Metabytemess.exe

[tweedledee]

Hi, according to Zone alarm, I have a program called Metabytemess.exe that is trying to access places it shouldn't on my PC. I have tried to Google it but there is nothing showing. Anyone know what this is? It doesn't seem to be linked to any other program.

[redwudz]

Try using HiJackThis. Look for metabyte and mess exe's. Both are problems. You may have a variation that is not well known yet and that's why the Google search failed.

HiJackThis: http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/programs.php

Also check your Task Manager and look in 'Processes' for odd sounding names. If you are lucky, they may include the words 'meta, byte, or mess. If so, kill them.

Also, you might try running Trend Micro's online scan. It has worked well for me in the past: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

[tweedledee]

Thanks Redwudz, I installed hijack this but don't understand it, and the trend housecall only picked up a couple of harmless stuff. I'm starting to think it may be part of a program that is on my PC. My antivirus (VET) is very good and it just ignores it. I have allowed access a couple of times and it seems to do nothing dramatic. It certainly doesn't try to get on the internet.

[tweedledee]

More details

[Dr_Layne]

You're not using a Metabyte video card are you?

A_L

[Wile_E]

Try running an anti-spyware program like Adaware, spybot, or microsoft windows defender.

[redwudz]

Those two other '.exe' files also sound suspicious. Malware often generates nonsense names for the .exe files it produces. I find nothing on the net about any of those names.

I'm afraid I don't know much about HiJackThis either, but it appears to do a thorough job of finding problems when other programs fail. You might take a look at this site for some information and help with the program: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=38752

Some things that may help when you do a malware scan: Unhook from the internet. You don't want a program phoning home and getting reinforcements when you try to remove it. I would also try some scans from 'Safe Mode' as that keeps some malware programs from loading drivers. I hesitate to recommend turning off Windows 'restore' feature, as you may lose your restore points. But some programs can embed themselves there and be very difficult to remove.

I keep Spybot and Spyware Blaster on my systems, along with AVG and a hardware and software firewall. The first two often find problems and both do a fair job of blocking them.

It may all just be harmless, but I would still try to find out about it or get it out of your system.

[tweedledee]

Thanks for all your efforts. I have a GeForce 7600GT graphic card, and as I have now deleted those programs, I hope that it hasn't stuffed up anything.
I have run Adaware, and Zone alarm Pro has it's own anti spy ware program. There seems to no problems with my PC so I suppose I can stop worrying now.

[hech54]

Also install Spybot and SpywareBlaster and update them often....both are free and exellent programs.