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I've got a Windows2003 server which I rebooted recently, and now is nagging me about Data Execution Prevention having closed the program "Ms08n.exe". When I press "close message", the dialog just reappears, an error message occurs stating "Project1 encountered a problem and needed to be closed".

A google search for Ms08n.exe turns up nothing, and the file is located in C:\Windows\System32. Is there any chance that this file is malware?

Edit I just downloaded and ran Microsoft's malware removal tool -- it didn't find anything, so I deleted the file manually. I'll try some other malware detection utilities and see if that doesn't find anything more.

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For Malware detection and removal, I would recommend Spybot Search and Destroy –  Rob Haupt May 25 '09 at 0:14

2 Answers 2

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The first thing I would do in this situation is to run Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool. This should detect the most common malware infections. You can do this by just typing "mst.exe" in the "Run" box or in a commandline console.

Read further details on this Serverfault question: Some questions about the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool -MRT.

There is this forum thread mentioning "Project1" as malware and "Data Execution Prevention". Here a screenshot what Process Manager shows if Windows doesn't prevent the execution:

alt text

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Something titled 'Project1' would throw a red flag at me. Usually that would be a string that you would change when creating a program. Perhaps it was made in VB6.

My suggestion would be, unless your team created it, get rid of it.

I say that because of the erie resemblance to this case.

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