Virus?

beenthere · Dec 25, 2001

I believe I have a virus, and have no idea where it came from or how to get rid of it.
It seems connected to MS Outlook Express, and creates files named 'image001, 002.....00X, and file names of images I have named in my digital camera pic files. The files are attached to every (near as I can tell) folder I have - one at least, and sometimes more, in each one. I can delete the files, but they re-create themselves in some random fashion, as the same files do not show up in the same place. Also, if I click on the file icon that is there, I get the Outlook Express 'New Message' box that has a file attached with 0 bytes.
Anyone have any experience with this or any clues about what it is or how to get rid of it?

I have Norton Anti Virus, and updated it and ran it. No viruses found in any of the 41,000+ files.

Haven't beenthere before, but maybe I am there now!

TerryinMD · Dec 25, 2001

beenthere,

Dumb question - when did you do your last update?

Have you or anyone else using the computer made any configuration changes? Almost sounds like you're creating at lot of picture links to display in HTML. A shot in the dark.

Good luck!!

Terry

beenthere · Dec 25, 2001

Last update of Norton Anti Virus was yesterday, the 24th.
All the 'unwanted' files are listed under type as Outlook Express Mail Message or Outlook Express News Message, as near as I can tell when I do a file search on the name of the file. The icon looks like an open white envelope. The file size shows as 78k. Tis a mystery.

TerryinMD · Dec 25, 2001

Would it hurt to delete all of the mail messages?

Hmmm... do you scan all of your emails when they come in?

How about checking all of the Norton application settings to make sure your checking everything that hits your machine?

All shots in the dark!! This kind of stuff makes ya crazy....

Terry

beenthere · Dec 25, 2001

Thanks for your interest. I can't delete them faster than they can re-appear. I thought I was gaining, as I could find (at first) 200+ files, delete them, remove them from the recycle bin, then have them pop again within a few minutes (or shut down the computer, fire it up again, and have unwanted images re-appear. When I kept this up, the numbers of files to delete kept going down, such as 180, 100, 80, 60, 53. 40, 31, 20, 18, 10, 8, 5, (wow, kept thinking I was gaining ground here) until I left the computer for a few minutes and the numbers grew back to 60 again. Also, these files were only the ones not attached to a folder. If I go through the folders, there are files (at least one) attached to every one, including sub-folders. Hmmmmmm?

TerryinMD · Dec 25, 2001

Man, you got something bad!!

Do you know how to get to the Task Manager?

The easy way is to do a Ctrl+Alt+Del.

Then you need to see what may be running.

Since I'm using Windows XP, my descriptions may be a little different than yours, but similar.

Check the running Applications. If something looks really bogus, kill it.

Check your processes and see what may be using the CPU a lot?

I can't give you any specifics here because your machine will be different from mine.

I'm no security expert or PC guru but usually just watch what's going on and try to figure out what appears to be the problem. I wouldn't suggest that you delete any applications or files because you may get rid of a necessary file. But killing a process or application would only hang the machine at worst case.

Too bad it's Christmas day, there are a couple of good PC people on the board who could help.

Good luck!!

Terry

scruffy · Dec 25, 2001

First port of call: http://housecall.antivirus.com/
You need to run their free online virus scanner and try to get an identity to the critter. Once that is accomplished, then further steps can be taken.
What version wincrud are you running? What version of IE, and OE?

beenthere · Dec 25, 2001

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried to run the freescan, but could not get it to run. I get the statement
"Miss pattern files, reinstall please"
Am not sure what this means. Any ideas?

AndyR · Dec 26, 2001

Are you sure you are only checking for 41000+ virus definitions? 'Case my current Norton 2001 load reads 58371 as of the 18th. If you have them, boot off of your (Norton)rescue disks. If not, try booting off of the Norton CD - but be prepared to wait a lonnnngggg time as the CD scan is quite slow. It does indeed sound like a virus.

Andy in NH

hoghead · Dec 26, 2001

I had the same problem some time ago..I solved the problem by setting up norton antivirus 2001 to scan "all files", ran live update and then did a manual scan to fix the problem.My virus definitions as of 12/19 are over 58000 so you obviously aren't up to date.One thing I remember is that I had the 2000 version of Norton and it didn't pick up the bug so I installed Norton 2001 and did the above mentioned routine.

Hoghead