[Neiv]

I picked up a nasty virus or worm somewhere and seemingly cannot dislodge it. The symptoms are:

1. Two fake antivirus programs (XP Security 2011 and MS Tool Remover) constantly executed and attempted to scan.
2. All desktop icons have disappeared.
3. Start menu and taskbar are both visible, but all shortcuts on taskbar have disappeared.
4. Cannot right click desktop to access shortcut menu.
5. The desktop folder (accessed through explorer) changes attributes to hidden (as did all sub-folders).
6. All items in "Start -> All Programs" have disappeared.

Actions I've taken:
1. Un-hid the desktop folder and created a taskbar shortcut to the desktop so that I can see desktop items by launching the folder shortcut.
2. Download unhide.exe and un-hid Start menu items. However, many (most) of the items are still blank folders
3. Scanned computer several times in SafeMode with updated versions of Malwarebytes, SUPERAntiSpyware, and STOPzilla--each of them has turned up different malware, which I removed. But the Desktop and Start menu issue persists and when I access the internet to find solutions the fake antivirus programs randomly return. When I rescan the computer using the three programs above, they keep finding other trojans that I have to remove. It's like this thing is laying eggs which mutate each successive generation.

I'm on Windows XP, ver 202, SP 3. Here is my HijackThis log:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 8:44:49 AM, on 5/9/2011
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Safe mode with network support

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\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\STOPzilla!\STOPzilla.exe
C:\Program Files\STOPzilla!\SZOptions.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\iS3\Anti-Spyware\SZScanner.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\OUTLOOK.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\WINWORD.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\TortoiseSVN\bin\TSVNCache.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HiJackThis\HiJackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.crawler.c...w=%s&tbid=60347
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft....k/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft....k/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft....k/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.startsearcher.com
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {472734EA-242A-422b-ADF8-83D1E48CC825} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: Search Toolbar - {9D425283-D487-4337-BAB6-AB8354A81457} - C:\Program Files\Search Toolbar\SearchToolbar.dll
O2 - BHO: Updater For Simppull Toolbar - {C4B8BAB4-1667-11DF-A242-BA9455D89593} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Java™ Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: STOPzilla Browser Helper Object - {E3215F20-3212-11D6-9F8B-00D0B743919D} - C:\Program Files\STOPzilla!\SZIEBHO.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {E4E6BF2A-1667-11DF-A01F-1F9655D89593} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {CCC7A320-B3CA-4199-B1A6-9F516DD69829} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: Search Toolbar - {9D425283-D487-4337-BAB6-AB8354A81457} - C:\Program Files\Search Toolbar\SearchToolbar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (reboot)] "C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.exe" /runcleanupscript
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
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
O9 - Extra button: PDFill PDF Editor - {FB858B22-55E2-413f-87F5-30ADC5552151} - C:\Program Files\PlotSoft\PDFill\DownloadPDF.exe
O16 - DPF: {E2883E8F-472F-4FB0-9522-AC9BF37916A7} - http://platformdl.ad...Plus/1.6/gp.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{A331D71E-B4B1-42B9-A504-DEADB78C5160}: NameServer = 205.171.3.25,205.171.2.25
O20 - Winlogon Notify: !SASWinLogon - C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SASWINLO.DLL
O20 - Winlogon Notify: TPSvc - TPSvc.dll (file missing)
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: Avira AntiVir Scheduler (AntiVirSchedulerService) - Avira GmbH - C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\sched.exe
O23 - Service: Avira AntiVir Guard (AntiVirService) - Avira GmbH - C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\avguard.exe
O23 - Service: STOPzilla Service (szserver) - iS3, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\iS3\Anti-Spyware\SZServer.exe

--
End of file - 4775 bytes

Thanks for any help you can provide.

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Hello Neiv and welcome to G2G!

My nick is maliprog and I'll will be your technical support on this issue. Before we start please read my notes carefully:

NOTE:

• Malware removal is NOT instantaneous, most infections require several courses of action to completely eradicate.
• Absence of symptoms does not always mean the computer is clean
• Kindly follow my instructions in the order posted. Order is crucial in cleaning process.
• Please DO NOT run any scans or fix on your own without my direction.
• Please read all of my response through at least once before attempting to follow the procedures described.
• If there's anything you don't understand or isn't totally clear, please come back to me for clarification.
• Please do not attach any log files to your replies unless I specifically ask you. Instead please copy and paste so as to include the log in your reply.
• You must reply within 3 days or your topic will be closed

Try to do these scans in Normal mode. If you fail please do it in Safe mode.

Step 1

Until we remove this malware please start Internet Explorer to download tools like this:

• Go to Start then Run...
• Type iexplore.exe -extoff and press OK button

Step 2

We need to disable malware processes on your system first

• Download TheKiller to your Desktop
• Note that TheKiller is renamed as explorer.exe
• Run it by double click
• Press OK button after program finish
• Do not restart your system after this step

NOTE: If malware blocks TheKiller from running please try to run it several more times


Step 3

Download OTL to your Desktop

• Double click on the icon to run it (If running Vista or Windows 7, right click on it and select "Run as an Administrator")
  . Make sure all other windows are closed and to let it run uninterrupted.
  
• Under the Custom Scan box paste this in

netsvcs
%SYSTEMDRIVE%\*.exe
/md5start
explorer.exe
winlogon.exe
Userinit.exe
svchost.exe
/md5stop
%systemroot%\*. /mp /s
hklm\software\clients\startmenuinternet|command /rs
CREATERESTOREPOINT

• Click the Quick Scan button. Do not change any settings unless otherwise told to do so. The scan wont take long.
  
• When the scan completes, it will open two notepad windows. OTL.Txt and Extras.Txt. These are saved in the same location as OTL.
• Please copy (Edit->Select All, Edit->Copy) the contents of these files, one at a time, and post them if you need to start a new topic.

Step 4

Please don't forget to include these items in your reply:

• OTL log
• OTL Extras log

It would be helpful if you could post each log in separate post

[maliprog]

Hello Neiv and welcome to G2G!

My nick is maliprog and I'll will be your technical support on this issue. Before we start please read my notes carefully:

NOTE:

• Malware removal is NOT instantaneous, most infections require several courses of action to completely eradicate.
• Absence of symptoms does not always mean the computer is clean
• Kindly follow my instructions in the order posted. Order is crucial in cleaning process.
• Please DO NOT run any scans or fix on your own without my direction.
• Please read all of my response through at least once before attempting to follow the procedures described.
• If there's anything you don't understand or isn't totally clear, please come back to me for clarification.
• Please do not attach any log files to your replies unless I specifically ask you. Instead please copy and paste so as to include the log in your reply.
• You must reply within 3 days or your topic will be closed

Try to do these scans in Normal mode. If you fail please do it in Safe mode.

Step 1

Until we remove this malware please start Internet Explorer to download tools like this:

• Go to Start then Run...
• Type iexplore.exe -extoff and press OK button

Step 2

We need to disable malware processes on your system first

• Download TheKiller to your Desktop
• Note that TheKiller is renamed as explorer.exe
• Run it by double click
• Press OK button after program finish
• Do not restart your system after this step

NOTE: If malware blocks TheKiller from running please try to run it several more times


Step 3

Download OTL to your Desktop

• Double click on the icon to run it (If running Vista or Windows 7, right click on it and select "Run as an Administrator")
  . Make sure all other windows are closed and to let it run uninterrupted.
  
• Under the Custom Scan box paste this in

netsvcs
%SYSTEMDRIVE%\*.exe
/md5start
explorer.exe
winlogon.exe
Userinit.exe
svchost.exe
/md5stop
%systemroot%\*. /mp /s
hklm\software\clients\startmenuinternet|command /rs
CREATERESTOREPOINT

• Click the Quick Scan button. Do not change any settings unless otherwise told to do so. The scan wont take long.
  
• When the scan completes, it will open two notepad windows. OTL.Txt and Extras.Txt. These are saved in the same location as OTL.
• Please copy (Edit->Select All, Edit->Copy) the contents of these files, one at a time, and post them if you need to start a new topic.

Step 4

Please don't forget to include these items in your reply:

• OTL log
• OTL Extras log

It would be helpful if you could post each log in separate post

[maliprog]

Due to lack of feedback, this topic has been closed.

If you need this topic reopened, please contact a staff member. This applies only to the original topic starter. Everyone else please begin a New Topic.