some weird thing - GoFuckYourself.com

cypocrypt · 04-13-2004, 01:54 PM

ok..just recently got a new laptop and im 99% sure is clean, havent installed anything on it...but every time i use outlook after i close it, a file is created on my desktop with this as a name "~"
anyhahahaha has any idea whats up with that??? laptop works fine but im really curious as to why that file pops up on my desktop

thanx in advance

TweetyBird · 04-13-2004, 02:39 PM

hmm, interesting, I'll try to check out what can cause that...

ztik · 04-13-2004, 02:41 PM

email virus most likely. i would do a scan

Fucksakes · 04-13-2004, 02:42 PM

yeah i get that a few times as well.

Chris · 04-13-2004, 02:42 PM

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...+my+desktop%22

Chris · 04-13-2004, 02:43 PM

What is this ~ file?
The file appearing on your desktop with the filename ~, commonly known as a tilde, is a backup of your hahahahahahas Address Book. It is appearing as a result of the April 2003 Cumulative Patch for Outlook Express (330994). The patch is installed for Outlook Express 5.5 or 6 in response to a vulnerability that could allow an attacker to run code of the attacker?s choice on a user?s machine. To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would have to be able to cause hahahahahahas to open a specially constructed MHTML URL, either on a web site or included in an HTML email message.

Unfortunately, there is a bug in the patch.Whenever you make a change in your hahahahahahas Address Book file (*.wab file), hahahahahahas makes a backup of this file. Generally this backup is called username.wa~ , however after the patch is installed the backup gets renamed to just ~ instead and saved in the directory where you start your Outlook Express. Most of the time, people start Outlook Express from a shortcut on their desktop, so the backup file gets placed there. This is how the tilde (~) file arrives on your desktop.

Is the File a Virus and will Spyware or Anti-virus Utilities Find it?

Because the file is simply a backup of your hahahahahahas Address Book, spyware searching utilities or anti-virus products wont flag it as anything suspicious.

Can I Delete the ~ File?

The simple answer is yes, the file can be deleted. However if it is deleted, you wont have a backup of your hahahahahahas Address Book if a virus or something else corrupts it or you accidentally delete the information in the address book. So I wouldnt necessarily delete the file without backing it up first. Personally, here are the steps I would take to remain safe in case you need the file again.

Right click on the file and choose Rename

Type in a name for the file and add the .wab extension to it
For Example, you might want to rename it to addressbook.wab or something similar

Now, put a blank, formatted floppy disk in your floppy drive and right-click on the newly named file

Choose Send To, Floppy Drive (most likely A)

Now the file is backed up in case of emergency, right-click on the file on your desktop and choose Delete
Each time you make a change to your address book, this file will reappear so its a good idea to keep that floppy drive around and make a backup each time you make changes. This protects you from losing valuable email addresses in case of a disaster.

An alternative to this would be to change the Start in option for Outlook Express. This has been suggested by a few visitors and works well.

Find the shortcut to Outlook Express and right-click on it
Click on Properties
Make sure Read-only is unchecked on the General tab
Click on the Shortcut tab
In the "Start In" field, change it to an alternative path where the tilde file will appear, for example C:\
Click on Apply
Is There a Patch to fix this?

Although Microsoft has indicated that it knows about this problem and intends to make a patch available, they have not released one yet, as of July 2003.

Can I uninstall the April 2003 patch to fix it?

Yes, you can uninstall the patch, this will fix the tilde (~) file from appearing, however you will not be protected from this security vulnerability either. If you want to uninstall the April 2003 (330994) patch, simply visit this link and follow the uninstall directions. Although I wouldn't advise anyone doing this.

Doctor Dre · 04-13-2004, 02:43 PM

Go on symatec and do a online virus scan

TheFrog · 04-13-2004, 02:46 PM

sounds like a well known outlook bug

AdultNex · 04-13-2004, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Doctor Dre
Go on symatec and do a online virus scan

Read the post above yours....

cypocrypt · 04-13-2004, 02:57 PM

thanx guys

i knew it wasnt a virus because ive done the online scan with norton and antivirus.com
i guess it was jus tweird i had never seen that before

thanx to all of u

Mr. Marks · 04-13-2004, 06:50 PM

Looks like an outlook kinf of bug.
Anyways, you solved it already, good job.

Lykos · 04-14-2004, 09:08 AM

Sounds like a virus to me...

04-13-2004, 01:54 PM	#1
cypocrypt Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York and on icq 108422465 Posts: 1,851	some weird thing ok..just recently got a new laptop and im 99% sure is clean, havent installed anything on it...but every time i use outlook after i close it, a file is created on my desktop with this as a name "~" anyhahahaha has any idea whats up with that??? laptop works fine but im really curious as to why that file pops up on my desktop thanx in advance

04-13-2004, 02:39 PM	#2
TweetyBird Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Canadian this !!! Posts: 8,532	hmm, interesting, I'll try to check out what can cause that... __________________ sig for sale. ICQ :338213644

04-13-2004, 02:41 PM	#3
ztik Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Nomad Posts: 5,196	email virus most likely. i would do a scan __________________ .

04-13-2004, 02:42 PM	#5
Chris Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: May 2003 Location: icq: 71462500 Skype: Jupzchris Posts: 27,880	http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...+my+desktop%22 __________________ [email protected]

04-13-2004, 02:43 PM	#6
Chris Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: May 2003 Location: icq: 71462500 Skype: Jupzchris Posts: 27,880	What is this ~ file? The file appearing on your desktop with the filename ~, commonly known as a tilde, is a backup of your hahahahahahas Address Book. It is appearing as a result of the April 2003 Cumulative Patch for Outlook Express (330994). The patch is installed for Outlook Express 5.5 or 6 in response to a vulnerability that could allow an attacker to run code of the attacker?s choice on a user?s machine. To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would have to be able to cause hahahahahahas to open a specially constructed MHTML URL, either on a web site or included in an HTML email message. Unfortunately, there is a bug in the patch.Whenever you make a change in your hahahahahahas Address Book file (*.wab file), hahahahahahas makes a backup of this file. Generally this backup is called username.wa~ , however after the patch is installed the backup gets renamed to just ~ instead and saved in the directory where you start your Outlook Express. Most of the time, people start Outlook Express from a shortcut on their desktop, so the backup file gets placed there. This is how the tilde (~) file arrives on your desktop. Is the File a Virus and will Spyware or Anti-virus Utilities Find it? Because the file is simply a backup of your hahahahahahas Address Book, spyware searching utilities or anti-virus products wont flag it as anything suspicious. Can I Delete the ~ File? The simple answer is yes, the file can be deleted. However if it is deleted, you wont have a backup of your hahahahahahas Address Book if a virus or something else corrupts it or you accidentally delete the information in the address book. So I wouldnt necessarily delete the file without backing it up first. Personally, here are the steps I would take to remain safe in case you need the file again. Right click on the file and choose Rename Type in a name for the file and add the .wab extension to it For Example, you might want to rename it to addressbook.wab or something similar Now, put a blank, formatted floppy disk in your floppy drive and right-click on the newly named file Choose Send To, Floppy Drive (most likely A) Now the file is backed up in case of emergency, right-click on the file on your desktop and choose Delete Each time you make a change to your address book, this file will reappear so its a good idea to keep that floppy drive around and make a backup each time you make changes. This protects you from losing valuable email addresses in case of a disaster. An alternative to this would be to change the Start in option for Outlook Express. This has been suggested by a few visitors and works well. Find the shortcut to Outlook Express and right-click on it Click on Properties Make sure Read-only is unchecked on the General tab Click on the Shortcut tab In the "Start In" field, change it to an alternative path where the tilde file will appear, for example C:\ Click on Apply Is There a Patch to fix this? Although Microsoft has indicated that it knows about this problem and intends to make a patch available, they have not released one yet, as of July 2003. Can I uninstall the April 2003 patch to fix it? Yes, you can uninstall the patch, this will fix the tilde (~) file from appearing, however you will not be protected from this security vulnerability either. If you want to uninstall the April 2003 (330994) patch, simply visit this link and follow the uninstall directions. Although I wouldn't advise anyone doing this. __________________ [email protected]

04-13-2004, 02:42 PM	#4
Fucksakes Shit... Fuck! What the Hell? Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 7,567	yeah i get that a few times as well.

04-13-2004, 02:46 PM	#8
TheFrog Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,095	sounds like a well known outlook bug

04-13-2004, 02:57 PM	#10
cypocrypt Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York and on icq 108422465 Posts: 1,851	thanx guys i knew it wasnt a virus because ive done the online scan with norton and antivirus.com i guess it was jus tweird i had never seen that before thanx to all of u

04-13-2004, 06:50 PM	#11
Mr. Marks Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Wherever I want Posts: 7,517	Looks like an outlook kinf of bug. Anyways, you solved it already, good job.

04-14-2004, 09:08 AM	#12
Lykos Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: World Posts: 31,027	Sounds like a virus to me... __________________