Computing.Net > Forums > Windows XP > Unrecognized software.

Computing.Net: Over 1,000,000 posts about all things technology related! Over 90% answered within 24 hours! Click here to sign up now, it's free!

Unrecognized software.

Reply to Message Icon

Original Message
Name: JohnO
Date: December 18, 2002 at 16:06:42 Pacific
Subject: Unrecognized software.
OS: XP Home
CPU/Ram: 800 256 RAM
Comment:

This afternoon, I noticed two software programs on my computer that I don't recognize:

Buddy_API by Magic_Modules

Smart_Heap by MicroQuill

I've checked Google, but it doesn't tell me anything. Is anyone familiar with this software? Thanks for any info.


Report Offensive Message For Removal


Response Number 1
Name: JohnO
Date: December 18, 2002 at 16:25:58 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Want to add that none of the above show up in a search for files/folders.


Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

Response Number 2
Name: Matt S
Date: December 18, 2002 at 17:05:30 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

my guess is that they're adware or spyware programs. these types of programs are designed to go unrecognised since they have no immediate visible effect to your computer. I wouldn't advise deleting them until you're SURE you know what they are/where they came from, but I'm fairly confident that they are spyware/adware programs.

I could be wrong, but thats my opinion.


Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

Response Number 3
Name: Juan
Date: December 18, 2002 at 17:29:56 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

I also think those are spyware files, which might have been installed by some program, such as KaZaAA and others.

Just to rule out the possibility of having spyware/adware in your computer, you can download and run a small, free utility called Ad-Aware, from http://lavasoft.de

When you run the program, check all the items in the left pane, then click on Scan Now and let the process go on.

If it finds no spyware/adware, you'll see a message congratulating you on having a "clean" system. Otherwise, it will list spyware files and registry entries for you to check and delete. You should just follow the on-screen instructions that you'll see.

Bear in mind, however, that if you installed one of those programs such as KaZaA that secretely installs the spyware, it may lose (some) functionality after cleaning your system of those nasty files.

Anyway, a clean system is the way to go.

Juan


Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

Response Number 4
Name: xplodersuv
Date: December 18, 2002 at 17:43:25 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

No for a fact they are spy-ware. Download lavasofts ad-aware off cnet.com or somewhere else to get rid of them


Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

Response Number 5
Name: JohnO
Date: December 18, 2002 at 18:10:57 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Thanks for the responses. I run SpyBot (which I think is better than AdAware) on a regular basis. As I said, this software shows up in Google, but I can't figure out what they do or what program, if any, they are associated with. The only place I can find mention of this software on my comp is in JV16's listing of installed software. How do I search the registry- maybe I could find them there.


Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal


Response Number 6
Name: JohnO
Date: December 18, 2002 at 18:19:19 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

I found MicroQuill in HLM/Software, but no indication of what it belongs to.


Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

Response Number 7
Name: suzi
Date: December 18, 2002 at 20:21:58 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Agreed on Spybot is better than AdAware. When you run Spybot, does it target them as spyware?

Curiosity got me, so I did a google search for Buddy_API and it did not show anything that I could make sense of, so I searched Buddy API and it got lots of hits, this is the first one:

http://www.mods.com.au/budapi/

here's the search results:

http://www.google.com/search?q=Buddy+API&btnG=Google+Search&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Search results for SmartHeap:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=SmartHeap&spell=1

I didn't read all these hits but it sounds like they are legitimate files from what I scanned.

Hope this helps.


Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal






Post Locked

This post is quite old and has been locked from receiving new replies. Please create a new posting instead.


Go to Windows XP Forum Home








Do you own an iPhone?

Yes
No, but soon
No


View Results

Poll Finishes In 7 Days.
Discuss in The Lounge
Poll History




Data Recovery Software