A black, blank window screen suddenly pops up and then disappears while my
start up icons are loading on. I'm concerned that this might be some
malicious software that records my input onto this screen and sends it off to
someone who has attached this screen to my computer. How do I go about
dealing with this?

I've tried running the Protection / Clean-up & Tune-up Programs at the
Windows Live Safety Center which hasn't removed the problem. The screen or
window has some writing in the upper left hand corner, but flashes by too
quickly for me to see what it says.

Lightning wrote:

> A black, blank window screen suddenly pops up and then disappears
> while my start up icons are loading on. I'm concerned that this might
> be some malicious software that records my input onto this screen and
> sends it off to someone who has attached this screen to my computer.
> How do I go about dealing with this?
>
> I've tried running the Protection / Clean-up & Tune-up Programs at the
> Windows Live Safety Center which hasn't removed the problem. The
> screen or window has some writing in the upper left hand corner, but
> flashes by too quickly for me to see what it says.

Go through these general malware removal steps systematically -
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware

Include scanning with either Sysclean or Multi_AV, plus Ewido. Do all
prep/finishing work and follow instructions to do all scans in Safe
Mode.

When all else fails, run HijackThis and post your log in one of the
specialty forums listed at the link above (not here, please).

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a professional
computer repair shop (not your local version of BigStoreUSA).

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

> Lightning wrote:
>
> > A black, blank window screen suddenly pops up and then disappears
> > while my start up icons are loading on. I'm concerned that this might
> > be some malicious software that records my input onto this screen and
> > sends it off to someone who has attached this screen to my computer.
> > How do I go about dealing with this?
> >
> > I've tried running the Protection / Clean-up & Tune-up Programs at the
> > Windows Live Safety Center which hasn't removed the problem. The
> > screen or window has some writing in the upper left hand corner, but
> > flashes by too quickly for me to see what it says.

One thing to try would be to download Spybot Search & destroy, then use
the advanced mode -> Startup Programs listing to pinpoint the startup
process in question. Running msconfig (start -> run -> msconfig) may
reveal the problem as well, but without the helpful knowledge Spybot
has to offer. Hopefully one of these two solutions will help with your
problem.

-Cheers

I think I've got the problem solved. It's the McAfee Decurity Splash Screen.

Thanks for the help from everyone.

"(E-Mail Removed)" wrote:

> > Lightning wrote:
> >
> > > A black, blank window screen suddenly pops up and then disappears
> > > while my start up icons are loading on. I'm concerned that this might
> > > be some malicious software that records my input onto this screen and
> > > sends it off to someone who has attached this screen to my computer.
> > > How do I go about dealing with this?
> > >
> > > I've tried running the Protection / Clean-up & Tune-up Programs at the
> > > Windows Live Safety Center which hasn't removed the problem. The
> > > screen or window has some writing in the upper left hand corner, but
> > > flashes by too quickly for me to see what it says.
>
> One thing to try would be to download Spybot Search & destroy, then use
> the advanced mode -> Startup Programs listing to pinpoint the startup
> process in question. Running msconfig (start -> run -> msconfig) may
> reveal the problem as well, but without the helpful knowledge Spybot
> has to offer. Hopefully one of these two solutions will help with your
> problem.
>
> -Cheers
>
>