explorer.EXE and dplez.dat - what are they? rogue processes?

Hi everybody,

One nasty thing about viruses and trojans is that they often mask
themselves under the name iof a legit process. Since a week, I have a
process called "explorer.EXE" which tries to run when I'm logging in on
Windows XP, and if left alone, it will stop some comment windows and
transitions in Interenet Explorer from running smoothly. I know for
sure this is a fake process of some kind - I've seen it before and have
reliable information it's a hoax - not the legit explorer. exe (no
capitals).
So Ibreak it off with the task manager of Hijackthis every time I boot
and generally there's no further trouble, but does anyone have a good
idea of what intruder it could be?

The other day, as I booted, I also got an error message saying
"Explorer.EXE encountered a problem and had to close"; if I reply in
this pop-up, by asking that a report be sent/not sent to Microsoft, the
system logs me out. I chose to terminate it through the task manager as
ususal, after that the desktop goes white and informs me the Active
Desktop is locked, I click "restore Active Desktop" and after that
things run smoothly. I'm still sure the EXE process isn't the real
deal, but I want to get rid of it.

Also, when I ran a virus scan with Norton after this, I watched the
progress of the scan a little and noticed it seemed to run slowly
through several hundreds of files under C:/Windows all called dplez.dat
- or maybe one big file, though the counter went on running -and at
that point the number of "threats counted" went up by one, from 2 to 3.
When the scan was through and I could see the result, there was no
mention of dplez.dat, and generally no new threats, just the same as
last time. I've noticed that the total number of files on the system in
scans has gone up (though I don't download much new stuff, and
regularly empty protected (trash) files from the Recycler Box) from
about 110000 a month ago to about 145000 now.

Googling dplez.dat gives absolutely nothing, and when I check my
Windows directory, all I get is one 4 kb file with the name dplez,
labeled a Nero media player file. This looks kind of suspicious, so if
anyone else has heard of a file of this name (or a process dplez.exe)
I'd like to hear more.

/Michelle

Re: explorer.EXE and dplez.dat - what are they? rogue processes?

michelle775@hotmail.com wrote:

I had this once, and I can only deduce it was spyware or malware, as
after running Search & Destroy and AdAware and rebooting I never saw it
again.

--
Keith (Southend)
http://www.southendweather.net
e-mail: kreh at southendweather dot net

Re: explorer.EXE and dplez.dat - what are they? rogue processes?

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
wrote in message
news:1151831983.018995.209130@75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Hi everybody,
>
> One nasty thing about viruses and trojans is that they often mask
> themselves under the name iof a legit process. Since a week, I have a
> process called "explorer.EXE" which tries to run when I'm logging in on
> Windows XP, and if left alone, it will stop some comment windows and
> transitions in Interenet Explorer from running smoothly. I know for
> sure this is a fake process of some kind - I've seen it before and have
> reliable information it's a hoax - not the legit explorer. exe (no
> capitals).
> So Ibreak it off with the task manager of Hijackthis every time I boot
> and generally there's no further trouble, but does anyone have a good
> idea of what intruder it could be?
>
> The other day, as I booted, I also got an error message saying
> "Explorer.EXE encountered a problem and had to close"; if I reply in
> this pop-up, by asking that a report be sent/not sent to Microsoft, the
> system logs me out. I chose to terminate it through the task manager as
> ususal, after that the desktop goes white and informs me the Active
> Desktop is locked, I click "restore Active Desktop" and after that
> things run smoothly. I'm still sure the EXE process isn't the real
> deal, but I want to get rid of it.
>
> Also, when I ran a virus scan with Norton after this, I watched the
> progress of the scan a little and noticed it seemed to run slowly
> through several hundreds of files under C:/Windows all called dplez.dat
> - or maybe one big file, though the counter went on running -and at
> that point the number of "threats counted" went up by one, from 2 to 3.
> When the scan was through and I could see the result, there was no
> mention of dplez.dat, and generally no new threats, just the same as
> last time. I've noticed that the total number of files on the system in
> scans has gone up (though I don't download much new stuff, and
> regularly empty protected (trash) files from the Recycler Box) from
> about 110000 a month ago to about 145000 now.
>
> Googling dplez.dat gives absolutely nothing, and when I check my
> Windows directory, all I get is one 4 kb file with the name dplez,
> labeled a Nero media player file. This looks kind of suspicious, so if
> anyone else has heard of a file of this name (or a process dplez.exe)
> I'd like to hear more.
>
> /Michelle
>

Look in MSCONFIG for the startup process launching this
look in the C:\ root folder for the existence of the spoof explorer.exe file

In a default installation of Windows XP Home SP2 with all updates,
explorer.exe should only exist in the following places
C:\Windows
C:\WINDOWS\$NtUninstallKB884883$
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache
any other copies can be safely deleted

I would suggest switching off Norton AV, and doing an online scan with
Panda - see what that reports. Many viruses will disable Norton - and some
can hide from it.


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Re: explorer.EXE and dplez.dat - what are they? rogue processes?

From:

| Hi everybody,
|
| One nasty thing about viruses and trojans is that they often mask
| themselves under the name iof a legit process. Since a week, I have a
| process called "explorer.EXE" which tries to run when I'm logging in on
| Windows XP, and if left alone, it will stop some comment windows and
| transitions in Interenet Explorer from running smoothly. I know for
| sure this is a fake process of some kind - I've seen it before and have
| reliable information it's a hoax - not the legit explorer. exe (no
| capitals).
| So Ibreak it off with the task manager of Hijackthis every time I boot
| and generally there's no further trouble, but does anyone have a good
| idea of what intruder it could be?
|
| The other day, as I booted, I also got an error message saying
| "Explorer.EXE encountered a problem and had to close"; if I reply in
| this pop-up, by asking that a report be sent/not sent to Microsoft, the
| system logs me out. I chose to terminate it through the task manager as
| ususal, after that the desktop goes white and informs me the Active
| Desktop is locked, I click "restore Active Desktop" and after that
| things run smoothly. I'm still sure the EXE process isn't the real
| deal, but I want to get rid of it.
|
| Also, when I ran a virus scan with Norton after this, I watched the
| progress of the scan a little and noticed it seemed to run slowly
| through several hundreds of files under C:/Windows all called dplez.dat
| - or maybe one big file, though the counter went on running -and at
| that point the number of "threats counted" went up by one, from 2 to 3.
| When the scan was through and I could see the result, there was no
| mention of dplez.dat, and generally no new threats, just the same as
| last time. I've noticed that the total number of files on the system in
| scans has gone up (though I don't download much new stuff, and
| regularly empty protected (trash) files from the Recycler Box) from
| about 110000 a month ago to about 145000 now.
|
| Googling dplez.dat gives absolutely nothing, and when I check my
| Windows directory, all I get is one 4 kb file with the name dplez,
| labeled a Nero media player file. This looks kind of suspicious, so if
| anyone else has heard of a file of this name (or a process dplez.exe)
| I'd like to hear more.
|
| /Michelle



If you are using any version of Sun Java that is prior to JRE Version 5.0,
then you are strongly urged to remove any/all versions that are prior to JRE/JSE
Version 5.0. There are vulnerabilities in them and they are actively being exploited.
It is possible that is how you got infected with malware.

Therefore, it is highly suggested that if there are any prior versions of Sun Java
to Version 5 on the PC that they be removed and Sun Java JRE/JSE Version 5.0 Update 7
be installed ASAP.

Simple check, look under...
C:\Program Files\Java

The only folder under that folder should be the latest version...

C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_07


http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp



For non-viral malware...

Please download, install and update the following software...

* Ad-aware SE v1.06
http://www.lavasoft.de/
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
http://www.lavasoft.de/ms/index.htm

* SpyBot Search and Destroy v1.4
http://security.kolla.de/
http://www.safer-networking.org/microsoft.en.html

* SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.ht ml

After the software is updated, I suggest scanning the system in Safe Mode.

I also suggest downloading, installing and updating BHODemon for any Browser Helper Objects
that may be on the PC.

* BHODemon

http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=3550&file=11&ev p=245a87539eea8ed6904332b4b8b8442d

For viral malware...

* Download MULTI_AV.EXE from the URL --
http://www.ik-cs.com/programs/virtools/Multi_AV.exe

To use this utility, perform the following...
Execute; Multi_AV.exe { Note: You must use the default folder C:\AV-CLS }
Choose; Unzip
Choose; Close

Execute; C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT
{ or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS }

NOTE: You may have to disable your software FireWall or allow WGET.EXE to go through your
FireWall to allow it to download the needed AV vendor related files.

C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT -- { or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS}
This will bring up the initial menu of choices and should be executed in Normal Mode.
This way all the components can be downloaded from each AV vendor's web site.
The choices are; Sophos, Trend, McAfee, Kaspersky, Exit this menu and Reboot the PC.

You can choose to go to each menu item and just download the needed files or you can
download the files and perform a scan in Normal Mode. Once you have downloaded the files
needed for each scanner you want to use, you should reboot the PC into Safe Mode [F8 key
during boot] and re-run the menu again and choose which scanner you want to run in Safe
Mode. It is suggested to run the scanners in both Safe Mode and Normal Mode.

When the menu is displayed hitting 'H' or 'h' will bring up a more comprehensive PDF help
file. http://www.ik-cs.com/multi-av.htm

Additional Instructions:
http://pcdid.com/Multi_AV.htm


* * * Please report back your results * * *


--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

Re: explorer.EXE and dplez.dat - what are they? rogue processes?

In article <1151831983.018995.209130@75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,
michelle775@hotmail.com says...
>
>Hi everybody,
>
>One nasty thing about viruses and trojans is that they often mask
>themselves under the name iof a legit process. Since a week, I have a
>process called "explorer.EXE" which tries to run when I'm logging in on
>Windows XP, and if left alone, it will stop some comment windows and
>transitions in Interenet Explorer from running smoothly. I know for
>sure this is a fake process of some kind - I've seen it before and have
>reliable information it's a hoax - not the legit explorer. exe (no
>capitals).
>So Ibreak it off with the task manager of Hijackthis every time I boot
>and generally there's no further trouble, but does anyone have a good
>idea of what intruder it could be?
>
>The other day, as I booted, I also got an error message saying
>"Explorer.EXE encountered a problem and had to close"; if I reply in
>this pop-up, by asking that a report be sent/not sent to Microsoft, the
>system logs me out. I chose to terminate it through the task manager as
>ususal, after that the desktop goes white and informs me the Active
>Desktop is locked, I click "restore Active Desktop" and after that
>things run smoothly. I'm still sure the EXE process isn't the real
>deal, but I want to get rid of it.
>
>Also, when I ran a virus scan with Norton after this, I watched the
>progress of the scan a little and noticed it seemed to run slowly
>through several hundreds of files under C:/Windows all called dplez.dat
>- or maybe one big file, though the counter went on running -and at
>that point the number of "threats counted" went up by one, from 2 to 3.
>When the scan was through and I could see the result, there was no
>mention of dplez.dat, and generally no new threats, just the same as
>last time. I've noticed that the total number of files on the system in
>scans has gone up (though I don't download much new stuff, and
>regularly empty protected (trash) files from the Recycler Box) from
>about 110000 a month ago to about 145000 now.
>
> Googling dplez.dat gives absolutely nothing, and when I check my
>Windows directory, all I get is one 4 kb file with the name dplez,
>labeled a Nero media player file. This looks kind of suspicious, so if
>anyone else has heard of a file of this name (or a process dplez.exe)
>I'd like to hear more.
>
>/Michelle
>
************* REPLY SEPARATER ************
Explorer.exe is the legitimate desktop manager, and can be listed with or
without caps depending on the program being used. To check if there is more
than one loaded, use the command line program "tasklist". Do not use the task
manager, as programs can be hidden from its view. "DAT" files are sometimes
used to store process ID's for programs that run multiple copies and attempt to
hide.

J.A. Coutts

Re: explorer.EXE and dplez.dat - what are they? rogue processes?

In article ,
administrator@spam.yellowhead.com says...

> ...To check if there is more
> than one loaded, use the command line program "tasklist".

"tasklist.exe" is in XP Pro, not XP Home.
I downloaded it, but it won't run in my XP Home, just flashes open and
closes.

Re: explorer.EXE and dplez.dat - what are they? rogue processes?

In article ,
moi@netzero.net says...
> In article ,
> administrator@spam.yellowhead.com says...
>
> > ...To check if there is more
> > than one loaded, use the command line program "tasklist".
>
> "tasklist.exe" is in XP Pro, not XP Home.
> I downloaded it, but it won't run in my XP Home, just flashes open and
> closes.

Hmmm, never mind...I downloaded it from another source, version
5.1.2600.0, and it works. Thanks for the tip!

Re: explorer.EXE and dplez.dat - what are they? rogue processes?

David H. Lipman wrote:
> From:
>
> | Hi everybody,
> |
> | One nasty thing about viruses and trojans is that they often mask
> | themselves under the name iof a legit process. Since a week, I have a
> | process called "explorer.EXE" which tries to run when I'm logging in on
> | Windows XP, and if left alone, it will stop some comment windows and
> | transitions in Interenet Explorer from running smoothly. I know for
> | sure this is a fake process of some kind - I've seen it before and have
> | reliable information it's a hoax - not the legit explorer. exe (no
> | capitals).
> | So Ibreak it off with the task manager of Hijackthis every time I boot
> | and generally there's no further trouble, but does anyone have a good
> | idea of what intruder it could be?
> |
> | The other day, as I booted, I also got an error message saying
> | "Explorer.EXE encountered a problem and had to close"; if I reply in
> | this pop-up, by asking that a report be sent/not sent to Microsoft, the
> | system logs me out. I chose to terminate it through the task manager as
> | ususal, after that the desktop goes white and informs me the Active
> | Desktop is locked, I click "restore Active Desktop" and after that
> | things run smoothly. I'm still sure the EXE process isn't the real
> | deal, but I want to get rid of it.
>- - - -
>
> quote from David Lipman :


> If you are using any version of Sun Java that is prior to JRE Version 5.0,
> then you are strongly urged to remove any/all versions that are prior to JRE/JSE
> Version 5.0. There are vulnerabilities in them and they are actively being exploited.
> It is possible that is how you got infected with malware.
>
> Therefore, it is highly suggested that if there are any prior versions of Sun Java
> to Version 5 on the PC that they be removed and Sun Java JRE/JSE Version 5.0 Update 7
> be installed ASAP.
>
> Simple check, look under...
> C:\Program Files\Java
>
> The only folder under that folder should be the latest version...
>
> C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_07
>
>
> http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
>
> ---
Thanks David, Actually I don't have any version of JRE on the PC,
I once loaded it and later, deleted it (half a year ago). I never
really used it and needed to free up space on the hard drive.
>
> For non-viral malware...
>
> Please download, install and update the following software...
>
> * Ad-aware SE v1.06
> http://www.lavasoft.de/
> http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
> http://www.lavasoft.de/ms/index.htm
>
> * SpyBot Search and Destroy v1.4
> http://security.kolla.de/
> http://www.safer-networking.org/microsoft.en.html
>
> * SuperAntiSpyware
> http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.ht ml
>
> After the software is updated, I suggest scanning the system in Safe Mode.
>
> I also suggest downloading, installing and updating BHODemon for any Browser Helper Objects
> that may be on the PC.
>
> * BHODemon
>
> http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=3550&file=11&ev p=245a87539eea8ed6904332b4b8b8442d
>
> For viral malware...
>
> * Download MULTI_AV.EXE from the URL --
> http://www.ik-cs.com/programs/virtools/Multi_AV.exe
>
> To use this utility, perform the following...
> Execute; Multi_AV.exe { Note: You must use the default folder C:\AV-CLS }
> Choose; Unzip
> Choose; Close
>
> Execute; C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT
> { or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS }
>
> NOTE: You may have to disable your software FireWall or allow WGET.EXE to go through your
> FireWall to allow it to download the needed AV vendor related files.
>
> C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT -- { or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS}
> This will bring up the initial menu of choices and should be executed in Normal Mode.
> This way all the components can be downloaded from each AV vendor's web site.
> The choices are; Sophos, Trend, McAfee, Kaspersky, Exit this menu and Reboot the PC.
>
> You can choose to go to each menu item and just download the needed files or you can
> download the files and perform a scan in Normal Mode. Once you have downloaded the files
> needed for each scanner you want to use, you should reboot the PC into Safe Mode [F8 key
> during boot] and re-run the menu again and choose which scanner you want to run in Safe
> Mode. It is suggested to run the scanners in both Safe Mode and Normal Mode.
>
> When the menu is displayed hitting 'H' or 'h' will bring up a more comprehensive PDF help
> file. http://www.ik-cs.com/multi-av.htm
>
> Additional Instructions:
> http://pcdid.com/Multi_AV.htm
>
>
> * * * Please report back your results * * *

Dave

> http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
> http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

---
Thanks for the advice, David and everybody else. I just ran scans with
Ad-Aware, CCleaner and Panda Online. Found some traces of fresh adware
but nothing that really seemed to relate to the troubles I mentioned.
Also ran the tasklist at the Command line, ther'es no trace of
Explorer.EXE, and no double of explorer.exe process there, which
indicates EXE is an intruder.
I'll be downloading the other antivirus programs and also some new
Microsfy fixes (I've heard from zdnet about the security holes in IE
and MSOffice that's come to light in the last few months. Will be back.
all the best,
Michelle


> Dave