I have a spyware infestation called CORE.exe that constanlty takes up system recources.In additon I get this problem that was posted earlier: I've found that if I log off/shut down as soon as i am logged in, I don't get this problem, but as soon as I run any program I'll get the error when I next log off. Help :-<

Sorry, When I try to shut down I see the hourglass for a second, then nothing. It just stays at the desktop, it does not shut off. In additon I see that "CORE.EXE" is running and will not let my sytem shut down. Any suggestion on how to get rid of it, and who is behind it?

Please post a Hijack This log so that the files associated with the virus/spyware/hijacker can be identified. You can download Hijack This at this link http://www.tomcoyote.org/hjt/ then place it into a folder of it's on, such as C:\HJT, so that back up copies can be made and not clutter your desktop or other folders and the backup copies of deleted items can be easily located if needed. Once saved double click HijackThis.exe, and press "Scan". When the scan is finished, the "Scan" button will change into a "Save Log" button. Press that, save the log, Ctrl-A to Select All, and copy its contents into the text editor at this forum. Do not fix anything yet unless you know what you are doing. This is a powerful tool that can crash the computer if used improperly.

Here is the information as requested. Note I canot update my ad aware as the program freezes up when I try. Thanks for your help! Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1 Scan saved at 7:13:10 PM, on 1/18/2006 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\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccProxy.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\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe C:\WINDOWS\SOUNDMAN.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.exe C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\EA Downloader\Core.exe C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Console\NSCSRVCE.exe C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe C:\WINDOWS\ALCFDRTM.exe C:\DOCUME~1\SCOTTA~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\Temporary Directory 1 for hijackthis.zip\HijackThis.exe R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com/ O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll O2 - BHO: Norton Internet Security 2006 - {9ECB9560-04F9-4bbc-943D-298DDF1699E1} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AdBlocking\NISShExt.dll O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {A8F38D8D-E480-4D52-B7A2-731BB6995FDD} - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll O3 - Toolbar: Norton Internet Security 2006 - {0B53EAC3-8D69-4b9e-9B19-A37C9A5676A7} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AdBlocking\NISShExt.dll O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {C4069E3A-68F1-403E-B40E-20066696354B} - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSPM Startup] C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\INSTAL~1\UPDATE~1\isuspm.exe -startup O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSScheduler] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe" -start O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\\NeroCheck.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMan] SOUNDMAN.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [EA Core] C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\EA Downloader\Core.exe -silent O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmsearch.html O8 - Extra context menu item: &Translate English Word - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmwordtrans.html O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmbacklinks.html O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmcache.html O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmsimilar.html O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate Page into English - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmtrans.html O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.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 O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204 O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe O23 - Service: Symantec Internet Security Password Validation (ccISPwdSvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\ccPwdSvc.exe O23 - Service: Symantec Network Proxy (ccProxy) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccProxy.exe O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe O23 - Service: COM Host (comHost) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\comHost.exe O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe O23 - Service: iPodService - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect Service (navapsvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe O23 - Service: Norton Protection Center Service (NSCService) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Console\NSCSRVCE.exe O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe O23 - Service: Symantec AVScan (SAVScan) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe O23 - Service: Symantec Network Drivers Service (SNDSrvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe O23 - Service: Symantec SPBBCSvc (SPBBCSvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe O23 - Service: Symantec Core LC - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe O23 - Service: SymWMI Service (SymWSC) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Center\SymWSC.exe

Please note: While I can access IE I cannot update either ad aware or spyware blaster. the program just does not connect, then freezez.

The Ht log associates core.exe wwith a program called Electronic Arts (O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [EA Core] C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\EA Downloader\Core.exe -silent) Do you perposely have Electronic Arts installed? If so it my be infected with a virus. Download Ewido Security Suite then set it up this way Ewido Setup Instructions reboot into Safe Mode and run Ewido When the scan has completed, Ewido will create a report.txt file. Click the "Save Report" button on the bottom of the screen and save the log to your desktop in case you need it later. Please reboot into normal mode and post the ewido log. Then run this kapersky free on line scan on the top right of this link http://www.kaspersky.com/scanforvirus

Ewido log. It found 9 infected files. Please note I have to restore my computer to before Ewido scan as it is now acting WAY WAY to slow. I hit IE and it takes 3 min's to come up, instead of 1 second. ewido anti-malware - Scan report + Created on: 9:59:02 PM, 1/19/2006 + Report-Checksum: 9E69B99C + Scan result: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{2B96D5CC-C5B5-49A5-A69D-CC0A30F9028C} -> Spyware.MiniBug : Cleaned with backup C:\Documents and Settings\Scott Anderson\Cookies\scott anderson@ad.yieldmanager[1].txt -> Spyware.Cookie.Yieldmanager : Cleaned with backup C:\Documents and Settings\Scott Anderson\Cookies\scott anderson@adopt.specificclick[1].txt -> Spyware.Cookie.Specificclick : Cleaned with backup C:\Documents and Settings\Scott Anderson\Cookies\scott anderson@com[1].txt -> Spyware.Cookie.Com : Cleaned with backup C:\Documents and Settings\Scott Anderson\Cookies\scott anderson@cz3.clickzs[2].txt -> Spyware.Cookie.Clickzs : Cleaned with backup C:\Documents and Settings\Scott Anderson\Cookies\scott anderson@image.masterstats[1].txt -> Spyware.Cookie.Masterstats : Cleaned with backup C:\Documents and Settings\Scott Anderson\Cookies\scott anderson@partygaming.122.2o7[1].txt -> Spyware.Cookie.2o7 : Cleaned with backup C:\Documents and Settings\Scott Anderson\Cookies\scott anderson@vip.clickzs[1].txt -> Spyware.Cookie.Clickzs : Cleaned with backup C:\Documents and Settings\Scott Anderson\Cookies\scott anderson@yieldmanager[2].txt -> Spyware.Cookie.Yieldmanager : Cleaned with backup ::Report End