FBI Virus keeps getting worse
I have a customer's computer that I have been working on for a couple of days. When I first turned to computer on, he had a fake alert virus that was claiming that all of his EXE files were infected - so they would not run. Not a problem, I ran The Killer to kill all the non-windows processes then ran Malwarebytes and Superantispyware. Malwarebytes picked up some trojans and some other malware, and Superantispyware showed a lot of tracking cookies. I rebooted and was thinking about what else I wanted to do to assure myself that the machine was clean. It was late; I quit for the night and left the computer running. In the AM I went to the machine to run the Eset Online scanner and found that the computer now had the FBI virus. As far as I can tell, it was there but masked by the fake alert. I did no browsing or anything else on that computer, and no other computer in the shop had the infection (except another one that I was working on).
The computer in question is running XP Pro SP3. I have tried Microsoft Defender Offline and AVG Rescue CD. I rewrote the MBR and the bootsector using a Windows installation disk.
I can't boot from Hitman Pro Kicksart from the USB or from a CD. The error message is "NTDetect failed". I did manage to start Windows using Hitman's option 3 (Legacy), which just boots from the hard drive. Hitman ran and found and fixed some problems, but the FBI virus was still there.
I am able to boot to a Hiren CD, but the options are fairly limited once the Mini XP OS is running.
What can I do now to eliminate this virus?
The computer in question is running XP Pro SP3. I have tried Microsoft Defender Offline and AVG Rescue CD. I rewrote the MBR and the bootsector using a Windows installation disk.
I can't boot from Hitman Pro Kicksart from the USB or from a CD. The error message is "NTDetect failed". I did manage to start Windows using Hitman's option 3 (Legacy), which just boots from the hard drive. Hitman ran and found and fixed some problems, but the FBI virus was still there.
I am able to boot to a Hiren CD, but the options are fairly limited once the Mini XP OS is running.
What can I do now to eliminate this virus?
ASKER
I know that. that's what I am trying not to do.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Is there any possibility of restoring the computer to a time 1-2 weeks ago?
What you have is a root kit virus, and for the most part, re-installing the operating system is the only practical long term fix. The suggestions above might work, but as likely as not, a firm and permanent fix requires the steps I outlined.
... Thinkpads_User
... Thinkpads_User
@aadih I've never seen a virus that wasn't able to survive Windows Restore. That's one of the first areas that get's infected after the virus executes on a machine.
I have seen otherwise (too many times).
Is there any harm trying when the problem is already so severe?
Is there any harm trying when the problem is already so severe?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Hopefully you've already done this, but the FIRST thing I'd do with that much infection is to boot to a "live" CD (Knoppix, Bart's PE, etc.) and copy ALL of the user's data to an external drive [documents, pictures, music, favorites, the e-mail store for whatever client he's using, address book, etc.]
So if you DO have to wipe and reload, you wont' lose any of the user's data.
You'll want to run a good antivirus/antimalware scan on that data ... but my experience with this infection is that it doesn't hit user data, just the OS.
So if you DO have to wipe and reload, you wont' lose any of the user's data.
You'll want to run a good antivirus/antimalware scan on that data ... but my experience with this infection is that it doesn't hit user data, just the OS.
i also suggest a fresh install, but since you do not want that, try running:
http://majorgeeks.com/RogueKiller_d6983.html Roguekiller
http://majorgeeks.com/RogueKiller_d6983.html Roguekiller
Are you able to boot the system in Normal or Safe Mode?
Sudeep
Sudeep
ASKER
Booting into Safe Mode was not possible. Booting with Option 3 of Hitman did not help because that boot uses the hard drive's MBR. I was able to boot with Hiren's CD, and run the Emsisoft Emergency Kit and Rogue Killer. They cleaned up the C: drive enough that the PC would operate. I was then able to reboot and run Combofix. I double checked with TDSS Killer, Super AntiSpyware, and Eset's online scanner. I found that the MS Security Essentials installation was corrupt; so I uninstalled and reinstalled that and ran a full scan with updated virus signatures.
Everytyhing is OK.
Everytyhing is OK.
Glad to hear you got it working, but one thing, on experts-exchange we generally discourage use of warez like the CD that rhymes with sirens. There are various options on that CD that require licences, but have been hacked instead. Use a bootable device made with SARDU excluding the option for that boot image.
I have a USB created with SARDU that has solved almost every problem I have encountered.
I have a USB created with SARDU that has solved almost every problem I have encountered.
Once all the partitions are gone, you should be able to create a new partition, format and install Windows XP.
.... Thinkpads_User