Strange folders in C:\Documents and Settings\

[Herbert Eppel]

Today I discovered empty folders called

Application
Application6
Applicationrche ds
Applicationpace rƒ

in my C:\Documents and Settings\ folder.

The first three seem to have been created at the same time around two
weeks ago, the last one was created one day later.

I assume that I can simply delete these folders and intend to do so, but
it would be interesting to find out why they were created and what
process created them.

Any suggestions?

 

[Jim]

Today I discovered empty folders called

Application
Application6
Applicationrche ds
Applicationpace rƒ

in my C:\Documents and Settings\ folder.

The first three seem to have been created at the same time around two
weeks ago, the last one was created one day later.

I assume that I can simply delete these folders and intend to do so, but
it would be interesting to find out why they were created and what process
created them.

Any suggestions?

Malware comes to mind.
Jim

 

[Bob Lucas]

Today I discovered empty folders called

Application
Application6
Applicationrche ds
Applicationpace rƒ

in my C:\Documents and Settings\ folder.

The first three seem to have been created at the same time around two
weeks ago, the last one was created one day later.

I assume that I can simply delete these folders and intend to do so,
but it would be interesting to find out why they were created and what
process created them.

Any suggestions?

Did you installed any new software, around two weeks ago? If so, the
installation program may have created folders, which are no longer
required (having served their original purpose). Otherwise, Jim has
suggested the very real possibility of malaware.

Click on Start | Run and type "msconfig". Look for suspicious items
under the "Services" and "Startup" tabs.

It would also be sensible to scan for Malaware, using reliable utilities
such as Malwarebytes (from http://www.malwarebytes.org/) and Spybot -
Search & Destroy (from http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html).

I hope you are running up-to-date antivirus software. As an addded
precaution, I would also run an additional on-line virus scan from a
different provider. You could try Kapersky
(http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner).

 

[Herbert Eppel]

Did you installed any new software, around two weeks ago? If so, the
installation program may have created folders, which are no longer
required (having served their original purpose). Otherwise, Jim has
suggested the very real possibility of malaware.

Click on Start | Run and type "msconfig". Look for suspicious items
under the "Services" and "Startup" tabs.

It would also be sensible to scan for Malaware, using reliable utilities
such as Malwarebytes (from http://www.malwarebytes.org/) and Spybot -
Search & Destroy (from http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html).

I hope you are running up-to-date antivirus software. As an addded
precaution, I would also run an additional on-line virus scan from a
different provider. You could try Kapersky
(http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner).

Hi Bob,

Thanks for your reply (also to Jim).

I have Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0 running on this system, and I
assume it would have detected any undesirable infiltration.

I therefore assume that these empty folders were created by some
software or other I installed at the time, although intriguingly I just
noticed that two empty folders called "Application" and "Application
documQ" appeared this morning (I deleted the previous ones yesterday).

On further reflection and investigation, I just found out that the
"culprit" is the Delivery software from magazinesondemand (see
<http://www.magazinesondemand.co.uk/Publications/FicheProduit.aspx?issue_id=9733&category_id=11000>)

Sorry about the 'false alarm'...

 

[Herbert Eppel]

Did you installed any new software, around two weeks ago? If so, the
installation program may have created folders, which are no longer
required (having served their original purpose). Otherwise, Jim has
suggested the very real possibility of malaware.

Click on Start | Run and type "msconfig". Look for suspicious items
under the "Services" and "Startup" tabs.

It would also be sensible to scan for Malaware, using reliable utilities
such as Malwarebytes (from http://www.malwarebytes.org/) and Spybot -
Search & Destroy (from http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html).

I hope you are running up-to-date antivirus software. As an addded
precaution, I would also run an additional on-line virus scan from a
different provider. You could try Kapersky
(http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner).

Hi Bob,

Thanks for your reply (also to Jim).

I have Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0 running on this system, and I
assume it would have detected any undesirable infiltration.

I therefore assume that these empty folders were created by some
software or other I installed at the time, although intriguingly I just
noticed that two empty folders called "Application" and "Application
documQ" appeared this morning (I deleted the previous ones yesterday).

On further reflection and investigation, I just found out that the
"culprit" is the Delivery software from magazinesondemand (see
<http://www.magazinesondemand.co.uk/Publications/FicheProduit.aspx?issue_id=9733&category_id=11000>)

Sorry about the 'false alarm'...

 

[Herbert Eppel]

Sorry about the 'false alarm'...

And sorry about sending my previous message twice - I'm not quite sure
how this happened =-O

 

[Bob Lucas]

And sorry about sending my previous message twice - I'm not quite sure
how this happened =-O

No problem - and I'm glad you have discovered how these folders were
created.

Kapersky Internet Security 7.0 became available in 2007 and has been
superceded by the 2009 version. AFAIK, Kapersky still provide full
support the 7.0 version, so you should have adequate protection against
viruses and other threats (provided the definition files are up to
date)..

I suggested an on-line scan from a different software provider, because
no security software guarantees 100% protection.

For users of Norton or McAfee, I would recommend an on-line scan from
Kapersky. On the other hand, a Kapersky user could run a free on-line
scan from McAfee (http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp); or Norton
(http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?productid=symhome&langid=ie&venid=sym);
or avast! (http://onlinescan.avast.com).

 

[Herbert Eppel]

No problem - and I'm glad you have discovered how these folders were
created.

Kapersky Internet Security 7.0 became available in 2007 and has been
superceded by the 2009 version. AFAIK, Kapersky still provide full
support the 7.0 version, so you should have adequate protection against
viruses and other threats (provided the definition files are up to date)..

I suggested an on-line scan from a different software provider, because
no security software guarantees 100% protection.

For users of Norton or McAfee, I would recommend an on-line scan from
Kapersky. On the other hand, a Kapersky user could run a free on-line
scan from McAfee (http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp); or Norton
(http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?productid=symhome&langid=ie&venid=sym);
or avast! (http://onlinescan.avast.com).

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the helpful additional information.