Need help with a computer problem....

[Doug5984]

I'm helping a friend with their computer...and I'm having a wierd problem. When I set the default homepage and restart the computer it resets to some numbers (looks like an IP address) and then the webpage. Also, when using the internet I can browse as long as I click links OR type an address in using http, if i only type the www then the address it brings me to http://69.50.191.50/1/?www._____.com (the blank being whatever I type)
I have run 2 different spyware removers, and also ran a virus scan and am still having the same problem. I have no clue what it could be, and any help would be greatly appreciated.

This is a laptop running on a wireless network, but like I said I can browse the internet fine as long as i dont type the webpage in using only www so I'm not sure what exactly the problem could be.

[jeff061]

Definitely spyware/adware of some type. Which removers did you try? I recommend Ad-Aware and Microsoft's if you haven't.

[MizzouRah]

Sounds like a virus or some really bad ass spyware. Have you updated your Anti-Virus software and ran a scan?

[Eaglesfan27]

My browser did that before with my laptop when I first set up my wireless network. I think it was something with the DNP setting, but I'm not sure as it has been a while. I remember that they had me reset my modem, my router, and my computer and when they all came back on, it was all fixed.

[Doug5984]

I ran Microsoft's, and Spyware doctor, I ran microsoft's 2nd and it only found 1- which I removed and am still having the same problem.

[Doug5984]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

My browser did that before with my laptop when I first set up my wireless network. I think it was something with the DNP setting, but I'm not sure as it has been a while. I remember that they had me reset my modem, my router, and my computer and when they all came back on, it was all fixed.

It ran for about a year or so with no real problems, and then this started happening maybe a month ago. How would I go about trying to reset the modem, router and computer? Also if I reset that will I have to reconfigure anything on the other computer running on the same wireless modem?

[DaddyTorgo]

yeah. seconding what everyone else said. sounds like a browser hijack

found this The 69.50.191.52 is a CoolWebSearch variant hijack. You need to run CWShredder to remove or neutralize the problem first. Here's the link for the program:

hxxp://209.133.47.12/~merijn/files/CWShredder.exe

Run the program, have it get the latest updates, and let it do its thing. If this doesn't fix your problem, you probably have a re-infecting hook present. If you think this is the case, run "Hijack This!" and post a new log to this thread. We'll look at it and let you know what to do from there.

hxxp://forums.thetechguys.com/archive/index.php/t-8312.html

[MizzouRah]

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html

Run that as well.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Doug5984

It ran for about a year or so with no real problems, and then this started happening maybe a month ago. How would I go about trying to reset the modem, router and computer? Also if I reset that will I have to reconfigure anything on the other computer running on the same wireless modem?

Ahh, if this is a new problem on an old network, I'd suspect the other guys are right. I reset each of them by unplugging them and waiting for about 10 seconds and re-plugging them.

[Doug5984]

Ok I ran the CWShredder, and the winsockxpfix neither of them appeared to find anything. I then rebooted the computer. Opened up IE and this was the homepage
hxxp://69.50.191.53/search.cgi?a13463
(I xx-ed it just to try and help no one else gets it if it is some bad spyware)...
I'm about to try the HiJackthis and see if that can find anything...
and again thanks for all the help already!

[MizzouRah]

http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm

Run this as well.

[MizzouRah]

#########IMPORTANT#########
Before you try to remove spyware using any of the programs below, download
both a copy of LSPFIX here:

http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm

AND a copy of Winsockfix
http://www.tacktech.com/pub/winsockfix/WinsockFix.zip
Directions here: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=257
The process of removing certain malware may kill your internet connection.
If this should occur, these programs, LSPFIX and WINSOCKFIX, will enable you
to regain your connection.
#########IMPORTANT#########


Approach 1 - You can try AT YOUR OWN RISK, HSRemove, free, here:
http://www.hsremove.com/. ; "A few days ago I got hijacked - Nothing new in
that, except this time it was a real [censored] to get rid of. - There were
simply no tools available to remove this "Home Search" thing. Finally I
ended up creating my own tool for it. USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK. And if you
find it helpful, then please do not hesitate to make a contribution."


Approach 2 - You can try this AT YOUR OWN RISK. I normally wouldn't advise
using a malware provider's uninstall, but this particular approach has been
reported to work ONLY IF you have the about:blank CWS variant (there appear
to be at least three or four currently) which leads you to a Search page.
Paste the following IP into your browser:

195.190.118.131

On the screen you arrive at, you see a "Search For" window, and below it a
red "Uninstall Software". Download their uninstaller, uninstall.exe. At this
point I would either use TotalUninstall or make a complete backup/Restore
Point of my system for safety's sake (on the basis of "at least keep what
you've got"). Total Uninstall, http://www.geocities.com/ggmartau/tu.html ; or
direct dwnld here: http://files.webattack.com/localdl834/tun234.zip

Run this uninstall program that you downloaded from the malware site, then
UPDATE them and go to Safe mode to run UPDATED versions CWShredder, AdAware
and SpyBot per the directions in Basic, below.



Approach 3 - Courtesy of "Win" (Win J. Moore) in 24hoursupport.helpdesk

"I had a variant of this CWS.SearchX sucker for about 3 weeks, and I FINALLY
seem to be rid of it for good! It is aka Troj_StartPage.sp and
BackDoor.Agent.BA. This is what I did:


1. Run Regedit, and DELETE the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\AppInit_DLLs

The value of this key may look blank for you, but it is not. They hide the
value so you can't see it. This registry key tells Windows to load the
Trojan DLL every time ANY application is run giving it complete control to
do whatever it wants. So you need to remove it so that the Trojan DLL cannot
load and keep re-infecting your PC. The way to remove the registry key is
not obvious. If you just delete it from RegEdit, since the Trojan DLL is
loaded, it will re-add it right back. (Try it. Delete the AppInit_DLLs
registry key and hit F5. Notice that it's added right back by the Trojan).

So what you have to do is the following which worked for me (many thanks to
"acomputerpro" at the SpywareInfo.com forums!)

2. Rename the HLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
folder to Windows2.

3. Now delete the AppInit_DLLs key under the Windows2 folder.

4. Hit F5 and notice that AppInit_DLLs doesn't come back.

5. Rename the Windows2 folder back to Windows. Now that AppInit_DLLs is
gone, run the latest AdAware 6 to remove the Trojan for good.

6. Reboot your machine, and check the registry and make sure AppInit_DLLs is
still gone.

Your computer should be free of this for good now. Hope it works for you...
It seemed to do the trick for me!"


Approach 4 - If you've already tried CWShredder to get rid of this parasite
(See below, v.159.0.1 or better and fully updated before use), then take a
look at this thread about manual removal of this parasite:

http://www.akadia.com/services/about_blank_virus.html
and this one: http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread5531.html
and this one: http://computercops.biz/article-5199-nested-0-0.html
and this one: http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=6437


Approach 5 - I don't usually recommend anything but freeware that I've
confidence in, but AT YOUR OWN RISK, not free ($29.95), Adware Away, here:
http://www.adwareaway.com/ claims to fix it automatically, and several users
now have reported success using it. I would backup my system before using
it, however - always try to "keep what you've got".


Approach 6 - It has been reported that the evaluation version of Panda
Software's Titanium Antivirus 2004, here:
http://www.pandasoftware.com/register.asp?CodigoProducto=13&TipoLead=2&TipoUsuario=1&Tipo=1&Ref=WW-TIT4-DES&Idioma=2&Country=Us&sec=down
will completely remove about:blank. I have not been able to independently
verify this yet, however, so this is AT YOUR OWN RISK. You'll have to give
them some information, and I expect you may want to uncheck some of the
"opt-in" boxes at the bottom just above and below the send button.

___________________________________


about:Blank Specific

See the procedures here: http://www.pchell.com/support/onlythebest.shtml
and especially here:
http://www.pestpatrol.com/pestinfo/c/cws_aboutblank.asp

Download AboutBuster, here: http://www.malwarebytes.biz/AboutBuster.zip or
here: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4289.html Then, "First unzip all
files from the zip folder to a folder or your desktop. Start it and hit ok.
Then hit update. A new screen should popup. On that screen hit Check for
Updates. If it sais it found an update hit Download Updates. If it doesnt it
will automatically tell you and exit. Now for the scanning part. Hit start
and then Ok. The program should start scanning. Then hit exit and reboot.

Once rebooted run about:Buster once more to make sure everything is ok.
The database will be updated very frequently so check your versions once a
day."



Basic Cleaning - Note that this symptom often indicates the possibility of
other malware. You might want go to this page at Jim Eshelman's site, here:
http://aumha.org/a/noads.htm or here:
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/parasite.htm and wait a little bit (be
patient), while 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.


#########IMPORTANT#########
All of these removal tools should be run from Safe mode when possible.
Reboot and test if the malware is fixed after using each tool.
#########IMPORTANT#########


Download sysclean.com , from Trend Micro, here:
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp along with the latest pattern
file, here: http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp ; (You might also
want to get Art's updater, SYS-UP.Zip, here for future updating of these:
http://home.epix.net/~artnpeg/). ; Place them in a dedicated folder after
appropriate unzipping, and then run. (If you download and use the updater
from the beginning, it will handle downloading the other files.)



For the general hijack case, the best way to start is to get Ad-Aware 6.0,
Build 181 or later, here: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/.
UPDATE, set it up in accordance with this:
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=5877 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.

Then, courtesy of NonSuch at Lockergnome, open Ad-aware then click the gear
wheel at the top and check these options to configure Ad-aware for a
customized scan:

General> activate these: "Automatically save log-file" and "Automatically
quarantine objects prior to removal"

Scanning > activate these: "Scan within archives", "Scan active processes",
"Scan registry", "Deep scan registry," "Scan my IE Favorites for banned
sites," and "Scan my Hosts file"

Tweaks > Scanning Engine> activate this: "Unload recognized processes during
scanning."

Tweaks > Cleaning Engine: activate these: "Automatically try to unregister
objects prior to deletion" and "Let Windows remove files in use after
reboot."

Click "Proceed" to save your settings, then click "Start." Make sure
"Activate in-depth scan" is ticked green, then scan your system. When the
scan is finished, the screen will tell you if anything has been found, click
"Next." The bad files will be listed. Right click the pane and click "Select
all objects" - This will put a check mark in the box at the side, click
"Next" again and click "OK" at the prompt "# objects will be removed.
Continue?"


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 ONLY RED 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 judgment call about what these
programs report as spyware. See here, for example:
http://www.imilly.com/alexa.htm


A currently common parasite is some malware called CoolWebSearch. 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

There's a good tutorial about CWS and using CWShredder here:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=47#domain

BE SURE that you get v.159.0.1 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.


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.)

Place HijackThis.exe or unzip HijackThis.zip into its own dedicated folder
at the root level such as C:\HijackThis (NOT in a Temp folder or on your
Desktop), reboot to Safe mode, start HT 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?;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, SpyWareBlaster 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.

[MizzouRah]

Some more help:

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/8428

[thetrilogy]

YOU MUST DO ALL REMOVAL SCAN IN 'SAFE MODE'.

I use a 3 pronged attack:

Spybot Search and Destroy
AdAware SE
AND THE MUST HAVE:
Hijack This

Run Hijack this last and there are message boards dedicated to your
log file of the scan that Hijack This creates. I work on infected computers
every stinking day of the week.