highlighted text on webpages; urls lead to ads instead of page. leo hjt log inside :)

edited September 2004 in Spyware & Virus Removal
Hi! I came across your site while searching for help with a problem I'm having. Someone posted a similar problem but the solution for them hasn't helped me. This morning on my pc there were a bunch of shortcuts on my desktop and zonealarm was asking if www.abetterinternet could access the internet. I have spent a better part of the day trying to find out how to fix this including trying various spyware removers and instructions to remove www.abetterinternet manually, but to no avail; I even bought X-Cleaner. I just ran adaware 6.0 and search and destroy 1.3. I then ran HijackThis and have posted the log below. I see begin2search in there; I tried looking for that in search but didn't find any files named that on my pc.
The problems I'm having are: I click on a url and sometimes instead of directing me to that URL it takes me to an ad (for spyware removal, discover cards, etc.) and keywords like discover, adware, etc. are highlighted in orange on all webpages. When I move my cursor over the highlighted word, it turns out to be a link and 'Sponsored Link' appears at the bottom of my browser.
Sorry for the long post and thank you in advance for any help you are able to provide! :Canflag:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.98.2
Scan saved at 11:01:56 PM, on 30/08/2004
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:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SOUNDMAN.EXE
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Hardware\Keyboard\type32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\carpserv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG6\avgcc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Visual Networks\Visual IP InSight\Sympatico Consumer\IPClient.exe
C:\Program Files\Visual Networks\Visual IP InSight\Sympatico Consumer\IPMon32.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zonealarm.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG6\avgserv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Visual Networks\Visual IP InSight\Sympatico Consumer\IPClient.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\unzipped\hijackthis\HijackThis.exe
C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer,SearchURL = http://www.begin2search.com/googlesidesearch.html
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.begin2search.com/googlesidesearch.html
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.begin2search.com/googlesidesearch.html
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.ca
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.ca
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.begin2search.com/googlesidesearch.html
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.begin2search.com/googlesidesearch.html
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Microsoft Internet Explorer provided by Sympatico
R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=C:\WINDOWS\System32\Userinit.exe
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.0 localhost
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.2 auditmypc.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.3 boards.cexx.org
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.4 bulletproofsoft.net
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.5 camtech2000.net
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.6 cexx.org
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.7 computercops.us
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.8 ct7support.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.9 doxdesk.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.20 kellys-korner-xp.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.21 kephyr.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.22 lavasoft.de
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.23 lavasoftusa.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.24 lurkhere.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.25 majorgeeks.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.26 merijn.org
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.27 mjc1.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.28 moosoft.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.29 mvps.org
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.30 net-integration.net
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.31 noadware.net
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.32 no-spybot.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.33 onlinepcfix.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.34 pchell.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.35 pestpatrol.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.36 safer-networking.org
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.37 secure.spykiller.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.38 secureie.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.39 security.kolla.de
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.40 spybot.info
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.41 spychecker.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.42 spychecker.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.43 spycop.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.44 spyguard.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.45 spykiller.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.46 spyware.co.uk
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.47 spyware-cop.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.48 spywareinfo.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.49 spywarenuker.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.50 spywareremove.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.51 spywareremove.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.52 stopzillapro.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.53 sunbelt-software.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.54 thiefware.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.55 tomcoyote.org
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.56 unwantedlinks.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.57 webattack.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.58 wilders.org
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.59 www.auditmypc.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.60 www.bulletproofsoft.net
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.61 www.cexx.org
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.62 www.computercops.us
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.63 www.ct7support.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.64 www.doxdesk.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.65 www.eblocs.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.66 www.enigmasoftwaregroup.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.67 www.free-spyware-scan.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.68 www.free-web-browsers.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.69 www.grc.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.70 www.grisoft.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.71 www.hackfaq.org
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.72 www.hazeleger.net
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.73 www.javacoolsoftware.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.74 www.kellys-korner-xp.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.75 www.kephyr.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.76 www.lavasoft.de
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.77 www.lavasoftusa.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.78 www.lurkhere.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.79 www.majorgeeks.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.80 www.merijn.org
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.81 www.mjc1.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.82 www.moosoft.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.83 www.mvps.org
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.84 www.net-integration.net
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.85 www.noadware.net
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.86 www.no-spybot.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.87 www.onlinepcfix.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.88 www.pchell.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.89 www.pestpatrol.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.90 www.safer-networking.org
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.91 www.secureie.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.92 www.security.kolla.de
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.93 www.spybot.info
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.94 www.spychecker.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.95 www.spychecker.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.96 www.spycop.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.97 www.spyguard.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.98 www.spykiller.com
O1 - Hosts: 127.0.0.99 www.spyware.co.uk
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx
O2 - BHO: ohb - {4D568F0F-8AC9-40AB-88B7-415134C78777} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\winb2s32.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Begin2Search.com Bar - {52FE5233-367C-4EFB-BDD7-0BE4D212C107} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\winb2s32.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMan] SOUNDMAN.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PRONoMgr.exe] C:\Program Files\Intel\NCS\PROSet\PRONoMgr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroCheck] C:\WINDOWS\System32\\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelliType] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Hardware\Keyboard\type32.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\System32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\System32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CARPService] carpserv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG6\avgcc32.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IPInSightLAN 01] "C:\Program Files\Visual Networks\Visual IP InSight\Sympatico Consumer\IPClient.exe" -l
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IPInSightMonitor 01] "C:\Program Files\Visual Networks\Visual IP InSight\Sympatico Consumer\IPMon32.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [shx32r] C:\WINDOWS\System32\shx32r.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NVMCTRAY.DLL,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Spyware Begone] c:\freescan\freescan.exe -FastScan
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [X-Cleaner Deluxe] "C:\PROGRA~1\X-CLEA~1\XCleaner_full.exe" -turbo -autostart -NOREBOOT
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: ZoneAlarm.lnk = C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zonealarm.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Search - http://bar.mywebsearch.com/menusearch.html?p=ZSzeb001
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward &Links - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cac&hed Snapshot of Page - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Si&milar Pages - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmtrans.html
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
O16 - DPF: {1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB} - http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/funwebproducts/ei/SmileyCentralInitialSetup1.0.0.8.cab
O16 - DPF: {2BC66F54-93A8-11D3-BEB6-00105AA9B6AE} (Symantec AntiVirus scanner) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/SharedContent/vc/bin/AvSniff.cab
O16 - DPF: {41F17733-B041-4099-A042-B518BB6A408C} - http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52/20030530/qtinstall.info.apple.com/bonnie/us/win/QuickTimeInstaller.exe
O16 - DPF: {4F5E4276-C120-11D6-A1FD-00508B9D48EA} (dldisplay Class) - http://www.gamehouse.com/ghdlctl.cab
O16 - DPF: {556DDE36-E951-11D1-A708-000000521958} - http://www.xblock.com/members/files/xcleaner_full_setup.cab
O16 - DPF: {644E432F-49D3-41A1-8DD5-E099162EEEC5} (Symantec RuFSI Utility Class) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/SharedContent/common/bin/cabsa.cab
O16 - DPF: {8E0D4DE5-3180-4024-A327-4DFAD1796A8D} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/MessengerStatsClient.cab
O16 - DPF: {9A9307A0-7DA4-4DAF-B042-5009F29E09E1} (ActiveScan Installer Class) - http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/as5/asinst.cab
O16 - DPF: {B3872502-F9FD-4E96-93FF-0D37298F0689} (SOESysInfo Control) - http://eq2beta.station.sony.com/beta_reg/soesysinfo.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{6E638882-F34A-42C9-8145-F82D4CAAA372}: NameServer = 209.226.175.224 198.235.216.110

Comments

  • leo
    edited September 2004
    Please ignore the above, I deleted random stuff through hijackthis and the problem appears to be fixed.
This discussion has been closed.