i-search taken over IE and i can't remove it!!!!

I have internet explorer and every time i start up my PC and then load internet explorer I get a full screen page that takes over from the normal window. I also get this stupid search toolbar appear and its ruining my PC!!!

I have tried to remove it with ad aware 6 and hijackthis but it always comes back once i've rebooted my PC,

I've looked at other posts about this but none of them get rid of it, so could someone guide me through this, PLEASE!!!!

Here is my hijackthis log...

Logfile of HijackThis v1.98.2
Scan saved at 22:17:18, on 26/09/2004
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:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXPService.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\NORTON~1\GHOSTS~2.EXE
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\AdvTools\NPROTECT.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\MsPMSPSv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb01.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\CTHELPER.EXE
C:\Program Files\Symantec\Norton Ghost 2003\GhostStartTrayApp.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\SBLive\RemoteCenter\Rc\RcMan.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\WCESCOMM.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\WCESMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\SBLive\RemoteCenter\Rc\EAX.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\SBLive\RemoteCenter\Center\RCenter.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\ShareDLL\MEDIADET.EXE
C:\Program Files\Creative\SBLive\RemoteCenter\Rc\OSDMenu.EXE
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OUTLOOK.EXE
F:\Programs\hijackthis\HijackThis.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer,SearchURL = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.co.uk/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,SearchURL = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch = about:blank
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Setup.Setup1 - {2E65A557-173C-4DE9-860B-28FC5CACA542} - C:\DOCUME~1\ALLUSE~1\APPLIC~1\Setup\Setup.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPDJ Taskbar Utility] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb01.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WINDVDPatch] CTHELPER.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdReg] C:\WINDOWS\UpdReg.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Jet Detection] "C:\Program Files\Creative\SBLive\PROGRAM\ADGJDet.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTStartup] C:\Program Files\Creative\Splash Screen\CTEaxSpl.EXE /run
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [GhostStartTrayApp] C:\Program Files\Symantec\Norton Ghost 2003\GhostStartTrayApp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccRegVfy] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccRegVfy.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Advanced Tools Check] C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\AdvTools\ADVCHK.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [bdshpaywax] C:\WINDOWS\System32\sfgqre.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VVSN] C:\Program Files\VVSN\VVSN.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nortonupdate] nortonuptdate.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SysSearch] C:/WINDOWS/REGEDIT.EXE -s C:/WINDOWS/sysreg.reg
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [RemoteCenter] C:\Program Files\Creative\SBLive\RemoteCenter\Rc\RcMan.EXE
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [STYLEXP] C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXP.exe -Hide
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [monitor] monitor.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [H/PC Connection Agent] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\WCESCOMM.EXE"
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Create Mobile Favorite - {2EAF5BB1-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\inetrepl.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {2EAF5BB2-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\inetrepl.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Create Mobile Favorite... - {2EAF5BB2-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\inetrepl.dll
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\MSMSGS.EXE
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\MSMSGS.EXE
O16 - DPF: {00B71CFB-6864-4346-A978-C0A14556272C} (Checkers Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/msgrchkr.cab
O16 - DPF: {39B0684F-D7BF-4743-B050-FDC3F48F7E3B} (FilePlanet Download Control Class) - http://www.fileplanet.com/fpdlmgr/cabs/FPDC_1_0_0_41.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v5consumer/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1095115795515
O16 - DPF: {8E0D4DE5-3180-4024-A327-4DFAD1796A8D} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/MessengerStatsClient.cab
O18 - Protocol hijack: mhtml -


thanks for your help!!,

Alex.

Hi Regarding your screen problem, try the following software CWshredder/Spybot.

Also, try to run the online AntiVirus software from http://www.pestscan.com/Scan.asp it might give you a clue.

You can

Hi I had a similar problem recently where the home page kept setting itself to 'about:blank' then loaded up with some search page like you mention... and a popup message saying spyware may have affected my pc. CWShredder sorted out the problem. If you do a search in Google for "about:blank" and "CWShredder" you should find a site to download it for free. Very easy instructions to use.

Matt

Hi Alex.

You might want to print these instructions for reference, as you will be off the internet while using HijackThis.

You have a coolwebsearch infection, among other things. Please download CWShredder written by Merijn Bellekom from Here

Press "Check for Update" and download any new updates available.

Close ALL browser windows or it may not work! Unzip it to a convenient location such as your Desktop and select "Fix" (do not just Scan). It will automatically remove the infections.

Then....

Logoff your internet connection. Run HijackThis, close all browsers and any other windows, click scan, place a checkmark next to the following items. Click "fix checked". It is OK if some of these items are not listed.

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer,SearchURL = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,SearchURL = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch = about:blank
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.i--search.com/ie/
O2 - BHO: Setup.Setup1 - {2E65A557-173C-4DE9-860B-28FC5CACA542} - C:\DOCUME~1\ALLUSE~1\APPLIC~1\Setup\Setup.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [bdshpaywax] C:\WINDOWS\System32\sfgqre.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VVSN] C:\Program Files\VVSN\VVSN.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nortonupdate] nortonuptdate.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SysSearch] C:/WINDOWS/REGEDIT.EXE -s C:/WINDOWS/sysreg.reg
O18 - Protocol hijack: mhtml -

These are optional items not needed at startup. It's OK to fix these too:

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot

Then....

Boot into Safe Mode. Reboot your computer, start tapping F8 when it first starts booting, select Safe Mode.

Make sure your computer is configured to show all files and folders.
Click Start.
Open My Computer.
Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options.
Select the View Tab. Under the Hidden Files and Folders heading select Show Hidden Files and Folders.
Uncheck the Hide Protected Operating System Files (recommended) option.
Click Yes to confirm.
Click OK.

Delete the following files:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\sfgqre.exe
nortonuptdate.dll
C:/WINDOWS/sysreg.reg

Delete the following folders:

C:\DOCUME~1\ALLUSE~1\APPLIC~1\Setup\
C:\Program Files\VVSN\

Reboot normally.

Perform a couple of online virus scans. Choose at least two of the following sites listed.

Trend Micro Housecall
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Panda Active Scan
www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/activescan

Bitdefender
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/licence.php

Post any results from the scans.

Post a fresh HijackThis log.

Tom

Tom MyBoy You RULE!

cheers, that seems to have cleared everything up!

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.co.uk/
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: TGTSoft Explorer Toolbar Changer - {C333CF63-767F-4831-94AC-E683D962C63C} - C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\TGT_BHO.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPDJ Taskbar Utility] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb01.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WINDVDPatch] CTHELPER.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdReg] C:\WINDOWS\UpdReg.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Jet Detection] "C:\Program Files\Creative\SBLive\PROGRAM\ADGJDet.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTStartup] C:\Program Files\Creative\Splash Screen\CTEaxSpl.EXE /run
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [GhostStartTrayApp] C:\Program Files\Symantec\Norton Ghost 2003\GhostStartTrayApp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccRegVfy] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccRegVfy.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Advanced Tools Check] C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\AdvTools\ADVCHK.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [RemoteCenter] C:\Program Files\Creative\SBLive\RemoteCenter\Rc\RcMan.EXE
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [monitor] monitor.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [H/PC Connection Agent] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\WCESCOMM.EXE"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [STYLEXP] C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXP.exe -Hide
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Create Mobile Favorite - {2EAF5BB1-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\inetrepl.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {2EAF5BB2-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\inetrepl.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Create Mobile Favorite... - {2EAF5BB2-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\inetrepl.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
O16 - DPF: ppctlcab - http://69.44.122.156/scanner/ppctlcab.cab
O16 - DPF: {00B71CFB-6864-4346-A978-C0A14556272C} (Checkers Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/msgrchkr.cab
O16 - DPF: {2FC9A21E-2069-4E47-8235-36318989DB13} (PPSDKActiveXScanner.MainScreen) - http://69.44.122.156/scanner/axscanner.cab
O16 - DPF: {39B0684F-D7BF-4743-B050-FDC3F48F7E3B} (FilePlanet Download Control Class) - http://www.fileplanet.com/fpdlmgr/cabs/FPDC_1_0_0_41.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v5consumer/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1095115795515
O16 - DPF: {8E0D4DE5-3180-4024-A327-4DFAD1796A8D} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/MessengerStatsClient.cab
O16 - DPF: {9A9307A0-7DA4-4DAF-B042-5009F29E09E1} (ActiveScan Installer Class) - http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/as5/asinst.cab

is there anything in this list that i can get rid of or should i just leave it all, i have been wondering what line this is for:

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [monitor] monitor.exe

thanks bud!

Alex. PS i have installed service pack 2 for XP and so now I hav a good firewall, is there anything else i should implement to prevent this I-search hell from returning?

thanks again,

Alex.

Can you go to Start > Search > enter "monitor.exe" without the quotes. Right click the file and post the file's properties and version info?

Also once you know where the file is located, browse here and submit the file for an antivirus scan:

Single file online virus scanner

http://www.kaspersky.com/scanforvirus.html

Post your results please.

Tom

hey tom, well i searched the drive and it didn't find any record of the file,

a few months ago i used to get a window pop up when i started my pc that said the file was missing and was required for s program then one day this never popped up again, maybe this line isn't reqired any longer.

i'm sure i'd seen it appear in my task bar processes recently, perhaps the scans and fixes i've been performing of late removed it and it was maybe a spyware program or summat?

cheers, let my know what you think,

Al.

I would leave it for now. There seems to be very little information regarding this entry. If you could find it, you could rename it to monitor.old and see if you notice any difference.

In light of the recent infections, let's purge system restore.

Disable System Restore XP:

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 Create a new Restore Point.
6 Click OK.

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

SpywareBlaster will block bad ActiveX and malevolent cookies. 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

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://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Please take a minute to read: So how did I get infected in the first place?
http://computercops.biz/postlite7736-.html

Tom