SECURITY ISSUES AND TRYING TO DEFINE THE SOURCE OF MECHANICS

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Guest

I believe my computer has been compromised by agent provaceturs......For
instance my antivirus output (tracking a virus whereabouts) inidicated that
there was data in one of the Recycle Bins , yet there was nothing
visible...lAnd when I deleted the bin , it revealed that there were things in
there....(a file deletion question ). Also I have been getting "help" from
whomever advising me to contact Microsoft (see below)

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE FOUND IN MY TEMP FILE...I DO NOT REALLY
UNDERSTAND CODE VERY WELL


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16" ?>
- <alttext>
<sPreviousTip>Previous topic</sPreviousTip>
<sNextTip>Next topic</sNextTip>
<sExpandTip>Expand/collapse</sExpandTip>

#2

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16" ?>
- <alttext>
<sPreviousTip>Previous topic</sPreviousTip>
<sNextTip>Next topic</sNextTip>
<sExpandTip>Expand/collapse</sExpandTip>
<sPopupTip>View definition</sPopupTip>
- <!-- DO NOT LOCALIZE entries below this point
-->
<path2reuse>ntdef.chm::/</path2reuse>
- <!-- path (on installed build) to reusable text XML file
-->
<path2glossary>ntshared.chm::/</path2glossary>
- <!-- path (on installed build) to reusable text XML file
-->
<reltopgif>no</reltopgif>
- <!-- enter yes if you want the gif to display
-->
<chmName />
- <!-- NOT YET IMPLEMENTED - leave blank (enter chmname.chm or nothing for
jscript within)
-->
<emailer>no</emailer>
- <!-- enter yes if you want the e-mail link on top of the page
-->
<sendtext>Send feedback on this topic to</sendtext>
<sendto>[email protected]</sendto>
- <!-- enter yes if you want the e-mail link on top of the page
-->
<smartreusabletext>ntdef.chm::/defaultsettings.xml</smartreusabletext>
</alttext>
<sPopupTip>View definition</sPopupTip>
- <!-- DO NOT LOCALIZE entries below this point
-->
<path2reuse>ntdef.chm::/</path2reuse>
- <!-- path (on installed build) to reusable text XML file
-->
<path2glossary>ntshared.chm::/</path2glossary>
- <!-- path (on installed build) to reusable text XML file
-->
<reltopgif>no</reltopgif>
- <!-- enter yes if you want the gif to display
-->
<chmName />
- <!-- NOT YET IMPLEMENTED - leave blank (enter chmname.chm or nothing for
jscript within)
-->
<emailer>no</emailer>
- <!-- enter yes if you want the e-mail link on top of the page
-->
<sendtext>Send feedback on this topic to</sendtext>
<sendto>[email protected]</sendto>
- <!-- enter yes if you want the e-mail link on top of the page
-->
<smartreusabletext>ntdef.chm::/defaultsettings.xml</smartreusabletext>
</alttext>

#3

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16" ?>
- <alttext>
<sPreviousTip>Previous topic</sPreviousTip>
<sNextTip>Next topic</sNextTip>
<sExpandTip>Expand/collapse</sExpandTip>
<sPopupTip>View definition</sPopupTip>
- <!-- DO NOT LOCALIZE entries below this point
-->
<path2reuse>ntdef.chm::/</path2reuse>
- <!-- path (on installed build) to reusable text XML file
-->
<path2glossary>ntshared.chm::/</path2glossary>
- <!-- path (on installed build) to reusable text XML file
-->
<reltopgif>no</reltopgif>
- <!-- enter yes if you want the gif to display
-->
<chmName />
- <!-- NOT YET IMPLEMENTED - leave blank (enter chmname.chm or nothing for
jscript within)
-->
<emailer>no</emailer>
- <!-- enter yes if you want the e-mail link on top of the page
-->
<sendtext>Send feedback on this topic to</sendtext>
<sendto>[email protected]</sendto>
- <!-- enter yes if you want the e-mail link on top of the page
-->
<smartreusabletext>ntdef.chm::/defaultsettings.xml</smartreusabletext>
</alttext>

#4

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16" ?>
- <alttext>
<sPreviousTip>Previous topic</sPreviousTip>
<sNextTip>Next topic</sNextTip>
<sExpandTip>Expand/collapse</sExpandTip>
<sPopupTip>View definition</sPopupTip>
- <!-- DO NOT LOCALIZE entries below this point
-->
<path2reuse>ntdef.chm::/</path2reuse>
- <!-- path (on installed build) to reusable text XML file
-->
<path2glossary>ntshared.chm::/</path2glossary>
- <!-- path (on installed build) to reusable text XML file
-->
<reltopgif>no</reltopgif>
- <!-- enter yes if you want the gif to display
-->
<chmName />
- <!-- NOT YET IMPLEMENTED - leave blank (enter chmname.chm or nothing for
jscript within)
-->
<emailer>no</emailer>
- <!-- enter yes if you want the e-mail link on top of the page
-->
<sendtext>Send feedback on this topic to</sendtext>
<sendto>[email protected]</sendto>
- <!-- enter yes if you want the e-mail link on top of the page
-->
<smartreusabletext>ntdef.chm::/defaultsettings.xml</smartreusabletext>
</alttext>

There have been numerous other anomolies since I acquiired this system..

I am sending this to Microsoft also.

Tempe, Az.EC
 
Kato said:
I believe my computer has been compromised by agent
provaceturs......For instance my antivirus output (tracking a virus
whereabouts) inidicated that there was data in one of the Recycle Bins
, yet there was nothing visible...lAnd when I deleted the bin , it
revealed that there were things in
there....(a file deletion question ). Also I have been getting "help"
from whomever advising me to contact Microsoft (see below)

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE FOUND IN MY TEMP FILE...I DO NOT REALLY
UNDERSTAND CODE VERY WELL


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16" ?>
- <alttext>
Click to expand...
(snip large amount of useless html)

I rather doubt there is any espionage at work here. It is far more
likely that you have some malware on your computer and/or don't really
understand how to use it. This is not meant to hurt your feelings; your
post isn't really very clear.

Here are general maintenance/malware removal steps for you to take. I'll
address the Recycle Bin issue afterwards:

1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
antivirus using updated definitions.

2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.

Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).

HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and disable hijackers, but
it requires expert skill. See below for HijackThis links. A combination
of HijackThis and About:Buster works well in removing the About:Blank
homepage hijacker. Again, this is an expert tool and novices should get
help with it.

3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).

Links to help with malware:

Software/Methods:
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware
http://www.majorgeeks.com - good download site
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. - SilentRunners

HijackThis:
http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm - HijackThis tutorial by Jim
Eshelman
http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5 - Spyware Warrior HijackThis
forum
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/

General:
http://forum.aumha.org/ - look under "Security" for various forums
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Then move on to general maintenance:

1) Delete temporary and Temporary Internet Files.
2) Stop unnecessary services/programs from starting with Windows - see
www.blackviper.com for services info and
www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm for programs info.
3) Look in Event Viewer for clues.
4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.
5) Run a firewall.

For the Recycle Bin issue, go to MVP Kelly Theriot's site here:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm

Click on "R" and scroll down to "Recycle Bin - Deleting Problems"

Malke
 
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