Unknown user appearing on certain files/folders... need assistance

They're not unknown users. Please do the following, so you can see, and for my peace of mind, too:

Go to Start > type in CMD and hit Enter.

In Command Prompt, type in net user > log.txt && log.txt and hit Enter.

Once done, post the log that launches

Should be fine, no doubt.

Hi there. It all appears to be good, so we will finish up to make sure your computer is protected from malware in the future.

Clean up System Restore

Now, to get you off to a clean start, we will be creating a new Restore Point, then clearing the old ones to make sure you do not get reinfected, in case you need to "restore back."

To manually create a new Restore Point

• Go to Control Panel and select System and Maintenance
• Select System
• On the left select Advance System Settings and accept the warning if you get one
• Select System Protection Tab
• Select Create at the bottom
• Type in a name I.e. Clean
• Select Create

Now we can purge the infected ones

• Go back to the System and Maintenance page
• Select Performance Information and Tools
• On the left select Open Disk Cleanup
• Select Files from all users and accept the warning if you get one
• In the drop down box select your main drive I.e. C
• For a few moments the system will make some calculations:
  
• Select the More Options tab
  
• In the System Restore and Shadow Backups select Clean up
  
• Select Delete on the pop up
• Select OK
• Select Delete

Run OTC to remove our tools

To remove all of the tools we used and the files and folders they created, please do the following:
Please download OTC.exe by OldTimer:

• Save it to your Desktop.
• Double click OTC.exe.
• Click the CleanUp! button.
• If you are prompted to Reboot during the cleanup, select Yes.
• The tool will delete itself once it finishes.

Note:If any tool, file or folder (belonging to the program we have used) hasn't been deleted, please delete it manually.

Purge old temporary files

Download CCleaner Slim and save it to your Desktop - Alternate download link

When the file has been saved, go to your Desktop and double-click on ccsetupxxx_slim.exe
Follow the prompts to install the program.

* Double-click the CCleaner shortcut on the desktop to start the program.
* Click on the Options block on the left, then choose Cookies.
* Under Cookies to Delete, highlight any cookies you would like to retain permanently
* Click the right arrow > to move them to the Cookies to Keep window.
* Go into Options > Advanced & uncheck Only delete files in Windows Temp folders older than 48 hours
* Click Cleaner on the left then Run Cleaner on the right to run the program.
* Important: Make sure that ALL browser windows are closed before selecting Run Cleaner

Caution: Only use the Registry feature if you are very familiar with the registry.
Always back up your registry before making any changes. Exit CCleaner after it has completed it's process.

Security Check

Please download Security Check by screen317 from SpywareInfoforum.org or Changelog.fr.

• Save it to your Desktop.
• Double click SecurityCheck.exe and follow the onscreen instructions inside of the black box.
• A Notepad document should open automatically called checkup.txt; please post the contents of that document.

Software AND hardware firewall are good, but if you get problems in the internet connection, then just use software firewall. (Software being Kaspersky, hardware being modem.)

Hardware firewalls provide the first line of defense, because they are at the root of the internet connection, so any traffic incoming or outgoing is filtered there first. Software firewalls are the second line of defense, which ensure that whatever was not caught at the hardware firewall is caught at the software firewall before it's able to make it onto your computer.

Because antivirus programs are not enough to prevent viruses/malware, companies have instead created other programs to backup firewalls/antivirus programs. Instead of creating a much better, improved antivirus system, companies just use buffer programs to shield other areas of the operating system. It's pretty messy, really.

To ensure your ext. hard drive is in proper working order (can't be 100%, because you already have data on it), but running chkdsk on that drive can help. Go to Start > type in CMD and hit Enter. Use the following command in Command Prompt: chkdsk /f /r X:
and hit Enter. (Where X: is the placeholder for the actual drive letter of the ext. drive.)


Personal Tips on Preventing Malware

See this page for more info about malware and prevention.


Any other questions before I mark this topic solved?

At the end there, you typed in the colon after the L?

L:

Please reboot to Safe Mode (tap the F8 key just before Windows starts to load and select the Safe Mode option from the menu).

Then try again.