problem-Ants crawling on screen

fluffybunny88 · 05-23-2008, 11:02 AM

Hey everyone,
I have a weird problem with a computer I'm working on, Ive never heard of it before. There are ants crawling on the screen. Not real live ants, but images of ants crawling around on the screen eating the desktop. I thought at first it might have been a screensaver, but no screensaver is turned on.

There is a picture of it just starting. It starts after not using the computer for around 5-10 min then keeps going until I click the mouse. Pressing a button on the keyboard or moving the mouse does not make it stop.

I have done the usual adaware spyware removal programs, as well as anti virus, and nothing has fixed it. I used vcleaner, and Spybot search and destroy. I don't really think it is spyware though, which is why I posted this here.

Any ideas on how to get rid of this? Anyone ever seen it before?

**elf** · 05-23-2008, 11:05 AM

This is almost definately a virus, though it is possible it is a program you installed yourself. Look over the First Steps at Removing Malware . If there are any steps you cannot complete do not worry, just make a note of it so that you can inform the user who will be assisting you.

Make sure you post whatever required logs they ask for in the HijackThis Log Help section, instead of back here.

tetonbob · 05-24-2008, 09:08 PM

The bugs in and of themselves are not malicious, but they do come in with "Fake Alert" rogue application malware.

http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_144189.htm

"Windir%\system32\blackster.scr" is the associated file, but where this is present, there's usually something else.

For others reading this...best to follow up with elf's advice.

c0mpatibl3 · 05-25-2008, 01:48 AM

This is exactly what I have...I'll have to start going threw the First Steps at Removing Malware. Did you ever get yours fixed fluffybunny88?

fluffybunny88 · 05-26-2008, 09:14 AM

I am working on getting it fixed right now actually. I have a thread going in the hijack this log help section here is the thread that I am posting on.

I'm not sure what exactly got rid of the ants, but they are not up anymore. Tetonbob mentioned that "Windir%\system32\blackster.scr" file so I guess that is the one. I would recommend that you post a set of your own logs because you probably have a lot more than just that one problem to fix.

05-23-2008, 11:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
fluffybunny88 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 30 OS: Vista Ultimate SP1, Windows XP SP3, Mac OSX 10.5	problem-Ants crawling on screen Hey everyone, I have a weird problem with a computer I'm working on, Ive never heard of it before. There are ants crawling on the screen. Not real live ants, but images of ants crawling around on the screen eating the desktop. I thought at first it might have been a screensaver, but no screensaver is turned on. There is a picture of it just starting. It starts after not using the computer for around 5-10 min then keeps going until I click the mouse. Pressing a button on the keyboard or moving the mouse does not make it stop. I have done the usual adaware spyware removal programs, as well as anti virus, and nothing has fixed it. I used vcleaner, and Spybot search and destroy. I don't really think it is spyware though, which is why I posted this here. Any ideas on how to get rid of this? Anyone ever seen it before?

05-23-2008, 11:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
elf Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 7,186 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 and Windows 7 My System	Re: problem-Ants crawling on screen This is almost definately a virus, though it is possible it is a program you installed yourself. Look over the First Steps at Removing Malware . If there are any steps you cannot complete do not worry, just make a note of it so that you can inform the user who will be assisting you. Make sure you post whatever required logs they ask for in the HijackThis Log Help section, instead of back here. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.

05-24-2008, 09:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
tetonbob Manager, Security Center, TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina, USA Posts: 41,607 OS: 2000 Pro; XP Pro; XP Home	Re: problem-Ants crawling on screen The bugs in and of themselves are not malicious, but they do come in with "Fake Alert" rogue application malware. http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_144189.htm "Windir%\system32\blackster.scr" is the associated file, but where this is present, there's usually something else. For others reading this...best to follow up with elf's advice. __________________ Practice Safe Surfing PC Safety and Security--What Do I Need? Because what you don't know, CAN hurt you. Proud Member of ASAP since 2005 Proud Member of UNITE since 2006 Microsoft MVP - Consumer Security 2009

05-25-2008, 01:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
c0mpatibl3 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 8 OS: xp pro service pack 1	Re: problem-Ants crawling on screen This is exactly what I have...I'll have to start going threw the First Steps at Removing Malware. Did you ever get yours fixed fluffybunny88?

05-26-2008, 09:14 AM	#5 (permalink)
fluffybunny88 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 30 OS: Vista Ultimate SP1, Windows XP SP3, Mac OSX 10.5	Re: problem-Ants crawling on screen I am working on getting it fixed right now actually. I have a thread going in the hijack this log help section here is the thread that I am posting on. I'm not sure what exactly got rid of the ants, but they are not up anymore. Tetonbob mentioned that "Windir%\system32\blackster.scr" file so I guess that is the one. I would recommend that you post a set of your own logs because you probably have a lot more than just that one problem to fix.