Recently, some users have found that their music files have suddenly changed to .zip or .exe format & therefore are unplayable. This is caused by the user downloading an infected file.

Everyone MUST be aware of how many infected files are being shared on the network these days & be extra careful about what they download. Keep your AV program updated & scan every file that you've downloaded, before you open it.

Check your search results before you download. Look at the icons that show beside a file...are they music icons? Check the file size. File size will vary according to the song's bitrate, the higher the bitrate, the larger the file. Files less than 1000 KB in size are bound to be suspicious. See an example of real file sizes & music icons here (icons that you see are determined by your default music player).





People are being infected because they're downloading files which show up in a music search...but the files are not music files. They have the programs icon, the file type is exe (DANGER SIGN) & files are way too small to be a valid music file. These files are usually 408.0 KB in size & are infected with this worm: Worm/Fontra.C - Full description
You might also see files of 228.0 KB, these are infected with the trojan TR/Drop.VB.ME.1 or TR/Drop.VB.ME.20
Do not download these files.


AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition will find this worm. As the name suggests, AVG Free is free to download & is a reliable antivirus program. Download from the link below. Make sure that you update AVG before you scan your computer.
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic will also find the worm. Antivir will detect the worm during download & by default will deny access to the file, even if the download is completed as long as the AntiVir Guard is activated (ie when you see an open umbrella icon in the system tray). Download the free edition from the link below. Make sure that you update AntiVir before you scan your computer.
Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic - MORE THAN SECURITY

There are probably other AV programs which will detect this worm, users of other AVs might like to add more info.


Once you've downloaded a file, before you open it, hover your mouse over the completed download, in the download pane below the search results. If you see .mp3.exe, the file is NOT a music file & is dangerous.
Do not open the file, delete it from your computer.



People have also been infected through downloading files which have "BitDownloader" or "Bitdownload" in the title. These show up often as being 220.5 KB in size & contain Trojan.Obfuscated.en. See the link below for an example.
Problem with downloaded files

If you see "file name Bitdownload/er" in your search results...these are dangerous files & will infect your computer.
Do not download these files.



The real BitDownload is a BitTorrent client & has been known to install spyware, so it would be wise to stay away from that as well
Yahoo! Answers - What is exactly the bitdownload?
Removing BitDownload from my computer - SWI Forums


For more info about viruses on the network, read the thread below.
WARNING: Viruses on network you should be aware of!

For links to free security programs, click the blue link here

For further specialised help with virus/malware removal, please visit one of the sites below.
Spyware Warrior :: Index

CastleCops® » Security Forums

SpywareInfo Forum FAQ - SWI Forums

thanks birdy for this, this is my problem as well. i appreciate this.

hi thank you for limewire i love it....i just have a problem with the "library" all the songs i dowloaded like a year or two ago....its now turned in to zip folders, i dont know what happen, but i dont want to download all the songs again, is there any help in this?? thank you very much.

Download AVG free, update it & then scan your computer. There's more info & links for download in the post just above yours

Thanks alot for this, mate. I worried when I found out all my downloaded files had been turned to zips, and I was completely unsure of how to fix it.

So after I download this AV and delete any necessary items limewire should run properly and stop changing music files to exe files or is it just a lost cause and I can never use limewire again?

LimeWire isn't changing anything to anything...you have a worm. LimeWire is just the app that was used to download an infected file

Scan with AVG & see what it finds. When your computer is clean, make sure to be careful when downloading. Check file sizes, stay away from zip, rar & exe files. Keep your AV updated & scan every file that you download, before you open it

so i just download AVG free and then the music files i download wont change to .zip files anymore?
is there a way to change my files from .zip back to normal mp3s?

how do you get the file that changed to zip back to an mp3 file everyone has been saying that the original song half to be in your computer and can been un compressed how do you do this? how do you change a zip file back to an mp3 file my memory hasnt been changed so the files are in my computer if they were deleted my memory wouldve sky rocketed back up does anyone know how to fix this i would appreciate anyones help thank you very much to anyone who helps.........

First, lowadeck, I apologise for qouting here your Private Message to me... This is something I normally never do without first asking permission... But, I'm sure you won't be too worried about it, right ???!!!

It is much better for you to have access to as many other people as possible to solve your problem !

Please give us more basic info about your computer...
Operating System
LimeWire Version
Internet Security type programs...
etc., etc.

My first question for you is simple... Are you SURE that the files have actually been 'compressed'... Are the files smaller in size than the originals that you downloaded... Or, more probable, are the files really the same original size and have simply had the file name extension changed from (for example) .mp3 to .zip ???
Are the file names all .zip or are there any that have been changed to .rar or .sit ???

Main thing for now ist that you should be VERY careful... Don't delete anything !
Be patient... HONEST, it pays in the end !

Hang in there.... Others will also be answering you, OK ?

C U
'urs'

__________________
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