Ok, I'd suspected this computer had been compromised. I was backing up everything onto Adaptec CD Creator, in order to reformat, and at one point had to press Ctrl/Alt/Del and got a program running which showed up called "Long Arms". I am the sole user of this computer, and have no idea what this was. I'd searched on the web and on this computer, and come up with nothing. I'd checked in MSCONFIG, as well as a program I have called "Can't Hide" which shows all running programs...it showed nothing. Anyone have any ideas what this is? This is the one and only time it has ever showed up on this comp. Ideas, anyone? I did reformat last nite. TIA Marsha

Sounds like a possible trojan. Have you checked the registry? Have you scanned with your antivirus program, or tried a trojan program(PC FLANK has the test results for the various programs) to see if it is a trojan? Does you firewall log this program, or ask you for permission to allow access the net for it? All the best!

Was using an up-to-date Norton Anti-Virus 2002 which turned up nothing, and did the online scans for trojans via Symantec & Trend Micro. Both turned up nothing. Was running Sygate Personal Firewall, and it showed nothing whatsoever. Also tried to see through this: http://www.commodon.com/threat/threat-detect.htm , and it showed nothing. It's just so odd because it only showed up the one and only time. And it's odd, because I can find nothing on the web about it whatsoever. I did reformat, so I'm guessing it's safe to assume whatever it is is gone. But what it was or how it got on here baffles me. I'm the sole user, and have opened NO questionable attachments, and NO .exe files...just the usual JPGs from family. I spoke with someone today who said I could've gotten something like that using Outlook or Outlook Express (unpatched), but I do not use either...only AOL (apologies). But I didn't check the registry...that may have worked. I did ask over at Trend Micro and Symantec, but have not yet heard back from either. I wanted to keep it on here in order to determine what it was, but couldn't risk my data and/or personal info being compromised. Thanks for the input. If I find what it was, I'll post back. Will keep looking. I sure would appreciate knowing if anyone's ever heard of "Long Arms". Thanks again- Marsha

Ok, what I tend to think it was is a variant of the W97M.Marfan.C, which according to the Symantec knowledgebase, will generate something along the lines of "Long Arms". Haven't heard back from Symantec yet as to why the Norton 2002 didn't pick it up, unless it was a variant not yet detected. So....we'll see. Thanks again, Marsha

Ok, regarding the "Long Arms"...SARC says it's something they've only recently come across, are aware of, but do not yet have a method to remove or detect it...so heads up. They suggested just putting the suspected file (which I believe was a Word .doc) till they can gather more info. Marsha