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| HijackThis log tutorial |
Reprinted at Computer Cops with Persmission from Merijn. In addition to Merijn's HijackThis forums, Computer Cops also has support forums onsite here. TonyKlein's BHO List is mirrored with persmission here.
On the forums of SpywareInfo, a lot of people new to browser hijacking post topics asking for help analyzing logs from HijackThis, because they don't understand what stuff is good and what is bad.
This is a basic guide as to what the log means, and some tips on reading it yourself. This should in no way replace asking for help in the SWI forums, but help you somewhat in understanding the log yourself. |
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| Overview |
Each line in a HijackThis log starts with a section name. (For technical information on this, click 'Info' in the main window and scroll down. Highlight a line and click 'More info on this item'.)
For practical information, click the section name you need help with:
- R0, R1, R2, R3 - Internet Explorer Start/Search pages URLs
- F0, F1 - Autoloading programs
- N1, N2, N3, N4 - Netscape/Mozilla Start/Search pages URLs
- O1 - Hosts file redirection
- O2 - Browser Helper Objects
- O3 - Internet Explorer toolbars
- O4 - Autoloading programs from Registry
- O5 - IE Options icon not visible in Control Panel
- O6 - IE Options access restricted by Administrator
- O7 - Regedit access restricted by Administrator
- O8 - Extra items in IE right-click menu
- O9 - Extra buttons on main IE button toolbar, or extra items in IE 'Tools' menu
- O10 - Winsock hijacker
- O11 - Extra group in IE 'Advanced Options' window
- O12 - IE plugins
- O13 - IE DefaultPrefix hijack
- O14 - 'Reset Web Settings' hijack
- O15 - Unwanted site in Trusted Zone
- O16 - ActiveX Objects (aka Downloaded Program Files)
- O17 - Lop.com domain hijackers
- O18 - Extra protocols and protocol hijackers
- O19 - User style sheet hijack
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| R0, R1, R2, R3 - IE Start & Search pages |
What it looks like:
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.google.com/
R2 - (this type is not used by HijackThis yet)
R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing |
What to do:
If you recognize the URL at the end as your homepage or search engine, it's OK. If you don't, check it and have HijackThis fix it.
For the R3 items, always fix them unless it mentions a program you recognize, like Copernic.
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| F0, F1, F2, F3 - Autoloading programs from INI files |
What it looks like:
F0 - system.ini: Shell=Explorer.exe Openme.exe
F1 - win.ini: run=hpfsched
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What to do:
The F0 items are always bad, so fix them.
The F1 items are usually very old programs that are safe, so you should find some more info on the filename to see if it's good or bad.
Pacman's Startup List can help with identifying an item.
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| N1, N2, N3, N4 - Netscape/Mozilla Start & Search page |
What it looks like:
N1 - Netscape 4: user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "www.google.com"); (C:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\default\prefs.js)
N2 - Netscape 6: user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://www.google.com"); (C:\Documents and Settings\User\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\defaulto9t1tfl.slt\prefs.js)
N2 - Netscape 6: user_pref("browser.search.defaultengine", "engine://C%3A%5CProgram%20Files%5CNetscape%206%5Csearchplugins%5CSBWeb_02.src"); (C:\Documents and Settings\User\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\defaulto9t1tfl.slt\prefs.js) |
What to do:
Usually the Netscape and Mozilla homepage and search page are safe. They rarely get hijacked, only Lop.com has been known to do this. Should you see an URL you don't recognize as your homepage or search page, have HijackThis fix it.
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| O1 - Hostsfile redirections |
What it looks like:
O1 - Hosts: 216.177.73.139 auto.search.msn.com
O1 - Hosts: 216.177.73.139 search.netscape.com
O1 - Hosts: 216.177.73.139 ieautosearch
O1 - Hosts file is located at C:\Windows\Help\hosts |
What to do:
This hijack will redirect the address to the right to the IP address to the left. If the IP does not belong to the address, you will be redirected to a wrong site everytime you enter the address. You can always have HijackThis fix these, unless you knowingly put those lines in your Hosts file.
The last item sometimes occurs on Windows 2000/XP with a Coolwebsearch infection. Always fix this item, or have CWShredder repair it automatically.
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| O2 - Browser Helper Objects |
What it looks like:
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! Companion BHO - {13F537F0-AF09-11d6-9029-0002B31F9E59} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\YAHOO!\COMPANION\YCOMP5_0_2_4.DLL
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {1A214F62-47A7-4CA3-9D00-95A3965A8B4A} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\POPUP ELIMINATOR\AUTODISPLAY401.DLL (file missing)
O2 - BHO: MediaLoads Enhanced - {85A702BA-EA8F-4B83-AA07-07A5186ACD7E} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\MEDIALOADS ENHANCED\ME1.DLL |
What to do:
If you don't directly recognize a Browser Helper Object's name, use TonyK's BHO & Toolbar List to find it by the class ID (CLSID, the number between curly brackets) and see if it's good or bad. In the BHO List, 'X' means spyware and 'L' means safe.
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| O3 - IE toolbars |
What it looks like:
O3 - Toolbar: &Yahoo! Companion - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\YAHOO!\COMPANION\YCOMP5_0_2_4.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: Popup Eliminator - {86BCA93E-457B-4054-AFB0-E428DA1563E1} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\POPUP ELIMINATOR\PETOOLBAR401.DLL (file missing)
O3 - Toolbar: rzillcgthjx - {5996aaf3-5c08-44a9-ac12-1843fd03df0a} - C:\WINDOWS\APPLICATION DATA\CKSTPRLLNQUL.DLL |
What to do:
If you don't directly recognize a toolbar's name, use TonyK's BHO & Toolbar List to find it by the class ID (CLSID, the number between curly brackets) and see if it's good or bad. In the Toolbar List, 'X' means spyware and 'L' means safe.
If it's not on the list and the name seems a random string of characters and the file is in the 'Application Data' folder (like the last one in the examples above), it's probably Lop.com, and you definately should have HijackThis fix it.
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| O4 - Autoloading programs from Registry or Startup group |
What it looks like:
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ScanRegistry] C:\WINDOWS\scanregw.exe /autorun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SystemTray] SysTray.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: winlogon.exe |
What to do:
Use PacMan's Startup List to find the entry and see if it's good or bad.
If the item shows a program sitting in a Startup group (like the last item above), HijackThis cannot fix the item if this program is still in memory. Use the Windows Task Manager (TASKMGR.EXE) to close the process prior to fixing.
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| O5 - IE Options not visible in Control Panel |
What it looks like:
| O5 - control.ini: inetcpl.cpl=no |
What to do:
Unless you or your system administrator have knowingly hidden the icon from Control Panel, have HijackThis fix it.
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| O6 - IE Options access restricted by Administrator |
What it looks like:
| O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions present |
What to do:
Unless you have the Spybot S&D option 'Lock homepage from changes' active, or your system administrator put this into place, have HijackThis fix this.
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| O7 - Regedit access restricted by Administrator |
What it looks like:
| O7 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System, DisableRegedit=1 |
What to do:
Always have HijackThis fix this, unless your system administrator has put this restriction into place.
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| O8 - Extra items in IE right-click menu |
What it looks like:
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://C:\WINDOWS\DOWNLOADED PROGRAM FILES\GOOGLETOOLBAR_EN_1.1.68-DELEON.DLL/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! Search - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycsrch.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Zoom &In - C:\WINDOWS\WEB\zoomin.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Zoom O&ut - C:\WINDOWS\WEB\zoomout.htm |
What to do:
If you don't recognize the name of the item in the right-click menu in IE, have HijackThis fix it.
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| O9 - Extra buttons on main IE toolbar, or extra items in IE 'Tools' menu |
What it looks like:
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: AIM (HKLM) |
What to do:
If you don't recognize the name of the button or menuitem, have HijackThis fix it.
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| O10 - Winsock hijackers |
What it looks like:
O10 - Hijacked Internet access by New.Net
O10 - Broken Internet access because of LSP provider 'c:\progra~1\common~2\toolbar\cnmib.dll' missing
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files\newton knows\vmain.dll |
What to do:
It's best to fix these using LSPFix from Cexx.org, or Spybot S&D from Kolla.de.
Note that 'unknown' files in the LSP stack will not be fixed by HijackThis, for safety issues.
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| O11 - Extra group in IE 'Advanced Options' window |
What it looks like:
| O11 - Options group: [CommonName] CommonName |
What to do:
The only hijacker as of now that adds its own options group to the IE Advanced Options window is CommonName. So you can always have HijackThis fix this.
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| O12 - IE plugins |
What it looks like:
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O12 - Plugin for .PDF: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\PLUGINS\nppdf32.dll |
What to do:
Most of the time these are safe. Only OnFlow adds a plugin here that you don't want (.ofb).
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| O13 - IE DefaultPrefix hijack |
What it looks like:
O13 - DefaultPrefix: http://www.pixpox.com/cgi-bin/click.pl?url=
O13 - WWW Prefix: http://prolivation.com/cgi-bin/r.cgi?
O13 - WWW. Prefix: http://ehttp.cc/? |
What to do:
These are always bad. Have HijackThis fix them.
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| O14 - 'Reset Web Settings' hijack |
What it looks like:
| O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.searchalot.com |
What to do:
If the URL is not the provider of your computer or your ISP, have HijackThis fix it.
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| O15 - Unwanted sites in Trusted Zone |
What it looks like:
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://free.aol.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: *.coolwebsearch.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: *.msn.com
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What to do:
Most of the time only AOL and Coolwebsearch silently add sites to the Trusted Zone. If you didn't add the listed domain to the Trusted Zone yourself, have HijackThis fix it.
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| O16 - ActiveX Objects (aka Downloaded Program Files) |
What it looks like:
O16 - DPF: Yahoo! Chat - http://us.chat1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/chat/applet/c381/chat.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab |
What to do:
If you don't recognize the name of the object, or the URL it was downloaded from, have HijackThis fix it. If the name or URL contains words like 'dialer', 'casino', 'free_plugin' etc, definitely fix it.
Javacool's SpywareBlaster has a huge database of malicious ActiveX objects that can be used for looking up CLSIDs. (Right-click the list to use the Find function.)
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| O17 - Lop.com domain hijacks |
What it looks like:
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\VxD\MSTCP: Domain = aoldsl.net
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: Domain = W21944.find-quick.com
O17 - HKLM\Software\..\Telephony: DomainName = W21944.find-quick.com
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{D196AB38-4D1F-45C1-9108-46D367F19F7E}: Domain = W21944.find-quick.com
O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: SearchList = gla.ac.uk
O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\VxD\MSTCP: NameServer = 69.57.146.14,69.57.147.175 |
What to do:
If the domain is not from your ISP or company network, have HijackThis fix it. The same goes for the 'SearchList' entries.
For the 'NameServer' (DNS servers) entries, Google for the IP or IPs and it will be easy to see if they are good or bad.
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| O18 - Extra protocols and protocol hijackers |
What it looks like:
O18 - Protocol: relatedlinks - {5AB65DD4-01FB-44D5-9537-3767AB80F790} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\MSIETS\msielink.dll
O18 - Protocol: mctp - {d7b95390-b1c5-11d0-b111-0080c712fe82}
O18 - Protocol hijack: http - {66993893-61B8-47DC-B10D-21E0C86DD9C8} |
What to do:
Only a few hijackers show up here. The known baddies are 'cn' (CommonName), 'ayb' (Lop.com) and 'relatedlinks' (Huntbar), you should have HijackThis fix those.
Other things that show up are either not confirmed safe yet, or are hijacked (i.e. the CLSID has been changed) by spyware. In the last case, have HijackThis fix it.
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| O19 - User style sheet hijack |
What it looks like:
| O19 - User style sheet: c:\WINDOWS\Java\my.css |
What to do:
In the case of a browser slowdown and frequent popups, have HijackThis fix this item if it shows up in the log. However, since only Coolwebsearch does this, it's better to use CWShredder to fix it.
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If you have any problems, questions or comments concerning this document, you can email me if you like.
Merijn
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