Filed under: Security, Windows, Web services
What's that mystery process? Ask exeLibrary
by Jordan Running May 29th 2006 at 6:35PM
exeLibrary isn't the only site of its kind, but it's certainly the simplest and least cluttered. It's a database of executables that you might unexpectedly find in your task manager along with descriptions and , in the case of ones that shouldn't be there, threat levels. My one gripe with the site is that when you enter a process that isn't in its database, it give you a scary notice that says it's "a potentially very dangerous executable" and then recommends that you buy a program called WinTasks through its affiliate link. But as long as you steer clear of those, exeLibrary is a great resource.
So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do.
Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game.
The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bryan Price said 7:10PM on 5-29-2006
I really have a problem when the software list isn't that extensive, and if it doesn't find the particular file name, you get the scary warning. itype.exe is a trojan? dw20.exe (digitally signed from Microsoft no less!) is a trojan?
It just isn't credible at this point in time.
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DG10050 said 7:17PM on 5-29-2006
LOL, look at what iexplorer.exe (Internet Explorer) comes out as:
"iexplorer.exe is an advertising and spyware program called AdClicker which develops a database based on your browsing habits and sends it back to the author. Remove this executable immediately with WinTasks or similar."
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Jordan Running said 7:25PM on 5-29-2006
Actually, DG10050, Internet Explorer is iexplore.exe.
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Marcel Dijkerman said 7:30PM on 5-29-2006
Strangely the drivers for my HP Inkjet printer and drivers for a bluetooth dongle are both listed as very dangerous:
"btwdins.exe - btwdins.exe is a potentially very dangerous executable which can be removed best with this application. Get it before exeLibrary's partnership expires and prices return to normal"
A google search with these filenames learns me that they are harmless. All I see this site do is advertise a parnership's program to remove unwanted programs. I don't even want to try to install that program, it's almost certain that you obtain some virus, spyware or worse
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Haha said 1:20AM on 5-30-2006
Looks like the author saw your guys' comments and changed the search page message. :P
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Marcel Dijkerman said 2:28AM on 5-30-2006
Indeed a search for the same filename's give's me a satisfying result now. The message that they have no info about it. A message that should be there in the beginning. I don't trust them anymore, suggesting that files they don't know must be very dangerous.
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CJ said 2:44AM on 5-30-2006
Folks, I know this got a favorable rating, but do yourself a favor and steer clear of this stuff. I know that we can't really trust any antispyware vendor as far as we can throw them (except the free ones), but progs like WinTasks and it's associated frontends (this one being one of them; the pop-up ads that look like system warning messages being another) are not worth the effort. If they spent their time writing quality apps rather than working on ways to trick people into downloading and paying for crappy ones, they'd be worth a second glance. My advice: If you don't recognize a process name, put it into Google. If you want a front-end app to search your process list, try ProcessExplorer from SysInternals (http://www.sysinternals.com). It'll do virtually the same thing, and it's free.
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