ad.firstsolution ADS

[stone_cold]

Hello everyone,

Recently i ran in to problem with my computer. It's new to me and i dont know what's going on in my computer.

Problem: My Default browser is Firefox running on Windows XP Pro, but the problem is that whenever i open Firefox 2 for the first time, i get a ad.firstadsolution/... window Launched in IE7 popup window.

This also pops up when i boot up my computer and randomly while connected to the Internet.

Do you have any solution?

Please i need help in this!!!!!

Thanks

[raybay]

I appears your system is loading Internet Explorer first.
Uninstall Firefox, reboot, then reinstall it... than click to start it up. When Firefox asks if you want it to be the default browser, click to approve that choice.

[DMR]

I appears your system is loading Internet Explorer first.
Uninstall Firefox, reboot, then reinstall it...

The underlying problem has nothing to do with a browser conflict, and there is certainly no need to reinstall Firefox (and doing so won't fix the problem anyway).
What is happening is that the malware infection which is responsible for the ad.firstadsolution pop-up is being triggered when it senses that the user has made a connection to the Net. While the infection uses Internet Explorer to do its dirty work, it doesn't care what browser actually initiates the Internet connection.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
stone_cold,

Let's start the malware removal process by doing the following:

Download the free HijackThis utility. Once downloaded, follow these instructions to install and run the program:

* Create a new folder for HJT outside of any Temp/Temporary folders and move the HijackThis.exe file to that folder now. A folder 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 HijackThis; the saved file will be named "hijackthis.log". The log file will open in Windows Notepad once you save it.

* Cut-n-paste the entire contents of the file from Notepad and post it 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.

[stone_cold]

Are you sure this software is not going to mess up pc ?

Will it really work?

[DMR]

Hijackthis is the most widely-used adware/spyware diagnosis tool I know of, and those of us who specialize in removing these nasties have been using it for years. Here's the deal:
You have an adware infection, and you've asked us to help you get rid of it. If you follow our instructions fully and carefully, your computer will be back to normal very shortly. :)

[stone_cold]

I finally Tried Hijakthis. Here goes the log file as you requested

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 6:15:49 PM, on 12/11/2006
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.5730.0011)

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\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\acs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\atievxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\tcpsvcs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\isafe.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\4608\SiteAdv.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ZONELA~1\ZONEAL~1\MAILFR~1\mantispm.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\4608\SAService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ssstars.scr
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ssstars.scr
C:\Program Files\TP-LINK\TWCU\TWCU.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILL~1\FIREFOX.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.ca/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,,SKEYS /I
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {089FD14D-132B-48FC-8861-0048AE113215} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: BitComet ClickCapture - {39F7E362-828A-4B5A-BCAF-5B79BFDFEA60} - C:\Program Files\BitComet\tools\BitCometBHO.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {0BF43445-2F28-4351-9252-17FE6E806AA0} - (no file)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LMPDPSRV] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\LMPDPSRV.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SiteAdvisor] C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\4608\SiteAdv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TWCU] "C:\Program Files\TP-LINK\TWCU\TWCU.exe" -nogui
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Aim glue dash meow] C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\mpeg stupid aim glue\SITE MESS.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [idol build] C:\DOCUME~1\Manuel\APPLIC~1\JUMPPL~1\Secondmemo.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Lexmark X125 Settings Utility.lnk = C:\Program Files\Lexmark X125\LEX125SU.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: Download all links using BitComet - res://C:\Program Files\BitComet\BitComet.exe/AddAllLink.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Download all videos using BitComet - res://C:\Program Files\BitComet\BitComet.exe/AddVideo.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Download link using &BitComet - res://C:\Program Files\BitComet\BitComet.exe/AddLink.htm
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_09\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
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
O11 - Options group: [INTERNATIONAL] International*
O16 - DPF: {4F1E5B1A-2A80-42CA-8532-2D05CB959537} (MSN Photo Upload Tool) - http://manuelmathew.spaces.live.com//PhotoUpload/MsnPUpld.cab
O18 - Protocol: livecall - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O18 - Protocol: msnim - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O18 - Protocol: siteadvisor - {3A5DC592-7723-4EAA-9EE6-AF4222BCF879} - C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\4608\SiteAdv.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: winucv32 - winucv32.dll (file missing)
O21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dll
O23 - Service: TP-LINK Configuration Service (ACS) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\acs.exe
O23 - Service: CA ISafe (CAISafe) - Computer Associates International, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\isafe.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee HackerWatch Service - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\HackerWatch\HWAPI.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: McAfee Log Manager (McLogManagerService) - Unknown owner - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mclogsrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: McAfee Update Manager (mcmispupdmgr) - Unknown owner - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcupdmgr.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: McAfee Network Agent (McNASvc) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\program files\common files\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Protection Manager (mcpromgr) - Unknown owner - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcpromgr.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: McAfee Proxy Service (McProxy) - Unknown owner - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: McAfee Redirector Service (McRedirector) - Unknown owner - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\redirsvc\redirsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: McAfee Task Scheduler (mctskshd.exe) - Unknown owner - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mctskshd.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: McAfee User Manager (mcusrmgr) - Unknown owner - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcusrmgr.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: McAfee SpamKiller Service (MSK80Service) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\McAfee\MSK\MskSrver.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: SiteAdvisor Service - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\4608\SAService.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
O23 - Service: VNC Server Version 4 (WinVNC4) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\RealVNC\VNC4\WinVNC4.exe" -service (file missing)

[DMR]

Thanks for that- your HJT log show the presence of a couple of active pieces of malware, as well as some leftovers from previous infections.

Before we begin the removal, please tell us what's going on with the McAfee entries. It looks to me like you've uninstalled McAfee for the most part, and if so, we should remove the components that remain. We should also get you a good antivirus program to install in its place.

If you haven't uninstalled McAfee, then it will need to be uninstalled and reinstalled, as it isn't working properly at the moment.

[stone_cold]

Thanks for the reply

I have Uninstalled mostly everything from MC cafee but the uninstallation for the most part was a failure.. I didnt take much time to fix it anyway and installed the Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite which on the internet looks like the best among others.

How do i clear Mc cafee of the computer?