suspicious dropping left on desktop

  • Thread starter Thread starter Clueless
  • Start date Start date
C

Clueless

Hi

I am running Win XP pro with Norton AV regularly updated & Adaware used once
a week. I have come across evidence of virus like activity even though I use
email in text mode only, do not run any suspicious files etc. I found a file
fragment on my desktop today, with no originating info, containing all of my
address book. Norton has not found anything on a full system scan, Adaware
full scan ditto.

So what is the culprit? Appreciate any assistance.

S. Althaf
 
Hi

I am running Win XP pro with Norton AV regularly updated & Adaware used
once a week. I have come across evidence of virus like activity even
though I use email in text mode only, do not run any suspicious files etc.
I found a file fragment on my desktop today, with no originating info,
containing all of my address book. Norton has not found anything on a full
system scan, Adaware full scan ditto.

So what is the culprit? Appreciate any assistance.

S. Althaf
Click to expand...

Since you posted with OE, I presume you also use OE as your mail program.
OE 6 has a bug in it. When you update or change your address book, it
makes a copy onto the desktop, it starts with a tilde ( ~ ). If your new
file begins with a ~ and just has your addresses ... that is the
explanation. It is safe, nothing wrong, no infection ... just a bug in OE.
 
|| On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 22:21:07 +0000, Clueless wrote:
||
||| Hi
|||
||| I am running Win XP pro with Norton AV regularly updated & Adaware
||| used once a week. I have come across evidence of virus like
||| activity even though I use email in text mode only, do not run any
||| suspicious files etc. I found a file fragment on my desktop today,
||| with no originating info, containing all of my address book. Norton
||| has not found anything on a full system scan, Adaware full scan
||| ditto.
|||
||| So what is the culprit? Appreciate any assistance.
|||
||| S. Althaf
||
|| Since you posted with OE, I presume you also use OE as your mail
|| program. OE 6 has a bug in it. When you update or change your
|| address book, it
|| makes a copy onto the desktop, it starts with a tilde ( ~ ). If your
|| new file begins with a ~ and just has your addresses ... that is the
|| explanation. It is safe, nothing wrong, no infection ... just a bug
|| in OE.

Thank you, exactly the symptoms I was concerned about, guess I should get
off my ass & move email & news clients, just find this easy to use &
adequate for my needs :-(

S. Althaf
 
Clueless said:
Thank you, exactly the symptoms I was concerned about, guess I should get
off my ass & move email & news clients, just find this easy to use &
adequate for my needs :-(

S. Althaf
Click to expand...

It is probably best to never use the address book. Too many nasties look
there first. Consider that you are exposing your friends to vulnerability
on your machine. Stop auto listing everyone to whom you reply in your
address book.
 
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