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Trojan and Adware - Vundo (vtsts.dll) Removal
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(Continued from previous part...)
Where Is vtsts.dll Hiding?
Befor downloading any anti-virus tools, I decided to try to find and delete vtsts.dll manually.
File Explorer Checking: Using File Explorer, I could not see vtsts.dll in \windows\system32 directory.
Command Window Checking: Using Command Window, I could not see vtsts.dll in \windows\system32 directory:
>dir C:\WINDOWS\system32\vtsts.dll
(no file)
File Explorer Checking Again: I decided to review File Explorer options to make sure it is not hiding
any files:
Run File Explorer
Go to menu Tools >> Folder Options. The Folder Options dialog box displays.
Click View tab.
Review Advanced settings:
Display the contents of system folders: checked
Show hidden files and folders: checked
Hide extensions for known file types: unchecked
Hide protected operating system files: checked
Change the last setting to:
Hide protected operating system files: unchecked
Click OK to save changes
When I looked the \windows\system32 folder again, I saw vtsts.dll and several other strange files:
jkkjj.dll 557,108 12/21/2005 11:29 AM
vtsts.dll 557,108 12/21/2005 11:30 AM
ststv.tmp 1,190 12/21/2005 5:52 PM
ststv.ini 1,236 12/31/2005 10:54 PM
ststv.bak1 1,078,661 6/18/2006 11:17 PM
ststv.bak2 1,399,968 11/3/2006 11:06 PM
ststv.ini2 1,398 11/4/2006 10:42 AM
Action: I tried the following steps to remove vtsts.dll:
1. Copy of the above suspicious files into a ZIP file, vundo_200611.zip.
2. Try to delete vtsts.dll with File Explorer. But I got a "File in use" error.
3. Try to delete vtsts.dll with HiJackThis:
Run HiJackThis
Do a system scan
Find and check the vtsts.dll entry in the scan report
Click "Fix checked"
Do a system can again
View the scan report
vtsts.dll entry is still in the report
Conclusion: I did not see the vtsts.dll file in the Windows system directory,
because Trojan Vundo hides this file as a Windows system. So it will not show up in File Explorer window
with its default setting. Actually, Trojan Vundo hides several files in the Windows system directory, like vtsts.dll, jkkjj.dll, ststv.tmp, etc.,
as Windows system files.
In the future, if you are search for suspicious files, remember to turn off the "Hide protected operating system files"
setting in File Explorer.
Trojan Vundo file, vtsts.dll, can not be fixed by HiJackThis V1.99. I did not try any newer versions.
(Continued on next part...)
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