Unknown document found on my laptop.....please advise

partition magic. been around since winNT

install linux , problem solved

I would wipe the drive first at least. Probably blow torch it. Drives are cheap now days. Why risk it?

Wipe the fucking drive. Serious.

Use Parted Magic. Wipe the shit then encrypt it an wipe it again and then torch it with a fucking welding torch.

I am turning my laptop over to my friend, so she can explain what's going on--

Backed up folder to google drive and this unknown file showed up. We deleted the folder from google drive and went through files on laptop and was unable to locate said file. Cleaned up files on laptop and re-uploaded folder to google drive and it was there again. Also google drive is getting hung up on the upload. I can't locate the file on the laptop to inspect or delete it. Can anyone tell me what this is?

File name: ~$nal FF copy

File body:

#Violette###############################################V#i#o​#l#e#t#t#e###×àä[#.ü#È.ý#####y6å#########)X######yÄ#þV<×##YÐü​V<×#Dxæ#&#154;J×#############éQi.####&#136;O##ñûä[

I am turning my laptop over to my friend, so she can explain what's going on--

Backed up folder to google drive and this unknown file showed up. We deleted the folder from google drive and went through files on laptop and was unable to locate said file. Cleaned up files on laptop and re-uploaded folder to google drive and it was there again. Also google drive is getting hung up on the upload. I can't locate the file on the laptop to inspect or delete it. Can anyone tell me what this is?

File name: ~$nal FF copy

File body:

#Violette###############################################V#i#o​#l#e#t#t#e###×àä[#.ü#È.ý#####y6å#########)X######yÄ#þV<×##YÐü​V<×#Dxæ#&#154;J×#############éQi.####&#136;O##ñûä[

it means education has left you behind

I am turning my laptop over to my friend, so she can explain what's going on--

Backed up folder to google drive and this unknown file showed up. We deleted the folder from google drive and went through files on laptop and was unable to locate said file. Cleaned up files on laptop and re-uploaded folder to google drive and it was there again. Also google drive is getting hung up on the upload. I can't locate the file on the laptop to inspect or delete it. Can anyone tell me what this is?

File name: ~$nal FF copy

File body:

#Violette###############################################V#i#o​#l#e#t#t#e###×àä[#.ü#È.ý#####y6å#########)X######yÄ#þV<×##YÐü​V<×#Dxæ#&#154;J×#############éQi.####&#136;O##ñûä[

Well now...


Windows.


Google.




Are you people insane?

Your own fault for not taking your security seriously.

Most of you guys are stupid jerks.

The first thing I would do is load either a Linux load stick or Clonezilla, mount the drive and take a look at the file. I run full featured linux servers off of 32GB thumb drives and load various AV products to scan and kill. Take it to an IT guy that is into Linux and explain the problem.

Don't listen to these assholes.

I use Google all the time. You're fine. Just know what you're getting with the surveillance state that they pay homage to.

-NetRanger ( [link to www.netranger.org] )

Looks like it could be kiddie porn, you should send that to the FBI to have them check it out for you.

CosmicGypsy,

What you have there is what's called an "owner file" and is written by Microsoft Word when a file is opened for editing. It's used by word to be able to tell a user that somebody else has the document open in the case of an office or other network. It is hidden by default, which is most likely why it wasn't visible before; and since the owner file is still there but the original document is not I have to assume word crashed at some point.

Despite what the peanut gallery says, it's harmless and can be deleted. I don't recommend downloading any so-called "cleaning tools", particularly those posted by ACs. Microsoft explains what these files are for here (obfuscated because I really don't know what's gonna get me blocked): support DOT microsoft DOT com SLASH en-us SLASH topic SLASH description-of-how-word-creates-temporary-files-66b112fb-d2c0​-8f40-a0be-70a367cc4c85

I might recommend moving away from Microsoft, however; LibreOffice is open source and can be audited by anyone who cares to look as opposed to Microsoft .Office's "we can do anything we like because you can't see us do it" approach.