Desktop Background (wallpaper) HIJACK

[BLUE SKY THINKER]

Got any bright ideas, anyone?.....

(XP Pro) Control Panel > Display > Desktop (tab) > Background.

I note, courtesy of a passing website, an advertising image within this list. I don't have to use it, I know (plenty of other options) but its arrival and subsequent residence irritates me. Even more irritating is my failure to evict it!

I've tried all the obvious:-

Not found in Windows folders, under 'Wallpaper'.
Search of hard drive, under its name Internet Explorer Wallpaper, fails to reveal anything via 'file' or 'word' search.
Likewise, no luck under Search for JPEG, BMP, GIF or TIF file. I know there are more, but which ones?
(Admittedly brief) web search for solution proves fruitless.


.....Thanks, in anticipation.

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

BLUE SKY THINKER,

I would like you to run two programs:

1) Trend Micro's HouseCall Browser Based Anti Virus

2) Lavasoft's Ad-aware

The first one will check for viruses and the second one will check for Spyware. After those two complete, please report back and we will go on from there.

Take Care,

Richard

[Front_Seat_Dreamer]

BST you have maybe inadvertantly right clicked the image whilst you were on said website.

If you want rid of it browse to the following location on your machine where the file Internet Explorer Wallpaper.bmp simply delete the file and you will be rid of it.

CDocuments and Settings\%username%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer

I think it is a hidden folder so you may not find it in a search.

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

Front_Seat_Dreamer,

Depending on how BLUE SKY THINKER has WinXP setup, he will have to go into Windows Explorer >> View >> Folder Options >> Show Hidden Files and Folders in order to see that folder and the files within.

I just want to, rule out malware putting the desktop background in place, before we remove it.

Take Care,

Richard

[BLUE SKY THINKER]

Front_Seat_Dreamer
Richard/Naples Air Center, Inc.

Thanks chaps.

SORTED!!! .....What service!

Culprit: Hidden file; why do we have this set-up inflicted upon us? I've got them all activated permanently now.

Regards,

BST.

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

BLUE SKY THINKER,

While you are in Windows Explorer >> View >> Folder Options >> also uncheck Hide Extensions for Known File Types

I find that option to be very annoying when working with files.

Take Care,

Richard

[amanoffewwords]

Yep let's catch the who invented that one and stick lighted cigarettes in between his/her toes

[Ausatco]

And red hot needles under his fingernails.

(I first heard that in a Biggles episode on the wireless when I was a 10yo kid. Never forgotten it.)


Blue Sky,

I admitted in another thread that I'm probably paranoid, but here's my regime for computer security:

I have a wireless network of 2 PCs, one a desktop (the host for Internet Connection Sharing) the other a laptop. The network is encrypted.

I have ZoneAlarm Plus running on both. There have been configuration problems as Richard will attest from my posts on other threads, but they're sorted now.

Trend Micro PCCillin antivirus on host, Vet antivirus on laptop. (I can afford two AV's - the boss pays for both. If I had to pay I'd only have one. Anyway, each can scan the other ove the LAN. I'm thinking that way I get the best of 2 worlds, and PCCillin is better at scanning inbound emails, IMO, while Vet uses fewer resources on the laptop.)

Pest Patrol on both, with regular scans.

Spybot S&D on both with regular scans and its built-in immunisation against much mal and ad ware.

Occasional scans of both with Adaware.

So far, no nasties.

I really think you have to be this careful, though perhaps one AV, one firewall installation at the host and any one of Spybot, AdAware or Pest Patrol would do. It's just that I've built up this collection and figured I might as well use it.

The only real problems I've had have been one self-induced and one outright hardware failure. Nothing off the 'Net.

Cheers

AA