Swastikas appear on my desktop background screen

[Lowell Copeland]

I recently have found that I have a background screen
filled with small swastikas. I don't know how they got
there, and I don't know how to get rid of them.

Control Panel -> Display -> Background -> (none) but what
shows up is a black background with tiny swastikas.

Any body got any ideas. For example, what is the name of
the file that is used to create "None" on the desktop
background.

Thanks

Lowell

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Lowell,

I would suggest you start by doing a virus scan with up to date virus
software, then scan for and removing any installed spyware.
If you are in need of virus software, here are a couple to choose from, for
free.
Download the software, and in Update Manager run Update
then do a complete virus scan.
Free Offer: eTrust EZ Armor Security Suite from Computer Associates
http://www.my-etrust.com/microsoft/index.cfm

Search and destroy any installed Parasites:
Ad-aware is a free multi spyware removal utility that scans
your memory, registry and hard drives for known spyware
components and lets you remove them safely. After installing
Ad-Aware make sure to run the update feature before scanning.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ For large amounts of installed
spyware and such, it may be necessary to run Ad-Aware several
times to clear them all.

Here are a couple more removal tools.
CWShredder:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html
Download Link:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/CWShredder.exe
Spybot:
http://www.safer-networking.org/
HijackThis - use with respect and caution!:
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.php#hjt

SpywareBlaster:
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html
SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it
prevents it from ever being installed. SpywareBlaster is
a non memory resident utility. It works by setting a "kill bit"
for the CLSIDs of spyware ActiveX controls, it prevents the
installation of any of them from a webpage.

For more information:
The Parasite Fight:
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Darnit:
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm#tshoot

Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites:
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

--
Regards,
Bert Kinney [MS-MVP DTS]
http://dts-l.org/
How to Configure Outlook Express for Internet News:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=171164

"Lowell Copeland" wrote
> I recently have found that I have a background screen
> filled with small swastikas. I don't know how they got
> there, and I don't know how to get rid of them.
>
> Control Panel -> Display -> Background -> (none) but what
> shows up is a black background with tiny swastikas.
>
> Any body got any ideas. For example, what is the name of
> the file that is used to create "None" on the desktop
> background.
>
> Thanks
>
> Lowell

[Dooz]

My first thought is a virus or other malicious entity.
Scan with an anti-virus program or from a Website. Then,
check to see if you have a pattern turned on: Control
Panel -> Display -> Background -> Pattern button -> (none).
Try setting both pattern and background to something other
than none, reboot, set back to none, reboot. Also try
Screen Saver tab, ditto.


>-----Original Message-----
>I recently have found that I have a background screen
>filled with small swastikas. I don't know how they got
>there, and I don't know how to get rid of them.
>
>Control Panel -> Display -> Background -> (none) but what
>shows up is a black background with tiny swastikas.
>
>Any body got any ideas. For example, what is the name of
>the file that is used to create "None" on the desktop
>background.
>
>Thanks
>
>Lowell
>.
>