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jaybay · Oct 5, 2003, 04:14 AM

Is it possible for explorer favorites do have completely deleted itself.

To explain, what was a 68k file last night has turned into a 4k file when I turned on the computer this afternoon.

Is this possible?

I only ask because this is the second time I have had the feeling that someone has been messing around on my computer while im not around.

Thanks,

jay

jaybay · Oct 7, 2003, 03:43 AM

2 bit opinions welcome

Anand · Oct 7, 2003, 10:30 AM

Well it is a microsoft application is it not?

Seriously, it is unlikely that the favorites would just go missing.

jaybay · Oct 7, 2003, 06:35 PM

Just to clarify, it didnt go missing, it was a 68k file in the morning.

In the evening when I came home, it was a blank 4k file. I know it is a microsoft product but I would really like to hear if there is a possible explanation for a file to do that.

Cheers,

Jay

kcourt · Oct 7, 2003, 07:14 PM

I save my favorites every week or so, and when I reinstall on another computer (or if I have any MSFT problem, I replace this in place of the new favorites (from Preference file).

Kathy

jaybay · Oct 7, 2003, 07:55 PM

Yeah, i have a second drive which is used for backing up all of those things regularly. That is not the issue.

The issue I am trying to resolve is this: Is it possible for a file to have somehow gone from 68k to 4k without being tampered with OR was someone messing around on my computer while I was out.

cheers,

jay

olePigeon · Oct 7, 2003, 08:31 PM

Originally posted by jaybay:
The issue I am trying to resolve is this: Is it possible for a file to have somehow gone from 68k to 4k without being tampered with OR was someone messing around on my computer while I was out.

Generally speaking, no. A couple of solutions:

1) Someone tampered with it (most likely)
2) A malicious webpage took advantage of a security hole and deleted your favorites. Some pages ask if you want to add their bookmark to your favorites, could just have just as easily deleted them. (possible)
3) You were running on HFS and someone updated your HD to HFS+. (unlikely)

Catfish_Man · Oct 7, 2003, 08:39 PM

Originally posted by olePigeon:
Generally speaking, no. A couple of solutions:

1) Someone tampered with it (most likely)
2) A malicious webpage took advantage of a security hole and deleted your favorites. Some pages ask if you want to add their bookmark to your favorites, could just have just as easily deleted them. (possible)
3) You were running on HFS and someone updated your HD to HFS+. (unlikely)

Or the file got corrupted, and IE killed it 'cause it couldn't figure it out. That seems by FAR the most likely (and innocent) explanation to me. I've had it happen with mailboxes and pref files before.

Arkham_c · Oct 7, 2003, 08:46 PM

Did you run out of disk space? Did IE crash while writing out the bookmarks? There's no explanation other than (a) a bug in IE or (b) user error.

jaybay · Oct 7, 2003, 10:00 PM

Thanks for all of your input.

I would like to go Catfish_Man's explantation that IE killed the file. Otherwise, I have a serious problem if someone has been through my compuer.

So that I do not have to be in this situation again, would one of you be able to recommend an app that lets me see logs of all user activity on this computer. Also this app would need to be virtually tamper-proof.

Just a comment. I don't want to go for something like disk lock etc.

And I am running OS9.1. Can not switch up to OSX as I am on a G4 350mhz which is just too sluggish in OSX.

Thanks again

Jay