Malware/Virus infection - Control Panel items missing, etc

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  1. Posts : 120
    Win7 Pro 64-bit sp1
       #1

    Malware/Virus infection - Control Panel items missing, etc


    I just reinstalled Windows yesterday - I can't believe i got infected so quickly b/c I hardly used the computer. I foolishly waited to install Avast, which I'd been using for years w/out any problems. I thought, I expected Windows Defender and Firewall to keep me safe. Guess not.

    I was able to use gpedit.msc to restore Task Manager but a bunch of stuff is missing from the Control Panel. I tried running Malwarebytes in Safe Mode but it just hangs at the rootkit scan. Also Avast won't load at all, keeps giving me a "Well this is embarrassing..." message.
    Can anyone suggest a way back to normal w/out resinstalling Windows? If I have to I will but I think, I hope this is a fairly easy fix.
    Any thoughts you care to share will be much appreciated - thanks!


    ps - I was able to run a boot-time scan with Avast from the Cmd prompt, which is running now. I did one earlier this morning, right when I noticed the symptoms of infection - before Avast kept giving me the "Well this is embarrassing..." message, but it didn't find anything at that time. It did find 2 viruses during a regular scan which it moved to the Virus Chest.


    Thanks for reading... I know you guys aren't devoted to malware per se but the old sites that used to analyze HijackThis logs seem to be gone...?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6,021
    Win 7 HP SP1 64-bit Vista HB SP2 32-bit Linux Mint 18.3
       #2

    Hi rcanino,

    rcanino said:
    I just reinstalled Windows yesterday - I can't believe i got infected so quickly b/c I hardly used the computer.
    What did you use to re-install Win 7?

    Was it an installation DVD/USB or an ISO that you downloaded and burnt to a DVD/USB. If it was, where did you get it from?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 120
    Win7 Pro 64-bit sp1
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks for your reply Paul -



    It's an OEM disc I bought years ago from newegg. I used it for the first time about a year ago (on the same computer) then, after my boot drive went belly-up last week I used it again yesterday.


    btw I did let Windows Update install everything with the exception of the 2019 monthly roll-ups. That's how the system was running before so I figured I'd duplicate it. There's no "cracked" software or anything that's not legit on it; it's just the OS and a few apps I like to use.


    edit: the boot-scan from Avast just finished and found nothing.
    the good news is the system booted to Windows and all my control icons/items are back, and Avast seems to be behaving correctly.


    In the Virus Chest I have 2 entries:


    IDP.ALEXA.51 - the infected file is HjUyu.exe in AppData/Roaming


    Win32:Malware-gen - the infected file is dslhost.ext in Program Files(x86)\DSL Host


    I haven't plugged my internet connection back in yet...still worried this system is infected.


    I ran AviraDNSRepair and it said my DNS had not been changed, for whatever that's worth.


    Thanks Paul!
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 6,021
    Win 7 HP SP1 64-bit Vista HB SP2 32-bit Linux Mint 18.3
       #4

    Hi rcanino,

    rcanino said:
    It's an OEM disc I bought years ago from newegg. I used it for the first time about a year ago (on the same computer) then, after my boot drive went belly-up last week I used it again yesterday.

    btw I did let Windows Update install everything with the exception of the 2019 monthly roll-ups. That's how the system was running before so I figured I'd duplicate it. There's no "cracked" software or anything that's not legit on it; it's just the OS and a few apps I like to use.

    edit: the boot-scan from Avast just finished and found nothing.
    the good news is the system booted to Windows and all my control icons/items are back, and Avast seems to be behaving correctly.
    NOTE: The light blue text below are links to the relevant websites and programs, just click them!

    SUGGESTION: Since you are happy with the way the OS is running at the moment, create a system image. This way, if things go wrong in the future, you will be able to restore your OS back to the exact same state that it is NOW in a very short time. There are two imaging programs which are very popular among members here, the first is AOMEI Backupper Standard [FREE], and the second is Macrium Reflect [FREE].

    I hope this helps!
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 120
    Win7 Pro 64-bit sp1
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks Paul - I will probably use Macrium and clone my boot drive to a spare SSD I have.


    One question- is there any way to determine for sure if the system is clean? I mean besides the obvious "just keep using it and watch for symptoms."


    Do you have any favorite - hopefully free - A/V and Malware scanners? I don't mind spending the day running scans. Avast seems happy but I had nothing but trouble with MalwareBytes...Maybe I should download it and try it again.


    Last question (i hope!) - is there any reason not to install all the Windows Updates? This is a Win7 Pro system and I do not want to deal with nag screens about updating to Win10. I think that's why I stopped running updates toward the end of last year but I don't remember for sure. Anyway when I stopped updating I had no problems...but my online behavior is very conservative these days. (that's why I'm so surprised I got whacked this morning - whatever it was)
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 6,021
    Win 7 HP SP1 64-bit Vista HB SP2 32-bit Linux Mint 18.3
       #6

    Hi rcanino,

    rcanino said:
    One question- is there any way to determine for sure if the system is clean? I mean besides the obvious "just keep using it and watch for symptoms."

    Do you have any favorite - hopefully free - A/V and Malware scanners? I don't mind spending the day running scans. Avast seems happy but I had nothing but trouble with MalwareBytes...Maybe I should download it and try it again.
    Many members here have their own particular favourites as they will probably post. I personally have always used AVG [FREE] and MalwareBytes [FREE] and I have never had any problems!

    I hope this helps!
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 120
    Win7 Pro 64-bit sp1
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Thanks Paul - for all your help...hopefully I'm good to go...sure wish I knew what the heck zapped me though...
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6,021
    Win 7 HP SP1 64-bit Vista HB SP2 32-bit Linux Mint 18.3
       #8

    Hi rcanino,

    rcanino said:
    Thanks Paul - for all your help...hopefully I'm good to go...sure wish I knew what the heck zapped me though...
    You're welcome!
    I will try and have a look into the two in the virus chest later or tomorrow!
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 120
    Win7 Pro 64-bit sp1
    Thread Starter
       #9

    i googled them and they both come up as possibly false positives. I guess I won't worry about them. Thanks again!


    One nagging problem -Malwarebytes refuses to complete a scan - it hangs the whole computer. I checked "Rootkit Scan" in the Settings then clicked Threat Scan - it got to the Rootkit section and stalled. It strange b/c I've used the free version of MWB for years and never had an issue.
    Last edited by rcanino; 07 Jul 2019 at 13:52.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 6,021
    Win 7 HP SP1 64-bit Vista HB SP2 32-bit Linux Mint 18.3
       #10

    Hi rcanino,

    rcanino said:
    One nagging problem - Malwarebytes refuses to complete a scan - it hangs the whole computer. I checked "Rootkit Scan" in the Settings then clicked Threat Scan - it got to the Rootkit section and stalled.
    Very strange! Have you tried downloading Malwarebytes again or tried the scan after a reboot?
      My Computer


 
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