fast connect

Yesterday I noticed an icon in my search window called Fast Connect. There was a shortcut icon on the desktop too. I uninstalled Fast Connect and was wondering if this is malware and if I should do something further to eradicate it? thanks!!!

Hello and welcome to GeekPolice.Net My name is Dave. I will be helping you out with your particular problem on your computer.

1. I will be working on your Malware issues. This may or may not solve other issues you have with your machine.
2. The fixes are specific to your problem and should only be used for this issue on this machine.
3. If you don't know or understand something, please don't hesitate to ask.
4. Please DO NOT run any other tools or scans while I am helping you.
5. It is important that you reply to this thread. Do not start a new topic.
6. Your security programs may give warnings for some of the tools I will ask you to use. Be assured, any links I give are safe.
7. Absence of symptoms does not mean that everything is clear.

If you can't access the internet with your infected computer you will have to download and transfer any programs to the computer you're using now and transfer them to the infected computer with a CD-RW or a USB storage device. I prefer a CD because a storage device can get infected. If you use a storage device hold the shift key down while inserting the USB storage device for about 10 secs. You will also have to transfer the logs you receive back to the good computer using the same method until we can get the computer back on-line.
*************************************************************************
Let's run a few scans and see what turns up.

Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode onto your Desktop.

Before starting AdwCleaner, close all open programs and internet browsers, then double-click on the AdwCleaner icon.



If Windows prompts you as to whether or not you wish to run AdwCleaner, please allow it to run.
When the AdwCleaner program will open, click on the Scan button as shown below.



AdwCleaner will now start to search for malicious files that may be installed on your computer.
To remove the files that were detected in the previous step, please click on the Clean button.



AdwCleaner will now prompt you to save any open files or data as the program will need to reboot the computer. Please do so and then click on the OK button. AdwCleaner will now delete all detected adware from your computer. When it is done it will display an alert that explains what PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) and Adware are. Please read through this information and then press the OK button. You will now be presented with an alert that states AdwCleaner needs to reboot your computer.
Please click on the OK button to allow AdwCleaner reboot your computer.A log will be produced. Please copy and paste this log in your next reply.
*********************************************
Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware from here.
Double Click mbam-setup.exe to install the application.

• It should update automatically if the computer is connected to the internet.
  
• Click on Threat Scan and click on Scan Now.
  
• The scan may take some time to finish,so please be patient.
  
• When the scan is complete make sure all the infections have "quarantine" selected in the Action box.
  
• Click on "Apply actions" You may be asked to Restart your computer to completely remove the infections.
  
• When disinfection is completed you can click on "Copy to Clipboard".
  
• Paste the log in you next reply (CTRL+ V)
  

*************************************************
Please download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop.

•Warning! Once the scan is complete JRT will shut down your browser with NO warning.

•Shut down your protection software now to avoid potential conflicts.

•Temporarily disable your Antivirus and any Antispyware real time protection before performing a scan. Click this link to see a list of security programs that should be disabled and how to disable them.

•Run the tool by double-clicking it. If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7, right-click JRT and select Run as Administrator

•The tool will open and start scanning your system.

•Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system's specifications.

•On completion, a log (JRT.txt) is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.

•Copy and Paste the JRT.txt log into your next message.
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Download Security Check by screen317 from one of the following links and save it to your desktop.

Link 1
Link 2

* Double-click Security Check.bat
* Follow the on-screen instructions inside of the black box.
* A Notepad document should open automatically called checkup.txt
* Post the contents of that document in your next reply.

Note: If a security program requests permission from dig.exe to access the Internet, allow it to do so.

Thanks!
Adwcleaner:
# AdwCleaner v4.104 - Report created 05/12/2014 at 17:34:17
# Updated 05/12/2014 by Xplode
# Database : 2014-12-03.1 [Live]
# Operating System : Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1 (64 bits)
# Username : John - JOHN-HP
# Running from : C:\Users\John\Downloads\adwcleaner_4.104.exe
# Option : Clean

***** [ Services ] *****


***** [ Files / Folders ] *****

Folder Deleted : C:\Users\John\AppData\Roaming\registry mechanic

***** [ Scheduled Tasks ] *****


***** [ Shortcuts ] *****


***** [ Registry ] *****

Key Deleted : HKLM\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\Extensions\bopakagnckmlgajfccecajhnimjiiedh
Key Deleted : HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\DOMStorage\superfish.com
Key Deleted : HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\DOMStorage\www.superfish.com
Key Deleted : [x64] HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{EC29EDF6-AD3C-4E1C-A087-D6CB81400C43}
Key Deleted : [x64] HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{EC29EDF6-AD3C-4E1C-A087-D6CB81400C43}

***** [ Browsers ] *****

-\\ Internet Explorer v11.0.9600.17420


-\\ Mozilla Firefox v33.1 (x86 en-US)


-\\ Google Chrome v39.0.2171.71


*************************

AdwCleaner[R0].txt - [3218 octets] - [01/04/2014 19:46:26]
AdwCleaner[R1].txt - [1027 octets] - [02/04/2014 17:22:36]
AdwCleaner[R2].txt - [1212 octets] - [07/05/2014 14:46:33]
AdwCleaner[R3].txt - [1717 octets] - [05/12/2014 17:32:10]
AdwCleaner[S0].txt - [2982 octets] - [01/04/2014 19:47:01]
AdwCleaner[S1].txt - [1089 octets] - [02/04/2014 21:20:50]
AdwCleaner[S2].txt - [1276 octets] - [07/05/2014 14:47:28]
AdwCleaner[S3].txt - [1642 octets] - [05/12/2014 17:34:17]

########## EOF - C:\AdwCleaner\AdwCleaner[S3].txt - [1702 octets] ##########

MBAM:
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 12/5/2014
Scan Time: 6:00:48 PM
Logfile: MBAMscan.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.00.4.1028
Malware Database: v2014.12.06.02
Rootkit Database: v2014.12.03.01
License: Free
Malware Protection: Disabled
Malicious Website Protection: Disabled
Self-protection: Disabled

OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: John

Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 343020
Time Elapsed: 24 min, 27 sec

Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Enabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Enabled
PUM: Enabled

Processes: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Files: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Physical Sectors: 0
(No malicious items detected)


(end)
JRT:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Junkware Removal Tool (JRT) by Thisisu
Version: 6.4.0 (11.29.2014:1)
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium x64
Ran by John on Fri 12/05/2014 at 18:34:55.97
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




~~~ Services



~~~ Registry Values



~~~ Registry Keys



~~~ Files



~~~ Folders

Successfully deleted: [Empty Folder] C:\Users\John\appdata\local\{A60AD952-4A7C-48C5-B38E-9416F6F1321D}



~~~ FireFox

Emptied folder: C:\Users\John\AppData\Roaming\mozilla\firefox\profiles\mnuwg7m3.default-1394141434285\minidumps [145 files]



~~~ Event Viewer Logs were cleared





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Scan was completed on Fri 12/05/2014 at 18:38:38.65
End of JRT log
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
and i got an fail message for running Security Check

and i got an fail message for running Security Check

That's been happening a lot lately. What AV are you running and is it up-to-date?

Malwarebytes' Anti-Rootkit

Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Rootkit and save it to your desktop.

• Be sure to print out and follow the instructions provided on that same page for performing a scan.
  
• Caution: This is a beta version so also read the disclaimer and back up all your data before using.
  
• When the scan completes, click on the Cleanup button to remove any threats found and reboot the computer if prompted to do so.
  
• Perform another scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit to verify that no threats remain. If they do, then click Cleanup once more and repeat the process.
  
• If there are problems with Internet access, Windows Update, Windows Firewall or other system issues, run the fixdamage tool located in the folder Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit was run from and reboot your computer.
  
• Two files (mbar-log-YYYY-MM-DD, system-log.txt) will be created and saved within that same folder.
  
• Copy and paste the contents of these two log files in your next reply.
  

OK, i ran the AntiRootkit and it returned the result "nothing found"
(and, as to your other question, i have Norton Security Suite running and up to date)
So, do you think this means i am not currently infected?

Thanks again!

So, do you think this means i am not currently infected?

Let's run a few more scans.

I'd like to scan your machine with ESET OnlineScan

•Hold down Control and click on the following link to open ESET OnlineScan in a new window.
ESET OnlineScan

•Click the button.
•For alternate browsers only: (Microsoft Internet Explorer users can skip these steps)

• Click on to download the ESET Smart Installer. Save it to your desktop.
  
• Double click on the icon on your desktop.
  

•Check
•Click the button.
•Accept any security warnings from your browser.

• Leave the check mark next to Remove found threats.
  

•Check
•Push the Start button.
•ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin scanning your computer. Please be patient as this can take some time.
•When the scan completes, push
•Push , and save the file to your desktop using a unique name, such as ESETScan. Include the contents of this report in your next reply.
•Push the button.
•Push
A log file will be saved here: C:\Program Files\ESET\ESET Online Scanner\log.txt

Oh Man. I think i did this right, but the instructions have changed a bit on the site since you wrote yours. I think i ran this with IE even though i usually use firefox as my browser. And, to make matters more confusing. the only thing it found is a file that was already on the external drive that i used to back up my files before one of the previous scans....
all that being said, here's the text from the eset scan:
J:\+copied from the E drive\utils\utils\Install_AIM.exe Win32/Adware.WBug.A application

and, when i hit BACK after exporting the text file, it didn't give me an option of getting rid of what ever it found.

Ok, how's your computer working now? Any other issues?

it seems like it's working fine. it's still super (ridiculously) slow to boot up, but that's a different issue, i'm sure.
is there a way to remove that file on the external hard drive that was mentioned in the last scan?

is there a way to remove that file on the external hard drive that was mentioned in the last scan?.

You could try doing a search for it.

StartupLite

Download StartupLite by MalwareBytes to your Desktop.
Doubleclick StartupLite.exe to launch the program.
Ensure the Disable box is checked.
Click Continue.
A pop up message will tell you the unecessary startup items in your list have been disabled and ask you to restart your computer.
Re-start your computer.

hmm. that doesn't seem to work. 1) there's no disable box. only a link to re-enable. Also, nothing happens when i click continue.
this might be because the file is on an external drive - and not the boot drive?

that doesn't seem to work. 1) there's no disable box. only a link to re-enable. Also, nothing happens when i click continue.

What doesn't work? The search for that file?

I downloaded and ran StartupLite from Malwarebytes.com
then i double clicked the exe file and i got a window that said 'No unnecessary startups found!' There was no Disable box to check. there were 3 button options on the bottom of the window: Donate, About and Continue.
When i chose Continue, nothing happens.

Ok, I thought that might help your startup problem. How long are you talking about in startup?

from completely off....
total of 4:45
16 secs to STARTING WINDOWS screen with microsoft logo
2:30 seconds later, it goes black and comes up with WELCOME screen
1 minute later, i have my desktop.

then.
if i launch Mozilla browser from the start menu, it takes 1:30 to open (any other time i open after the first, it's fast)
or
if i launch Photoshop (CS5) from the start menu, that takes 4:15

Do you have your external HD connected to your computer all the time?

Download DDS from HERE or HERE and save it to your desktop.

Vista users right click on dds and select Run as administrator (you will receive a UAC prompt, please allow it)

* XP users Double click on dds to run it.
* If your antivirus or firewall try to block DDS then please allow it to run.
* When finished DDS will open two (2) logs.
* Save both reports to your desktop.
* The instructions here ask you to attach the Attach.txt.



1) DDS.txt
2) Attach.txt
Instead of attaching, please copy/past both logs into your Thread

Note: DDS will instruct you to post the Attach.txt log as an attachment.
Please just post it as you would any other log by copying and pasting it into the reply.

•Close the program window, and delete the program from your desktop.

Please note: You may have to disable any script protection running if the scan fails to run.
After downloading the tool, disconnect from the internet and disable all antivirus protection.
Run the scan, enable your A/V and reconnect to the internet.
Information on A/V control HERE .Then post your DDS logs. (DDS.txt and Attach.txt )