Have I been hacked?

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  1. Posts : 39
    w10 home 64b
       #1

    Have I been hacked?


    I have a few computers at home on a small home network. I built a media server pc.
    Its an Intel i5-4440 with 16gb of ram and 0.5TB SSD and a couple of 1TB HDD’s for media storage.
    Windows 10 home version 21H2, build 19044.1706.
    It’s running Plex version 4.76.1.
    I don’t have a third party AV program, I am just using the built in windows AV stuff.
    For the most part everything is fine and everything functions as I would expect it to.
    Lately though, about every other time I wake up the Plex server I get this message on the screen.

    Have I been hacked?-20220520_122009.jpg

    How do I want to open this file? It’s an empty file called my.txt. It doesn’t seem to be affecting anything, but it is making me a little bit nervous.
    I bought a NAS about 6 months ago, an Asustor AS1102T and I had Plex running on the NAS when it got hacked by Deadbolt. I cleaned it up, got rid of deadbolt and recovered my files. They were basically backups and I had an external HDD for the Plex media. I isolated my NAS from the internet now and I am making daily backups again, but I missed Plex so that’s why I built a home media server PC. But now my Plex server is exposed to the internet.

    What should I do?

    Any help and or reassurance will be GREATLY appreciated.
    TIA
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 2,144
    Windows 11 Pro (latest update ... forever anal)
       #2

    What happens when you try to open other .txt files?
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 14,022
    Win10 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home, Win7, Linux Mint
       #3

    One of the programs on that list that defaults to handling .txt files is Notepad, I'd try that. All word processors such as Lotus WordPro, LibreOffice, WordPad, OpenOffice, Word, WordPerfect, etc., can handle the format.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 39
    w10 home 64b
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Thanks guys.
    I can open other txt files no problem.
    And when I try to open this file, it does not exist so I created my.txt so at least I can click on something. But it is empty.
    If I delete my.txt then I still get this random message but when I click on notepad it can't find the file.
    It's getting annoying.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 23,281
    Win 10 Home ♦♦♦19045.4355 (x64) [22H2]
       #5

    sdtag said:
    Thanks guys.
    I can open other txt files no problem.
    And when I try to open this file, it does not exist so I created my.txt so at least I can click on something. But it is empty.
    If I delete my.txt then I still get this random message but when I click on notepad it can't find the file.
    It's getting annoying.


    I would scan the computer with Malwarebytes (free), and then scan it again with the free ESET online scanner.
    If Windows Defender and Malwarebytes and ESET, all come up clean... I'd say you're probably OK.


    https://www.malwarebytes.com/solutions/free-antivirus

    Free Virus Scan | Online Virus Scan from ESET | ESET
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 5,048
    Windows 10/11 Pro x64, Various Linux Builds, Networking, Storage, Cybersecurity Specialty.
       #6

    Hi there -

    In addition to the above suggestions...

    I wonder if the file is a leftover Stub from a program.

    Try to re-associate .txt files with Notepad as the default program.
    Then change it to what you would like .txt files to open with.

    Also run a chkdsk C: /F /V in a elevated command prompt.

    Hope this helps.

      My Computer


  7. Posts : 39
    w10 home 64b
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Thank you everybody.
    I scanned my pc with malwarebytes and eset and I think I'm ok.
    I re-associated txt files with notepad.
    I deleted my.txt
    I haven't run chkdsk yet but I will.
    I guess I am a little paranoid with everything thats going on in the world and it trickled down.
    Thank you again everyone.
    I love this board.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 23,281
    Win 10 Home ♦♦♦19045.4355 (x64) [22H2]
       #8

      My Computer


  9. Posts : 5,048
    Windows 10/11 Pro x64, Various Linux Builds, Networking, Storage, Cybersecurity Specialty.
       #9

    Glad that it is all sorted now!

    What was the solution?

      My Computer


  10. Posts : 39
    w10 home 64b
    Thread Starter
       #10

    possibly just re-associating txt files with notepad.
    The other things I tried were just scans
    That was really the only thing I did.
    I haven't seen the popup in over 12 hours now
    sorry if I was overly paranoid but better safe than sorry I guess

    - - - Updated - - -

    the popup came back but at least I'm not worried about it now.
    Like you said its probably a leftover from something I installed, not the Russians or the Chinese trying to break in, not that I'm paranoid or anything.
    I was setting up my shop and installing some cameras and some of my industrial neighbors stopped by and saw what I was doing and looked around and asked why? haha I was like one mans junk yada yada Well apparently the same thing applies to my home network. I'm so paranoid about somebody breaking in but why? Why would anybody even want to? I haven't got anything worth stealing haha.
      My Computer


 

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