IExplorer.exe starts up when logging in

[Chewie]

Download Xoftspy and scan with that.
Although it won't remove anything it finds unless you register it (), it does find stuff other programs miss, and could at least help pinpoint the problem.

[backlash]

Its IEXPLORE.EXE. it seems as if IE tries to pop up and then goes away. I've tried using spybot if that helps anymore. I even uninstalled IE.

I see. You posted IEXPLORER.exe, so that's what we searched for. Sounds like you have some adware/spyware b/c it's trying to load ads or something. Check your hosts file.

[janerds]

[quote]So I see IExplorer in the processes list everytime I boot up the computer and go into windows. Its like just hidden somewhere and I have to end the process to make it go away. I tried googling but nothing came up. Any ideas?[quote]

I think you should double check on your startup proggies, by Start > Run > msconfig. Or by checking HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.

Another reason for spyware or other malwarez to start IE is to write block of codes to the IE process to bypass some firewall or SP2 fw but they usually create the IE process in the background. This is weird.

BTW, you should google for HijackThis. It's free and reliable.

[Chewie]

HijackThis is available from www.spywareinfo.com

[Shiranai_Baka]

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\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\GEARSec.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32krn.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Ghost\Agent\VProSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\oodag.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\UPHClean\uphclean.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\WgaTray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_07\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\MouseWare\system\em_exec.exe
C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32kui.exe
C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools\daemon.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Gmail Notifier\gnotify.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\PeerGuardian2\pg2.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\PerSono\PersTray.exe
C:\Program Files\uTorrent\utorrent.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILL~1\FIREFOX.EXE
C:\Program Files\Winamp\winamp.exe

O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_07\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {FFFFFEF0-5B30-21D4-945D-000000000000} - C:\PROGRA~1\STARDO~1\SDIEInt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Logitech Utility] Logi_MwX.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_07\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nod32kui] "C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32kui.exe" /WAITSERVICE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DAEMON Tools] "C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools\daemon.exe" -lang 1033
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [{0228e555-4f9c-4e35-a3ec-b109a192b4c2}] C:\Program Files\Google\Gmail Notifier\gnotify.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RunDLL32.exe NvMCTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [amd_dc_opt] "C:\Program Files\AMD\amd_dc_opt\amd_dc_opt.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AIM] C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe -cnetwait.odl
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PeerGuardian] C:\Program Files\PeerGuardian2\pg2.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Startup: µTorrent.lnk = C:\Program Files\uTorrent\utorrent.exe
O4 - Global Startup: msmsgs.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Perstray.lnk = C:\Program Files\PerSono\PersTray.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Translate English Word - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmwordtrans.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Download with Star Downloader - C:\Program Files\Star Downloader\sdie.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate Page into English - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe
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: {CEA3052D-65B9-44E2-A501-5E14024BC66F} (TricksterActiveX Control) - http://www.tricksteronline.com/contr...terActiveX.cab
O16 - DPF: {D88C7675-7CEE-4C9A-BDD4-7A43EED7794D} (Logout Class) - http://www.gamengame.com/KALogoutComponent.cab
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O23 - Service: Adobe LM Service - Adobe Systems - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe Systems Shared\Service\Adobelmsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Password Validation (ccPwdSvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccPwdSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
O23 - Service: GEARSecurity - GEAR Software - C:\WINDOWS\System32\GEARSec.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: NOD32 Kernel Service (NOD32krn) - Eset - C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32krn.exe
O23 - Service: Norton Ghost - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton Ghost\Agent\VProSvc.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: O&O Defrag - O&O Software GmbH - C:\WINDOWS\system32\oodag.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Core LC - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
O23 - Service: TuneUp WinStyler Theme Service (TUWinStylerThemeSvc) - TuneUp Software GmbH - C:\Program Files\TuneUp Utilities 2006\WinStylerThemeSvc.exe

[limesqueezer]

You have start downloader and google toolbar & gmail notifier, maybe some of them can cause IEXPLORE.EXE to be seen and if you ask me they are useless.
I don't know if there is any information who made start downloader. As for gmail notifier, it must notify even if you close your browser. Well that are just my thoughts.

[Shiranai_Baka]

star downloader is a downloading program that I use since its free and I've been using google toolbar and notifier since before this happened.

[killuminati96]

Try going to run & type msconfig then see if it's listen on the startup list. uncheck it if it is. If it's "explorer.exe" I think that's a system file. "iexplorer.exe" is your IE browser. I have stopped the explorer.exe process before and it made my desktop go blank so I had to reboot. lol

[backlash]

Try going to run & type msconfig then see if it's listen on the startup list. uncheck it if it is. If it's "explorer.exe" I think that's a system file. "iexplorer.exe" is your IE browser. I have stopped the explorer.exe process before and it made my desktop go blank so I had to reboot. lol

You can see the startup items in the hijack this log posted.

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Logitech Utility] Logi_MwX.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_07\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nod32kui] "C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32kui.exe" /WAITSERVICE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DAEMON Tools] "C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools\daemon.exe" -lang 1033
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [{0228e555-4f9c-4e35-a3ec-b109a192b4c2}] C:\Program Files\Google\Gmail Notifier\gnotify.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RunDLL32.exe NvMCTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [amd_dc_opt] "C:\Program Files\AMD\amd_dc_opt\amd_dc_opt.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AIM] C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe -cnetwait.odl
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PeerGuardian] C:\Program Files\PeerGuardian2\pg2.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe

[Chewie]

..."explorer.exe" I think that's a system file. "iexplorer.exe" is your IE browser. I have stopped the explorer.exe process before and it made my desktop go blank so I had to reboot. lol

We have established that the process running is IEXPLORE.EXE, which is Internet Explorer. IEXPLORER.EXE is not Internet Explorer and would likely be a malicious process.
The reason you couldn't see your desktop when you ended the EXPOLORER.EXE process is that it is your desktop. Well, it's the GUI, anyway.