new account at login screen that i didn't create

[JM]

This morning there was a password protected Administrator account at my XP
Pro logon screen, which I did not create. Before I go searching for foul
play, I wanted to ask here what possible explanations are there for this?
A/R Programs doesn't indicate an update from yesterday, and the folders in
the account settings all have a creation date of this morning, approximately
one hour prior to my sitting down in front of the computer. No one here
could have done it.

Input appreciated

jm

 

[Malke]

This morning there was a password protected Administrator account at my XP
Pro logon screen, which I did not create. Before I go searching for foul
play, I wanted to ask here what possible explanations are there for this?
A/R Programs doesn't indicate an update from yesterday, and the folders in
the account settings all have a creation date of this morning, approximately
one hour prior to my sitting down in front of the computer. No one here
could have done it.

Input appreciated

Well, it couldn't have magically appeared by itself. Since I don't know
whether you have a domain-member workstation, a standalone PC, or what,
I can't possibly guess what happened. The only time a "user" account is
created as part of something else is the ASP.NET machine account when
the MS .Net Framework 1.1 is installed. It doesn't have a password, though.

http://www.mvps.org/marksxp/WindowsXP/aspdot.php

If your new user account is named something else, then start checking
your security.

If you want more help, provide more details - starting with the name of
the new user account.


Malke

 

[Guest]

This morning there was a password protected Administrator account at my XP
Pro logon screen, which I did not create. Before I go searching for foul
play, I wanted to ask here what possible explanations are there for this?
A/R Programs doesn't indicate an update from yesterday, and the folders in
the account settings all have a creation date of this morning, approximately
one hour prior to my sitting down in front of the computer. No one here
could have done it.

Input appreciated

jm

What the name of this account, is it Administrator?, how many users using
this computer?.
Did you create the account you are using now recently or you have not been
represented before with a log in screen.
Did you scan your computer.
More info about what happen before this issue arise, will be a great help to
us to help you.
HTH.
nass

 

[JM]

thanks to the nice two folks who responded. i'm sorry i wasted your time.

turns out i was the target of a very well-thought-out and executed practical
joke. the new account was only the tip of the iceberg.

jm

 

[Malke]

thanks to the nice two folks who responded. i'm sorry i wasted your time.

turns out i was the target of a very well-thought-out and executed practical
joke. the new account was only the tip of the iceberg.

I'm sorry that you were the victim of a practical joke. I hope you
thought it was amusing. ;-)

Thanks for taking the time to let us know this is a closed issue.


Malke