Expert: Brian Benosky - 3/30/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Brian, When I try to access the internet,my browser keeps redirecting me to different websites. I have to use the backbutton to get the the website I want and even that sometimes doesnt work, it is so frustrating.  I have scanned for virus and spyware/malware and my computer came up clean.  I have windows XP, IE7 and use google. Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Eva

Browser redirects are almost always the result of malware.  You don't say what program you scanned the computer with, but I do want to check for any malware that might be running.  Please download HijackThis to your desktop from here:
http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/_download/HJTInstall.exe
Make sure you close EVERY open window and ALL browser windows. The only thing that should be open is the HijackThis program.
Double-click on the file you just downloaded.
Click on the "Install" button.
Upon install, HijackThis should open for you.
Should it not open, go to C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis and double click on HijackThis.exe
Choose 'Do a system scan and save a log file'.
Copy the text file which opens in Notepad and paste it in your follow-up.
   * Do not fix any entries in HijackThis, as they may be harmless.

Brian


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

QUESTION: Hi Brian, here is my hijack file
Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 6:53:04 PM, on 29/03/2009
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16791)
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\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SOUNDMAN.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\igfxtray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\Anti-Virus\fsgk32st.exe
C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\Common\FSMA32.EXE
C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\Anti-Virus\FSGK32.EXE
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\Common\FSMB32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\Common\FCH32.EXE
C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\Common\FAMEH32.EXE
C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\Anti-Virus\fsqh.exe
C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\FSPC\fspc.exe
C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\Anti-Virus\fssm32.exe
C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\FSAUA\program\fsaua.exe
C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\FWES\Program\fsdfwd.exe
C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\Anti-Virus\fsav32.exe
C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\FSAUA\program\fsus.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.ca/
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 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,First Home Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54843
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In SSV Helper - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.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: [NeroCheck] C:\WINDOWS\System32\\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMan] SOUNDMAN.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\System32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\System32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Microsoft Works Update Detection] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Works Shared\WkUFind.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe"  -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Easy-PrintToolBox] C:\Program Files\Canon\Easy-PrintToolBox\BJPSMAIN.EXE /logon
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [F-Secure Manager] "C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\Common\FSM32.EXE" /splash
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [F-Secure TNB] "C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\FSGUI\TNBUtil.exe" /CHECKALL /WAITFORSW
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MoneyAgent] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyexpr.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\System32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\System32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\System32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\System32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'Default user')
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O9 - Extra button: Parental... - {200DB664-75B5-47c0-8B45-A44ACCF73C00} - C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\FSPC\fspcmsie.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {200DB664-75B5-47c0-8B45-A44ACCF73F01} - C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\FSPC\fspcmsie.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Parental... - {200DB664-75B5-47c0-8B45-A44ACCF73F01} - C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\FSPC\fspcmsie.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: {00B71CFB-6864-4346-A978-C0A14556272C} (Checkers Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/msgrchkr.cab31267.cab
O16 - DPF: {8E0D4DE5-3180-4024-A327-4DFAD1796A8D} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/MessengerStatsClient.cab31267.cab
O16 - DPF: {9D190AE6-C81E-4039-8061-978EBAD10073} (F-Secure Online Scanner 3.0) - http://www.cogeco.com/en/OLS3/fscax.cab
O16 - DPF: {BDBDE413-7B1C-4C68-A8FF-C5B2B4090876} (F-Secure Online Scanner 3.3) - http://www.cogeco.ca/en/OLS3.3/fscax.cab
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: FSGKHS (F-Secure Gatekeeper Handler Starter) - F-Secure Corporation - C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\Anti-Virus\fsgk32st.exe
O23 - Service: F-Secure Automatic Update Agent (FSAUA) - F-Secure Corporation - C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\FSAUA\program\fsaua.exe
O23 - Service: F-Secure Anti-Virus Firewall Daemon (FSDFWD) - F-Secure Corporation - C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\FWES\Program\fsdfwd.exe
O23 - Service: F-Secure Management Agent (FSMA) - F-Secure Corporation - C:\Program Files\COGECO Security Services\Common\FSMA32.EXE
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
O24 - Desktop Component 0: (no name) - http://magicplanet.org/catalog/images/usa_haleakala_01.jpg
O24 - Desktop Component 1: (no name) - http://www.theshoppingchannel.com/images/en_CA/global/globalnav/topspacer.gif

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ANSWER: Hi Eva

I have recently had another COGECO user with the same problem.  It looks like there is a bug in the security suite that conflicts with one of the IE7 browser add-ons.  My guess is the Java browser plug-in.  Try the following:

 1. Open Internet Explorer 7.
 2. Click Tools, and then click Delete Browsing History.
 3. In Delete Browsing History, click Delete All.
 4. Click to select the Also delete files and settings stored by add-ons check box, and then click OK.

You can also try to run Internet Explorer 7 in "No Add-Ons" mode. To do this, follow these steps:

Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Internet Explorer (no add ons)

If it is working now, you will need to manage the add-ons to find the culprit for the browser redirects.  Again, it is most likely Java.  To manage add-ons, open IE7 normally.  Click on the Tools menu, located at the top of your Internet Explorer window.  When the drop-down menu appears, select the Manage Add-ons choice.  A sub-menu will now appear to the right. Click on the option labeled Enable or Disable Add-ons.  At the top of this window is a drop-down menu labeled Show. Choose Add-ons that have been used by Internet Explorer.  Highlight an add-on, choose Disable, click OK and restart IE7.  If it is not the Java add-on, you will need to keep trying different ones till the culprit is found.

Let me know how you make out.

Brian

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

QUESTION: Hi Brian, still having the redirect problem even with no add ons.  What do we try next?

Answer
Hi Eva

Try a reinstall of the security suite.  Go to Add/Remove Programs in your Control Panel and uninstall COGECO.  After uninstall, reboot and try IE.  Reinstall COGECO from here:
https://www.cogeco.ca/portal/en/security_login_o.html
Let me know the results.

Brian