Expert: James Filmer - 12/28/2008

Question
QUESTION: my computer is redirecting me to certain web pages when I try to do a search.  I may put in www.starbucks.com be directed to a site that sells coffee, ya know?  Obviously something got in here. I ran spybot and adaware but it doesn't help.  IS there anything else I can do before I reinstall the operating system. I have a pc using windows XP.  Thx.

ANSWER: George,

Likely spyware that Spybot and Adware didn't detect, or a corrupt Hosts file.

A search redirection cause can often found in a Trend Micro HiJackThis log. If you download the tool and send a log, will analyze it for you.
http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/tools/security_tools/hijackthis

Another option:  Open - Control panel > administrative tools > computer management > Click - Show hidden devices under "View",
Scroll down to non plug and play drivers - Disable 'tdssserv.sys', restart computer.

See also:
http://malektips.com/spyware_adware_0017.html
and
http://www.spywareinfoforum.com/lofiversion/index.php/t121380.html

Familiar with HiJackThis, Malwarebytes but not ComboFix© by sUBs, mentioned on the forum. Also, recommended by some experts (not me because haven't used it):
Fixwareout.exe at http://files.filefront.com/Fixwareoutexe/;9892936;/fileinfo.html













---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 3:46:55 PM, on 12/28/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16762)
Boot mode: Normal

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\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\bcmwltry.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTsvcCDA.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\SYMANT~1\DefWatch.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cba\pds.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\runservice.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\Program Files\Dell\QuickSet\NICCONFIGSVC.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\SYMANT~1\Rtvscan.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\SYMANT~1\NSCTOP.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\MsgSys.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Dell\QuickSet\Quickset.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ams_ii\hndlrsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ams_ii\iao.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cba\xfr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\George\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Samsung\LaserSMMgr\ssmmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\MediaSource5\CtDetctu.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\OUTLOOK.EXE
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,Default_Page_URL = www.google.com/ig/dell?hl=en&client=dell-usuk&channel=us&ibd=5061101
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: RealPlayer Download and Record Plugin for Internet Explorer - {3049C3E9-B461-4BC5-8870-4C09146192CA} - C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\rpbrowserrecordplugin.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: DriveLetterAccess - {5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\DLA\DLASHX_W.DLL
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In SSV Helper - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\5.0.926.3450\swg.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Dell QuickSet] C:\Program Files\Dell\QuickSet\Quickset.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe"  -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AROReminder] C:\Program Files\Advanced Registry Optimizer\ARO.exe -rem
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Google Update] "C:\Documents and Settings\George\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe" /c
O4 - Startup: Sonic INSTALLit! Setup.lnk = C:\Documents and Settings\George\Local Settings\temp\VIES677B\Setup.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Capture Selection - {A36A58CC-70D5-4462-9C90-C0E9D244B230} - C:\Program Files\SmarThru Office\WebCapture.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Capture Selection - {A36A58CC-70D5-4462-9C90-C0E9D244B230} - C:\Program Files\SmarThru Office\WebCapture.dll
O9 - Extra button: Save Selected Text - {A5183750-A927-4ec3-B027-C633A2D5418C} - C:\Program Files\SmarThru Office\WebCapture.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Save Selected Text - {A5183750-A927-4ec3-B027-C633A2D5418C} - C:\Program Files\SmarThru Office\WebCapture.dll
O9 - Extra button: Save as HTML - {BDC4DF0E-D605-48d6-B4AF-CA5927A463EE} - C:\Program Files\SmarThru Office\WebCapture.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Save as HTML - {BDC4DF0E-D605-48d6-B4AF-CA5927A463EE} - C:\Program Files\SmarThru Office\WebCapture.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.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: {49232000-16E4-426C-A231-62846947304B} - http://ipgweb.cce.hp.com/rdqaio/downloads/sysinfo.cab
O16 - DPF: {4ED9DDF0-7479-4BBE-9335-5A1EDB1D8A21} - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/shared/mcinsctl/4,0,0,101/mcinsctl.cab
O16 - DPF: {8AD9C840-044E-11D1-B3E9-00805F499D93} (Java Runtime Environment 1.6.0) - http://dl8-cdn-01.sun.com/s/ESD5/JSCDL/jre/6u11-b90/jinstall-6u11-windows-i586-j
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O23 - Service: Adobe LM Service - Adobe Systems - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe Systems Shared\Service\Adobelmsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Service for CDROM Access - Creative Technology Ltd - C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTsvcCDA.exe
O23 - Service: DefWatch - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\SYMANT~1\DefWatch.exe
O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: Intel Alert Handler - Intel® Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ams_ii\hndlrsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Intel Alert Originator - Intel® Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ams_ii\iao.exe
O23 - Service: Intel File Transfer - Intel® Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\cba\xfr.exe
O23 - Service: Intel PDS - Intel® Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\cba\pds.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
O23 - Service: LicCtrl Service (LicCtrlService) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\runservice.exe
O23 - Service: Process Monitor (LVPrcSrv) - Unknown owner - c:\program files\common files\logitech\lvmvfm\LVPrcSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: McAfee Personal Firewall Service (MpfService) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\McAfee\MPF\MPFSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect Service (navapsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: NBService - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7\Nero BackItUp\NBService.exe
O23 - Service: NICCONFIGSVC - Dell Inc. - C:\Program Files\Dell\QuickSet\NICCONFIGSVC.exe
O23 - Service: NMIndexingService - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NMIndexingService.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec AntiVirus Client (Norton AntiVirus Server) - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\SYMANT~1\Rtvscan.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec System Center Discovery Service (NSCTOP) - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\SYMANT~1\NSCTOP.EXE
O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe
O23 - Service: Roxio UPnP Renderer 9 - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Roxio\Digital Home 9\RoxioUPnPRenderer9.exe
O23 - Service: Roxio Upnp Server 9 - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Roxio\Digital Home 9\RoxioUpnpService9.exe
O23 - Service: LiveShare P2P Server 9 (RoxLiveShare9) - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxLiveShare9.exe
O23 - Service: RoxMediaDB9 - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxMediaDB9.exe
O23 - Service: Roxio Hard Drive Watcher 9 (RoxWatch9) - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxWatch9.exe
O23 - Service: Dell Wireless WLAN Tray Service (wltrysvc) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE
O24 - Desktop Component 0: (no name) - file:///C:/DOCUME~1/George/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg
O24 - Desktop Component 1: (no name) - http://www.kodakgallery.com/images/invisible.gif

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End of file - 9650 bytes


Answer
HI Bud,

Just wondering if you were able to find the solution to your redirect problem.


After carefully reviewing your log again, I suggest installing Malwarebytes antispyware or A-squared (both have free additions), run a complete system scan and remove threats, reboot and see if the you still have the problem.

Check ARO.exe. It doesn't need to be a start-up item  http://www.spywaredata.com/spyware/malware/aro.exe.php
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AROReminder] C:\Program Files\Advanced Registry Optimizer\ARO.exe -rem

The two msmsgs.exe entries (Messenger)
and LicCtrlService also don't need run at start-up.

Most important thing though is working with a site that specializes in logs like:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial94.html

More than one expert reviews the analysis, and it's better all around for the poster. I can review logs but this service doesn't have other experts reviewing out replies as a rule.

See also a tutorial on logs here: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=38752 and,

http://www.techsupportforum.com/security-center/