Internet access gone kaput

Seronac

I've looked around the site here and haven't found anything similar to my problem here, so I'll post it and see if I can get some help.

Several months ago IE started do something weird: It would launch just fine and load the home page and I could browse normally, but, after a while, it would go to the wrong site. For example, when I clicked a link on MSN or Amazon, it would go to a Google, Yahoo, or some other site's 404 (not found) error page.

Then, a few months later, it would launch OK then it would not go to any site, it just sits there, loading, no error message or anything. I installed Forefox, and it did the same things (worked fine for a while, then went to the wrong web sites, then no where). Opera and OffByOne browsers work OK, but have limited functionality and compatibility.

Also, when I try to restart or shutdown, it says that "XPCOM: Event Handler" is not responding.


I checked my DHCP, DNS and router settings, and checked for malware, and found nothing unusual. I have McAffee anti-virus installed and running, I ran several anti-spyware programs and they haven't found anything. I regularly clean up my hard disk, deleting old files, clearing the cache and old cookies.

The only odd thing I found was when I ran RootKitRevealer: it said that there were a few registry keys that had "embedded nulls". Two of them can be deleted, one of them gives me an error whenever I try to delete it. RootKitRevealer didn't find any unusual files, though.

Any ideas, suggestions or help would be appreciated, I'm about ready to reformat and reinstall. Many thanks!

Here's the HJT log:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 11:45:01 PM, on 7/12/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16473)

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:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MsMpEng.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cisvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
C:\Program Files\PC Magazine Utilities\HD HeartBeat 2\HBSrvApp.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\HackerWatch\HWAPI.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe
c:\program files\common files\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcods.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcpromgr.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\redirsvc\redirsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\Program Files\McAfee\MPF\MPFSrv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MPS\mps.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Retrospect\Retrospect 7.5\retrorun.exe
C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\svcntaux.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee\MPS\mpsevh.exe
C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\swdsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\SPEEDD~1\nopdb.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Blue Coat K9 Web Protection\k9filter.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\MsPMSPSv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskswitch.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\Core\smax4pnp.exe
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\Smax4.exe
C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\SDTrayApp.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LightScribeControlPanel.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\DataViz\DvzIncMsgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Google Updater\GoogleUpdater.exe
C:\Program Files\palmOne\Hotsync.exe
C:\Program Files\InterVideo\Common\Bin\WinCinemaMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\palmOne\LifeDriveMgrTray.exe
C:\Program Files\NetPerSec\NetPerSec.exe
C:\Program Files\palmOne\PalmOneLiveConnect.exe
C:\Program Files\stickies\stickies.exe
C:\Program Files\HPSW\OffByOne\ob1.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cidaemon.exe
C:\Program Files\Opera\Opera.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\McAfee\EmProxy\emproxy.exe
C:\Utils\HijackThis.exe

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
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\Spybot\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: scriptproxy - {7DB2D5A0-7241-4E79-B68D-6309F01C5231} - c:\program files\mcafee\virusscan\scriptcl.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\2.0.301.7164\swg.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [High Definition Audio Property Page Shortcut] HDAudPropShortcut.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CoolSwitch] C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskswitch.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Windows Defender] "C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe" -hide
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMAXPnP] C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\Core\smax4pnp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMAX] "C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\Smax4.exe" /tray
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RoxioEngineUtility] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\System\EngUtil.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SDTray] "C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\SDTrayApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [LightScribe Control Panel] C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LightScribeControlPanel.exe -hidden
O4 - Startup: Adobe Gamma.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Startup: LifeDrive™ Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\palmOne\LifeDriveMgrTray.exe
O4 - Startup: NetPerSec.lnk = C:\Program Files\NetPerSec\NetPerSec.exe
O4 - Startup: Stickies.lnk = C:\Program Files\stickies\stickies.exe
O4 - Global Startup: DataViz Inc Messenger.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\DataViz\DvzIncMsgr.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Google Updater.lnk = C:\Program Files\Google\Google Updater\GoogleUpdater.exe
O4 - Global Startup: HotSync Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\palmOne\Hotsync.exe
O4 - Global Startup: InterVideo WinCinema Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\InterVideo\Common\Bin\WinCinemaMgr.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &ieSpell Options - res://C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll/SPELLOPTION.HTM
O8 - Extra context menu item: Add to Google Photos Screensa&ver - res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\GPhotos.scr/200
O8 - Extra context menu item: Check &Spelling - res://C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll/SPELLCHECK.HTM
O8 - Extra context menu item: Copy to &Lightning Note - C:\Program Files\WordPerfect Lightning\Programs\WPLightningCopyToNote.hta
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Lookup on Merriam Webster - file://C:\Program Files\ieSpell\Merriam Webster.HTM
O8 - Extra context menu item: Lookup on Wikipedia - file://C:\Program Files\ieSpell\wikipedia.HTM
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: ieSpell - {0E17D5B7-9F5D-4fee-9DF6-CA6EE38B68A8} - C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: ieSpell - {0E17D5B7-9F5D-4fee-9DF6-CA6EE38B68A8} - C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {1606D6F9-9D3B-4aea-A025-ED5B2FD488E7} - C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: ieSpell Options - {1606D6F9-9D3B-4aea-A025-ED5B2FD488E7} - C:\Program Files\ieSpell\iespell.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
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: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=39204
O16 - DPF: {B8BE5E93-A60C-4D26-A2DC-220313175592} (MSN Games - Installer) - http://cdn2.zone.msn.com/binFramework/v10/ZIntro.cab56649.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{C6FBEEC2-464A-4EA2-8AC9-2A63B1039130}: NameServer = 208.67.222.222,208.67.220.220
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{FD193689-8025-4CA1-87EA-1DB50BB5FBB7}: NameServer = 208.67.222.222,208.67.220.220
O18 - Protocol: livecall - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O18 - Protocol: ms-help - {314111C7-A502-11D2-BBCA-00C04F8EC294} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Help\hxds.dll
O18 - Protocol: msnim - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O18 - Filter hijack: text/xml - {807563E5-5146-11D5-A672-00B0D022E945} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\OFFICE12\MSOXMLMF.DLL
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dll
O23 - Service: Adobe LM Service - Adobe Systems - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe Systems Shared\Service\Adobelmsvc.exe
O23 - Service: BSQS - Unknown owner - C:\DOCUME~1\Dad\LOCALS~1\Temp\BSQS.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: McAfee E-mail Proxy (Emproxy) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\McAfee\EmProxy\emproxy.exe
O23 - Service: Franson GpsGate 2.0 - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Franson\GpsGate 2.0\GpsGateService.exe
O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: HBService - Ziff Davis Media, Inc - C:\Program Files\PC Magazine Utilities\HD HeartBeat 2\HBSrvApp.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: KUHQMJIVTZ - Unknown owner - C:\DOCUME~1\Dad\LOCALS~1\Temp\KUHQMJIVTZ.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: LightScribeService Direct Disc Labeling Service (LightScribeService) - Hewlett-Packard Company - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee HackerWatch Service - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\HackerWatch\HWAPI.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Update Manager (mcmispupdmgr) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcupdmgr.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Services (mcmscsvc) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Network Agent (McNASvc) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\program files\common files\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Scanner (McODS) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcods.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Protection Manager (mcpromgr) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcpromgr.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Proxy Service (McProxy) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Redirector Service (McRedirector) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\redirsvc\redirsvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Real-time Scanner (McShield) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee SystemGuards (McSysmon) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Personal Firewall Service (MpfService) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\McAfee\MPF\MPFSrv.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Privacy Service (MPS9) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MPS\mps.exe
O23 - Service: Norton Unerase Protection (NProtectService) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton Utilities\NPROTECT.EXE
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe
O23 - Service: Retrospect Launcher (RetroLauncher) - EMC Corporation - C:\Program Files\Retrospect\Retrospect 7.5\retrorun.exe
O23 - Service: Spyware Doctor Auxiliary Service (sdAuxService) - PC Tools - C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\svcntaux.exe
O23 - Service: Spyware Doctor Service (sdCoreService) - PC Tools - C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\swdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Network Drivers Service (SNDSrvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Speed Disk service - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\SPEEDD~1\nopdb.exe
O23 - Service: stllssvr - MicroVision Development, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\SureThing Shared\stllssvr.exe
O23 - Service: Blue Coat K9 Web Protection (WebFilter) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Blue Coat K9 Web Protection\k9filter.exe

Seronac

Forty views and no answers...

Everyone else must be as stumped as I am...

Think harder, please?

And, BTW, I made a mistake, the program that stops responding on shutdown is "XPCom:EventReceiver".

HisChild

hence i'm no expert at this, but if you're concerned about malware or anything and you do want help from an expert, post it in the spyware section.

Thrax

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4372.html

Download and run that.

Seronac

I didn't post in the Spyware forum because everything I've tried has found no spyware, therefore, I suspect it's something else. I'll try that download, though, thanks.

Seronac

Well, WinsockFix XP didn't help, I still have the same stuff happening. (Thanks anyway.)

Any other ideas, or will I need to reformat and reinstall?

Trogan

There is a Web Filter on the computer. This may or may not have anything to do with your problems.

Seronac

Trogan wrote:

There is a Web Filter on the computer. This may or may not have anything to do with your problems.

Yep, I've tried it without the web filter, and it does the same.

tmh88

does firefox do the same thing?

Seronac

tmh88 wrote:

does firefox do the same thing?

Yes, Firefox does the same thing.

RWB

Using a router?? I'll admit I am stumped, so trying the crazy ideas is what I like to do next... go directly to the source, bypass the router(if you have one) and connect up directly to your DSL/Cable modem and see if that helps at all. If all else fails, maybe you can try at a friends house to see if that helps(possibly it's a problem with the ISP? who knows?!).

Generally if it takes more than a day to fix, I just reformat haha.

Seronac

Yes, I am using a router. I have noticed that it sometimes helps to reset the router, too. But if I was to disconnect the router right now, my WoW-playing wife and sons would have my head! I'll try that later.

Seronac

Router or not, it doesn't seem to make a difference.

And it seems to happen more often when I do a search on Google.

Ideas, please?

stoopid

It's possible there was some adware that was removed, but maybe not all of it, by one of those (many) adware removal tools you mentioned. I do tech support professionally and have encountered failed removals that ended up in similar dead ends like this. Sadly, in most cases, it's been my experience that reinstalling windows cost me and the customer less money/time than trying to "fix" it (which there is no guarantee it's anything that can be fixed, because there's no guarantee you'll find what is wrong).

The best anti-malware tool is not doing stuff that increases the likelihood of infection in the first place. [not aimed at you, just a public sevice announcement ]

stoopid

I looked twice through your hijackthis log (which has been an industry standard tool for removals for years) and there's a lot of stuff in there I would toss:

k9filter.exe
Norton anything, etc

Having layers and layers of speed boosters, network monitors, anti-malware detection tools, etc doesn't necessarily increase your level of protection (if 1 AV scanner is good, then 5 must mean 5 times the protection). What all these tools guarantee is that your PC will run slower (sometimes much slower) and increase the odds of having buggy application issues.

If this were my machine I'd uninstall everything but one anti virus app, and 1 anti-spyware app. You don't need anything else, especially if you're behind a router which will act as your firewall from the outside world. If you're worried about outgoing port use, I'd worry more about why you would be worried about that. lol

Thrax

If I were you, I'd remove every filter/firewall/AV/AS program on the machine, and nuke every entry in HJT. But that's just me.

stoopid

Mcafee is bloatware now. Toss it. I just looked at all the services it offers. What a friggin joke.

Try avg free for anti virus and spysweeper for realtime anti-spyware protection (with a decent removal engine too).

stoopid

Thrax wrote:

If I were you, I'd remove every filter/firewall/AV/AS program on the machine, and nuke every entry in HJT. But that's just me.

What he said.

Seronac

stoopid wrote:

Mcafee is bloatware now. Toss it. I just looked at all the services it offers. What a friggin joke.

Try avg free for anti virus and spysweeper for realtime anti-spyware protection (with a decent removal engine too).

My kids tend to go to various sites that collect and install junk. After I nuke the hard drive and reinstall, I'm going to put a password on my computer and keep the kids off of it.

Thing is, I get McAffee for free and I need something to check emails from my students for viruses. AVG is free, but has been consistently rated poorly in tests.

I only have 1 AV program, I have Norton for the improved system utilities, and K9filter because of the abundance of CRAP on the internet, and I have a few antispyware programs because no single one of them can catch everything. On the other hand, they've never caught anything extremely dangerous, so I'm probably just kidding myself.

Anyway, I'll do some selective removals this weekend and see what happens. If that doesn't resolve anything, then, next weekend, it's format time.

Thanks for the suggestions, folks.