Adware found in C:\RECYCLERS, but this folder does not exist.

[Elysia]

I run nortons and get about 5 of these adware in
C:\RECYCLERS. I go in the C:\ and find that there is no
such folder. I try command prompt, and still, there is no
such folder or file. A few of my friends have the same
problem and we would relly appriciate any hints.

Thank you very much,
Elysia

 

[Jim Macklin]

Spyware authors love to create hidden folders. Change your
view settings.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


|I run nortons and get about 5 of these adware in
| C:\RECYCLERS. I go in the C:\ and find that there is no
| such folder. I try command prompt, and still, there is no
| such folder or file. A few of my friends have the same
| problem and we would relly appriciate any hints.
|
| Thank you very much,
| Elysia

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
I try command prompt, and still, there is no
such folder or file.

It's hidden - adding /ah to a dir command will reveal it.

 

[Charles Gillen]

I run nortons and get about 5 of these adware in
C:\RECYCLERS. I go in the C:\ and find that there is no
such folder.

Empty your recycle bin :^)

Recyclers is just another name for the trash bin. Dump the trash and there
will be nothing there for Norton to find.

This advice also applies when searching for files... if you get too many
search results mentioning recyclers, empty the bin and repeat the search.

 

[Krisie-D]

c:\recyclers is a hidden file it contains all the info
about deleted files ! you see windows doesnt delete the
files it just removes the electronic tags telling the
computer its now gone but infact it just looses it! you
can retrieve all deleted files by using special data
retrievel software! NOT VERY GOOD IS IT !!!!!!
the only way to delete files and info is to use a good
shredder the best i found is : east-tek eraser but the
good ones ant free! usualy about £20 - £30
hope this helps
regards
krisie-d

 

[V Green]

Empty your recycle bin :^)

Recyclers is just another name for the trash bin. Dump the trash and there
will be nothing there for Norton to find.

This advice also applies when searching for files... if you get too many
search results mentioning recyclers, empty the bin and repeat the search.

You may be wrong about this one-

the "official" trash bin is RECYCLER not RECYCLERS.

I suspect, as did a previous poster, that RECYCLERS is a bogus
folder, intended to fool you into not looking into it or otherwise
tampering with it, by scaring you with a sufficiently similar name
to a folder you know about and do NOT want to delete.

Good place to hide nastyware/viruses.

 

[PA Bear]

Ask Symantec.

 

[Charles Gillen]

You may be wrong about this one-
the "official" trash bin is RECYCLER not RECYCLERS.

We may both be right... a file search will show deleted files in "folders"
named c:\recycler\s- et cetera.

The original poster may have misread that as a plural; remember that Norton
could still see the poster's "adware" files but not delete them further.

 

[Jim Macklin]

SpyBot S&D has a good shredder included and it id free.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


message c:\recyclers is a hidden file it contains all the info
about deleted files ! you see windows doesnt delete the
files it just removes the electronic tags telling the
computer its now gone but infact it just looses it! you
can retrieve all deleted files by using special data
retrievel software! NOT VERY GOOD IS IT !!!!!!
the only way to delete files and info is to use a good
shredder the best i found is : east-tek eraser but the
good ones ant free! usualy about £20 - £30
hope this helps
regards
krisie-d

 

[Alex Nichol]

I run nortons and get about 5 of these adware in
C:\RECYCLERS. I go in the C:\ and find that there is no
such folder. I try command prompt, and still, there is no
such folder or file. A few of my friends have the same
problem and we would relly appriciate any hints.

C:\Recycler (no s) is the Recycle Bin, for an NTFS drive, containing
the files deleted from C:. It has a subfolder for each user for the
files he or she deleted, which others can't see; you need to log on to
each account and empty the recycle bin from it

 

[Guest]

I'm sorry to use the reply button to another message but I can't seem to use
the NEW as it is blocked by something I've downloaded to stop pop-up windows
and don't know how to remove. Now my second problem is similar to this. I too
get messages from Norton that I have Adware.CDT, I delete it but to go to the
actually file to manually delete it says C:\Doc.& Set\USER\Local Settings
etc... but I can't find Local Settings. I know it has to be on my computer.
Since I've changed to XP I feel I have less control, I don't know how to do
anything. 98 was so much clearer. Help anyone??? Thanks

 

[Steve Bird]

You can see Local Settings once you have told the system to display hidden files
etc. This is done by putting a check against the box called "Show hidden files
and folders". This is found in "Explorer - Tools - Folder Options - View and
then inside advanced settings. You will then be able to see Local Settings

Steve

 

[Rock]

I'm sorry to use the reply button to another message but I can't seem to use
the NEW as it is blocked by something I've downloaded to stop pop-up windows
and don't know how to remove. Now my second problem is similar to this. I too
get messages from Norton that I have Adware.CDT, I delete it but to go to the
actually file to manually delete it says C:\Doc.& Set\USER\Local Settings
etc... but I can't find Local Settings. I know it has to be on my computer.
Since I've changed to XP I feel I have less control, I don't know how to do
anything. 98 was so much clearer. Help anyone??? Thanks

:

First, you are using the web interface to access this newsgroup. It is
a terrible interface. It is better to use a newsgroup reader. XP has
one, outlook express. See this link on how to use it. Then you'll have
no problems posting new messages. It's not a good practice to hijack
someone else's thread.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

Second, that folder is a hidden folder. To see it go to windows
explorer, click on tools, folder options, view. Select show hidden
files and folders and remove the tick mark in hide protected operating
system files. I would also remove the tick mark in hide extensions for
known file types. Click ok.

Lastly, you need to use more than just Norton to scan your system for
adware. It takes a combination of programs.

Run these programs to check for spyware/malware. After installing
update them, then boot into safe mode and run them. You should update
and run them weekly.

Cwshredder
http://aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#cwshred

Ad-aware SE
http://www.lavasoftusa.com

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner
http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10247783.html

Pest Patrol Free Pest Scanner
http://www.pestscan.com/ScanOrTrial.asp

After your system is clean use these programs to help keep it clean:

Spywareblaster
www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

Spywareguard
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sgdownload.html

IE-SPYAD
http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm

For viruses, run at least two of these online scans in addition to your
regular up to date AV program:

Online and Downloadable Virus Scanning:

Panda ActiveScan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

Bit Defender Online Virus Scan:
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php

Symantec Online Virus and Security Scan:
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp

TrendMicro:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

McAfee Online Virus Scan:
http://www.mcafee.com/myapps/mfs/default.asp

RAV AntiVirus - Scan Online
http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/

F-Secure:
http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml

Make sure you have a firewall active at all times. If nothing else use
the one built into XP, but there are a variety of free third party ones
that do a better job from Sygate, Zone Alarm or Kerio.

Sygate Personal Firewall
http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm

Zone Alarm
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp?lid=staticcomp_za

Kerio Personal Firewall
http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html

Lastly check your system for vulnerabilities. Make sure you have all
the latest security patches from Windows Update too.

Websites which will check for vulnerabilities:

Browser Security Tests:
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/

Symantec Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym

http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/
https://testzone.secunia.com/browser_checker/
www.pcpitstop.com