Wierd, random messages during virus scan

[ShogunOfHarlem]

Ok, this young lady who's computer I occasionally work on had a really, really weird issue the other day, one I haven't been able to replicate.

When using a boot-time virus scan (avast) she noticed that, in addition to the normal scanning information, there was also messages scrolling across the screen to the tune of: we have the bombs; We're watching you; Unload your ammo and get the girl; Bombs away; etc etc. of similar nature. Obviously she was a little concerned, so she called me up. I checked the machine, no obvious malware, no viruses I could find with avast, trend micro or etrust, no spyware I could find...

Now, I have no idea what could have caused this to begin with. From what I understood, a boot-time scan took place before any network initialization, any operating system files could run, etc. I don't know how a virus, trojan, or anything else could cause this. I'm on the verge of just reformatting the machine, just to be sure.


Anyone ever heard of a similar issue?

 

[Lemon law]

To Shogun of Harlem,

It sounds very much like malware. And avast, simply does not have the best detection rates among AV's. And once installed, malware has innumerable ways to hide from conventional scanners. Nuking the hard drive will almost certainly get it, but the question is; can you get the malware by alternate less drastic means? I have three basic suggestions.

1. Check for a root kit---just googling root kit should get some links for programs that will check for a root kit.

2. Do some free on line scans---Kaspersky and trend micro are two such sites. I would also recommend trying a free trial of something like spyware doctor. Because you don't know what you have---this could be more in the spyware area than a virus or trojan. And also check out the consolidated security thread in the software section.

3. Go to www.spywarewarrior.com and read up on how to generate and post a hihjack this logfile.
That forum has expert log readers that can help you remove what ails you. And that often works when all else fails.

And I should also point out you have already done the most important thing. Namely posted your problem on a forum. The fact that I can't offer more specific advice does not mean that someone else can't be far more helpful. And with luck someone can offer a more focused removal tool.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Try the Mcafee command line scanner. Search for the topic r make a thread.

It runs in safe mode so it usually immune to things like anti virus hijackers.

Hijackthis should also let you see the problem.

 

[mechBgon]

I love the weird messages! 😀 "All your base are belong to us" sounds like it would've fit right in.

You may want to change her from Avast to the free version of Kaspersky in the future, because as Lemon law points out, Avast is not all that hot. Make sure you fully arm it: configuration suggestions Kaspersky updates 24 time a day to keep up-to-speed on the latest malware better.

more security strategies for home computers

Welcome to the Forums 🙂

Oh, and for the McAfee command-line scanner tenshodo13 mentioned, visit John's malware-removal guide and scroll down about halfway for the how-to. Follow the directions carefully, including using Safe Mode With Command Prompt.

 

[ShogunOfHarlem]

here's that log.
Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.0 (BETA)
Scan saved at 1:16:53 PM, on 5/5/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
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:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\GEARSec.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$MICROSOFTSMLBIZ\Binn\sqlservr.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Ghost\Agent\VProSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\Core\smax4pnp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\DLA\DLACTRLW.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\1.2.1128.5462\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell Support\DSAgnt.exe
C:\Program Files\Sony\Sony Picture Utility\VolumeWatcher\SPUVolumeWatcher.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILL~1\FIREFOX.EXE
C:\Documents and Settings\Melanie\Desktop\HiJackThis_v2.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 =
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
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,First Home Page =
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54843
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! Toolbar Helper -
{02478D38-C3F9-4EFB-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program
Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper -
{06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program
Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: DriveLetterAccess - {5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890} -
C:\WINDOWS\System32\DLA\DLASHX_W.DLL
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} -
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper -
{AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program
files\google\googletoolbar4.dll
O2 - BHO: CBrowserHelperObject Object -
{CA6319C0-31B7-401E-A518-A07C3DB8F777} - C:\Program Files\BAE\BAE.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88}
- C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} -
c:\program files\google\googletoolbar4.dll
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {0BF43445-2F28-4351-9252-17FE6E806AA0} - (no file)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMAXPnP] C:\Program Files\Analog
Devices\Core\smax4pnp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Persistence] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSScheduler] "C:\Program Files\Common
Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe" -start
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSPM Startup]
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\INSTAL~1\UPDATE~1\ISUSPM.exe -startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DLA] C:\WINDOWS\System32\DLA\DLACTRLW.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec
Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast!] C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] C:\Program
Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\1.2.1128.5462\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DellSupport] "C:\Program Files\Dell
Support\DSAgnt.exe" /startup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Startup: Cyber-shot Viewer Media Check Tool.lnk = C:\Program
Files\Sony\Sony Picture Utility\VolumeWatcher\SPUVolumeWatcher.exe
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501}
- C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console -
{08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program
Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} -
C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} -
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Shdocvw.dll
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: {4ED9DDF0-7479-4BBE-9335-5A1EDB1D8A21} -
http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/shared/mcinsctl/4,0,0,101/mcinsctl.cab
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: C:\PROGRA~1\Google\GOOGLE~1\GOEC62~1.DLL
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader -
{438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} -
C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon -
{8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} -
C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: avast! iAVS4 Control Service (aswUpdSv) - Unknown owner
- C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - Unknown owner - C:\Program
Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Mail Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program
Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Web Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program
Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec
Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec
Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Password Validation (ccPwdSvc) - Symantec
Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec
Shared\ccPwdSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Symantec
Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec
Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
O23 - Service: GEARSecurity - GEAR Software - C:\WINDOWS\System32\GEARSec.exe
O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program
Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: Intel NCS NetService (NetSvc) - Intel(R) Corporation -
C:\Program Files\Intel\PROSetWired\NCS\Sync\NetSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Norton Ghost - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program
Files\Norton Ghost\Agent\VProSvc.exe
O23 - Service: RLHPO - Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com -
C:\DOCUME~1\Melanie\LOCALS~1\Temp\RLHPO.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Core LC - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program
Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe

--
End of file - 7602 bytes

 

[ShogunOfHarlem]

Also, I did use rootkit revealer.

 

[mechBgon]

1) uninstall Avast, then reboot.

2) then install the free 30-day trialware of Kaspersky AntiVirus 6 (full version) (link on this page) and reboot.

3) configure Kaspersky as shown on that page, update it, reboot if needed, then run a full Scan My Computer.

4) follow the directions on John's page for the manual McAfee scan as well, including using Safe Mode With Command Prompt.

5) once the system is clean, uninstall the old versions of Sun Java using the Add/Remove Programs, then install Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6u1 and go to http://secunia.com/software_inspector to check the system for vulnerable stuff that needs updates.