Question for anyone computer literate....

[SimplySouthern]

Obviously, I'm not.

Having said that, I generally ignore all my "Virus warning" email. However I got one today warning me about some virus that would start working tomorrow and wipe out files...

Anyway, to make a long story short, I searched for it and it and it is on my C Drive at work. It says in the email to delete it and delete it from the hard drive.

Here's my dilema. I don't know enough about computers to know if this is a hoax or if I can safely delete this file.

The name of the file is SULFNBK.EXE ... can someone let me know something?

Thanks.

 

[Andra_Jenny]

What folder is it in?
remember there is an undelete in Microsoft.
Save a copy of it.
I do not think it is critical to the OS, just maybe some program or device and it will trip an error if you need it and you can restore it.
Not an expert, but made my living writing software for banks and such. Built my own machines, etc.
Best of luck.

 

[Ksss]

I got the same email warning. I did the search, found it in My Documents. I highlighted it, then right clicked and deleted it. Then emptied my recycle bin. It doesn't seem to have affected any of my programs so far. Several people I sent this notice onto didn't have it on their system.

 

[Closet Desire]

Virus questions...

...for those of you who want to know if a virus warning is a hoax or genuine try going to http://www.symantec.com and accessing the virus database. You don't have to own Norton Anti Virus to use the information on their site. You can do a search for the key words like the file name you mentioned and then see what it say. Some viruses don't take kindly to being deleted and they may have secreted away a hidden file to do the dirty work (don't know much about this myself). Norton does its work by having a profile of the virus and knowing how to quarantine it and then delete all the affected files.

Hope that helps a bit.

 

[Ally C]

The name of the file is SULFNBK.EXE ... can someone let me know something?

As a result of reading this thread I've just done a search on my computer and found "Sulfnbk" in Folder C:\WINDOWS.000\COMMAND. Strange thing is it says it was "last modified" in May 98. Is this thing a virus? Any ideas anyone, as I'm not very knowledgable about the workings of computers. I've used NortonAntivirus to check my computer, but no viruses were detected ...

 

[Ally C]

silly me

I really should have paid more attention to the above posts. I followed the link to Symantec's site and found the following:

This particular email message is a hoax. The file that is mentioned in the hoax, however, Sulfnbk.exe, is a Microsoft Windows utility that is used to restore long file names, and like any .exe file, it can be infected by a virus that targets .exe files.

Problem solved. Thanks.

 

[bluntforcemama]

HOAX HOAX HOAX HOAX HOAX!!!! Don't delete it!

 

[~justin]

My parents asked me the same question just the other day. A little quick research shows that it's a hoax; the file is part of the system. Of course, it can become infected just like any other file, but only worry if you recieved the file as an e-mail attachment. Otherwise, it came installed with your system and there shouldn't be a problem...

 

[Ally C]

Thanks ~justin

It took me longer than it should have to find that info for myself, but at least I know a bit more than I did before now.

 

[Dillinger]

http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html is the Symantec page that lists virus Hoax's - always check there first before you panic. And - don't forward any hoaxes on. That is the true "Virus" All these hoaxes being sent by thousands (millions?) of people every day to all their friends accounts for a large amount of web traffic and slows the internet down for EVERYONE.

http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/ - is where you will find a list of REAL viruses.

If you're already gone and deleted ou have deleted the Sulfnbk.exe file from the C:\Windows\Command folder and want to know how to restore the file, you should contact your computer manufacturer or Microsoft for assistance.

 

[unusuallyconfused]

Good information, thanks.

 

[Ally C]

Dillinger

The panic is now over, but thanks anyway.

 

[Closet Desire]

to replace the file you deleted...

...put your win disk in the drive, go to "start" and select "run", type sfc (system file checker) in the blank, and hit enter. Windows will go through and verify that all necessary files are both installed and intact. If there is a problem it will tell you and give you the opportunity to correct the problem automatically. This is safe for amateurs...really.

You can tell I spend a helluva lot more time on the knowledge base at Microsoft than I should...sigh.

 

[Weird Harold]

Re: to replace the file you deleted...

...put your win disk in the drive, go to "start" and select "run", type sfc (system file checker) in the blank, and hit enter. Windows will go through and verify that all necessary files are both installed and intact. If there is a problem it will tell you and give you the opportunity to correct the problem automatically. This is safe for amateurs...really.

WARNING!

SFC will indded repplace missing system files. I twill also tell you which files have been modified in some way.

DO NOT ASSUME THE MODIFIED FILES ARE BAD!

Often when you install a program it will replace a system file with a newer version that has something the program needs or takes advantage of. Telling SFC to replace all files it identifies as being modified, will often cause a program that needs the newer version to fail or lock up your system.

SFC should be run every time you install a program so it can update the information on modified files. That way when you need it to replace a missing or corrupt file, it can actually identify the files it needs to fix.

 

[ShyGuy68]

It's also a good thing to update windows from time to time from Microsoft. If you go here:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

and choose Product Updates

Once that page have loaded and checked your system, it'll display a list with:

Critical Updates

Picks Of The Month

Recommended Updates

Additional Windows Features

Device Drivers

And I will suggest that you at least choose to download and install the items listed under Critical Updates since it often are among other things, patches for security problems with Microsoft programs.

 

[Closet Desire]

both excellent points...

I should have said that unless you know what you're doing only replace the file you deleted for the reasons already mentioned. It's never been an issue on my system so I didn't think of it.