30 lost files...ned HELP.

[Wanda Tucker]

Hello,
I've compared my list of an applications files with that of a customer's, and find the customer's application is missing 30 files. Gees, at first I thought it'd just be a couple, and a fluke. But there is something serious going on with their app that totally stumps me, as this is the 2nd time "weirdness" crept in.

The first time, some of the files were renamed. I did a re-install, tested, and it worked very well.

The customer used the database, took a 2 week break, came back and the app wouldn't work. She sent me a list of the files in which 30 are missing.

I'm wondering a few things:

Could a spyware or virus scan be identifying the files as suspicious? (And an IT spec unfamiliar with Alpha's filing structure is simply deleting them.)

Could there be a spyware or virus that would do this? Well, yes, there COULD - but does it sound like anything you've ever heard of - lately, especially?

If I go back and do another re-install, is there a way to hide the entire folder?

The first time around I suspected power surges/failures to be wrecking the app - or that a jr. hacker was playing around (the app is in a room where high schoolers have access to the computer that it is on). The IT bought a beefier surge protector, AND password protected the computer.

This is my "star" client, as well, who really wants to use the app!

Thank you,
Wanda

[Tom Henkel]

RE: 30 lost files...ned HELP.

Wanda,
Is there any pattern as to which file types are being deleted? My suspicion is that an overzelous IT person is removing files that they think are suspect. Give IT a list of file types to be left alone. Have those types excluded from any scan or protection. Be sure to have a complete backup of all your files.

Let us know...



TOM

[Ryan Ware]

RE: 30 lost files...ned HELP.

I too think human intervention is afoot.

[Wanda Tucker]

RE: 30 lost files...ned HELP.

Hi Tom,
No, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason in the names or extensions of the missing files. I'm actually in communication with the IT person and have made that suggestion, although he hasn't answered back, yet. I'll let you know when I do.

Some of the files are missing in "groups" (alphabetical), such as 3 out of 5 that begin with A_Family_Center_Help, and 2 out of 5 that begin with A_Menus_System, and 3 out of 8 that begin with Classes (.sem, .set, .sex). Then there's random other files, some with .muf, .dll, .dbf, .ddx, .fpt, .alx, .ddd, .aex, and oddly, the water_tile.jpg.

So strange...so very strange...
Wanda

[Wanda Tucker]

RE: 30 lost files...ned HELP.

That is definitely my hunch, as well. Any tips on how to convince the customer? Doesn't it just sound like I'm trying to dodge "fixing" the application? (The IT person may not be that skilled at his job, which is way out in the boonies in a little town named "Boonville". No kidding! It's hard to find skilled and knowledgeable staff in such remote areas...even here with a population of 30,000+- it's hard to find many with skills in computers.)

Thank you,
Wanda

[Tom Henkel]

RE: 30 lost files...ned HELP.

If there is someone ther who is randomly browsing and deleting, HIDE THEM. Create a folder with the a "$" following the folder name: c:\myfolder$ This will make it a hidden folder, and unless you give people specific permission to view hidden folders, they will not see it on a normal browse of the system. All you would need ot do is to make sure that all of your shortcuts and lookups, etc. see the folder.

Tom

[mronck]

RE: 30 lost files...ned HELP.

Wanda,

I can hardly believe an IT-professional would be so stupid to remove files he does not know where they are used for.
A good system administrator even would know what exactly runs on his network and what filetypes are used.
If they would be suspicious to him, he could also place them into quarantaine.

If he does, it would be time to remove him from duty and send him back to school to get some follow-up education.
In that case he is damaging his own systems and company.

As said, I can hardly believe it, though experience learns almost anything is possible.

My guess is something else is wrong.
A virus is ofcourse always a possibility, even when anti-virus programms are installed. No anti-virus programm gets a 100% score. Try -in close harmony with our IT-man- to run a anti-virus utility of your own on the total system.

I guess you will not have created any feature for the user to delete files ?

This is really strange.

Best luck,

Marcel

[michaelklein]

RE: 30 lost files...ned HELP.

Wanda,

To prove whether or not a human is responsible for this, you might want to check out http://www.winwhatwhere.com. They have computer monitoring software which can report on files being deleted etc. Although it's a bit expensive, they offer a free download.

Just my 2 cents.
--Michael

[Blake]

RE: 30 lost files...ned HELP.

And, actually, for Wanda's purposes, such a thing wouldn't be too difficult to construct. (I don't know the product in quesiton, I'm just thinking she doesn't need a full system monitoring just to identify when some files are being deleted.)

Of course, =anything= is probably overkill. The files are being deleted, and by a human. They need to adjust their internal security (or Wanda needs to do it for them).

[forskare]

RE: 30 lost files...ned HELP.

...She sent me a list of the files in which 30 are missing...

I take it you sent her a list of your files, she made the comparison, elminated her file names from your list and sent the ramining to you?

Ha! don't think for one minute that someone in IT would not be resonsible. Everyone who has access to her computer, be it at her keyboard or visa the internet, IS a suspect until eliminated. Right now, IT is not eliminated just because they're IT.

Who all uses her computer? Is it passwoed protected? Who all knows her password? There should only be 2 types of people who have access to her computer, your user and IT. Supervisors do not fall into these catagories.

Depending on what security Mendo uses, it is possible someone is gaining access via another computer.

Think about this, who (and again all are suspect until eliminated) wants to sink your ship? It may even be someone who siles at you and pats you on the back. Not trying to make you paranoid but ya can't eliminate suspects just because you believe they wouldn't do it. To prove this, answer this question: How many people commit a crime and you never thought they would? How many people cheat on their taxes?

OK, enough said.

kenn

[Wanda Tucker]

RE: 30 lost files...ned HELP.

Wow - thank you everyone for your thoughts! I've been away for two days, so couldn't respond earlier.

The IT person, Jim, indicates they use Norton Antivirus and no spyware, and that he seriously doubts if a Jr. Hacker is getting in.

Isn't it odd, though, that apparently no other files are simply coming up missing or renamed? I will try to get clarification on this, but I think it would have come out, by now.

I'm going back out to re-install, and have asked Jim to observe so that he can re-install the next time it happens. I stated that it probably will happen again and again until the problem is found and corrected.

I'll keep you posted on further developments. Thanks, again!
Wanda

[Robert Adler]

RE: 30 lost files...ned HELP.

Wanda:

I have been following this thread with great interest. I would suggest one other tact.

After you re-install the appliation on the client site. Ask her to go through the procedures uses from the start of the day to the end of the day. You may be able to spot the cause of the problem.

You may identify another procedure that is being run on the computer or you may see a piece of code run in your application that was there for "testing".

I hope this helps.

bob adler

[Wanda Tucker]

RE: 30 lost files...ned HELP.

Hi Bob,
Yes, I intend on sitting with Loretta as she goes through each feature...will post anything I notice as strange.
Thx!
Wanda

[Wanda Tucker]

RE: 30 lost files...ned HELP.

Now I'm REALLY SCARED!!!

In a report that I run in Alpha about once every 6 weeks, some of the field rules are missing - not all - but some of the calculated field rules aren't there anymore...

Now that the plot sickens, what are your ideas?

I'm totally stumped.

Thank you!
Wanda

[mronck]

RE: 30 lost files...ned HELP.

Wanda,

Something just hit me: ask the system administrator of the network to do a search on the files over the network, let him see if he can find the missing files elsewhere on the network.

Greetings,

Marcel