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Persistent Browser Redirect and Pop-ups

1 min read

This thread's last reply is from February 3, 2010, 9:06 AM UTC. Software, malware, and removal-tool advice below may be out of date — treat specific steps and download links with caution.

ronfarm
January 28, 2010, 4:31 PM UTC
Hello. I'm running mostly Firefox but it occurs with IE as well. The symptoms are:

1. Browser is slower to start and is using unnecessary amounts of memory.
2. By clicking the link provided in a search result (e.g. "cnn.com"), the browser hangs a moment then redirects to an unrelated page. NOTE: I did notice in the lower left corner, after clicking the link, the actual link followed is in this format ("a2d.cnn.com") where "a2d" is just a random letter/number combo.
3. Pop ups occurring when they shouldn't.

I have AVG (free) on my system, but have also run Trendmicro housecall, Spybot S&D, and Malwarebytes. Spybot found 3 viruses on the first run, it appeared clean for about an hour, then it started again but now none of these show any infection at all.

btw - this isn't a personal machine but is used for a nonprofit association for elderly people. Hopefully it doesn't prevent help.

Thanks.
======================
My Hijack this log:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 11:17:37 AM, on 1/28/2010
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Normal

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:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgchsvx.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgrsx.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgcsrvx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgwdsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$GCSCA\Binn\sqlservr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxsrvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgnsx.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\80\Tools\Binn\sqlmangr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\PSIService.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgtray.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\OUTLOOK.EXE
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgcsrvx.exe
C:\Program Files\MIP\Progs\NpsAC32.exe
C:\Program Files\MIP\Progs\NpsAPr32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = about:blank
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = about:blank
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = about:blank
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = about:blank
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch = about:blank
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} -

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter -

{3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgssie.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program

Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: TwcToolbarBhoApp Class - {AA1F9DDB-E605-4ba6-81D4-E427DEE012AD} -

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TwcToolbarBho.dll (disabled by BHODemon)
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program

files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} -

C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\3.1.807.1746\swg.dll (disabled by

BHODemon)
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program

files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O3 - Toolbar: AVG Security Toolbar - {CCC7A320-B3CA-4199-B1A6-9F516DD69829} -

C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\Toolbar\IEToolbar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Persistence] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG9_TRAY] C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG9\avgtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunOnce: [SpybotDeletingA3858] command.com /c del

"C:\WINDOWS\SchedLgU.Txt"
O4 - HKLM\..\RunOnce: [SpybotDeletingC7529] cmd.exe /c del "C:\WINDOWS\SchedLgU.Txt"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\RunOnce: [SpybotDeletingB7986] command.com /c del

"C:\WINDOWS\SchedLgU.Txt"
O4 - HKCU\..\RunOnce: [SpybotDeletingD7732] cmd.exe /c del "C:\WINDOWS\SchedLgU.Txt"
O4 - Global Startup: Service Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL

Server\80\Tools\Binn\sqlmangr.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel -

res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Open with WordPerfect - C:\Program Files\WordPerfect

Office X3\Programs\WPLauncher.hta
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program

Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501}

- C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} -

C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\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
O16 - DPF: {0CCA191D-13A6-4E29-B746-314DEE697D83} (Facebook Photo Uploader 5 Control)

- http://upload.facebook.com/controls/2008.10.10_v5.5.8/FacebookPhotoUploader5.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) -

http://www.update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.c

ab?1193096938046
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) -

http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site

.cab?1193100292406
O16 - DPF: {E06E2E99-0AA1-11D4-ABA6-0060082AA75C} (GpcContainer Class) -

https://sagesoftwareevents.webex.com/client/T25L/webex/ieatgpc.cab
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - C:\Program

Files\AVG\AVG9\avgpp.dll
O18 - Protocol: qvp - {4BA78E3D-CA25-4BFF-B8F0-8A3359E4B520} -

C:\PROGRA~1\QlikView\QVPROT~1\Qvp.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: avgrsstarter - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\avgrsstx.dll
O23 - Service: AVG Free WatchDog (avg9wd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\Program

Files\AVG\AVG9\avgwdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: ProtexisLicensing - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\PSIService.exe

--
End of file - 6239 bytes


==============================================
Uninstall List:
Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 11:17:37 AM, on 1/28/2010
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Normal

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:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgchsvx.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgrsx.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgcsrvx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgwdsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$GCSCA\Binn\sqlservr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxsrvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgnsx.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\80\Tools\Binn\sqlmangr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\PSIService.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgtray.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\OUTLOOK.EXE
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgcsrvx.exe
C:\Program Files\MIP\Progs\NpsAC32.exe
C:\Program Files\MIP\Progs\NpsAPr32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = about:blank
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = about:blank
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = about:blank
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = about:blank
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch = about:blank
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} -

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter -

{3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgssie.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program

Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: TwcToolbarBhoApp Class - {AA1F9DDB-E605-4ba6-81D4-E427DEE012AD} -

C:\WINDOWS\system32\TwcToolbarBho.dll (disabled by BHODemon)
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program

files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} -

C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\3.1.807.1746\swg.dll (disabled by

BHODemon)
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program

files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O3 - Toolbar: AVG Security Toolbar - {CCC7A320-B3CA-4199-B1A6-9F516DD69829} -

C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\Toolbar\IEToolbar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Persistence] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG9_TRAY] C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG9\avgtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunOnce: [SpybotDeletingA3858] command.com /c del

"C:\WINDOWS\SchedLgU.Txt"
O4 - HKLM\..\RunOnce: [SpybotDeletingC7529] cmd.exe /c del "C:\WINDOWS\SchedLgU.Txt"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\RunOnce: [SpybotDeletingB7986] command.com /c del

"C:\WINDOWS\SchedLgU.Txt"
O4 - HKCU\..\RunOnce: [SpybotDeletingD7732] cmd.exe /c del "C:\WINDOWS\SchedLgU.Txt"
O4 - Global Startup: Service Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL

Server\80\Tools\Binn\sqlmangr.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel -

res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Open with WordPerfect - C:\Program Files\WordPerfect

Office X3\Programs\WPLauncher.hta
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program

Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501}

- C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} -

C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\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
O16 - DPF: {0CCA191D-13A6-4E29-B746-314DEE697D83} (Facebook Photo Uploader 5 Control)

- http://upload.facebook.com/controls/2008.10.10_v5.5.8/FacebookPhotoUploader5.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) -

http://www.update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.c

ab?1193096938046
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) -

http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site

.cab?1193100292406
O16 - DPF: {E06E2E99-0AA1-11D4-ABA6-0060082AA75C} (GpcContainer Class) -

https://sagesoftwareevents.webex.com/client/T25L/webex/ieatgpc.cab
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - C:\Program

Files\AVG\AVG9\avgpp.dll
O18 - Protocol: qvp - {4BA78E3D-CA25-4BFF-B8F0-8A3359E4B520} -

C:\PROGRA~1\QlikView\QVPROT~1\Qvp.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: avgrsstarter - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\avgrsstx.dll
O23 - Service: AVG Free WatchDog (avg9wd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\Program

Files\AVG\AVG9\avgwdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: ProtexisLicensing - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\PSIService.exe

--
End of file - 6239 bytes



Any help would be greatly appreciated.
MWR 3 day Mod MRU Undergrad
February 1, 2010, 2:53 AM UTC
[3days:3c6wrcfx][/3days:3c6wrcfx]
Gary R Administrator
February 3, 2010, 9:06 AM UTC
btw - this isn't a personal machine but is used for a nonprofit association for elderly people. Hopefully it doesn't prevent help.


I'm sorry, but this means we class your computer as a business machine.

May I draw your attention to THIS topic, which you should have read before posting for help.

The section Posting for help for business machines explains why we do not offer help for such computers.

I'm sorry, we can't help you.

This topic is now closed