Can't find info on strange programs run randomly on my computer

I have found the following programs, made up of nonsensical letters and
numbers, run arbitrarily on my computer:
- hatr8
-ibd3jzw
-lbd3jzw
-lgmg40
-igmg40
-kfso2e5d
-zfnf

I've run various virus scans on my computer, and none have been able to find
or delete these files. Moreover, in doing a search on my computer, I can't
even find these files. Any thoughts on what is going on- or how I might be
able to get rid of these programs?!

-Dinesh Mathew

Where are you seeing the information that these programs
are running on your computer?

-----Original Message-----
I have found the following programs, made up of
nonsensical letters and
numbers, run arbitrarily on my computer:
- hatr8
-ibd3jzw
-lbd3jzw
-lgmg40
-igmg40
-kfso2e5d
-zfnf

I've run various virus scans on my computer, and none
have been able to find
or delete these files. Moreover, in doing a search on my
computer, I can't
even find these files. Any thoughts on what is going on-
or how I might be
able to get rid of these programs?!

-Dinesh Mathew

.

"Dinesh Mathew" wrote:

I have found the following programs, made up of nonsensical letters and
numbers, run arbitrarily on my computer:
- hatr8
-ibd3jzw
-lbd3jzw
-lgmg40
-igmg40
-kfso2e5d
-zfnf

I've run various virus scans on my computer, and none have been able to find
or delete these files. Moreover, in doing a search on my computer, I can't
even find these files. Any thoughts on what is going on- or how I might be
able to get rid of these programs?!

-Dinesh Mathew

Have you also checked for spyware? Antivirus programs do not detect
the vast majority of spyware.

Go to http://aumha.org/a/noads.htm for a quick free online spyware
check. Then follow the instructions at
http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm to clean up your machine.

Good luck



Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

Follow this set of procedures:

Use CWShredder, the CoolWeb removal tool, available he
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads31.html
http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads...CWShredder.exe
http://aumha.org/downloads/cwshredder.zip
Start the app, and click the Fix button.

In addition, install Ad-Aware 6 free edition, start it, click its 'Check for
Updates' link in the app to install updates, then use it to scan your system, and
remove what it finds.
Ad-Awa
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/

Install, update and run SpyBot Search & Destroy, scan your system, and then remove
the items in RED only.
SpyBot S&D:
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download

If the problem still exists:
Download, unzip, and run Hijack This from one of these locations:
http://computercops.biz/downloads-cat-14.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads31.html
http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads...HijackThis.exe
Unzip to a folder other than your Desktop or the Temp folder, doubleclick
HijackThis.exe, and hit "Scan".

When the scan is finished, the "Scan" button will change into a "Save Log"
button.
Press that, save the log somewhere you can find it (Desktop, My Documents, or
similar).
Most of what it lists will be harmless or even required, so do NOT fix anything yet.

Copy the log files and paste them into a new post at this forum:
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30

In your post, please state your problem clearly and what you've done so far to fix
it.

The folks there will tell you what to remove.

See the "housekeeping" you should complete before you post your log:
http://aumha.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4075

A tutorial for using Hijack This is located he
http://tomcoyote.com/hjt/
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Dinesh Mathew" wrote in message
...
I have found the following programs, made up of nonsensical letters and
numbers, run arbitrarily on my computer:
- hatr8
-ibd3jzw
-lbd3jzw
-lgmg40
-igmg40
-kfso2e5d
-zfnf

I've run various virus scans on my computer, and none have been able to find
or delete these files. Moreover, in doing a search on my computer, I can't
even find these files. Any thoughts on what is going on- or how I might be
able to get rid of these programs?!

-Dinesh Mathew

On Mon, 16 Aug 2004 07:21:06 GMT, Ron Martell in
microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion wrote:

"Dinesh Mathew" wrote:

I have found the following programs, made up of nonsensical letters and
numbers, run arbitrarily on my computer:
- hatr8
-ibd3jzw
-lbd3jzw
-lgmg40
-igmg40
-kfso2e5d
-zfnf

I've run various virus scans on my computer, and none have been able to find
or delete these files. Moreover, in doing a search on my computer, I can't
even find these files. Any thoughts on what is going on- or how I might be
able to get rid of these programs?!

-Dinesh Mathew

Have you also checked for spyware? Antivirus programs do not detect
the vast majority of spyware.

Go to http://aumha.org/a/noads.htm for a quick free online spyware
check.
Ron,
It appears that the above URL checks only the browser. This message appears
when it is done:

"Your browser has been checked for parasites. None were found. (However, new
parasites are being created all the time. It is always possible you have a
parasite we are not yet equipped to detect.) "

I would think that spyware can be anywhere on the machine and not just the
browser or its adjuncts.

Denise, I would suggest "Spybot Search & Destroy", "SPYWARE BLASTER" (a run
once per update pgm) then SPYWAREGUARD as a startup program and a critical
eye as to just what is being run at startup using MSCONFIG.
I have run across these nonsense-word .exes myself and one way to deal with
them is to move them to a "DUMP" folder and if nothing adverse happens for a
while, then delete them completely. Also, many of these can be found on
Google, as to function or desirability.

Be careful which spyware locators you install.....some actually have spyware
in them. If anyone thinks the one i listed are unsafe, speak up. Also, get
Lavasoft Ad-Aware.

If you have one called CASprog on the add/remove programs list do not use
the uninstaller. It isn't one, It is an activator. You need to physically
delete the uninstall file.

(I had Bridge.dll, finally did a slash-and-burn and lived to tell about it.)

FACE




Then follow the instructions at
http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm to clean up your machine.

Good luck



Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada

FACE wrote:


Ron,
It appears that the above URL checks only the browser. This message appears
when it is done:

Yup. And something like 99 and 44/100% of the spyware attaches itself
to the web browser.


"Your browser has been checked for parasites. None were found. (However, new
parasites are being created all the time. It is always possible you have a
parasite we are not yet equipped to detect.) "

I would think that spyware can be anywhere on the machine and not just the
browser or its adjuncts.

You apparently did not bother to read the rest of my posting, "Then
follow the instructions at http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm to
clean up your machine."



Denise, I would suggest "Spybot Search & Destroy", "SPYWARE BLASTER" (a run
once per update pgm) then SPYWAREGUARD as a startup program and a critical
eye as to just what is being run at startup using MSCONFIG.
I have run across these nonsense-word .exes myself and one way to deal with
them is to move them to a "DUMP" folder and if nothing adverse happens for a
while, then delete them completely. Also, many of these can be found on
Google, as to function or desirability.

Be careful which spyware locators you install.....some actually have spyware
in them. If anyone thinks the one i listed are unsafe, speak up. Also, get
Lavasoft Ad-Aware.

Lavasoft's AdAware is my preferred removal tool, especially for users
who may not be well versed in computers. I consider it preferable to
Spybot S&D because Spybot can be a bit over-agressive at times and may
want to remove items that are not spyware at all.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

On Mon, 16 Aug 2004 19:48:44 GMT, Ron Martell in
microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion wrote:

I would think that spyware can be anywhere on the machine and not just the
browser or its adjuncts.

You apparently did not bother to read the rest of my posting, "Then
follow the instructions at http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm to
clean up your machine."

Actually i did. I did not visit that particular website though. Also I
read the posting of yours that appeared (here at least) after mine.

In any event, we seem to be on the same page.


FACE