Question

"System Alert: Spyware Detected" along with "System Intrusion Detected" pop ups in tray - SpywareStrike loads itself

Asked by: ddemakes

A "System Alert: Spyware Detected" box of text pops up from a little yellow yield sign in the tray.  The yellow icon has an exclamation point on it.  The text reads:
“System Alert: Spyware Detected
System has detected 4 active spyware applications that may cause you computer to crash and restart, slow it to a crawl…”(its gone away currently so I can’t continue to type it out.  But you get the gist.)

Also a “System Intrusion Detected" box of text pops up from the tray.  The icon for it is a  red circle with a white x through it.  The icon alternates between the red circle to the Windows update logo.  The text reads:
“System Instrusion Detected! (notice typo on “Intrusion”)
The system will now download and install most efficient antimalware program to prevent data loss and you private information theft. Click here to protect you computer from the biggest malware threats.”

A browser popup reads:
“Security Configuration
Attention?  Win32.HS.m2 Spyware has just overcome default security software on Your PC.  Your personal information and pc safety is in critical danger. To clear Your PC and get rid of dangerous virus you need paid security system patch called ” AD-PROJECT". By clicking ”Continue” You will be taken to official developer’s page, where you may download the patch.”

SpywareStrike loads itself.
An HTML link to SpySherrif loads when the yellow yield sign is clicked.


Other popups include porn and casino ads.

Here is the HJT log:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 11:21:10 PM, on 1/7/2006
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\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\acs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\mssearchnet.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ICO.EXE
C:\Program Files\Apoint\Apoint.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\MSMSGS.EXE
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\Program Files\Apoint\Apvfb.exe
C:\Program Files\Apoint\Apntex.exe
C:\Program Files\D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G\AirPlus.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\PC Tools AntiVirus\PCTAV.exe
C:\Program Files\PC Tools AntiVirus\ScanningProcess.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\WINWORD.EXE
C:\Program Files\SpywareStrike\SpywareStrike.exe
C:\Program Files\SpywareStrike\SpywareStrike.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\DARREL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\Temporary Directory 1 for hijackthis[1].zip\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com/
O2 - BHO: HomepageBHO - {27150f81-0877-42e9-af13-55e5a3439a26} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\hp1A44.tmp
O2 - BHO: CM BHO - {6379A99A-9102-446C-A837-0623E1810D75} - C:\Program Files\Crystalys media\cm.dll
O3 - Toolbar: CM Band - {159C2E51-9823-11D2-8DDC-D84A1B4ACD4D} - (no file)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Mouse Suite 98 Daemon] ICO.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Apoint] C:\Program Files\Apoint\Apoint.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PCTAVApp] "C:\Program Files\PC Tools AntiVirus\PCTAV.exe" /MONITORSCAN
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SpywareStrike] C:\Program Files\SpywareStrike\SpywareStrike.exe /h
O4 - HKLM\..\RunOnce: [SpybotSnD] "C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SpybotSD.exe" /autocheck
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\MSMSGS.EXE" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AIM] C:\PROGRA~1\AIM\aim.exe -cnetwait.odl
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [TivoTransfer] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\TiVo Shared\Transfer\TivoTransfer.exe" /auto:TivoTransfer /registry /service
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [TivoServer] "C:\Program Files\TiVo\Desktop\TiVoServer.exe" /auto:TivoServer /registry /service
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PlaxoUpdate] C:\Program Files\Plaxo\2.6.2.7\PlaxoHelper.exe -a
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O4 - Startup: TVHarmony AutoPilot.lnk = C:\Program Files\TVHarmony\AutoPilot.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G Configuration Utility.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: D-Link REG Utility.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\PROGRA~1\AIM\aim.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: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {B38870E4-7ECB-40DA-8C6A-595F0A5519FF} (MsnMessengerSetupDownloadControl Class) - http://messenger.msn.com/download/MsnMessengerSetupDownloader.cab
O18 - Protocol: msnim - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - "C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\msgrapp.dll" (file missing)
O23 - Service: Atheros Configuration Service (ACS) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\acs.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPodService - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: TiVo Beacon (TivoBeacon2) - TiVo Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\TiVo Shared\Beacon\TiVoBeacon.exe

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
DD

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Asked On
2006-01-07 at 20:22:27ID21688203
Tags

system

,

alert

,

spyware

Topics

Windows Network Security

,

Security Software

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: war1Posted on 2006-01-07 at 20:34:43ID: 15640383

Greetings, ddemakes !

1. You have SpySheriff. Use SmitRem to remove it
http://noahdfear.geekstogo.com/click%20counter/click.php?id=1

Run the utility in Safe Mode for best result.

1. If you have Windows Messenger Service, disable it.  The Messenger is the source of popups and virus.

http://www.itc.virginia.edu/desktop/docs/messagepopup/

2. Use Ewido to remove hard to remove spyware and popups.
http://www.ewido.net/en/
or
Spy Sweeper
http://www.webroot.com/consumer/products/spysweeper

3. I will look at your HijackThis log next.


Best wishes!

 

by: war1Posted on 2006-01-07 at 20:48:36ID: 15640428

ddemakes,

You should not have posted the HijackThis log here.  Instead, run an an analysis at http://hijackthis.de  then save the result and post a link to the result here.  Here is a link to the analyzed log

http://hijackthis.de/logfiles/fe5a69e6704a9f6aa99f23acb46585ff.html

Temporarily disable PCTools onguard antivirus.

Check the box next to the following items and have HijackThis "Fix Checked".

C:\WINDOWS\system32\mssearchnet.exe
O2 - BHO: HomepageBHO - {27150f81-0877-42e9-af13-55e5a3439a26} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\hp1A44.tmp
O2 - BHO: CM BHO - {6379A99A-9102-446C-A837-0623E1810D75} - C:\Program Files\Crystalys media\cm.dll
O3 - Toolbar: CM Band - {159C2E51-9823-11D2-8DDC-D84A1B4ACD4D} - (no file)


If you did not install the following items, have HJT remove them. If you did not install SpywareStrike, uninstall it from Add/Remove Programs.

C:\Program Files\SpywareStrike\SpywareStrike.exe Check with an antivirus scanner            
C:\Program Files\SpywareStrike\SpywareStrike.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SpywareStrike] C:\Program Files\SpywareStrike\SpywareStrike.exe /h

 

by: rpggamergirlPosted on 2006-01-08 at 01:02:02ID: 15641015

These are the entries all the entries that needed fixing:they are all bad(put a check to these entries and click "Fix checked" button.

O2 - BHO: HomepageBHO - {27150f81-0877-42e9-af13-55e5a3439a26} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\hp1A44.tmp
O2 - BHO: CM BHO - {6379A99A-9102-446C-A837-0623E1810D75} - C:\Program Files\Crystalys media\cm.dll
O3 - Toolbar: CM Band - {159C2E51-9823-11D2-8DDC-D84A1B4ACD4D} - (no file)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SpywareStrike] C:\Program Files\SpywareStrike\SpywareStrike.exe /h

SpywareStrike needs to be uninstalled if present in Add/remove programs it is bad.

Then delete this folder/file:
C:\Program Files\SpywareStrike <-- delete the whole folder not just the file.
C:\WINDOWS\system32\mssearchnet.exe <-- file should be gone after you run smitrem.

 

by: ddemakesPosted on 2006-01-08 at 04:23:42ID: 15641368

A quick question to all before I attempt any of your suggestions: I did a system restore back to the day before the virus attacked.  Then I trashed the folders for SpywareStrike and Crystalys Media in the applications directory.

I ran HJT and got this:

http://hijackthis.de/logfiles/f42bcbc073e71e48d41ee4522db26d3d.html

Have I fixed the problem, or will these viri restore themselves?

Thanks,
DD

 

by: war1Posted on 2006-01-08 at 04:34:02ID: 15641393

DD, your HijackThis log looks clean.  Usually a system restore does not remove adware.  But uninstalling SpywareStrike and Crystalys Media seem to have fixed your problem.  Do you have any more popups?

 

by: ddemakesPosted on 2006-01-08 at 04:58:00ID: 15641443

No more popups.  I'll run Ad-Aware, Spybot S&D to see if there is anything lurking.

 

by: war1Posted on 2006-01-08 at 05:09:28ID: 15641474

ddemakes,

> No more popups.

That is good news.

 

by: ddemakesPosted on 2006-01-08 at 06:09:00ID: 15641594

Ran Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D nothing of note, just a few cookies.

Thanks for the help.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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