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HijackThis

HijackThis HijackThis: A general homepage hijackers detector and remover. Initially based on the article Hijacked!, but expanded with a lot of other checks against hijacker tricks. It is continually updated to detect and remove new hijacks. It does not target specific programs/URLs, just the methods used by hijackers to force you onto their sites.
As a result, false positives are imminent, and unless you are sure what you're doing, you should always consult with knowledgable folks before deleting anything.
A rudimentary HijackThis log tutorial by me is available here.
The official HijackThis QuickStart for posting on the SpywareInfo forums is available here.

Compatible with: Windows 2000 and newer
Currently at version: 2.00 beta

-> Download from MajorGeeks
-> Download from Merijn.org
-> Download from TrendMicro



HijackThis log tutorial

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.

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
Added in HijackThis 1.98.x:
  • O20 - AppInit_DLLs Registry value autorun
  • O21 - ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad Registry key autorun
  • O22 - SharedTaskScheduler Registry key autorun
  • O23 - Windows NT Services

HijackThis Line Item Codes

R - Registry, StartPage/SearchPage changes

   R0 - Changed registry value
   R1 - Created registry value
   R2 - Created registry key
   R3 - Created extra registry value where only one should be

F - IniFiles, autoloading entries

   F0 - Changed inifile value
   F1 - Created inifile value
   F2 - Changed inifile value, mapped to Registry
   F3 - Created inifile value, mapped to Registry

N - Netscape/Mozilla StartPage/SearchPage changes

   N1 - Change in prefs.js of Netscape 4.x
   N2 - Change in prefs.js of Netscape 6
   N3 - Change in prefs.js of Netscape 7
   N4 - Change in prefs.js of Mozilla

O - Other, several sections which represent:

   O1 - Hijack of auto.search.msn.com with Hosts file
   O2 - Enumeration of existing MSIE BHO's
   O3 - Enumeration of existing MSIE toolbars
   O4 - Enumeration of suspicious autoloading Registry entries
   O5 - Blocking of loading Internet Options in Control Panel
   O6 - Disabling of 'Internet Options' Main tab with Policies
   O7 - Disabling of Regedit with Policies
   O8 - Extra MSIE context menu items
   O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitems and buttons
   O10 - Breaking of Internet access by New.Net or WebHancer
   O11 - Extra options in MSIE 'Advanced' settings tab
   O12 - MSIE plugins for file extensions or MIME types
   O13 - Hijack of default URL prefixes
   O14 - Changing of IERESET.INF
   O15 - Trusted Zone Autoadd
   O16 - Download Program Files item
   O17 - Domain hijack
   O18 - Enumeration of existing protocols and filters
   O19 - User stylesheet hijack
   O20 - AppInit_DLLs autorun Registry value, Winlogon Notify Registry keys
   O21 - ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad (SSODL) autorun Registry key
   O22 - SharedTaskScheduler autorun Registry key
   O23 - Enumeration of NT Services
   024 - Windows active desktop components



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.

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
 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.
CastleCops' Startup List can help with identifying an item.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


O9 - Extra buttons on main IE toolbar, or extra

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.


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.


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.


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).


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.


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.


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
 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.


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.)


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.


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.


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.


O20 - AppInit_DLLs Registry value autorun

What it looks like: O20 - AppInit_DLLs: msconfd.dll What to do:
This Registry value located at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows loads a DLL into memory when the user logs in, after which it stays in memory until logoff. Very few legitimate programs use it (Norton CleanSweep uses APITRAP.DLL), most often it is used by trojans or agressive browser hijackers.

In case of a 'hidden' DLL loading from this Registry value (only visible when using 'Edit Binary Data' option in Regedit) the dll name may be prefixed with a pipe '|' to make it visible in the log.
.

O21 - ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad

What it looks like: O21 - SSODL - AUHOOK - {11566B38-955B-4549-930F-7B7482668782} - C:\WINDOWS\System\auhook.dll What to do:
This is an undocumented autorun method, normally used by a few Windows system components. Items listed at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad are loaded by Explorer when Windows starts. HijackThis uses a whitelist of several very common SSODL items, so whenever an item is displayed in the log it is unknown and possibly malicious. Treat with extreme care.


O22 - SharedTaskScheduler

What it looks like: O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: (no name) - {3F143C3A-1457-6CCA-03A7-7AA23B61E40F} - c:\windows\system32\mtwirl32.dll What to do:
This is an undocumented autorun for Windows NT/2000/XP only, which is used very rarely. So far only CWS.Smartfinder uses it. Treat with care.


O23 - NT Services

What it looks like: O23 - Service: Kerio Personal Firewall (PersFw) - Kerio Technologies - C:\Program Files\Kerio\Personal Firewall\persfw.exe What to do:
This is the listing of non-Microsoft services. The list should be the same as the one you see in the Msconfig utility of Windows XP. Several trojan hijackers use a homemade service in adittion to other startups to reinstall themselves. The full name is usually important-sounding, like 'Network Security Service', 'Workstation Logon Service' or 'Remote Procedure Call Helper', but the internal name (between brackets) is a string of garbage, like 'O?rtñá^$Ó'. The second part of the line is the owner of the file at the end, as seen in the file's properties.
Note that fixing an O23 item will only stop the service and disable it. The service needs to be deleted from the Registry manually or with another tool. In HijackThis 1.99.1 or higher, the button 'Delete NT Service' in the Misc Tools section can be used for this.