Hi!  I've been trying to clean up the spyware on my boyfriend's
laptop, and he has a variant of the vx2 among other malware.  I did an
update on adaware and then tried to run the program.  The program kept
freezing up so I started the scan in safe mode, and the computer froze
up again.  How do I keep ad aware from freezing up (version 1.05)?

You might try pressing CTLR-ALT-DELETE and then terminating all the
processes that you don't want running in the background before running
Ad Aware.

Nockmdead --

You're proceeding in the right direction by using Safe mode.  If
you're still running into problems, I'd run HijackThis and disable
everything that looks suspicious, as it's the safest way to deal with
things that have appeared in the Registry.  Do you have any experience
with it?  It's undoubtedly what the people here would recommend:
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

Well, I do have hijack this installed all ready.  The problem is that
I don't know what I should be deleting.  And with running processes,
again I'm not sure which ones I should kill and which ones I
shouldn't.
I'm going to post the hijack this log for you and see if you see
anything unusual.  Thanks.

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.0
Scan saved at 10:28:47 AM, on 1/23/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

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\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ACS.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\AOLacsd.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Power Management\CeEPwrSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\ConfigFree\CFSvcs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\DVDRAMSV.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Linksys\Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster\NICServ.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\IWP\NPFMntor.exe
c:\Toshiba\Ivp\Swupdate\swupdtmr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\E-KEY\CeEKey.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\Power Management\CePMTray.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TouchPad\TPTray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
C:\Program Files\ltmoh\Ltmoh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\AGRSMMSG.exe
C:\Program Files\Apoint2K\Apoint.exe
C:\Program Files\EzButton\EzButton.EXE
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\Touch and Launch\PadExe.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\ConfigFree\NDSTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\Program Files\support.com\bin\tgcmd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Toscdspd\TOSCDSPD.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RAMASST.exe
C:\Program Files\Apoint2K\Apntex.exe
C:\Program Files\Linksys\Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster\OdHost.exe
C:\Program Files\Linksys\Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster\WPC54Cfg.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\toshiba\ivp\ism\ivpsvmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware SE Personal\Ad-Aware.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\cliff\LOCALS~1\Temp\Temporary Directory 1 for
hijackthis.zip\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.rr.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL =
http://toshibadirect.com/
R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing
O2 - BHO: BTGrabObj Class - {00000000-F09C-02B4-6EC2-AD0300000000} -
C:\WINDOWS\BTGrab.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3}
- C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx
O2 - BHO: DriveLetterAccess - {5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890} -
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswshx.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} -
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus -
{42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton
AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CeEKEY] C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\E-KEY\CeEKey.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CeEPOWER] C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\Power Management\CePMTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TPNF] C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TouchPad\TPTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [dla] C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI
Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LtMoh] C:\Program Files\ltmoh\Ltmoh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AGRSMMSG] AGRSMMSG.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Apoint] C:\Program Files\Apoint2K\Apoint.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EzButton] C:\Program Files\EzButton\EzButton.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PadTouch] C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\Touch and Launch\PadExe.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NDSTray.exe] NDSTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Pinger] c:\toshiba\ivp\ism\pinger.exe /run
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Notebook Maximizer] C:\Program Files\Notebook
Maximizer\maximizer_startup.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ksicrbrfsx] C:\WINDOWS\system32\zvuqtea.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [farmmext] C:\WINDOWS\farmmext.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [tgcmd] "C:\Program Files\support.com\bin\tgcmd.exe"
/server /startmonitor /deaf
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Symantec NetDriver Monitor] C:\PROGRA~1\SYMNET~1\SNDMon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [toscdspd] C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Toscdspd\TOSCDSPD.EXE
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Instant Access] rundll32.exe EGDACCESS_1057.dll,InstantAccess
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - Startup: PowerReg Scheduler V3.exe
O4 - Startup: VirtuaGirl2.lnk = C:\Program Files\Vg\VirtuaGirl2.exe
O4 - Global Startup: RAMASST.lnk = C:\WINDOWS\system32\RAMASST.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster
Utility.lnk = C:\Program Files\Linksys\Wireless-G Notebook Adapter
with SpeedBooster\Startup.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &AOL Toolbar search - res://C:\Program
Files\AOL Toolbar\toolbar.dll/SEARCH.HTML
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel -
res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501}
- C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_05\bin\npjpi142_05.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console -
{08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program
Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_05\bin\npjpi142_05.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} -
C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} -
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683}
- C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger -
{FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program
Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.toshiba.com
O16 - DPF: {01113300-3E00-11D2-8470-0060089874ED} (Support.com
Configuration Class) -
http://activation.rr.com/install/download/tgctlcm.cab
O16 - DPF: {88D758A3-D33B-45FD-91E3-67749B4057FA} (Sinstaller Class) -
http://dm.screensavers.com/dm/installers/si/1/sinstaller.cab
O16 - DPF: {CE74A05D-ED12-473A-97F8-85FB0E2F479F}
(dlControl.UserControl1) - http://www.cinemanow.com/dlControl_3_0.CAB
O23 - Service: Atheros Configuration Service - Unknown -
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ACS.exe
O23 - Service: AOL Connectivity Service - America Online, Inc. -
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\AOLacsd.exe
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - Unknown - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager - Symantec Corporation -
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Password Validation - Symantec Corporation -
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccPwdSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager - Symantec Corporation -
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
O23 - Service: CeEPwrSvc - COMPAL ELECTRONIC INC. - C:\Program
Files\Toshiba\Power Management\CeEPwrSvc.exe
O23 - Service: ConfigFree Service - TOSHIBA CORPORATION - C:\Program
Files\TOSHIBA\ConfigFree\CFSvcs.exe
O23 - Service: DVD-RAM_Service - Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,
Ltd. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\DVDRAMSV.exe
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect Service - Symantec
Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
O23 - Service: NICSer_WPC54GS - Unknown - C:\Program
Files\Linksys\Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with
SpeedBooster\NICServ.exe
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Firewall Monitor Service - Symantec
Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\IWP\NPFMntor.exe
O23 - Service: SAVScan - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program
Files\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe
O23 - Service: ScriptBlocking Service - Symantec Corporation -
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\SYMANT~1\SCRIPT~1\SBServ.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Network Drivers Service - Symantec Corporation
- C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec SPBBCSvc - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program
Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Swupdtmr - Unknown - c:\Toshiba\Ivp\Swupdate\swupdtmr.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Core LC - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program
Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
O23 - Service: SymWMI Service - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program
Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Center\SymWSC.exe

Nockmdead --

I'd suggest posting the HijackThis logs to the Lavasoft support forum.
 Those people there are pros at picking up software in memory that's
suspicious.  And they do it for free!

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

I had a similar problem the other week, couldn't resolve it with ad
aware so I installed MS' new beta product.  It kicked the crap out of
the spyware and removed 15 pieces of spyware that neither adaware or
spybot or search and destroy could! Grab it quick while it's still
free!

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Subratam.org is a lively community of anti-malware fans.  They keep an
up-to-date list of specialized removal software on their main page at:
http://www.subratam.org/?page=removal

There are 4 programs listed for VX2 (aka VX2.BetterInternet, L2M or
Look2Me) removal, all called VX2Finder.  2 are for Windows 2k/XP, 2
are for Windows 98/Me.  Download both for your boyfriend's operating
system.  They are currently listed as downloads 9 and 10.

To use the removal tool, click the "Find" button and then proceed to
clean everything it finds by pressing the User Agent, Guardian, and
Delete buttons.  Restart and repeat this process 2 more times.  You
should find on each subsequent restart that you find less and less VX2
components.  Finish it off with a scan from Ad-Aware.

VX2 works by attaching itself to the Winlogon process.  This process
is required for Windows to function.  By attaching itself to Winlogon
in particular it can also make the system highly unstable.  This also
has the benefit of completely hiding its operation and keeping it out
of the range of most removal tools.  It keeps constant watch over its
children files, and when it sees one deleted, it immediately replaces
it.

I would also advise you to uninstall and reinstall Ad-Aware *after*
you successfully remove VX2.  VX2 could be the culprit of the Ad-Aware
crashes.

Do I win?

Here is an analysis of you log file
http://hijackthis.de/logfiles/88427df7b4a47e825d0850ca8e8c73cb.html

Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2005 10:18 am    Post subject: farmmext.exe   

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
As spotted here: 

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,12264804~mode=flat 

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [farmmext] C:\WINDOWS\farmmext.exe 

Jotti Malware Scan results: 
File: farmmext.exe 
Status: INFECTED/MALWARE 
Packers detected: None

Clicking on that link will give you complete removal instuctions,it is
definitely at least part of the problem.

I tried snowdizx's suggestion and downloaded the ms beta software. 
The ms spyware worked!  So, snowbiz if you'll post in the answer box,
I'll pay you.  Thanks to all who answered.

Unfortunately I'm just a user out in the real world, not an actual
'branded' google researcher.  I'd like to become a researcher however!
Consider it a freebie!!! Thanks! --snowdizx

try spybot -- its better ...

Hi, if your having issue with adware
check out webroot spy sweeper
Also this page has a 3 step process that helps to remove almost all spyware
http://www.supportcave.com/hijackthis.html

it also explains what to leave and get rid of in hijackthis

This process has never let me down
and i help people do this every day
Cheers