Multiple rundll32.exe processes

[Matterialize]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/Matterialize/rundll.jpg

That can't be right. I'm about to run Spybot and then VundoFix, but is there anything else I can do to fix it?

[Spastic]

That is really messed up. It is most likely a virus of some sort, because there is no way you have that many basic Windows applications running. You could end the processes for a short fix, but I would do a system scan if I were you.

[CharlieH]

Do they come up everytime you start your computer?

I'd say give it a good old "turn it off and turn it back on again", if you haven't already.

[Beefynick]

That is probably a virus unless you were doing a benchmark for Windows. Spybot and Vundo are great to run, but do it in safe mode. Programs like that tend to skip running windows files when they scan.

[Intestiny Destiny]

Get HijackThis and analyze it the logfile.

[cabhats]

Yeah, I'd agree with the general consensus that your computer has the aids now.
Also isn't rundll32.exe also the one that pops up when something crashes? I can't remember, I haven't used windows much for a long long time.

[kkhan]

I have also had some trouble with Virtumonde, the trick is to run spybot on startup, so that the trojan doesn't get a chance to do its thing. Are you by any chance also having problems with explorer shutting down randomly?

[Matterialize]

Oddly, yeah. It does it very very occasionally.

So I ran HiJackThis and removed a couple suspicious entries, and today I'm going to start in Safe Mode again and run Spybot and VundoFix. Hopefully that'll get rid of it. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll post here after if it's resolved.

[bigsheep]

I've been experiencing a similar problem. Ran hijack this and this is the log posted below. Not really sure what's safe to delete. Help please

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 9:47:24 PM, on 10/20/2008
Platform: Windows Vista SP1 (WinNT 6.00.1905)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6001.18000)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Windows\system32\Dwm.exe
C:\Windows\system32\taskeng.exe
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgtray.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\MediaDirect\PCMService.exe
C:\Program Files\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\WDM\sttray.exe
C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe
C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe
C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe
C:\Windows\PixArt\Pac207\Monitor.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Corel\Corel PhotoDownloader\Corel Photo Downloader.exe
C:\Windows\ehome\ehtray.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\Users\Bigsheep\AppData\Local\Google\Update\Goog leUpdate.exe
C:\Windows\ehome\ehmsas.exe
C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools Pro\DTProAgent.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpnscfg.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\QuickSet\quickset.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Contacts\wlcomm.exe
C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools Pro\DTProShellHlp.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgui.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgscanx.exe
C:\Windows\system32\taskmgr.exe
C:\Users\Bigsheep\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Appl ication\chrome.exe
C:\Users\Bigsheep\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Appl ication\chrome.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Mail\wlmail.exe
C:\Users\Bigsheep\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Appl ication\chrome.exe
C:\Windows\explorer.exe
C:\Windows\system32\DllHost.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://google.atcomet.com/b/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: BitComet ClickCapture - {39F7E362-828A-4B5A-BCAF-5B79BFDFEA60} - C:\Program Files\BitComet\tools\BitCometBHO_1.2.8.7.dll
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgssie.dll
O2 - BHO: Click-to-Call BHO - {5C255C8A-E604-49b4-9D64-90988571CECB} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\wlchtc.dll
O2 - BHO: Groove GFS Browser Helper - {72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveShellExtensions.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Windows Defender] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe -hide
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG8_TRAY] C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PCMService] "C:\Program Files\Dell\MediaDirect\PCMService.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SigmatelSysTrayApp] C:\Program Files\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\WDM\sttray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NVHotkey] rundll32.exe C:\Windows\system32\nvHotkey.dll,Start
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: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvSvc] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\Windows\system32\nvsvc.dll,nvsvcStart
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\Windows\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\Windows\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Monitor] C:\Windows\PixArt\PAC207\Monitor.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Corel Photo Downloader] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Corel\Corel PhotoDownloader\Corel Photo Downloader.exe" -startup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ehTray.exe] C:\Windows\ehome\ehTray.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Google Update] "C:\Users\Bigsheep\AppData\Local\Google\Update\Goog leUpdate.exe" /c
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DAEMON Tools Pro Agent] C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools Pro\DTProAgent.exe -autorun
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AlcoholAutomount] "C:\Program Files\Alcohol Soft\Alcohol 120\axcmd.exe" /automount
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [WMPNSCFG] C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\WMPNSCFG.exe
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [WindowsWelcomeCenter] rundll32.exe oobefldr.dll,ShowWelcomeCenter (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background (User 'Default user')
O4 - Startup: FIFA 09 Registration.lnk = C:\Program Files\EA Sports\FIFA 09\Support\EAregister.exe
O4 - Global Startup: QuickSet.lnk = ?
O8 - Extra context menu item: &D&ownload &with BitComet - res://C:\Program Files\BitComet\BitComet.exe/AddLink.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: &D&ownload all video with BitComet - res://C:\Program Files\BitComet\BitComet.exe/AddVideo.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: &D&ownload all with BitComet - res://C:\Program Files\BitComet\BitComet.exe/AddAllLink.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: S&end to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: BitComet - {D18A0B52-D63C-4ed0-AFC6-C1E3DC1AF43A} - res://C:\Program Files\BitComet\tools\BitCometBHO_1.2.8.7.dll/206 (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\MSMSGS.EXE (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\MSMSGS.EXE (file missing)
O13 - Gopher Prefix:
O16 - DPF: {67DABFBF-D0AB-41FA-9C46-CC0F21721616} - http://download.divx.com/player/DivXBrowserPlugin.cab
O16 - DPF: {D1E7CBDA-E60E-4970-A01C-37301EF7BF98} (Futuremark Measurement Services Client) - http://www.yougamers.com/systeminfo/MSC3.cab
O18 - Protocol: grooveLocalGWS - {88FED34C-F0CA-4636-A375-3CB6248B04CD} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveSystemServices.dll
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgpp.dll
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: avgrsstx.dll
O23 - Service: AVG8 E-mail Scanner (avg8emc) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG8 WatchDog (avg8wd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgwdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Event Log (EvtEng) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\EvtEng.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: PnkBstrA - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\PnkBstrA.exe
O23 - Service: ProtexisLicensing - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\PSIService.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Registry Service (RegSrvc) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\RegSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: RoxMediaDB - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\SharedCOM8\RoxMediaDB.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: RoxMediaDB9 - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxMediaDB9.exe
O23 - Service: Roxio Hard Drive Watcher (RoxWatch) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\SharedCOM8\RoxWatch.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Roxio Hard Drive Watcher 9 (RoxWatch9) - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxWatch9.exe
O23 - Service: ServiceLayer - Nokia. - C:\Program Files\PC Connectivity Solution\ServiceLayer.exe
O23 - Service: SigmaTel Audio Service (STacSV) - SigmaTel, Inc. - C:\Windows\system32\STacSV.exe
O23 - Service: StarWind AE Service (StarWindServiceAE) - Rocket Division Software - C:\Program Files\Alcohol Soft\Alcohol 120\StarWind\StarWindServiceAE.exe
O23 - Service: stllssvr - MicroVision Development, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\SureThing Shared\stllssvr.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\TuneUpDefragService.exe,-1 (TuneUp.Defrag) - TuneUp Software GmbH - C:\Windows\System32\TuneUpDefragService.exe

--
End of file - 10384 bytes

[Antisaint]

Yours looks like it's being caused by the Nvidia controls, nothing to worry about. I'd recommend switching from BitComet though, there's a thread about torrent clients in TTC.

[bigsheep]

Ok thats a relief thanks. Just so we're clear i don't need to delete anything right? Also I like the integration and customization bitcomet offers thats why I use it....are you suggesting its not the safest choice?

[Antisaint]

Ok thats a relief thanks. Just so we're clear i don't need to delete anything right? Also I like the integration and customization bitcomet offers thats why I use it....are you suggesting its not the safest choice?

I don't know what all you installed on your computer, but nothing in there is malware.

Thread on torrent clients here (http://forums.explosm.net/showthread.php?t=36759).

[opn4bzns]

Multiple processes the same doesn't inherently mean malware. I've got 13 (!) svchost.exes running and my computer's clean.

[Axidos]

Multiple processes the same doesn't inherently mean malware. I've got 13 (!) svchost.exes running and my computer's clean.

That is true for svchost and rundll32 - it's not uncommon to have several of those processes (unless you have the amount Matt has).

Here's some information on the nature of svchost.exe (http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/what-is-svchostexe-and-why-is-it-running/) and rundll32.exe (http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/what-is-rundll32exe-and-why-is-it-running/). The former's "Why Are There So Many svchost.exes Running?" section will explain why you might see multiple of these processes.