Can I delete Quarenteened files?

:
I quarteened two applications or files. C:\windows\system
\kernel.exe and hkk32.exe because they were infected with
Bad trans@mm virus and trojan horse.
My system ran the same as it always did. I downloaded a
new copy of IE 6. Can I delete the quarteened files now?
BeachPolly@aol.com

 

I don't quite understand this about "you" quarantined these files.

You can't usually just remove a valid system file, without replacing it with a good one & then put it somewhere else without it causing system problems somewhere, somehow. Maybe only minor problems, but problems nontheless, "unless" it is a invalid file the Virus, or Trojan itself installed.

If the Anti Virus caught a Virus & quarantined it, then you can delete the quarantined virus through your Anti Virus program.

If you used a tool specifically for eradicating a particular Virus & it did so, then there should have been no need to quarantine the files themselves. The tool should have repaired them if they were valid system files, or deleted them if they were not valid system files. If it didn't repair them, & it was necessary to quarantine the files themselves, they should be replaced with good ones to head off any possible system problems, "if" they were standard valid system files to begin with, & not ones the Virus \Trojan installed.

Do you know exactly what application these files pertain to? Since you have efectively made them inoperable by quarantining them, they can be deleted, but are you sure they are infected, or that you don't need good ones like them.

Will installing IE6 again, replace them?

It would help to know exactly what happened before you "quarantined" these files.

Deloris.

 

I believe those are the viruses themselves. I do know that kernel.exe is NOT a system file (a small trick), just has a name similar to kernel32.dll , which is a system file.

 

http://www.datakey.co.za/admin/anti_virus.htm

 

I thought the kernel.exe sounded a little suspicious, but since I have been infected with only one virus in the past, (Kak) I do not know the names of all the files pertaining to individual viruses. I merely suggested precaution in knowing for certain what application they pertained to before risking doing without them.

Zephyr provided the answer to that.

Since Kak, I am definitely paranoid about keeping my virus definitions up to date.

Deloris.

 

Thanks all for the info. I am sorry if I was not clear about
what happened. Norton detected these viruses. I was asked
what I wanted to do by Norton. I selected Quarantine. There
was no repair. The files did not affect how my computer worked
but I quarantined the files anyway. I got a fix from the Norton
Site, but, it coulf not fine the files. Then I downloaded a new
copy of IE 6. Perhaps, as was suggested these files were
files that were downloaded to snoop into my passwords.
I will change my passwords.
Thankyou;
Polly

 

bjca984573 - I'm not really sure why Norton recommends a quarantine of infected files it can't clean. Mine does the same. Maybe so you can send a copy along to them for exam if you run into a new file or maybe so you can try later (after new AV defs are available) to clean the file.

FWIW - if the file is from an infected email attachment, you can always safely delete it. If it was found by a scan of your PC (indicating an existing infection) you may need to load a clean copy of the file from somewhere but again, you can safely delete the one in the Norton Quarantine folder since it isn't available to your PC anyway. Just make a note of the file name (although the extension will have been changed by the AV program as part of the quarantine routine).

I'm lazy and usually just clean the folder out every week or two - depending on how much stuff has been placed in there.

 

Thanks for the info, Newt.
Polly.

 

Useful links...

What to do after you quarantine a file

How to remove files from Norton AntiVirus Quarantine

 

Thanks Gianni:
I deleted the files before I saw your post, however I
have put your info in my favorites.
I have kept my virus updates current, but when I run a
virus check with Norton my I get an illegal action warning
and the system freezes. I still have windows 98. Maybe
I need a new Norton Virus program. the one I have came
with my systen when I bought my computer in 1999. Maybe
I need to br sure all files are closed when I run an anti-virus
program.

 

Ask Symantec...

A search in Symantec's KB should get you started in the right direction:

http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/consumer.html

good luck!