Re: ntsearch invading my Internet browsing

From: Jerry Arzin (h974483_at_graduate.hku.hk)
Date: 06/12/04 

Date: 12 Jun 2004 01:29:01 -0700

"Jim Byrd" <jrbyrd@spamlessadelphia.net> wrote in message news:<eYKtTb$TEHA.760@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl>...
> Hi Amy - This is a variant of some malware called CoolWebSearch (if not by
> CWShredder, then see AdAware, SpyBot, and HijackThis, below, in that order).
> Do the following:
>
>
>
> Before you try to remove spyware using any of the programs below, download a
> copy of LSPFIX from any of the following sites:
>
> http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm
> http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/winsock.htm
> http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html
> The process of removing certain malware may kill your internet connection.
> If this should occur, this program, LSPFIX, will enable you to regain your
> connection.
>
>
>
> 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 clear the
> malware garbage from your System Restore 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 or
> use the suggested procedure for XP at the ******'s)
> <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.
>
> Now download and run:
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/RestoreSearch2.REG to restore
> your search functions if they've been affected (as they probably will have
> been).
>
>
> Be sure that you also download and install hotfix Q816093, here:
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=816093
>
> which blocks the exploit upon which this parasite family depends.
>
>
>
> 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
>
> Both of these programs should normally be UPDATED and run after doing any
> other fix such as CWShredder and, as a minimum, normally at least once a
> week.
>
>
>
> 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
>
>
> Finally, go to Windows Update and ensure that ALL Critical updates are
> installed.
>
> --
> Please respond in the same thread.
> Regards, Jim Byrd, MS-MVP
>
>
>
> In news:1b58901c44fd8$7f9ad400$a101280a@phx.gbl,
> Amy <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> typed:
> > I am suddenly finding that everything I click on in web
> > pages is directing me to an ntsearch web page offering
> > search options. On every web page, there are loads of
> > blue links, and only a few are genuine and direct me to
> > where I want to go, the rest are all ntsearch.
> > It appears that something has invaded my computer, which
> > is only a few weeks old, as this has only been happening
> > for the last few days. I am also constantly being
> > blocked access to trusted and well-used sites.
> > Any advice on how to sort this out?
> > Thanks!
> > Amy

Does it work???