I stumbled upon a .txt file named "female names.txt" while searching through my File Explorer on Windows 11 Home. The file was surprisingly long and only contained a list of female names. The strange part is, I didn't create this file myself, and it was generated about 10 days ago (June 2nd). Before this, the only downloads I had were from an Abandonware site, and I noted that there was a "CRDOWNLOAD" file in my Downloads folder related to that. This download included an .ico file and two .exe files – one of which I found out had mentions of a trojan. After doing some scans with Malwarebytes (the free version) and checking the .txt file on VirusTotal (which came back clean), I deleted it to see if it would reappear. I'm worried about whether this was a result of a malicious download and what the potential risks could be, especially since I opened it out of curiosity. Given that there's an indication of a trojan, what should I do next? I'm considering a complete reinstallation of my system just to be safe, especially since I wanted to play Silent Hill 2 (2002).
5 Answers
I don’t think that file itself was a trojan. If you’re still worried, maybe run another check with a different software for peace of mind. Being cautious with downloads is always fair game, especially from sites you've mentioned.
It’s tricky with these kinds of files from Abandonware sites. They might package malware along with the games. If you think the file may have been harmful, definitely keep an eye out for any strange computer behavior. Even if VirusTotal didn’t flag anything, I’d still recommend keeping Malwarebytes handy or trying another malware scanner to double-check.
It's definitely concerning when you find unexpected files on your computer. The .crdownload file is just a temporary file created by Chrome while a download is in progress; if it was interrupted, it will remain until you either finish or remove it. If the .txt file had nothing harmful, I wouldn’t stress too much about it. Still, always better to be safe! I'd recommend running a full system scan regularly and keeping your antivirus updated. If you're not noticing any severe issues, you might not need to reinstall just yet.
Don’t panic! The .txt file might not be sinister. Sometimes, software or even friends share files that can show up unexpectedly. If you’re feeling uneasy, backing up your important files and consider a clean reinstall is wise.
I’ve been in a similar situation before and it turned out to be a glitch with downloads. If you didn’t download the file, it’s possible someone else did without your knowledge. Always check your security settings and consider changing your passwords just in case!
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