about:blank hijacked - HJT log included

I have been having a problem with this computer being hijacked. I have cleaned it several times using the procedures in the sticky post by edwinbrains as well as suggestions based on other posts.

I have cleaned the R1 and R0 entries, the BHO (no file) entry and the two O18 filter entries numerous times and they keep re-appearing.

These have been done in safe mode with scans by adaware, spybot, HJT and several antivirus products.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Here is the HJT log:
***************************
Logfile of HijackThis v1.98.2
Scan saved at 4:36:13 PM, on 10/22/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

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\System32\PackethSvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\acsd.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccProxy.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Compaq\Compaq Advisor\bin\compaq-rba.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\wanmpsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Center\SymWSC.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Smtray.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
C:\Program Files\Adaptec\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\hpcoretech\hpcmpmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\hpcoretech\comp\hptskmgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\HPZipm12.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\mmc.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\Hijackthis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = file://C:\DOCUME~1\RICKEA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\sp.html
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = file://C:\DOCUME~1\RICKEA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\sp.html
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = file://C:\DOCUME~1\RICKEA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\sp.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = file://C:\DOCUME~1\RICKEA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\sp.html
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = file://C:\DOCUME~1\RICKEA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\sp.html
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = file://C:\DOCUME~1\RICKEA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\sp.html
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,HomeOldSP = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,HomeOldSP = about:blank
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {442350D2-AA4F-4D16-9DD7-1C1D2A5A36DD} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\och.dll
O2 - BHO: Web assistant - {9ECB9560-04F9-4bbc-943D-298DDF1699E1} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AdBlocking\NISShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Web assistant - {0B53EAC3-8D69-4b9e-9B19-A37C9A5676A7} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AdBlocking\NISShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [URLLSTCK.exe] C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\UrlLstCk.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [srmclean] C:\Cpqs\Scom\srmclean.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Smapp] Smtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] "C:\Program Files\HP\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AdaptecDirectCD] "C:\Program Files\Adaptec\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Component Manager] "C:\Program Files\HP\hpcoretech\hpcmpmgr.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UserFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -u
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Symantec NetDriver Monitor] C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\LIVEUP~1\SNDMon.EXE
O4 - Startup: PowerReg Scheduler V3.exe
O4 - Global Startup: HP Digital Imaging Monitor.lnk = C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Quicken Scheduled Updates.lnk = C:\Program Files\quickenw\bagent.exe
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.insightbb.com
O16 - DPF: {74D05D43-3236-11D4-BDCD-00C04F9A3B61} (HouseCall Control) - http://a840.g.akamai.net/7/840/537/2004061001/housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/xscan53.cab
O16 - DPF: {CE28D5D2-60CF-4C7D-9FE8-0F47A3308078} (ActiveDataInfo Class) - https://www-secure.symantec.com/techsupp/activedata/SymAData.cab
O16 - DPF: {E77C0D62-882A-456F-AD8F-7C6C9569B8C7} (ActiveDataObj Class) - https://www-secure.symantec.com/techsupp/activedata/ActiveData.cab
O18 - Protocol: cetihpz - {CF184AD3-CDCB-4168-A3F7-8E447D129300} - C:\Program Files\HP\hpcoretech\comp\hpuiprot.dll
O18 - Filter: text/html - {97CA414A-38EE-477C-88D0-A1A6C751DFAC} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\och.dll
O18 - Filter: text/plain - {97CA414A-38EE-477C-88D0-A1A6C751DFAC} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\och.dll


****************************************
Again,
Thanks!
Rick

Hi rick,

Please download CWShredder from Here Save it to a convenient location such as your Desktop.

Do not run it yet!!!

Download Backdoor.Agent.B Removal Tool from Symantec:

http://securityresponse.symantec.co...moval.tool.html

Please follow all the instructions provided by Symantec.

Please save the log produced by the removal tool.

Reboot

Run CWShredder:

Close ALL browser windows or it may not work! Run CWShredder and select "Fix" (do not just Scan). It will automatically remove the infections.

Reboot one final time and post a fresh HijackThis log, along with the log from Symantec's removal tool.

Tom

Tom,

Thanks for the help. Sorry it took so long to get back to checking for your response. (Kids evening activities and work, you know.)

I have completed the steps you requested. One issue, when starting the Backdoor removal tool, it clashed with my Norton Antivirus on one of the files, Norton would not let it have access to it because it had the backdoor virus.

Bottom line I had to restart the Backdoor removal tool. Thus no log for the files, threads, etc found the first time around since I did not copy it and it was overwritten. However, there were (I think) 13 threads, 8 files and about 35 register entries 'deleted'.

Another thing that has started is that the svchost.exe file is getting a DEP violation when I first start up and is being stopped by windows.

Below is the last log from the removal tool followed by the HJT log.

*********
Symantec Backdoor.Agent.B Removal Tool 1.0.1.2


C:\System Volume Information: (not scanned)
Backdoor.Agent.B has not been found on your computer.
**********

**********
Logfile of HijackThis v1.98.2
Scan saved at 11:17:37 PM, on 10/26/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

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\System32\PackethSvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\acsd.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccProxy.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Compaq\Compaq Advisor\bin\compaq-rba.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\wanmpsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Center\SymWSC.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Smtray.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
C:\Program Files\Adaptec\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\hpcoretech\hpcmpmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\hpcoretech\comp\hptskmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Hijackthis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Web assistant - {9ECB9560-04F9-4bbc-943D-298DDF1699E1} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AdBlocking\NISShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Web assistant - {0B53EAC3-8D69-4b9e-9B19-A37C9A5676A7} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AdBlocking\NISShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [URLLSTCK.exe] C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\UrlLstCk.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [srmclean] C:\Cpqs\Scom\srmclean.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Smapp] Smtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] "C:\Program Files\HP\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AdaptecDirectCD] "C:\Program Files\Adaptec\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Component Manager] "C:\Program Files\HP\hpcoretech\hpcmpmgr.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Symantec NetDriver Monitor] C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\LIVEUP~1\SNDMon.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: HP Digital Imaging Monitor.lnk = C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Quicken Scheduled Updates.lnk = C:\Program Files\quickenw\bagent.exe
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.insightbb.com
O16 - DPF: {74D05D43-3236-11D4-BDCD-00C04F9A3B61} (HouseCall Control) - http://a840.g.akamai.net/7/840/537/2004061001/housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/xscan53.cab
O16 - DPF: {CE28D5D2-60CF-4C7D-9FE8-0F47A3308078} (ActiveDataInfo Class) - https://www-secure.symantec.com/techsupp/activedata/SymAData.cab
O16 - DPF: {E77C0D62-882A-456F-AD8F-7C6C9569B8C7} (ActiveDataObj Class) - https://www-secure.symantec.com/techsupp/activedata/ActiveData.cab
O18 - Protocol: cetihpz - {CF184AD3-CDCB-4168-A3F7-8E447D129300} - C:\Program Files\HP\hpcoretech\comp\hpuiprot.dll

********

I can see where I still have the 'about.blank' however, the HJT log shows things a little different now.


Again, Thanks for your help!

Cheers!
Rick

Tom,

Also, CWSHREDDER found three instances that were deleted.

I have run also on my other computers, none of these appear to be infected.

Thanks!
Rick

Rick, your last log is clean. Great work!!!

HijackThis resets your home page to about:blank, this is normal. You can reset your home page manually by opening IE > Tools Internet Options.

Thanks for the feedback on the Backdoor.Agent.B Removal Tool!

If you reset System Restore following Symantecs instructions, you can skip this step...

Because you were infected, backups of the malware may be in System Restore.

1 Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2 Click the System Restore tab.
3 Check the "Turn off System Restore" or "Turn off System Restore on all drives" check box.
4 Click Apply
5 this will delete all existing restore points. Click Yes to do this.
6 Click OK.

Reboot

1 Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2 Click the System Restore tab.
3 Uncheck the "Turn off System Restore" or "Turn off System Restore on all drives" check box.
4 Click Apply
5 Click OK.

Create a new Restore Point:

Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore > tick Create a Restore Point > Next > enter a name for the Restore Point Creation (Today, Removed Spyware, etc.) > Create > Close.

The date and time will automatically be added.

Then....

These are tools that will help keep you from getting infected again:

SpywareBlaster prevents the installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers, and other potentially unwanted pests. Blocks spyware/tracking cookies in Internet Explorer and Mozilla/Firefox. Restricts the actions of potentially dangerous sites in InternetExplorer.

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

SpywareGuard provides a real-time protection solution against spyware that is a great addition to SpywareBlaster's protection method.

http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareguard.html

IE-SPYAD puts over 4000 sites in your restricted zone so you'll be protected when you visit innocent-looking sites that aren't actually innocent at all.

http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm#IESPYAD

MVPS Hosts file replaces your current HOSTS file with one containing well know ad sites etc. Basically, this prevents your computer from connecting to those sites by redirecting them to 127.0.0.1 which is your local computer

http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

All are very small free programs. Occasionally check for updates.

Check for updates for Windows and Internet Explorer every week or so. Download each critical update one by one, rebooting when necessary.. Repeat this until you get the message "no critical updates available" http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Please take a minute to read: So how did I get infected in the first place?

http://forums.net-integration.net/i...?showtopic=3051

Tom

Tom,

Thanks for your help. I'll get to this tonight. No one can use the computer until then, since, I turned off their IDs.

You helped me with another machine back in June. You do good work!

Thanks, again!
Rick

You are welcome, pleasure working with you!

Tom