suspicious files(using a heuristic method)

kduffy101

just recived a pop up message from avast...

suspicious files have been detected(using a heuristic method).
this may be a sign of malware infection.please allow the files to be submitted to our virus lab for analysis.
file name...
c:\documents and settings\admi...\progressive.65.75.76(l).xml.

anyone got any idea as to what this is?and what to do?
thanks

closed

send it.

upload to virustotal if you want to check it now with other scanners

kduffy101

i tried to copy the message to paste it on my thread,but some how managed to close the box,
ive run the avast scan and it never picked it up,im now running malwarebytes to see if theres anything lurking.

kwikbreaks

> anyone got any idea as to what this is?

The forum didn't show the full path but it looks like it is in with your normal user data.

XML files are sometimes used if you export data from a program for use in a different instance or with a different program - have you done anything like that recently?

XML files are plain text unless compressed and can be opened with something like notepad with no risk of infection but I'm not sure if Avast would let you do even that. If it did the content should be readable and probably give you a big clue why you have it.

kduffy101

im not sure about the *export data from a program for use in a different instance or with a different program* bit,
all ive done recently was to repair my windows xp and back up my data from my external hard drive back to my pc.
malwarebytes never pick up anything either.

kwikbreaks

No it won't be that - at least I don't think it will.

I have a couple of programs that allow you to export your data that use xml. It's a bit like html but with user defined tags.

I wouldn't have thought it could carry a malicious payload but as it can be opened by a browser and IE seems to be open to just about any exploit under the sun maybe it can.

I expect Avast has put it in its virus chest so you can probably safely ignore it as a false alert. You should be able to open the chest and send it to Avast I think and they will maybe let you know for sure.

kduffy101

no nothing in virus chest.

hubert_cumberdale

an xml file can be a threat its the new way of the computer hackers although it is very very new so im not sure weather yours will be one

the latest example was the DOS attacks that wikileaks did to mastercard machines are loaded with the xml file and repeated request targetted websites without the users knowing - you would have noticed your web going rediculously slow

they can move through firewalls without being blocked so eventually these will give access to your PC when they have worked out how to code it and they are always ahead of microsoft

another version is the xml soap which can request a download of the main virus behind the scenes without you knowing.

just get rid of it lol