Cannot Access Search Sites

IE6 (SP2) on XP-Home will not allow me to access popular search pages (google.com, lycos.com, altavista.com, etc.) or execute search on others (yahoo.com); get the "Server Not Found" page when attempting any search. No peculiar behavior with start page or IE's search button (i.e., not promoting another search engine). Have run Spybot-S&D, SpyWareGuard, and HijackThis to no avail. Have uninstalled and re-installed IE6 (to extent possible in XP); hope to avoid re-imaging PC. Any advice/guidance would be much appreciated!!!

HijackThis log as follows:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.2
Scan saved at 10:48:04 PM, on 10/5/2003
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\brsvc01a.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\brss01a.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2000\Tmntsrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2000\Pop3trap.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2000\WebTrapNT.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\LMPDPSRV.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Hardware\Keyboard\type32.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Hardware\Mouse\point32.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyexpr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\AWS\WeatherBug\Weather.exe
C:\Program Files\Sony\VAIO Action Setup\VAServ.exe
C:\Program Files\Lexmark X125\LEX125SU.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Distillr\AcroTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\msoffice.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2000\PNTIOMON.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2000\pccntupd.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\sgmain.exe
C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\sgbhp.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OUTLOOK.EXE
C:\Documents and Settings\Cody\Desktop\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://home.microsoft.com/search/lobby/search.asp
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.msnbc.com/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = about:blank
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd={SUB_PRD}&clcid={SUB_CLSID}&pver={SUB_PVER}&ar=home
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.sony.com/vaiopeople
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = http://home.microsoft.com/access/autosearch.asp?p=%s
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {243B17DE-77C7-46BF-B94B-0B5F309A0E64} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyside.dll
O2 - BHO: SpywareGuard Download Protection - {4A368E80-174F-4872-96B5-0B27DDD11DB2} - C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\dlprotect.dll
O2 - BHO: WinShow module - {6CC1C918-AE8B-4373-A5B4-28BA1851E39A} - C:\Documents and Settings\Cody\Application Data\winshow\winshow.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] C:\WINDOWS\system32\qttask.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Pop3trap.exe] "C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2000\Pop3trap.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WebTrapNT.exe] "C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2000\WebTrapNT.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LMPDPSRV] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\LMPDPSRV.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelliType] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Hardware\Keyboard\type32.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [POINTER] point32.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [tgcmd] "c:\program files\support.com\client\bin\tgcmd.exe" /server
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MoneyAgent] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyexpr.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Weather] C:\Program Files\AWS\WeatherBug\Weather.exe 1
O4 - Startup: SpywareGuard.lnk = C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\sgmain.exe
O4 - Global Startup: VAIO Action Setup (Server).lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.exe.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Lexmark X125 Settings Utility.lnk = C:\Program Files\Lexmark X125\LEX125SU.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Acrobat Assistant.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Distillr\AcroTray.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Real-time Monitor.lnk = ?
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Related (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Show &Related Links (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Real.com (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: MoneySide (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: WeatherBug (HKCU)
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.sony.com/vaiopeople
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://download.macromedia.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://sdc.shockwave.com
O16 - DPF: {166B1BCA-3F9C-11CF-8075-444553540000} (Shockwave ActiveX Control) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/director/sw.cab
O16 - DPF: {3E68E405-C6DE-49FF-83AE-41EE9F4C36CE} (Office Update Installation Engine) - http://office.microsoft.com/officeupdate/content/opuc.cab
O16 - DPF: {72D59B9C-1E59-4958-803A-ABDEE2D4CFA6} (DivX Player) - http://download.divx.com/player/DivXPlayerInstaller.exe
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?37720.8984259259
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://active.macromedia.com/flash2/cabs/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {DED22F57-FEE2-11D0-953B-00C04FD9152D} (CarPoint Auto-Pricer Control) - http://autos.msn.com/components/ocx/autopricer/autopricer.cab

 

Hi Cody,


Check the items listed below in HijackThis, close all windows except HijackThis and click Fix checked:
O2 - BHO: WinShow module - {6CC1C918-AE8B-4373-A5B4-28BA1851E39A} - C:\Documents and Settings\Cody\Application Data\winshow\winshow.dll
O16 - DPF: {72D59B9C-1E59-4958-803A-ABDEE2D4CFA6} (DivX Player) - http://download.divx.com/player/DivXPlayerInstaller.exe

Then reboot and delete:
C:\Windows\Help\hosts (a file without an extension)

That should enable you to visit Google, Yahoo etc again.

If you were using a hosts file of your own before this happened, please download this beta version of HijackThis: http://www.spywareinfoforum.com/~merijn/files/beta/hijackthis.zip and post a new log using that one.

Regards,

Pieter

 

Pieter,
Thank you for the message. Unfortunately, the prescribed steps did not resolve the problem. Additional thoughts?

Regards,
Cody

 

Hi Cody,

Could you please post the log using the beta version of HijackThis I linked to earlier?

Regards,

Pieter

 

HijackThis (v1.97) log after previously recommended changes . . .

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.3
Scan saved at 10:32:58 AM, on 10/6/2003
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\brsvc01a.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\brss01a.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2000\Tmntsrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2000\Pop3trap.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2000\WebTrapNT.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\LMPDPSRV.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Hardware\Keyboard\type32.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Hardware\Mouse\point32.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyexpr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\AWS\WeatherBug\Weather.exe
C:\Program Files\Sony\VAIO Action Setup\VAServ.exe
C:\Program Files\Lexmark X125\LEX125SU.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Distillr\AcroTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2000\PNTIOMON.exe
C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\sgmain.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2000\pccntupd.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\msoffice.exe
C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\sgbhp.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Cody\Desktop\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.google.com/ie
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.sony.com/vaiopeople
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = about:blank
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {243B17DE-77C7-46BF-B94B-0B5F309A0E64} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyside.dll
O2 - BHO: SpywareGuard Download Protection - {4A368E80-174F-4872-96B5-0B27DDD11DB2} - C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\dlprotect.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] C:\WINDOWS\system32\qttask.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Pop3trap.exe] "C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2000\Pop3trap.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WebTrapNT.exe] "C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2000\WebTrapNT.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LMPDPSRV] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\LMPDPSRV.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelliType] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Hardware\Keyboard\type32.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [POINTER] point32.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [tgcmd] "c:\program files\support.com\client\bin\tgcmd.exe" /server
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MoneyAgent] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyexpr.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Weather] C:\Program Files\AWS\WeatherBug\Weather.exe 1
O4 - Startup: SpywareGuard.lnk = C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\sgmain.exe
O4 - Global Startup: VAIO Action Setup (Server).lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.exe.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Lexmark X125 Settings Utility.lnk = C:\Program Files\Lexmark X125\LEX125SU.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Acrobat Assistant.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Distillr\AcroTray.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Real-time Monitor.lnk = ?
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Related (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Show &Related Links (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Real.com (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: MoneySide (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: WeatherBug (HKCU)
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.sony.com/vaiopeople
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://download.macromedia.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://sdc.shockwave.com
O16 - DPF: {166B1BCA-3F9C-11CF-8075-444553540000} (Shockwave ActiveX Control) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/director/sw.cab
O16 - DPF: {3E68E405-C6DE-49FF-83AE-41EE9F4C36CE} (Office Update Installation Engine) - http://office.microsoft.com/officeupdate/content/opuc.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?37720.8984259259
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://active.macromedia.com/flash2/cabs/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {DED22F57-FEE2-11D0-953B-00C04FD9152D} (CarPoint Auto-Pricer Control) - http://autos.msn.com/components/ocx/autopricer/autopricer.cab

Thank you,
Cody

 

Hi Cody,

Two questions:
Did you reboot after making the changes?
Does this link work for you?

If the answers are Yes to both could you download: http://members.shaw.ca/techcd/VB_Projects/HostsFileReader.exe <= Direct Download link
and see if you get any results blocking the search engines in your hosts file?

Regards,

Pieter

 

Problem is now fixed. I didn't reboot after I deleted my "infected" hosts file. After rebooting, everything worked fine.

Something added 50+ search engine sites to my hosts file. I regularly run Spybot-S&D and maintain a firewall, so I am not sure what caused it. For added security, I am adding SpyWare Guard to my arsenal.

Thanks for your help, Pieter!

Regards,
Cody

 

Hi Cody,

I know of one site where you could get infected with this, and that one used the HTA exploit.
So disabling ActiveX for the internet zone, not allowing mshta access to the internet (f.e. with a firewall) are things that could have saved you. SpywareGuard would not have helped in this case, but it always is a good idea to add it to your arsenal.

Regards,

Pieter

 

Is this the QHosts malware which exploits IE's object data vulnerability? If so, the Oct 3 IE cumulative update should be applied if it hasn't already been installed. It "should" protect against this exploit (although the previous patch for this same vulnerability didn't).

Restricting ActiveX in the internet zone may not be a complete defense against this thing, although as a general rule it's certainly good practice to only allow ActiveX on known, trusted sites.

 

Hi sig,

Yes, it is QHosts. I guess we will have to wait and see if MicroSoft got it right this time.

Regards,

Pieter

 

thanks! deleting "host" worked for me. I am happy to be mostly free from the clutches of that virus.