Ried

Hi ML,

There's no harm in you installing PC Mighty Max but as you've seen, it's of no help when malware is the cause of system problems.

What I am seeing in these logs doesn't appear to be the cause of all the issues you've mentioned. I know it's inconvenient, but I'd like you to download and run another tool and see if we can ferret out any other malware that may be present.


Please copy this page to Notepad and save to your desktop for reference as you will not have any browsers open while you are carrying out portions of these instructions.

It is IMPORTANT that you don't miss a step & perform everything in the correct order/sequence.

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Use another computer and download to either CD or flashdrive if need be:

Download ewido anti-spyware from HERE and save that file to your desktop.
This is a 30 day trial of the program

1. Once you have downloaded ewido anti-spyware, locate the icon on the desktop and double-click it to launch the set up program.
2. Once the setup is complete you will need run ewido and update the definition files.
3. On the main screen select the icon "Update" then select the "Update now" link.
   • Next select the "Start Update" button, the update will start and a progress bar will show the updates being installed.
4. Once the update has completed select the "Scanner" icon at the top of the screen, then select the "Settings" tab.
5. Once in the Settings screen click on "Recommended actions" and then select "Quarantine".
6. Under "Reports"
   • Select "Automatically generate report after every scan"
   • Un-Select "Only if threats were found"

Close ewido anti-spyware, Do Not run a scan just yet, we will shortly

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Please reboot your computer in Safe Mode by doing the following:
1) Restart your computer
2) After hearing your computer beep once during startup, but before the Windows icon appears, press F8.
3) Instead of Windows loading as normal, a menu should appear
4) Use the up arrow key to highlight Safe Mode and press Enter.
5) Login with your usual account. Make sure to close any open browsers.

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Uninstall the following via the Add/Remove Panel (Start->(Settings)->Control Panel->Add/Remove Programs) if they exist:

MyWebSearch
MyWebSearchAssistant

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Open HijackThis and click on 'Do a System Scan Only'. Check the following entries if they exist: (make sure you do not miss any)

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.dell.co.uk/myway
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.dell.co.uk/myway
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.dell.co.uk/myway
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.dell.co.uk/myway
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://www.dell.co.uk/myway
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {00A6FAF6-072E-44cf-8957-5838F569A31D} - C:\Program Files\MyWebSearch\SrchAstt\2.bin\MWSSRCAS.DLL
O2 - BHO: MyWebSearch Search Assistant BHO - {00A6FAF1-072E-44cf-8957-5838F569A31D} - C:\Program Files\MyWebSearch\SrchAstt\2.bin\MWSSRCAS.DLL
O2 - BHO: mwsBar BHO - {07B18EA1-A523-4961-B6BB-170DE4475CCA} - C:\Program Files\MyWebSearch\bar\2.bin\MWSBAR.DLL
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MyWebSearch Email Plugin] C:\PROGRA~1\MYWEBS~1\bar\2.bin\mwsoemon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [My Web Search Bar] rundll32 C:\PROGRA~1\MYWEBS~1\bar\2.bin\MWSBAR.DLL,S
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MyWebSearch Email Plugin] C:\PROGRA~1\MYWEBS~1\bar\2.bin\mwsoemon.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Search - http://edits.mywebsearch.com/toolbar...p=ZBzeb032YYGB
O16 - DPF: {1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB} - http://ak.exe.imgfarm.com/images/noc...up1.0.0.15.exe

Click 'Fix Checked' and close HijackThis.

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Go to My Computer->Tools->Folder Options->View tab:
* Under the Hidden files and folders heading:
* select Show hidden files and folders.
* Uncheck Hide protected operating system files (recommended) option.
*Also, make sure there is no checkmark beside Hide file extensions for known file types.
* Click OK.

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Delete the following Folder if it still exists. **NOTE: If Explorer still doesn't work, try using your Search feature to locate and delete the folder. Click Start>Search>All files and folders

C:\Program Files\MyWebSearch

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IMPORTANT: Do not open any other windows or programs while ewido is scanning, it may interfere with the scanning proccess:

• Lauch ewido-anti-spyware by double-clicking the icon on your desktop.
• Select the "Scanner" icon at the top and then the "Scan" tab then click on "Complete System Scan".
• ewido will now begin the scanning process, be patient this may take a little time.
  Once the scan is complete do the following:
• If you have any infections you will prompted, then select "Apply all actions" **Please ensure it is set to Quarantine
• Next select the "Reports" icon at the top.
• Select the "Save report as" button in the lower left hand of the screen and save it to a text file on your system (make sure to remember where you saved that file, this is important).
• Close ewido and reboot your system back into Normal Mode and post the results of the ewido report scan.

**Ewido is compatible with most AV and anti-spyware products, and the free version will continue to be useful as a second anti-malware scanner.

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Reboot into Normal Mode.

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If you can access the internet now, please do the following:

Perform an online scan using Internet Explorer with Panda ActiveScan
** click on "Free use ActiveScan" located on the top right hand corner

1. Click Check Now & a 'pop up' window shall appear. *ensure that your pop up blocker doesn't block it
2. Enter your e-mail address, country, and state & click Scan Now ...begins downloading 8 MB Panda's ActiveX controls

Begin the scan by selecting My Computer

• If it finds any malware, it will offer you a report.
• Please ignore any entry it finds and wants you to buy the program for removal as we will address this later.
• Click on see report. Then click Save report

Please include the following in your next reply:

Ewido results
Panda results
New HijackThis log

Please provide an update on how the system is behaving.