Options

Home Search Assistant - Keeper

Unknown
edited March 2005 in Spyware & Virus Removal
Well, it appears I too have been infected with home search assistant spyware. I have run ad aware and norton to check for viruses/spyware. Before I post my log, let me say "thank you so much" for putting this info online. What a relief to see your site on the top of Google when I did a search for what was so annoyingly screwing up my computer.

Here's my log file:
Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 8:05:27 AM, on 3/3/2005
Platform: Windows 2000 SP4 (WinNT 5.00.2195)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINNT\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\services.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINNT\System32\termsrv.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\msdtc.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\tcpsvcs.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINNT\System32\llssrv.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\sfmprint.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\WINNT\system32\regsvc.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\MSTask.exe
C:\WINNT\System32\snmp.exe
C:\Program Files\NetDrive\wdService.exe
C:\WINNT\System32\WBEM\WinMgmt.exe
C:\WINNT\System32\wins.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\appcy32.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\Dfssvc.exe
C:\WINNT\System32\dns.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\inetsrv\inetinfo.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\sfmsvc.exe
C:\WINNT\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINNT\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINNT\system32\appao32.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Teamspeak2_RC2\server_windows.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasDtServ.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasServ.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\hjt\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = res://C:\WINNT\gmmui.dll/sp.html#28129
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = res://C:\WINNT\gmmui.dll/sp.html#28129
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = res://C:\WINNT\gmmui.dll/sp.html#28129
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = res://C:\WINNT\gmmui.dll/sp.html#28129
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = res://C:\WINNT\gmmui.dll/sp.html#28129
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = res://C:\WINNT\gmmui.dll/sp.html#28129
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyServer = :0
R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {A767B819-F74E-D9DC-1848-120AF446CAC2} - C:\WINNT\msjc32.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O3 - Toolbar: @msdxmLC.dll,-1@1033,&Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINNT\system32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [appao32.exe] C:\WINNT\system32\appao32.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [gcasServ] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasServ.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\RunOnce: [MicrosoftAntiSpywareCleaner] C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcASCleaner.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: TeamSpeak 2 Server.lnk = C:\Program Files\Teamspeak2_RC2\server_windows.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar 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: Related - {c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\WINNT\web\related.htm
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Show &Related Links - {c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\WINNT\web\related.htm
O23 - Service: Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service (dmadmin) - VERITAS Software Corp. - C:\WINNT\System32\dmadmin.exe
O23 - Service: WebDrive Service (WebDriveService) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\NetDrive\wdService.exe
O23 - Service: Network Security Service ( 6QÔõ'ª´ÆÐ8) - Unknown owner - C:\WINNT\system32\appcy32.exe

That's the end of the log. Can you help me? Again, thanks for putting this info online!

Comments

  • Buckeye_SamBuckeye_Sam Columbus, Ohio
    edited March 2005
    Please follow these steps to remove the HSA from your computer.

    Step 1
    Download this tool called AboutBuster http://www.downloads.subratam.org/AboutBuster.zip
    Unzip it to your desktop but don't run it yet.


    Step 2
    Download Adaware SE Personal from http://www.lavasoft.de/english/default.shtml. Install and open Adaware and click on *Check for Updates Now* and then *Connect*. It will find a new reference-file. Click *ok* and let it download and install the updates by clicking on *Finish* .This will return you to the main screen. Exit Adaware.


    Step 3
    Print out these instructions so you have them handy as most of the steps need to be done in safe mode and you may not be able to go online.


    Step 4
    Make sure your PC is configured to show hidden files.
    Open Windows Explorer & Go to Tools > Folder Options. Click on the View tab and make sure that "Show hidden files and folders" is checked. Also uncheck "Hide protected operating system files" and untick "hide extensions for known file types" . Now click "Apply to all folders"
    Click "Apply" then "OK"


    Step 5
    Next, go to Start->Run and type "Services.msc" (without quotes) then hit Ok

    Scroll down and find the service called Network Security Service. When you find it, double-click on it. In the next window that opens, click the Stop button, then click on properties and under the General Tab, change the Startup Type to Disabled. Now hit Apply and then Ok and close any open windows.


    Step 6
    Reboot to Safe Mode
    Restart your computer and as soon as it starts booting up again continuously tap F8. A menu should come up where you will be given the option to enter Safe Mode. To get back to normal mode just restart the computer as you normally would.


    Step 7
    Scan with Hijack This and put checks next to all the following, then click "Fix Checked"


    R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = res://C:\WINNT\gmmui.dll/sp.html#28129
    R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = res://C:\WINNT\gmmui.dll/sp.html#28129
    R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = about:blank
    R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = res://C:\WINNT\gmmui.dll/sp.html#28129
    R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = res://C:\WINNT\gmmui.dll/sp.html#28129
    R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = res://C:\WINNT\gmmui.dll/sp.html#28129
    R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = res://C:\WINNT\gmmui.dll/sp.html#28129
    R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing
    O2 - BHO: (no name) - {A767B819-F74E-D9DC-1848-120AF446CAC2} - C:\WINNT\msjc32.dll
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [appao32.exe] C:\WINNT\system32\appao32.exe
    O23 - Service: Network Security Service ( 6QÔõ'ª´ÆÐ8) - Unknown owner - C:\WINNT\system32\appcy32.exe


    and delete the following files if present(do not be concerned if some do not exist).


    C:\WINNT\system32\appcy32.exe
    C:\WINNT\system32\appao32.exe
    C:\WINNT\msjc32.dll
    C:\WINNT\gmmui.dll




    Step 8
    Double click AboutBuster.exe that you downloaded earlier. Click OK, click Start, then click OK. This will scan your computer for the bad files and delete them. Save the report(copy and paste into notepad or wordpad and save as a .txt file) and post a copy back here when you are done with all the steps.


    Step 9
    Scan with Adaware and let it remove any bad files found.


    Step 10
    Clean out temporary and TIF files. Go to Start > Run and type in the box: cleanmgr. Let it scan your system for files to remove. Make sure these 3 are checked and then press *ok* to remove:

    Temporary Files
    Temporary Internet Files
    Recycle Bin


    Step 11
    Reboot to normal mode, scan again with Hijack This and post a new log here.


    Step 12
    Finally, do an online scan at one of the following sites. Let it remove any infected files found.
    http://housecall.antivirus.com
    or
    http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm


    Post a fresh HijackThis log and the AboutBuster report back here please.
  • Keeper
    edited March 2005
    Here's the log file for the AboutBuster scan:

    Scanned at: 10:02:52 PM on: 3/4/2005


    -- Scan 1
    About:Buster Version 4.0
    Reference List : 19

    No ADS found on system
    Attempted Clean Of Temp folder.
    Removed Uninstall Key (HSA)
    Removed Uninstall Key (SE)
    Removed Uninstall Key (SW)
    Pages Reset... Done!

    -- Scan 2
    About:Buster Version 4.0
    Reference List : 19

    No ADS found on system
    Attempted Clean Of Temp folder.
    Pages Reset... Done!
  • Buckeye_SamBuckeye_Sam Columbus, Ohio
    edited March 2005
    Please post a hijackthis log.
Sign In or Register to comment.