I am having endless headaches from Spyware attacks. My symptoms thus far have been:

Homepage kept changing
Searchbar kept appearing at bottom of browser pages
New pages would open without request throughout session

Each time I ran AdAware or CW Shredder, it would find the same things. CW Shredder would delete the CWS Bootconfg and it would come back immediately.

I ran Hijack many times and have deleted MANythings and now it is stripped down to the minimum. I always remove the lines referencing "search" but they always comeback (R1 through O1). This is what it looks like now:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 6:08:51 PM, on 5/16/2004
Platform: Windows XP (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 (6.00.2800.1106)

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\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\qttask.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\VGAREA~1\SPAM COAL.exe
C:\Program Files\Common files\WinTools\WToolsA.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common files\WinTools\WToolsS.exe
C:\Program Files\Common files\WinTools\WSup.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\C S\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 7 for hijackthis1977.zip\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.websearch.com/ie.aspx?tb_id=50032
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://searchexe.com/searchbar.html
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://searchexe.com/searchbar.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://searchexe.com/searchbar.html
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.websearch.com/ie.aspx?tb_id=50032
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,SearchAssistant = http://www.websearch.com/ie.aspx?tb_id=50032
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {87766247-311C-43B4-8499-3D5FEC94A183} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\WinTools\WToolsB.dll
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 auto.search.msn.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 search.netscape.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 ieautosearch
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {87766247-311C-43B4-8499-3D5FEC94A183} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\WinTools\WToolsB.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinampAgent] "C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] C:\WINDOWS\System32\qttask.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinTools] C:\Program Files\Common files\WinTools\WToolsA.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SFPW] C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Snapfish Photo Wizard.exe
O4 - Startup: HotSync Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O16 - DPF: {02BCC737-B171-4746-94C9-0D8A0B2C0089} (Microsoft Office Template and Media Control) - http://office.microsoft.com/templates/ieawsdc.cab
O16 - DPF: {0E5F0222-96B9-11D3-8997-00104BD12D94} (PCPitstop Utility) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/PCPitStop.CAB
O16 - DPF: {11260943-421B-11D0-8EAC-0000C07D88CF} (iPIX ActiveX Control) - http://www.ipix.com/viewers/ipixx.cab
O16 - DPF: {1239CC52-59EF-4DFA-8C61-90FFA846DF7E} (Musicnotes Viewer) - http://www.musicnotes.com/download/mnviewer.cab
O16 - DPF: {43B70AAD-23F4-4FD8-ADD9-441D8592EEB8} (Snapfish Fix Photo Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishImageEditor.cab
O16 - DPF: {5763F8E8-0DD7-4A0F-ADB0-9F64C8F2C349} (Pixami/Snapfish Upload UI Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishUploader.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?37937.8772106481
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab


please tell me how to make this go away permanently. Thanks so much.

Unzip HJT into it's own permanent folder before doing anything in order for it to create backups. (Not a temporary folder or the desktop & not directly on your hard drive). Close all (browser) windows & rescan with hijackthis. When the scan is finished place a check in the box to the left of the following entries & click 'fix checked' :

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://searchexe.com/searchbar.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://searchexe.com/searchbar.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://searchexe.com/searchbar.html
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {87766247-311C-43B4-8499-3D5FEC94A183} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\WinTools\WToolsB.dll

O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 auto.search.msn.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 search.netscape.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 ieautosearch

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {87766247-311C-43B4-8499-3D5FEC94A183} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\WinTools\WToolsB.dll

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinTools] C:\Program Files\Common files\WinTools\WToolsA.exe

Reboot into safe mode following the instructions here & navigate to & delete

C:\Program Files\Common files\WinTools< folder

In order to view these files you may have to select 'show hidden files/folders.' Instructions on how to here.

Reboot normally & your problem should be solved.

I did exactly that and I am still having problems. Some of the search lines came back. Here is the latest log. I can kill those 3 search lines in O1 and they always come back. Thank you so much for the help


Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 4:57:02 PM, on 5/17/2004
Platform: Windows XP (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 (6.00.2800.1106)

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\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\qttask.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\VGAREA~1\SPAM COAL.exe
C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\C S\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 11 for hijackthis1977.zip\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://yahoo.com/
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 ieautosearch
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 auto.search.msn.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 search.netscape.com
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinampAgent] "C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] C:\WINDOWS\System32\qttask.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [stylecurb] C:\PROGRA~1\VGAREA~1\SPAM COAL.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SFPW] C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Snapfish Photo Wizard.exe
O4 - Startup: HotSync Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O16 - DPF: {02BCC737-B171-4746-94C9-0D8A0B2C0089} (Microsoft Office Template and Media Control) - http://office.microsoft.com/templates/ieawsdc.cab
O16 - DPF: {0E5F0222-96B9-11D3-8997-00104BD12D94} (PCPitstop Utility) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/PCPitStop.CAB
O16 - DPF: {11260943-421B-11D0-8EAC-0000C07D88CF} (iPIX ActiveX Control) - http://www.ipix.com/viewers/ipixx.cab
O16 - DPF: {1239CC52-59EF-4DFA-8C61-90FFA846DF7E} (Musicnotes Viewer) - http://www.musicnotes.com/download/mnviewer.cab
O16 - DPF: {43B70AAD-23F4-4FD8-ADD9-441D8592EEB8} (Snapfish Fix Photo Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishImageEditor.cab
O16 - DPF: {5763F8E8-0DD7-4A0F-ADB0-9F64C8F2C349} (Pixami/Snapfish Upload UI Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishUploader.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?37937.8772106481
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab

Reboot into safe mode following the instructions here & Unzip HJT into it's own permanent folder before doing anything in order for it to create backups. (Not a temporary folder or the desktop & not directly on your hard drive). Close all (browser) windows & rescan with hijackthis. When the scan is finished place a check in the box to the left of the following entries & click 'fix checked' :

O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 ieautosearch
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 auto.search.msn.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 search.netscape.com

C:\PROGRA~1\VGAREA~1< folder

Reboot normally after doing the above then see if it comes back. If it does, navigate to your Hosts file & remove any entries that you find thers.

Sigh... I did all that... removed the boxes you had me check, deleted that folder... all from Safe Mode... and it came back. I don't understand what you meant when you said:

"If it does, navigate to your Hosts file & remove any entries that you find thers."

Dunno what the host file is.

Anyway, this is what my scan looks like now:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 6:27:58 PM, on 5/18/2004
Platform: Windows XP (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 (6.00.2800.1106)

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\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\C S\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 13 for hijackthis1977.zip\HijackThis.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://yahoo.com/
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 auto.search.msn.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 search.netscape.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 ieautosearch
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinampAgent] "C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] C:\WINDOWS\System32\qttask.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SFPW] C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Snapfish Photo Wizard.exe
O4 - Startup: HotSync Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O16 - DPF: {02BCC737-B171-4746-94C9-0D8A0B2C0089} (Microsoft Office Template and Media Control) - http://office.microsoft.com/templates/ieawsdc.cab
O16 - DPF: {0E5F0222-96B9-11D3-8997-00104BD12D94} (PCPitstop Utility) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/PCPitStop.CAB
O16 - DPF: {11260943-421B-11D0-8EAC-0000C07D88CF} (iPIX ActiveX Control) - http://www.ipix.com/viewers/ipixx.cab
O16 - DPF: {1239CC52-59EF-4DFA-8C61-90FFA846DF7E} (Musicnotes Viewer) - http://www.musicnotes.com/download/mnviewer.cab
O16 - DPF: {43B70AAD-23F4-4FD8-ADD9-441D8592EEB8} (Snapfish Fix Photo Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishImageEditor.cab
O16 - DPF: {5763F8E8-0DD7-4A0F-ADB0-9F64C8F2C349} (Pixami/Snapfish Upload UI Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishUploader.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?37937.8772106481
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab

You have a paypal account established or anything? You help so many people, I wish I could give back. Thanks.

Thank you for the offer of payment, I appreciate it, but I do this on a strictly volunteer basis. If you feel the need to donate though, I am sure this site would graciously accept it, after all, without this site I would be unable to do anything.

Do a system search for the Hosts file & when found you can open it with notepad. Delete any entries you find there.

On my W2K system it lives here: C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

Great, I found it and removed all of the entries. After rebooting, I opened IE and in addition to my hompeage, an extra page came up advertising a matchmaking page (americansingles.com). Boggled, I ran Hijack again and the lines came back.

So then I rebooted into safe mode again and ran the whole aresenal again... hijack, adaware, cwshredder, checked the hosts file... cleaned EVERYTHING I could think of and it came back AGAIN.

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 5:41:02 PM, on 5/19/2004
Platform: Windows XP (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 (6.00.2800.1106)

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\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe
C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\C S\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 14 for hijackthis1977.zip\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://yahoo.com/
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 auto.search.msn.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 search.netscape.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 ieautosearch
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinampAgent] "C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SFPW] C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Snapfish Photo Wizard.exe
O4 - Startup: HotSync Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O16 - DPF: {02BCC737-B171-4746-94C9-0D8A0B2C0089} (Microsoft Office Template and Media Control) - http://office.microsoft.com/templates/ieawsdc.cab
O16 - DPF: {0E5F0222-96B9-11D3-8997-00104BD12D94} (PCPitstop Utility) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/PCPitStop.CAB
O16 - DPF: {11260943-421B-11D0-8EAC-0000C07D88CF} (iPIX ActiveX Control) - http://www.ipix.com/viewers/ipixx.cab
O16 - DPF: {1239CC52-59EF-4DFA-8C61-90FFA846DF7E} (Musicnotes Viewer) - http://www.musicnotes.com/download/mnviewer.cab
O16 - DPF: {43B70AAD-23F4-4FD8-ADD9-441D8592EEB8} (Snapfish Fix Photo Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishImageEditor.cab
O16 - DPF: {5763F8E8-0DD7-4A0F-ADB0-9F64C8F2C349} (Pixami/Snapfish Upload UI Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishUploader.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?37937.8772106481
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab

here it is again after I cleaned it with all of the tools I had:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 6:41:38 PM, on 5/19/2004
Platform: Windows XP (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 (6.00.2800.1106)

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\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe
C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\hijackthis\HijackThis.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://yahoo.com/
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 auto.search.msn.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 search.netscape.com
O1 - Hosts: 207.36.196.189 ieautosearch
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinampAgent] "C:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SFPW] C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Devmon.exe C:\Program Files\Snapfish\Snapfish Photo Wizard.exe
O4 - Startup: HotSync Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\HOTSYNC.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O16 - DPF: {0E5F0222-96B9-11D3-8997-00104BD12D94} (PCPitstop Utility) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/PCPitStop.CAB
O16 - DPF: {1239CC52-59EF-4DFA-8C61-90FFA846DF7E} (Musicnotes Viewer) - http://www.musicnotes.com/download/mnviewer.cab
O16 - DPF: {43B70AAD-23F4-4FD8-ADD9-441D8592EEB8} (Snapfish Fix Photo Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishImageEditor.cab
O16 - DPF: {5763F8E8-0DD7-4A0F-ADB0-9F64C8F2C349} (Pixami/Snapfish Upload UI Control) - http://www.snapfish.com/SnapfishUploader.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab

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