REMOVING SPYWARE

I have a problem with Spyware. The symptoms are pop-ups all over the place, the addition of a zSearch bar on Internet Explorer, the requirement for frequent re-boots, and the bugger seems to attach itself to search engines - whenever I do a search, an intermediary 'marketing' screen always appears. Pressing 'Next' here gets me to where I should be.

I have tried various things. Webroot Spyware was the first - this seemed to pick up the problem (which it called 'Clientman') but didnt seem to be able to cleanse it. I then downloaded Ad-aware 6.0 and Spybot (Lavasoft). Ad-aware would only spot cookies. Spybot did come up with registry keys and values which I'm sure are the problem. However, Spybot did not mention 'Clientman' and in any case was unable to cleanse. I checked my Spybot and Ad-aware settings which were OK. I did a scan which picked up the offending items - I deleted them and did a reboot. But if I scan again immediately, the same little sods are picked up again - obviously Spybot is unable to cleanse.

I am to computing what King Herod was to baby sitting, so if none of this makes sense, sorry. I have followed the 3-step approach mentioned on the forum and copy the Hijack Log below. Happy hunting !

PS. What the **** is Dealhelper Is this the blighter ?

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 09:14:53, on 23/05/04
Platform: Windows 98 SE (Win9x 4.10.2222A)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v5.50 (5.50.4134.0600)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSGSRV32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MPREXE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\mmtask.tsk
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\PGPSDKSERV.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ATI2EVXX.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\NETWORK ASSOCIATES\VIRUSSCAN\AVSYNMGR.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\CISCO SYSTEMS\VPN CLIENT\CVPND.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\NETWORK ASSOCIATES\VIRUSSCAN\VSSTAT.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\NETWORK ASSOCIATES\VIRUSSCAN\VSHWIN32.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\NETWORK ASSOCIATES\VIRUSSCAN\AVCONSOL.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\TASKMON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SYSTRAY.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\SYNAPTICS\SYNTP\SYNTPLPR.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\SYNAPTICS\SYNTP\SYNTPENH.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\DOCKAPP.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\MICROSOFT HARDWARE\MOUSE\POINT32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ATIPTAXX.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\ADAPTEC SHARED\CREATECD\CREATECD50.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\ADAPTEC\EASY CD CREATOR 5\DIRECTCD\DIRECTCD.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\PRPCUI.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\REAL\UPDATE_OB\REALSCHED.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\BROADJUMP\CLIENT FOUNDATION\CFD.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\SUPPORT.COM\BIN\TGCMD.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\LOADQM.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\QTTASK.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\DHBRWSR.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\MSN MESSENGER\MSNMSGR.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SERVICES.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DDHELP.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\NETWORK ASSOCIATES\PGP FOR WINDOWS 98\PGPTRAY.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WMIEXE.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\ADOBE\ACROBAT 4.0\DISTILLR\ACROTRAY.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\FINEPIXVIEWER\QUICKDCF.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SPOOL32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\DHSVR.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\INTERNET EXPLORER\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\PSTORES.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\WINZIP\WINZIP32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\HIJACKTHIS.EXE

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.iesearch.freeserve.com/iesearch/default.htm
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.compuserve.co.uk/search
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://charter.msn.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.freeserve.com
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch = http://www.compuserve.co.uk/search
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.compuserve.co.uk/search
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {707E6F76-9FFB-4920-A976-EA101271BC25} - C:\TV MEDIA\TvmBho.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {D848A3CA-0BFB-4DE0-BA9E-A57F0CCA1C13} - C:\WINDOWS\DEALHLPR.DLL
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {0000607D-D204-42C7-8E46-216055BF9918} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {447160CD-ECF5-4EA2-8A8A-1F70CA363F85} - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSIBKD.DLL
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHELPER.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: @msdxmLC.dll,-1@1033,&Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSDXM.OCX
O3 - Toolbar: Band Class - {D848A3CA-0BFB-4DE0-BA9E-A57F0CCA1C13} - C:\WINDOWS\DEALHLPR.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: zSearch Bar - {5886A6DC-AAF4-45E9-979A-8E5E6DEE30E7} - C:\ZSEARCH\zSearch.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ScanRegistry] c:\windows\scanregw.exe /autorun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TaskMonitor] c:\windows\taskmon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SystemTray] SysTray.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPLpr] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BayMgr] DockApp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [POINTER] point32.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AtiPTA] Atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CreateCD50] "c:\Program Files\Common Files\Adaptec Shared\CreateCD\CreateCD50.exe" -r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AdaptecDirectCD] "c:\Program Files\Adaptec\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PRPCMonitor] PRPCUI.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynSetup] SynTP.tmp\RunOnce.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NAI_INSTALL_SCAN] "c:\Program Files\Common Files\Network Associates\On Demand Scanner\Scan32\scan32.exe" c:\ /autoscan /autoexit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [REGSHAVE] C:\Program Files\REGSHAVE\REGSHAVE.EXE /AUTORUN
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BJCFD] C:\Program Files\BroadJump\Client Foundation\CFD.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [tgcmd] "C:\Program Files\Support.com\bin\tgcmd.exe" /server /startmonitor /deaf
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LoadQM] loadqm.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SSRunScript] "C:\Program Files\Support.com\Charter\bin\SSRunScript.exe" /script "C:\Program Files\Support.com\Charter\vbs\verifyconnection.vbs" /args //b startupdelay
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\QTTASK.EXE" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SysUpd] C:\WINDOWS\SYSUPD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [zkruv] C:\WINDOWS\zkruv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DealHelperUpdate] C:\WINDOWS\DHUpdt.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DealHelperBrwsr] C:\WINDOWS\dhbrwsr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [zSearch] C:\ZSEARCH\ZSTB.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TV Media] C:\TV MEDIA\TVM.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [PGPSDKSVC] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\PGPsdkServ.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [ATIPOLAB] ati2evxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [McAfeeVirusScanService] c:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\AVSYNMGR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [CVPND] "C:\Program Files\Cisco Systems\VPN Client\cvpnd.exe" start
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "c:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [System Update2] c:\windows\system\services.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [zSearch] C:\ZSEARCH\ZSTB.EXE
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [TV Media] C:\TV MEDIA\TVM.EXE
O4 - HKCU\..\RunServices: [MsnMsgr] "c:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\RunServices: [System Update2] c:\windows\system\services.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\RunServices: [zSearch] C:\ZSEARCH\ZSTB.EXE
O4 - HKCU\..\RunServices: [TV Media] C:\TV MEDIA\TVM.EXE
O4 - Startup: PGPtray.lnk = C:\Program Files\Network Associates\PGP for Windows 98\PGPtray.exe
O4 - Startup: Acrobat Assistant.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 4.0\Distillr\AcroTray.exe
O4 - Startup: Exif Launcher.lnk = C:\Program Files\FinePixViewer\QuickDCF.exe
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.freeserve.com
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {8EF27A70-DD04-11D6-B7F6-00A0C9CD5F8A} - http://www.quikshield.com/qshsetup.exe
O16 - DPF: {02BF25D5-8C17-4B23-BC80-D3488ABDDC6B} (QuickTime Object) - http://www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin.cab
O16 - DPF: {33564D57-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71} - http://download.microsoft.com/download/F/6/E/F6E491A6-77E1-4E20-9F5F-94901338C922/wmv9VCM.CAB
O16 - DPF: {1239CC52-59EF-4DFA-8C61-90FFA846DF7E} (Musicnotes Viewer) - http://www.musicnotes.com/download/mnview95.cab
O16 - DPF: {9600F64D-755F-11D4-A47F-0001023E6D5A} (Shutterfly Picture Upload Plugin) - http://web1.shutterfly.com/downloads/Uploader.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/ansi/iuctl.CAB?38112.6984606481
O16 - DPF: {A8658086-E6AC-4957-BC8E-7D54A7E8A78E} (SassCln Object) - http://www.microsoft.com/security/controls/SassCln.CAB

 

Hi TopNacker,

Before you start please unzip hijackthis.exe to a folder of it´s own. The program creates backups in the folder it is in. In a Temp folder they easily disappear.

Check the following items in HijackThis.
Close all windows except HijackThis and click Fix checked:

R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {707E6F76-9FFB-4920-A976-EA101271BC25} - C:\TV MEDIA\TvmBho.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {D848A3CA-0BFB-4DE0-BA9E-A57F0CCA1C13} - C:\WINDOWS\DEALHLPR.DLL
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {0000607D-D204-42C7-8E46-216055BF9918} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {447160CD-ECF5-4EA2-8A8A-1F70CA363F85} - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSIBKD.DLL

O3 - Toolbar: Band Class - {D848A3CA-0BFB-4DE0-BA9E-A57F0CCA1C13} - C:\WINDOWS\DEALHLPR.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: zSearch Bar - {5886A6DC-AAF4-45E9-979A-8E5E6DEE30E7} - C:\ZSEARCH\zSearch.dll

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SysUpd] C:\WINDOWS\SYSUPD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [zkruv] C:\WINDOWS\zkruv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DealHelperUpdate] C:\WINDOWS\DHUpdt.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DealHelperBrwsr] C:\WINDOWS\dhbrwsr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [zSearch] C:\ZSEARCH\ZSTB.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TV Media] C:\TV MEDIA\TVM.EXE

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [System Update2] c:\windows\system\services.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [zSearch] C:\ZSEARCH\ZSTB.EXE
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [TV Media] C:\TV MEDIA\TVM.EXE

O4 - HKCU\..\RunServices: [System Update2] c:\windows\system\services.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\RunServices: [zSearch] C:\ZSEARCH\ZSTB.EXE
O4 - HKCU\..\RunServices: [TV Media] C:\TV MEDIA\TVM.EXE

Then reboot into safe mode and delete:
C:\TV MEDIA <= entire folder
C:\ZSEARCH <= entire folder
C:\WINDOWS\SYSUPD.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\zkruv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\DHUpdt.exe
C:\WINDOWS\dhbrwsr.exe

Then do an online virusscan, you will find several listed here: http://www.wilders.org/free_services_m.htm

Regards,

Pieter