Lately we at IFix Computers have been dealing with more rootkit infections than normal. These internet nastiness are much more difficult to cleanup and cause a lot of havoc for the user and their networks.

Rootkits, worms, viruses, Trojans are all different forms of infections and can get on your computer in various ways. Gone are the days of you purposefully needing to download an infected program or open a link in an email. Today’s infections have been called “drive-by downloads” and quite often come from infected websites that you have legitimate reason to be there. The infections are called SQL injections and they have infected PBS, Intel as well as thousands of smaller web sites. The fix for the webmasters is easy and in the case of the big boys mentioned above they were repaired in a matter of hours.
In an article from January 2010 titled “Scareware continues to rise reaching $150 Million“ we went over how to cleanup from an infection and some basic prevention measures. It is my desire to get an updated article out on prevention next week, but right now too many people are dealing with already being infected.

In an attempt to help you after a suspected infection, I went to the ever trusty Mike Rosmis and asked him for a list of what he uses and why. Before you think “but I have an anti-virus program” remember infections occur in different ways, getting a flu shot does not prevent the common cold, diverticulitis or cancer, they occur for different reasons, that is why preventive security is so essential.

Mike has been diligent about finding the best ways to clean up infected computers and has done some tracing of where the main attacks or source of these root-kits are coming from, it appears to be China, though that could be a slight of hand done by the coders of the most recent wave of infections.

DANGER WILL ROBINSON – Mike properly warned me to warn you, we are professionals and know the limits and quirks and “got-yas” of these programs, you CAN really screw up your entire computer if something goes awry. If you can afford it, have a professional IT company do this work, at IFix Computers we currently charge between $150 and $200 to do the work described below.

From Mike – Here’s a list of my current A/V tools:
1. TDSSkiller – from Kaspersky.  It scans system32 files and the MBR.  Good to start with this because it’s effective and usually takes no more than 30 seconds to run, even if it finds a rootkit.  It primarily scans for and removes TDSS, TDL3, Alurion, and others.  Symptoms of a rootkit are browser redirection, large quantities of junk files & folders.

2. MBRfix – found on the Mini P.E. CD.  It rewrites the MBR with a generic XP boot sector.  More complicated and time consuming than TDSSkiller, but effective when Windows just won’t cooperate.  It is also useful if TDSSkiller or Combofix hose up your boot sector.
Kent’s note: we only use this on Windows XP machines, not for Vista or Windows 7. If someone has built or knows of a Mini PE for Vista and 7, we would love to know about it.

3. Combofix - The Big Daddy.  Checks for rootkit activity; steps through Windows startup looking for odd behavior; scans system files, replacing infected files with known good files.  Allow at least 20 minutes to run. This program is known to be updated several times a day so be sure to get the latest updates.  Always get a fresh copy.
Kent’s note: this program needs to be run directly from the desktop, not a USB drive or from another folder. I also prefer to run it while the computer is booted into “Safe Mode” first and then again at the regular desktop.

4. Autoruns - Use this if you can’t get to the desktop in Normal Mode and can get to Safe Mode.  It allows you to stop things like ‘hsuebvbhjsg.exe’ from starting up.

5. Spybot Search & Destroy – a good malware scanner, provides passive browser protection through a manually updated hosts file, shows you which BHO’s (Browser Help Objects) and ActiveX’s are installed, has a process explorer and an alternative registry cleaner. Allow 20 minutes for the scanner.  You have to manually tell it to fix what it finds.
Kent’s note: You should right-click on the icon and choose “Run as Administrator” in Vista and I do the same in Windows 7. Also you want to use the “Immunize” and (when in the Advanced Mode) under the “Tools” section go through the “ActiveX”, “BHOs”, and load the “Host File”.

6. MalwareBytes - good, simple malware scanner for civilians.  Update it and run it.  You also have to manually tell it to fix what it finds.  Allow an hour-and-a-half to run for the full scan.
Kent’s note: Under the “Settings” tab, be sure “Terminate Internet Explorer during threat removal” is selected.

7. ESET anti-virus - When properly configured, this program blocks a lot of infections the others don’t. It is also very “light” on system resources allowing you more horsepower to do what you need to on the computer. It cleanups op a lot of crud and can be run in safe mode as a command line tool (don’t be afraid, just run it and it automatically goes to the command line and does what is needed). If you are infected, I would run this in “Safe Mode” after running Combofix.

Well that is it, will this clean all infections? “No”, did we give you every step in configuring these programs? “No”. However, we have given you the tools do clean up your computer as best we can in this short space.

Until we meet again, have a virus (and root-kit) free week.

Malicious script codes were inserted and being served in webpages which when triggered redirects to malicious links that serves FakeAV malware.

The following are some of the reported Malicious URLs inserted on compromised webpages:
• alexblane(dot)com/ur.php
• alisa-carter(dot)com/ur.php
• books-loader(dot)info/ur.php
• lizamoon(dot)com/ur.php
• milapop(dot)com/ur.php
• t6ryt56(dot)info/ur.php
• tadygus(dot)com/ur.php
• Worid-of-books(dot)com/ur.php
All of these URLs resolve to single IP:   91.213.29.182
SonicWALL Gateway AntiVirus provides protection against this threat via the following signatures:
• GAV: ScrInject.UR (Trojan)
• GAV: Suspicious#asprotect (Trojan)

If you don’t have a SonicWALL with the Gateway AntiVirus (or Comprehensive Security Suite), it is just a matter of time until this pops up on your network. Be prepared or better yet, contact IFix Computers for a SonicWALL that will protect your network.

Until we meet again, have a Fake AV free week!

Sonicwall Research team has discovered a new malicious Worm spreading in the wild. The Worm spreads via Facebook profiles and as part of its post-infection activity, it installs Fake AVG antivirus security software.

Upon installation the Worm informs the user that it needs to perform a “Scan” of the system:

It performs a fake system scan which is hosted on a Fake AV web page:

When clicking on “Remove all” or “Cancel” it attemps to initiate the download of:

•bitav_2053_ext6.exe [Detected as TDSS.ABCR (Trojan)]

The worm will periodically cause pop-up messages such as in the screenshot below:

When clicking OK to such pop-up messages the Worm will bring up further Fake AV pages which attempt to download more malware to the infected machine such as: pack.exe [Detected as SecurityTool.W (Trojan)]

Make sure your AntiVirus provides protection against this threat via the following signatures:

Koobface.HJV (Worm)
Koobface.HJV_2 (Worm)
Koobface.HJV_3 (Worm)
Koobface.FF (Trojan)
Delf.EM (Trojan)
TDSS.ABCR (Trojan)
SecurityTool.W (Trojan)

So if you see this happening, get off the internet, reboot your PC and run a complete system series of scans. Check out our past article on how to remove this type of infection.

Here is some more technical jargon about it for those wishing to geek into it.

The Worm performs the following DNS queries:

•www.google.com
•facebook.com
•www.facebook.com
•d.static.ak.fbcdn.net
•x-treme-radio.host22.com
•www.ashiww.com
•www.wahdohotel.nl
•kingswoodwright.com
•kbfgb.greyzzsecure9.com
•3064972.greyzzsecure9.com
The Worm attempts to load various web pages using random page names with the .css extension:
•http://206.160.{removed}.9/rsrc.php/yW/r/Xx2bs9YPnF_.css
•http://206.160.{removed}.9/rsrc.php/ye/r/vOYlUxHAn95.css
•http://206.160.{removed}.9/rsrc.php/yS/r/w4doJXgUPVR.css
•http://206.160.{removed}.43/rsrc.php/yX/r/pWROpoRFF42.css
•http://206.160.{removed}.9/rsrc.php/y4/r/LIj01FurENH.css
•http://206.160.{removed}.9/rsrc.php/yE/r/4Kozs88a56s.css
•http://206.160.{removed}.43/rsrc.php/yQ/r/dvBK5Hfjbcc.css
•http://206.160.{removed}.43/rsrc.php/y-/r/Ki5kfy7_Bje.css
•http://206.160.{removed}.9/rsrc.php/yL/r/u8Bue217GRs.css
•http://206.160.{removed}.9/rsrc.php/yW/r/Xx2bs9YPnF_.css
The Worm installs the following files on the system:

•C:\Documents and Settings\{USER}\Local Settings\Temp\feb.bat
•C:\Documents and Settings\{USER}\Local Settings\Temp\zpskon_1296703528.exe [Detected as GAV: Koobface.FF (Trojan)]
•C:\Documents and Settings\{USER}\Local Settings\Temp\zpskon_1296699165.exe [Detected as GAV: Delf.EM (Trojan)]
•C:\WINDOWS\5456456z
•C:\WINDOWS\bt7.dat
•C:\WINDOWS\jjp156.exe [Detected as GAV: Koobface.HJV_2 (Worm)]
•C:\WINDOWS\system32\feb.dll [Detected as GAV: Koobface.HJV_3 (Worm)]
•C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\feb.sys [Detected as GAV: Koobface.FF (Trojan)]
feb.bat contains:
netsh firewall add allowedprogram name=”feb” program=”C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe” mode=enable
netsh firewall add portopening tcp 8087 feb enable
sc create “ffeb” type= interact type= share start= auto binpath= “C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe -k ffeb”
reg add “hklm\system\currentcontrolset\services\ffeb\parameters” /v servicedll /t reg_expand_sz /d “C:\WINDOWS\system32\feb.dll” /f
reg add “hklm\system\currentcontrolset\services\ffeb” /v failureactions /t reg_binary /d 00000000000000000000000003000000140000000100000060ea00000100000060ea00000100000060ea0000 /f
reg add “hklm\software\microsoft\windows nt\currentversion\svchost” /v ffeb /t reg_multi_sz /d “ffeb\0″ /f
sc start ffeb
feb.dll contains a list or URL’s all of which are either taken down or lead to blank pages at the time of writing. Below is a sample of the URL’s contained feb.dll:
•impri{removed}.gr/.lhinrs/
•hk{removed}.org/.ycguh3/
•roomservi{removed}.com.au/.9mov05w/
•nubs.wo{removed}.co.uk/.7txq/
•lenga{removed}.com/.ck5rg8/
•cayenneo{removed}.com/.fplf/
•www.dead{removed}.co.uk/.qe9v/
•ib{removed}.org.il/.5cei7f9/
•www.kurdist{removed}.com/.x5fyik/
•heali{removed}.co.za/.12vatd/
•forwardmar{removed}.org/.6sta03t/
•numerus-{removed}.fr/.li81/
•fino{removed}.com/.ea2cuwa/
•fe{removed}.co.za/.jts51/
•tarr{removed}.com/.5fu3/
•toppla{removed}.nl/.vfnc/
•www.fishingfo{removed}.com/.5wmm9/
The worm installs the following registry keys to ensure startup of jjp156.exe and the feb.sys driver:
•HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer NoAutoUpdate dword:00000001
•HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer NoWindowsUpdate dword:00000001
•HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SvcHost ffeb hex(7):66,66,65,62,00,00,
•HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run dfg49df “c:\windows\jjp156.exe”
•HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\LEGACY_FEB NextInstance dword:00000001
•HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\LEGACY_FEB\0000 Service “feb”
•HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\feb ImagePath hex(2):”\??\C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\feb.sys”

The alert, which was issued in error, caused computers running Windows XP Service Pack 3 to go into a continuous reboot cycle. Other users were met with blue screens, loss of network connectivity, and inability to use USB devices.

The company says it will reimburse “reasonable expenses” for service repairs. Users who have already incurred costs to repair their PC are also covered.

In the rare case a computer was rendered inoperable or severely impaired due to the faulty file release, McAfee (News – Alert) is offering the user a free, two-year extension of their existing McAfee subscription. The company said only a “small percentage” of its customers had permanent damage to their computers

Meanwhile the company urges users who are experiencing problems to contact its call center to see if technicians can resolve those issues remotely — before taking the computer to a repair center. If a technician is unable to solve the problem, McAfee said it will provide the necessary software, either via a download or express delivery.

As per a report on PC World, the problem began last Wednesday (April 21st) when a faulty signature update DAT file disrupted the svchost.exe file on “a subset of systems” using McAfee VirusScan Enterprise on Windows XP service pack 3. Users with VirusScan Enterprise 8.7 experienced more severe problems than those running version 8.5, McAfee said, “because of the different implementation of memory scanning within the products.”

McAfee said the problem occurred when a faulty DAT file got through the testing process. Apparently the DAT file recognized one of the Windows .exe files as a virus and continuously tried to remove it.

It appears McAfee will be offering reimbursement both to organizations whose IT departments had the resolve the issue on a computer-by-computer basis as well as individual users who brought their computers in for service. This could get expensive for McAfee: As one user wrote in the comments section of one article: “I’m a PC Tech at a major corporation. Not only is the direct costs very expensive, but the impact this has caused in the delay to address other IT issues is huge.”

Although the company has a special page posted to its website telling affected users what to do, and offering self-serve fixes, it has not yet posted any information posted concerning the process for getting reimbursed, saying that it will be posted “within a few days.”

Here is a link to their web site http://us.mcafee.com/en-us/landingpages/np5959.asp

In the last 3 weeks we have received more calls per day than we receive in a normal month from people who have pop-ups claiming they are infected or who actually clicked on the pop-up and became infected.

Hacker and @#^&*%$ heads are using news events to spread these fake alerts and infecting computers.

The wild fire stories, the Obama speech in schools, Ted (I can kill and get away with it) Kennedys death, all have sprouted a flurry of fake security warnings, infected e-mail (Phishing attacks), and fake web sites.

Without creating a 3 hour seminar, here are the basics…

1. Quit searching the internet for “fantastic” stories. Within hours of Michael Jackson’s death 212 new web sites that were infected with crap-ware popped up proposing to be Michael Jackson sites. There were also dozens of different emails with links to or pictures of his death, all which were fake.

2. Stop using My Space and Face Book! I know this is going to get me flamed and maybe even a note from one of these “businesses” but they are @$@#$ (I really do dislike using so many language referenced but this is ridiculous). Why are you telling strangers when and where you are going on vacation? To make it easier to rob you? Why are you telling the world about your 4 year old grandchild’s ability to ride his bike down the street? So the local pedophiles know where to pick him up for a little “play time”? Do you just like complaining about the cost of getting crap-ware and infections off your computer?

3. Just stop thinking the world owes you free anything. Free music, programs, data, cheese… in this age of ever expanding socialism in America, you must remember, nothing comes without a price. Limewire is a perfect example of what happens. Hackers get into or create all this “free” content management, take over your computer, infect your computer and more. That is how terrorist in Iran got plans to the presidential helicopter. Turn on the radio or go to your local radio stations web site, go to the local video store or Netflix to get a movie.

4. Stop forwarding junk emails. “Verified by Snopes” – what a crock. Almost daily I “reply all” to the sender of this type of stupidity and give actual links to Snopes and other  sources showing the hype and falsity of their fantasy. Just because you don’t like the current US President does not mean you can hope hatred or that he is not a US citizen will remove him from office. The Democratic Party may be the dumocrats to many but they certainly would not make that mistake, just quit forwarding the email.

If you received it in all capitals or with large colorful letters, underlines bolded et al please for the love of Jesus (I know the one who sent it to you told them Jesus asked them to forward it – He didn’t, I double-checked in person this morning) stop forwarding this junk.

5. Read what you are installing or updating and NEVER accept the defaults. People consistently ask me how they acquired 4, 5, 6 or more toolbars. Yes, you need the Adobe and JAVA updates but please pay attention, you should take the extra 30 seconds of your life and read each screen before selecting “Next”.

Now that I have offended most of you, what can you do if you have already been infected?

1. Update and run your PAID FOR, quality, properly configured anti-virus program (Kaspersky http://www.kaspersky.com and ESET http://www.eset.com).

2. Install, update, configure and run a real copy of Malware Bytes http://www.malwarebytes.org/ and Spybot Search and Destroy http://www.safer-networking.org

The above are excellent programs and many malicious people have created fake sites leading to crap-ware, USE the links I have provided.

There are numerous other good to excellent programs that can be used to clean up an infection, just be sure of the program and then the source where you are getting the program from.

There are several other security basics home users should have and many great hardware and software tools for Micro and Small businesses to use. Just search this site for the many articles on security your computers and network.

Until I cool off, have a virus free week!