Unidentified files in root directory

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Guest

Recently have noticed many, new, unrecognized files on the root drive, c:,
all are ".sqm". All seem to be "data" type files ("data" usually in the
filename); I have done file extension search - .sqm files associated with a
war game, which I have never accessed, installed or played online (the link
to webpage is a resouce page for the game "Operation Flashpoint").
Interestingly, this phenomenon occurred after new XP Home OEM installs, done
at my house, while connected to a wired home network (REPEAT - Operation
Flashpoint has never been installed, run, played online or "browsed" in any
form). Where do these come from? They are easily deleted but..........
 
davdun75 said:
Recently have noticed many, new, unrecognized files on the root
drive, c:, all are ".sqm". All seem to be "data" type files ("data"
usually in the filename); I have done file extension search - .sqm
files associated with a war game, which I have never accessed,
installed or played online (the link to webpage is a resouce page for
the game "Operation Flashpoint"). Interestingly, this phenomenon
occurred after new XP Home OEM installs, done at my house, while
connected to a wired home network (REPEAT - Operation Flashpoint has
never been installed, run, played online or "browsed" in any form).
Where do these come from? They are easily deleted but..........
Click to expand...

You have had them pushed onto your machine by some unscrupulous wet site
most likely, who didn't bother to tell you it was happening. If they keep
coming back by themselves you have a virus or trojan or some other form of
malware. Try Adaware and Spybot to start, to find them and get rid of them.

Pop`
 
Have used S&D, will try AdAware...

Pop` said:
You have had them pushed onto your machine by some unscrupulous wet site
most likely, who didn't bother to tell you it was happening. If they keep
coming back by themselves you have a virus or trojan or some other form of
malware. Try Adaware and Spybot to start, to find them and get rid of them.

Pop`
Click to expand...
 
davdun75 said:
Recently have noticed many, new, unrecognized files on the root drive, c:,
all are ".sqm". All seem to be "data" type files ("data" usually in the
filename); I have done file extension search - .sqm files associated with a
war game, which I have never accessed, installed or played online (the link
to webpage is a resouce page for the game "Operation Flashpoint").
Interestingly, this phenomenon occurred after new XP Home OEM installs, done
at my house, while connected to a wired home network (REPEAT - Operation
Flashpoint has never been installed, run, played online or "browsed" in any
form). Where do these come from? They are easily deleted but..........
Click to expand...

Make sure you turn off System Restore and before attempting to remove
the badware. Many Adware and Spyware programs, as well as Trojans and
viruses, will be reinstalled automatically if you do not turn off System
Restore. You should also do all scanning and removal in Safe Mode if you
can. This prevents the badware from running in the background while you
are trying to detect and remove it.
 
GateKeeper said:
Make sure you turn off System Restore and before attempting to remove
the badware. Many Adware and Spyware programs, as well as Trojans and
viruses, will be reinstalled automatically if you do not turn off
System Restore.
Click to expand...


No, this is not at all correct. If a System Restore Point contains the
malware (and it may, if the Restore Point was created during a period when
the malware was present), it will be restored *if* (and only if) you restore
from that Restore Point. It will *not* be reinstalled automatically.

Any virus (or any other kind of malware) in a Restore Point is completely
innocuous and can't hurt you in any way *unless* you do a System Restore
from that restore point.

Unfortunately, you can't selectively delete restore points. Your only
choices are to delete them all, all but the most recent, or none.


If you do choose to delete all the Restore Points, note that it makes *no*
difference whether you do it before or after removing the malware.
 
No, this is not at all correct. If a System Restore Point contains the
malware (and it may, if the Restore Point was created during a period
when the malware was present), it will be restored *if* (and only if)
you restore from that Restore Point. It will *not* be reinstalled
automatically.
Any virus (or any other kind of malware) in a Restore Point is
completely innocuous and can't hurt you in any way *unless* you do a
System Restore from that restore point.

Unfortunately, you can't selectively delete restore points. Your only
choices are to delete them all, all but the most recent, or none.


If you do choose to delete all the Restore Points, note that it makes
*no* difference whether you do it before or after removing the
malware.
Click to expand...


As a matter of fact, it's safer to do it after removing the malware because,
if the malware removal screws things up, you can use the Restore Point to go
back to where you were, and try another malware removal tool that may work
better.
 
noted... thanks

GateKeeper said:
Make sure you turn off System Restore and before attempting to remove
the badware. Many Adware and Spyware programs, as well as Trojans and
viruses, will be reinstalled automatically if you do not turn off System
Restore. You should also do all scanning and removal in Safe Mode if you
can. This prevents the badware from running in the background while you
are trying to detect and remove it.
Click to expand...
 
Have tried AdAware and S&D, Advanced Spyware Remover.. to no avail. Nothing
in the registry referring to "sqmdata*.sqm", or "sqmnoopt*.sqm". Any other
suggestions?
 
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