Problem with cousin's computer - FILEDE~.EXE

[elcangry3512]

Whenever she starts it up, right after windows loads and you're taken to the desktop, three messages appear about FILEDE~.EXE. She says it's been happening for a few weeks now. So she said to look it up, which I did, but I'm not really understanding what to do about this. Don't really know what it is. She never clicks on the button that sends the report. Any idea what this may be?

[PK]

Couldn't find much information about it. But there was this:

These programs all come from different families but these malware families are among some of the most active and dangerous malicious programs at the current moment. Files with names such as ntos.exe, video.dll, audio.dll, sporder.dll, lcewza.exe, filech.exe, filede.exe, iphone.scr, ldr.exe, ldr2.exe, loader.exe, pajero.exe, update92520748.exe, zeus.exe, zs1.exe are well known to virus analysts throughout the world.

It's possible it's malware and she'll need to install some anti-malware software to destroy it. Try "Search & Destroy". I think that's the one Hunter recommends. It's free. But even then there's no promises.

If anti-malware can't get rid of it then have her back-up any important files (docs, photos, etc.) because she "might" need to reinstall everything. If so don't back-up any .exe files because they might be a virus. Also, be sure to format the harddrive during the installation of WIndows.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

[elcangry3512]

I believe she has Spybot, but since she doesn't get much online time, and her internet is dial-up. So... she doesn't bother to download the updates. Since the phone is always being used at her house, the only time she can get online is at night, some time after 9:30 or 10 PM. I'll tell her this, though.

[Hunter]

I'd need more information to make an appropriate diagnosis. Does the computer still run fine? What does the msg actually say about the FILEDE~.EXE file?

I would definitely run Spybot S&D with the newest definitions (updates) before proceeding to much further. As for whether this is actually a piece of malware, I can't say. There are references to FILEDE.EXE in the malware definitions, however, I can't find FILEDE~.EXE, which tells me this is either a whole other beast, or a partial file that never actually finished downloading. Do a search of your computer (START>search) for the file mentioned and, if located, notice the location of the file. If this is a file folder you know and trust then I would reinstall that program after uninstalling it and wiping it (delete the file folder). If not then you may have been the victim of an encounter with malware.. DELETE it.

Also, if this is the case. Make sure you are running a good piece of defense software. Avast is good with their free offering Avast4Home. If you don't mind the cost, kapersky is the BEST - sometimes to a fault. It does have a learning curve. Either one will keep you relatively safe. Remember, defense software is only as good as it's definitions. You HAVE to update these things. You can always set the auto-update for the software to like 0100 and turn on your dialup. Then at 1 am it will update for you and not interfere with your phone line (unless you have a teenage who's on the phone then. )

Hunter.