I bought a USB-Ethernet adapter because my laptop doesn't have an Ethernet port. It was a cheap one from China, and when I plugged it in, my laptop detected it as a CD ROM device. It came with three files: an icon, a program named SR9900_SFX_207.exe, and an Autorun.inf file instructing to run the exe file. I found this suspicious and looked up the program, which appears to be flagged as malicious. It seems like it didn't actually run anything, but I'm worried I could be missing something. Should I be concerned about the autorun.inf file on Windows 11, and what steps should I take next?
3 Answers
It sounds like that USB-Ethernet adapter is just trying to install its driver. It's common for USB devices to show up like that since they include the necessary files for installation. Maybe let it run and then scan for viruses using Malwarebytes afterward. If the adapter works without running the installer, then there's likely no need to worry.
If you're really concerned, try uploading those files to VirusTotal.com for a second opinion. It’ll scan them for you and tell you if anything looks fishy. That way, you can get some peace of mind.
Great idea! It's always better to double-check. I'll give that a shot!
Most likely, the files you see are drivers for the Ethernet adapter. Nothing unusual here since many USB devices emulate a CD drive to provide their drivers. I checked some malware databases, and it seems it's flagged mainly because it accesses system settings, which is normal for driver installation.
Yeah, I agree! If it’s functioning properly, just keep an eye on things. Better safe than sorry!