What do I do if I can't delete a suspicious folder hidden on my computer?

Question

I have a folder hidden in the folder that has your name/the computer's name (contains My Documents, etc) that I think may be caused by a virus.

1. The title of the folder is ' (just the contraction mark)

2.It's full of RAR files with the titles of movies and software, which I have not opened (that would just be foolish). Each file is 1KB

3. The option to make it unhidden is NOT clickable.

4. I have deleted the entire contents of the folder a few times and they return every once in a while.

I suspect it's a virus, but I can't find any information about it anywhere. If anyone can tell me anything about this, or if you have the same problem, let me know.

Answer 1

It may not be a virus as such but another form of malware.



Download the following:

Free File Shredder, follow instructions in this article, download link included:

http://cotojo.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/file-shredder-tutorial/



Also download and perform Quick Scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware which solves many problems very quickly:

http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?hhTest=1



Spybot Search & Destroy:

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html



Spyware Doctor Free Basic Edition:

http://pack.google.com/intl/en/pack_installer_new.html?hl=en&gl=us&ciNum=12

Its free with Google pack, untick all boxes except Spyware Doctor and Adobe Reader, which most pc's use. Download install, update and run. Remove the Google Updater from Add/Remove programs and Spyware Doctor works fine, realtime monitoring included.



These are all free programs.



Boot into Safe Mode, turn OFF System restore and use the above tools as well as your AV, when complete turn System Restore back ON and create a new restore point.



Want to ensure that you NEVER get any form of malware/spyware.trojan etc?

try this for 30 days for free.....remains free thereafter but lifetime license is only $30 and well worth it. No infections, no browsing history, no cookies.....and no I am not an affiliate selling a sales pitch, it's a program I use and need no anti-virus, anti-spyware etc apart from on my test machine where I test all programs.

http://cotojo.wordpress.com/2008/07/09/

Answer 2

Likely spyware rather than a virus.



Download Spybot: Search & Destroy



http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html



Install with all updates. Do not run yet.



Since this is returning, it may be in live memory when you are trying to kill it, and it simply reinstalls itself.



Reboot into Safe Mode. Do this by hitting the F8 Key once every second while booting the machine.



When the boot menu opens, you will see an option for Safe Mode with Networking. Select that.



Wait for Windows Safe Mode to open. This will take a long time and will look very different from your normal windows mode.



Once in safe mode, open Spybot and run the main scan.



Fix any problems you find.



Next open your anti-virus program and scan.



Fix any problems found.



Reboot into normal window.



Open Spybot again and select the Immunize button on the left side of the control menu.



This program will prevent some 75,000 known bad programs from being able to load on your computer.



Next open the folder and see if the file is gone.



Good luck.

Answer 3

VIRUS REMOVAL



1st thing would be to close/turn off System Restore where critters hide out till you Restore the virus.

start,all programs,system tools,system restore

settings,turn off system restore.

this deletes all prior restore points and deletes anything hiding there.



REMEMBER TO RETURN AND:

A] TURN SYSTEM RESTORE BACK ON

B] CREATE A NEW,CLEAN RESTORE POINT



next,download and install use Avast anti virus,run it and remove virus that way



Free antivirus - avast ! 4 Home Edition Download -

http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html



open internet options from control panel and delete:

cookies

temp files

history



delete files from prefetch folder:

start,my computer,disk drive (c),windows,prefetch

click view

click select all

delete



LAST option would be to re install windows



right click folder

select properties

un check read box

close

delete

Answer 4

you have no option even antivirus cannot detect it or delete it, unless you restore your pc by system restore (works 100%)