Re: about:blank

Tech Tip: Click here to run a free scan for Windows Errors and optimize PC performance

From: Bob (bwidner_at_albanytech.edu)
Date: 06/04/04 

Date: 4 Jun 2004 14:19:56 -0700

THANK YOU JIM! Actually, I downloaded the lastest version of
CWShredder (1.58) and ran it and, wah-lah, it cleaned it. Thank you
for your help.

Bob

"Jim Byrd" <jrbyrd@spamlessadelphia.net> wrote in message news:<#BXBBDYSEHA.2908@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl>...
> Hi Bob - Sounds like this might be a variant of some malware called
> CoolWebSearch (if not, then see AdAware, SpyBot, and HijackThis, below). Do
> the following:
>
> Download, UPDATE before running, and run:
> http://209.133.47.200/~merijn/files/CWShredder.exe to remove the parasite.
> Be sure to close all instances of IE and OE. You may also get it here if
> that link is blocked: http://www.zerosrealm.com/downloads/CWShredder.zip
>
> BE SURE that you get v.158 or later!
>
> You will need to show Hidden files first and then at the end disable System
> Restore and then reboot your system in order to clear the malware garbage
> from the backups after you've cleaned up. It's best to perform CWShredder
> (and most other malware fixers too) from Safe mode and then reboot. After
> cleaning things up, then you can disable and then re-enable System Restore.
> See ******** below.
>
> The following links give instructions on how to do these various functions:
>
>
> HOW TO Restart in Safe Mode
> <http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406>
>
> HOW TO Enable Hidden Files
> <http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2002092715262339>
>
> HOW TO Disable/Flush System Restore (do this at the end AFTER cleaning)
> <http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001111912274039>
> (WinXP)
> <http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001012513122239>
> (WinME)
>
>
>
> Then download and run:
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/iegentabs.reg to restore your
> tabs and remove any restrictions that the parasite has put in place.
>
> Be sure that you also download and install hotfix Q816093, here:
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=816093#appliesto
>
> which blocks the exploit upon which this parasite family depends.
>
> Now download and run:
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/RestoreSearch2.REG to restore
> your search functions.
>
>
> However, this also indicates that you may have acquired some other malware
> along the way. If you go to this page at Jim Eshelman's site, here:
> http://aumha.org/a/noads.htm and wait a little bit (be patient), an analysis
> of a number of possible parasites on your machine will be made to help you
> identify and remove them. NOTE: You will need to disable Ad Blocking in Zone
> Alarm 3.x, if present or any other Ad Blocking software which interferes
> with Java Scripting for this scan to work. You should get a message between
> the two lines of **** giving the results of the scan.
>
> Get Ad-Aware 6.0, Build 181 or later, here:
> http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/. UPDATE and run this regularly
> to get rid of most "spyware/hijackware" on your machine. If it has to fix
> things, be sure to re-boot and rerun AdAware again and repeat this cycle
> until you get a clean scan. The reason is that it may have to remove
> things which are currently "in use" before it can then clean up others.
>
> Another excellent program for this purpose is SpyBot Search and Destroy
> available here: http://security.kolla.de/ SpyBot Support Forum here:
> http://www.net-integration.net/cgi-bin/forums/ikonboard.cgi. I recommend
> using both normally. After UPDATING and fixing things with SpyBot S&D, be
> sure to re-boot and rerun SpyBot again and repeat this cycle until you get a
> clean "no red" scan. The reason is that SpyBot sometimes has to remove
> things which are currently "in use" before it can then clean up others.
>
> Note that sometimes you need to make a judgement call about what these
> programs report as spyware. See here, for example:
> http://www.imilly.com/alexa.htm
>
>
>
> If they don't fix it then start here:
>
> Download HijackThis, free, here:
> http://209.133.47.200/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe (Always download a new
> fresh copy of HijackThis [and CWShredder also] - It's UPDATED frequently.)
> You may also get it here if that link is blocked:
> http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=3155&file=3&evp=3304750663b552982a8baee6434cfc13
>
> In Windows Explorer, click on Tools|Folder Options|View and check "Show
> hidden files and folders" and uncheck "Hide protected operating system
> files". (You may want to restore these when you're all finished with
> HijackThis.)
>
> Unzip the downloaded HijackThis to any convenient folder, start it then
> press Scan. Click on SaveLog when it's finished which will create
> hijackthis.log. Now click the Config button, then Misc Tools and click on
> Generate StartupList.log which will create Startuplist.txt
>
> Then go to one of the following forums:
>
> Spyware and Hijackware Removal Support, here:
> http://216.180.233.162/~swicom/forums/
>
> or Net-Integration here:
> http://www.net-integration.net/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?s=d3c2c886d536d57b5f65b6e40c55365e;act=ST;f=27;t=6949
>
> or Tom Coyote here: http://forums.tomcoyote.org/index.php?act=idx
>
> Sign in, then copy and paste both files into a message asking for
> assistance, Someone will answer with detailed instructions for the removal
> of your parasite(s).
>
>
> *******
> ONLY IF you've successfully eliminated the malware, you can now make a new,
> clean Restore Point and delete any previously saved (possibly infected)
> ones. The following suggested approach is courtesy of Gary Woodruff: For XP
> you can run a Disk Cleanup cycle and then look in the More Options tab. The
> System Restore option removes all but the latest Restore Point. If there
> hasn't been one made since the system was cleaned you should manually create
> one before dumping the old possibly infected ones.
> *******
>
>
> Once you get this cleaned up, you might want to consider installing the
> SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard here to help prevent this kind of thing from
> happening in the future:
>
> http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html (Prevents malware Active
> X installs) (BTW, SpyWare Blaster is not memory resident ... no CPU or
> memory load - but keep it UPDATED) The latest version as of this writing
> will prevent installation or prevent the malware from running if it is
> already installed, and it provides information and fixit-links for a variety
> of parasites.
>
> http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html (Monitors for attempts to
> install malware) Keep it UPDATED. Both Very Highly Recommended
>
> --
> Please respond in the same thread.
> Regards, Jim Byrd, MS-MVP
>
>
>
> In news:223b81c8.0406030452.563e28ad@posting.google.com,
> Bob <bwidner@albanytech.edu> typed:
> > I fought this crap for hours last night but to no avail. I have tried
> > everything I can find to fix this hijack but to no avail. Antivirus,
> > Spybod, Ad-aware, registry hacks, etc., etc. My start page ALWAYS
> > comes back to "about:blank" and some idiotic search page.
> >
> > The morons that do this kind of BS should get 20 years to life!
> >
> > <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:<175d501c448f4$a998ccc0$a401280a@phx.gbl>...
> >> Did you turn off System Restore? You need to turn off
> >> System Restore, reboot, run Spybot & Ad-aware again, the
> >> reboot again. After that you can set a new Restore Point
> >> if you wish.
> >>
> >>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> hey guys i know that a post llike this one has already
> >>> been posted but i think mine is different. I've already
> >>> run ad aware and it states that there is a possible
> >>> browser hijack, and i remove them, but then i run ad
> >>> aware imediately afterwards and it keeps on finding the
> >>> same thing! any help?
> >>> .

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