RE: Wierd Odd Strange Text Files in C: Drive Windows 2003

My reply is at the bottom of your message :


"pacific" wrote:

Hi,

Occasionally there appear anywhere from 1 to 4 strange files in the C:
folder.

Often they have FTP addresses and username and passwords. Sometimes
they don't have anything in them.

Sometimes they are accompanied by some small .EXE file. Always when
these are present FTP, TFTP, etc. try to access the internet but are
stopped by our Software Firewall.

Occasionally a strange User appears in the Windows Users. Always with a
$ in the front. Example: $strangename

I have ran multiple virus scans, trojan scans, and security scans. The
computer checks out perfectly.

When the user and files are deleted and the computer is rebooted
everything is fine.

Anyone know how the heck these files are appearing and how they are
triggering FTP and TFTP? How is the strange username being created? Is
there a way to stop additional Windows Users from being added?

Thanks,

Cliff




Hello ! What you experience now is really weird.
Your computer can be exposed by malware.Scan with David's AV tool and check
for malware.Update it and use McAfee's and Kaspersky's modules.

Also , scan with Ad-Aware SE Personal.Updated and correcly configured:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware

And something else, do you find other suspicious files , sometimes larger...?
I am asking that because your computer could have been made something like a
server for hacker and other bad guys(sorry if you do not understand me in
this part but I am not Englshmand ,I am not American and English is not my
first language , may be I am using the correct english word).This is
something that you have a backdoor in your computer by a something deeply
hidden and the hacker uses your hard drive as to load files on it and then
use them or allow many other guys accessing your computer and see hacker
files and also your files.In my practise , I have seen some cases similar to
yours.Also what a hacker uses on your computer might be difficult to be found
because he/she can use a rootkit or special target malware (malware
especially made for just few people).
If you keep having these problems and still no malware is found , I suggest
the following :

1) Goto a reputable professional computer shop and ask IT specialists for
help to choose a good router+firewall for your computer.Such a device costs
at about $70 .
This device will allow and do you two things:
First it allows you share your one internet connection with more computers
at home or in your office,for example
Second , it will be a hardware firewall . This firewall cannot be damaged as
it is hardware and it will be your first and really big defense.It is a
firewall offering an incoming protection so you'll be protected. (tip !!!
althogh you'll use a hardware firewall , always use software firewall as well
as a hardware firewall)

2) Back up your important files . Save them on CDs or DVDs . Check them for
malware later with good AV software like NOD32,for example.
Important files means documents, photos,music ,well-known exe installers and
things like that.

3) Do a full format (erase everything) and reinstall your Windows operating
system.
Here , in my web-site , is a simple description of how to do this and things
that you need to to after you have reinstalled Windows.If you find it for
difficult , contact a local professional or *reputable* professional computer
store and ask for help.The format/reinstall procedure is simple for IT
specialists ;-)


4) Protect your computer well after reinstalling . Use the hardware firewall
, be careful , update your security softwares .
http://pandaman.my.contact.bg/protect_your_pc.htm


Panda_man
--
Bronze level Contributor , MS-Newsgroups
Prevention is always better than cure !
http://pandaman.my.contact.bg
Please , rate posts

.