Unknown & undetectable script/virus running on my computer

[Senate6268]

Here is my problem:

My machine is running Win2k Pro. Lately something very strange has been happening. Random keys and commands are being pressed or activated. When I'm in Internet Explorer 6.0 it brings up the Organize Favorites window when I move the mouse up towards the top of the screen. When I'm in Photoshop 7.0, it will copy the layer I'm working on, enlarge it, and turn on the rulers. When I'm typing in Word (Office 2K Pro) it will repeat the entire last line of text and the Find and Replace window will pop up. If I undo the the command it will disappear. It seems to be activated by the spacebar in Word. It seems to be the same random keys being entered: "B", "G", "V", "Control", "F" - but not in that specific order. I've had Norton Antivirus 2k2 running before and after and always updated. I've run Panda, antivirus.com, and McAfee. Nothing comes up. I don't think it's a virus, but maybe some script or something that runs at random. It also happens when I'm not connected to the Internet, so I know it's not a backdoor of any kind. I am absolutely stumped on what to do. I can't find anything in terms of articles or information online to help me. I know you guys will be able to. Thank you greatly in advance.

Pete Tomasik

 

[jnicks]

When working on classic MGs, we have a rule, fix the simple things first.

Let's try the simplest explanation first...

Swap the keyboard, it may be as simple as a bad cable or a coffee/keyboard spill.

Ditto mouse, although that is not as likely.

 

[Senate6268]

My machine is a laptop. No liquid of any kind has had the priviledge of touching it. Whatever it is, it keeps pushing Control, g, b, and v. Sometimes a combination of Control and one of those other keys happens and shortcuts in programs come up. It is fast too. It likes to push those keys when the mouse is over certain parts of the screen or is moving.

 

[Senate6268]

I've noticed that F5 is also in the mix. In notepad, the command F5 will put in a time and date stamp. As I move the mouse around the screen, time stamps will appear. And when Control+F is pushed, the find window comes up. Then it likes to hit Control+V and paste the last thing in my clipboard over and over again.

 

[jnicks]

Well, it might be going down the wrong path, but the only time I have seen these symptoms was when the keyboard was misbehaving and sending codes when nothing was typed.

It may be malware, sounds pretty pointless, but most malware is pretty pointless.

The last idea on the KB thing is if you can plug a standard KB in the back, if the problems disappear it is laptop back to the manufacturer time for repair. If the problem is still there, I have been no help at all.

Luck
J

 

[Luckyfour]

I know almost next to nothing about computers. I remember when I got this computer, after awhile it started to sometimes just, on its own, scroll across the page and down the page--like the cursor was wild. I got my computer guy over eventually and it turned out that it had something to do with my video driver (which he updated). I have no idea if this might make any possible sense but if it does, maybe a post in the hardware forum...

 

[hnd]

There are some worms. which disable antivirus programs. To eliminate this possibility you could make a online scan from Symantec, TrendMicro etc.

But this problem sounds like hardwarebug on your computer such as not proper working key on the keyboard ......

hnd
hasso55@yahoo.com

 

[Senate6268]

After many hours of troubleshooting and everyone's help, I have decided that it is the keyboard. Technical support for my laptop agrees as well. Thank you everyone for your help.

 

[jnicks]

Laughing, at myself, but am sorry about the hours for you.

That must have been very frustrating.

J

 

[smah]

I'm not sure about 2K, but I've heard of this happening with XP. Make sure that you don't have any accessability options turned on. Somewhere (in XP at least), there is an option for voice input. If this gets turned on, you computer may try to input keystrokes based on the noises around your computer.

 

[gzcao]

Hi Senate6268,

Did you solve your problem? Was it caused by hardware problems or a virus?

I am experiencing the exact same problem with my SatellitePro. If your laptop is also a toshiba, the odds of hardware failure would be pretty good.

Thanks in advance for an update.

 

[AVChap]

Senate6268,

Do you have a microphone attached to your computer? If so, try disconnecting it. I've had this problem where my screen "types" characters which I did not press. Found out the microphone was processing what I was saying

HTH, AVChap
... take my advice, I don't use it anyway!

 

[gzcao]

OK. I changed the keyboard on my toshiba laptop and the problem went away.