bootconfg and it would come back immediately.

I ran Hijack many times and have deleted MANythings and now it is stripped down to the minimum. I always remove the lines referencing "search" but they always comeback (R1 through O1). This is what it looks like now:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 6:08:51 PM, on 5/16/2004
Platform: Windows XP (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 (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:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\qttask.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\VGAREA~1\SPAM COAL.exe
C:\Program Files\Common files\WinTools\WToolsA.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common files\WinTools\WToolsS.exe
C:\Program Files\Common files\WinTools\WSup.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\C S\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 7 for hijackthis1977.zip\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.websearch.com/ie.aspx?tb_id=50032
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://searchexe.com/searchbar.html
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://searchexe.com/searchbar.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://searchexe.com/searchbar.html
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.websearch.com/ie.aspx?tb_id=50032
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,SearchAssistant = http://www.websearch.com/ie.aspx?tb_id=50032
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {87766247-311C-43B4-8499-3D5FEC94A183} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\WinTools\WToolsB.dll
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 auto.search.msn.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 search.netscape.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 ieautosearch
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {87766247-311C-43B4-8499-3D5FEC94A183} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\WinTools\WToolsB.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinampAgent] "C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] C:\WINDOWS\System32\qttask.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinTools] C:\Program Files\Common files\WinTools\WToolsA.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SFPW] C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Snapfish Photo Wizard.exe
O4 - Startup: HotSync Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O16 - DPF: {02BCC737-B171-4746-94C9-0D8A0B2C0089} (Microsoft Office Template and Media Control) - http://office.microsoft.com/templates/ieawsdc.cab
O16 - DPF: {0E5F0222-96B9-11D3-8997-00104BD12D94} (PCPitstop Utility) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/PCPitStop.CAB
O16 - DPF: {11260943-421B-11D0-8EAC-0000C07D88CF} (iPIX ActiveX Control) - http://www.ipix.com/viewers/ipixx.cab
O16 - DPF: {1239CC52-59EF-4DFA-8C61-90FFA846DF7E} (Musicnotes Viewer) - http://www.musicnotes.com/download/mnviewer.cab
O16 - DPF: {43B70AAD-23F4-4FD8-ADD9-441D8592EEB8} (Snapfish Fix Photo Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishImageEditor.cab
O16 - DPF: {5763F8E8-0DD7-4A0F-ADB0-9F64C8F2C349} (Pixami/Snapfish Upload UI Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishUploader.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?37937.8772106481
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab


please tell me how to make this go away permanently. Thanks so much.

  • 3 Contributors
  • 8 Replies
  • 173 Views
  • 3 Days Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by chazzman

Recommended Answers

All 8 Replies

Member Avatar for crunchie

Unzip HJT into it's own permanent folder before doing anything in order for it to create backups. (Not a temporary folder or the desktop & not directly on your hard drive). Close all (browser) windows & rescan with hijackthis. When the scan is finished place a check in the box to the left of the following entries & click 'fix checked' :

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://searchexe.com/searchbar.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://searchexe.com/searchbar.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://searchexe.com/searchbar.html
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {87766247-311C-43B4-8499-3D5FEC94A183} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\WinTools\WToolsB.dll

O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 auto.search.msn.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 search.netscape.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 ieautosearch

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {87766247-311C-43B4-8499-3D5FEC94A183} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\WinTools\WToolsB.dll

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinTools] C:\Program Files\Common files\WinTools\WToolsA.exe

Reboot into safe mode following the instructions here & navigate to & delete

C:\Program Files\Common files\WinTools< folder

In order to view these files you may have to select 'show hidden files/folders.' Instructions on how to here.

Reboot normally & your problem should be solved.

Member Avatar for chazzman

I did exactly that and I am still having problems. Some of the search lines came back. Here is the latest log. I can kill those 3 search lines in O1 and they always come back. Thank you so much for the help


Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 4:57:02 PM, on 5/17/2004
Platform: Windows XP (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 (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:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\qttask.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\VGAREA~1\SPAM COAL.exe
C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\C S\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 11 for hijackthis1977.zip\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://yahoo.com/
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 ieautosearch
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 auto.search.msn.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 search.netscape.com
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinampAgent] "C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] C:\WINDOWS\System32\qttask.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [stylecurb] C:\PROGRA~1\VGAREA~1\SPAM COAL.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SFPW] C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Snapfish Photo Wizard.exe
O4 - Startup: HotSync Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O16 - DPF: {02BCC737-B171-4746-94C9-0D8A0B2C0089} (Microsoft Office Template and Media Control) - http://office.microsoft.com/templates/ieawsdc.cab
O16 - DPF: {0E5F0222-96B9-11D3-8997-00104BD12D94} (PCPitstop Utility) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/PCPitStop.CAB
O16 - DPF: {11260943-421B-11D0-8EAC-0000C07D88CF} (iPIX ActiveX Control) - http://www.ipix.com/viewers/ipixx.cab
O16 - DPF: {1239CC52-59EF-4DFA-8C61-90FFA846DF7E} (Musicnotes Viewer) - http://www.musicnotes.com/download/mnviewer.cab
O16 - DPF: {43B70AAD-23F4-4FD8-ADD9-441D8592EEB8} (Snapfish Fix Photo Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishImageEditor.cab
O16 - DPF: {5763F8E8-0DD7-4A0F-ADB0-9F64C8F2C349} (Pixami/Snapfish Upload UI Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishUploader.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?37937.8772106481
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab

Member Avatar for crunchie

Reboot into safe mode following the instructions here & Unzip HJT into it's own permanent folder before doing anything in order for it to create backups. (Not a temporary folder or the desktop & not directly on your hard drive). Close all (browser) windows & rescan with hijackthis. When the scan is finished place a check in the box to the left of the following entries & click 'fix checked' :

O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 ieautosearch
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 auto.search.msn.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 search.netscape.com

C:\PROGRA~1\VGAREA~1< folder

Reboot normally after doing the above then see if it comes back. If it does, navigate to your Hosts file & remove any entries that you find thers.

Member Avatar for chazzman

Sigh... I did all that... removed the boxes you had me check, deleted that folder... all from Safe Mode... and it came back. I don't understand what you meant when you said:

"If it does, navigate to your Hosts file & remove any entries that you find thers."

Dunno what the host file is.

Anyway, this is what my scan looks like now:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 6:27:58 PM, on 5/18/2004
Platform: Windows XP (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 (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:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\C S\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 13 for hijackthis1977.zip\HijackThis.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://yahoo.com/
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 auto.search.msn.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 search.netscape.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 ieautosearch
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinampAgent] "C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] C:\WINDOWS\System32\qttask.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SFPW] C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Snapfish Photo Wizard.exe
O4 - Startup: HotSync Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O16 - DPF: {02BCC737-B171-4746-94C9-0D8A0B2C0089} (Microsoft Office Template and Media Control) - http://office.microsoft.com/templates/ieawsdc.cab
O16 - DPF: {0E5F0222-96B9-11D3-8997-00104BD12D94} (PCPitstop Utility) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/PCPitStop.CAB
O16 - DPF: {11260943-421B-11D0-8EAC-0000C07D88CF} (iPIX ActiveX Control) - http://www.ipix.com/viewers/ipixx.cab
O16 - DPF: {1239CC52-59EF-4DFA-8C61-90FFA846DF7E} (Musicnotes Viewer) - http://www.musicnotes.com/download/mnviewer.cab
O16 - DPF: {43B70AAD-23F4-4FD8-ADD9-441D8592EEB8} (Snapfish Fix Photo Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishImageEditor.cab
O16 - DPF: {5763F8E8-0DD7-4A0F-ADB0-9F64C8F2C349} (Pixami/Snapfish Upload UI Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishUploader.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?37937.8772106481
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab

You have a paypal account established or anything? You help so many people, I wish I could give back. Thanks.

Member Avatar for crunchie

Thank you for the offer of payment, I appreciate it, but I do this on a strictly volunteer basis. If you feel the need to donate though, I am sure this site would graciously accept it, after all, without this site I would be unable to do anything.

Do a system search for the Hosts file & when found you can open it with notepad. Delete any entries you find there.

On my W2K system it lives here: C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

Member Avatar for chazzman

Great, I found it and removed all of the entries. After rebooting, I opened IE and in addition to my hompeage, an extra page came up advertising a matchmaking page (americansingles.com). Boggled, I ran Hijack again and the lines came back.

So then I rebooted into safe mode again and ran the whole aresenal again... hijack, adaware, cwshredder, checked the hosts file... cleaned EVERYTHING I could think of and it came back AGAIN.

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 5:41:02 PM, on 5/19/2004
Platform: Windows XP (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 (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:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe
C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\C S\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 14 for hijackthis1977.zip\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://yahoo.com/
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 auto.search.msn.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 search.netscape.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 ieautosearch
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinampAgent] "C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SFPW] C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Snapfish Photo Wizard.exe
O4 - Startup: HotSync Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O16 - DPF: {02BCC737-B171-4746-94C9-0D8A0B2C0089} (Microsoft Office Template and Media Control) - http://office.microsoft.com/templates/ieawsdc.cab
O16 - DPF: {0E5F0222-96B9-11D3-8997-00104BD12D94} (PCPitstop Utility) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/PCPitStop.CAB
O16 - DPF: {11260943-421B-11D0-8EAC-0000C07D88CF} (iPIX ActiveX Control) - http://www.ipix.com/viewers/ipixx.cab
O16 - DPF: {1239CC52-59EF-4DFA-8C61-90FFA846DF7E} (Musicnotes Viewer) - http://www.musicnotes.com/download/mnviewer.cab
O16 - DPF: {43B70AAD-23F4-4FD8-ADD9-441D8592EEB8} (Snapfish Fix Photo Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishImageEditor.cab
O16 - DPF: {5763F8E8-0DD7-4A0F-ADB0-9F64C8F2C349} (Pixami/Snapfish Upload UI Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishUploader.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?37937.8772106481
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab

Member Avatar for chazzman

here it is again after I cleaned it with all of the tools I had:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 6:41:38 PM, on 5/19/2004
Platform: Windows XP (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 (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:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe
C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\hijackthis\HijackThis.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://yahoo.com/
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 auto.search.msn.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 search.netscape.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 ieautosearch
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinampAgent] "C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SFPW] C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Snapfish Photo Wizard.exe
O4 - Startup: HotSync Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O16 - DPF: {0E5F0222-96B9-11D3-8997-00104BD12D94} (PCPitstop Utility) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/PCPitStop.CAB
O16 - DPF: {1239CC52-59EF-4DFA-8C61-90FFA846DF7E} (Musicnotes Viewer) - http://www.musicnotes.com/download/mnviewer.cab
O16 - DPF: {43B70AAD-23F4-4FD8-ADD9-441D8592EEB8} (Snapfish Fix Photo Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishImageEditor.cab
O16 - DPF: {5763F8E8-0DD7-4A0F-ADB0-9F64C8F2C349} (Pixami/Snapfish Upload UI Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishUploader.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab

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