New process unkown to me is appearing in tasl manager
What is GDM*.exe
Sunday, February 10, 2008 by BigDogBigFeet | Discussion: Windows XP
I've recently been getting some new process showing in task manager called GDM7.exe Yesterday I also saw one with a different number can't remember for sure maybe GDM12.exe. I tried a Yahoo! search and a Google search and found a German thread on HiJack this that had some discussion on GDM7.exe but, I couldn't make much sense of it. Anyone know what this is and where it's from? I killed the process and it doesn't seem to be causing any system stability issues I'm aware of but, what is it?
You know the net and software. They are always getting something to start running on my system without my direct consent. Almost every package has an auto nag feature for updates or go visit them, it's no wonder my system memory is constantly being slowly erroded by wanting to try software and in some cases needed, the list: Itunes, QuickTime, RealPlayer, Adobe Reader and since I got my DSL from AT&T Yahoo more stuff to deal with. Yuck! Nothing but work to tame these software packages. Almost makes you want to run vanilla windows just to preserve my peace of mind and ensure system stability. Of course then there would be no net video, music or radio. Sheesh! Competition is producing hassle for the end user.
So enough of this for now anyone know what GDM*.exe is?
You know the net and software. They are always getting something to start running on my system without my direct consent. Almost every package has an auto nag feature for updates or go visit them, it's no wonder my system memory is constantly being slowly erroded by wanting to try software and in some cases needed, the list: Itunes, QuickTime, RealPlayer, Adobe Reader and since I got my DSL from AT&T Yahoo more stuff to deal with. Yuck! Nothing but work to tame these software packages. Almost makes you want to run vanilla windows just to preserve my peace of mind and ensure system stability. Of course then there would be no net video, music or radio. Sheesh! Competition is producing hassle for the end user.
So enough of this for now anyone know what GDM*.exe is?
Leo the Lion
Reply #2 Sunday, February 10, 2008 6:45 PM
Reply #2 Sunday, February 10, 2008 6:45 PM
Hmmmm!!! Not sure about that website advice. There does not seem to be much known about this process and I would not be surprised that it's spyware or a virus. I take it that you've run your AV and spyware progs with nothing showing up. If so don't take that as read as you may still be infected because I've seen quite a few so called 'good' AV progs miss stuff. Try two other vendors free on line scanners. I'd go for Kaspersky and ESET's offerings. They are really quite thorough and here are the links.......
WWW Link
WWW Link
And then run Spybot Search and Destroy and Adaware followed by HiJackThis and post your log on their forums for one of their experts to look at..........
WWW Link
WWW Link
And then run Spybot Search and Destroy and Adaware followed by HiJackThis and post your log on their forums for one of their experts to look at..........
BigDogBigFeet
Reply #3 Sunday, February 10, 2008 7:24 PM
Reply #3 Sunday, February 10, 2008 7:24 PM
Thanks for responding Leo. I'd like to ask that the link to that web site in Reply#1 be removed. The reason being if you Google GDM.exe the first 2 links will be for the website in your link. Each one to a different page on the website. The first page says it is safe in March 2006. The second one issues a warning as unsafe in December 2007 and of course offering a free scan with suggestion if you want their software to actually do anything about this "infection" to pay a license fee. So.. I agree with you Leo that's not a good website nor is it any product I would trust.
I think I'll start by commiting the ultimate WC transgression
, I'm going to notify my security software vendor, who must remain nameless for now, and see what they say.
I'll keep you all posted if I find out anything. Later
I think I'll start by commiting the ultimate WC transgression
, I'm going to notify my security software vendor, who must remain nameless for now, and see what they say.I'll keep you all posted if I find out anything. Later
BigDogBigFeet
Reply #4 Sunday, February 10, 2008 7:31 PM
Reply #4 Sunday, February 10, 2008 7:31 PM
Hey I learned something else new today. Allow both Yahoo toolbar and Google toolbar to both reside on your Web Browser and just watch the shenanigans and fighting that takes place. Even so much as use Google's search and it will automatically switch your default search engine to itself without telling you or getting your consent to do this. Try to switch back to Yahoo and Google will automatically block the attempt. The user's actual preferences be damned, who needs the end user's consent. Big business and corporate revenues first. Oh well might have to remove Google's tool bar for that crap.
BigDogBigFeet
Reply #5 Sunday, February 10, 2008 8:06 PM
Reply #5 Sunday, February 10, 2008 8:06 PM
Ok, I checked with my nameless security software vendor. It was an exercise in trying to get me to agree to accept additional paid for services like expert virus and adware malware software removal. The "Live Chat" session was a fee for service basis. Luckily I saw those and closed the session before thay could "Chat" with me and send me a bill. They have my card on file, I'll have to keep an eye out for spurious charges.
All this just to report this process and ask if it's malware, sheesh. I did a search on GDM.exe, GDM7.exe and GDM12.exe(<-?) and nothing comes up on their web site. I'm concluding that for now it's probably an executable from some software company which is related to Web surfing and looks to see if I'm doing anything it will want to nag me about. Like watching a music video with QuickTime and have RealPlayer start pimping its new "Hot" selections. Or searching with Yahoo while Google trys to block the search and redirect it to Google. I'm serious what a day.
All this just to report this process and ask if it's malware, sheesh. I did a search on GDM.exe, GDM7.exe and GDM12.exe(<-?) and nothing comes up on their web site. I'm concluding that for now it's probably an executable from some software company which is related to Web surfing and looks to see if I'm doing anything it will want to nag me about. Like watching a music video with QuickTime and have RealPlayer start pimping its new "Hot" selections. Or searching with Yahoo while Google trys to block the search and redirect it to Google. I'm serious what a day.
BoXXi
Reply #6 Sunday, February 10, 2008 10:19 PM
Reply #6 Sunday, February 10, 2008 10:19 PM
from what I could see, it appears to be a Macromedia file, maybe something to do with Flash...... I may be wrong of course. 
fontinalis
Reply #8 Sunday, February 10, 2008 10:28 PM
Reply #8 Sunday, February 10, 2008 10:28 PM
Did you do a search for either of those files on your machine to see where they are located?
BigDogBigFeet
Reply #10 Monday, February 11, 2008 1:15 AM
Reply #10 Monday, February 11, 2008 1:15 AM
Thanks for the input guys. Gnome is unix/linux based I run XP SP2 so shouldn't be. It could be adobe flash but, I haven't seen where on my system it's installed. Not showing in programs\adobe although adobe reader 8.0 is there. I'm sure I have the adobe flash player. I ran a search on GDM*.exe on my C:\ drive but didn't find it; after about 5 minutes I grew impatient and killed the search lol. Boxxi I think you may be right and it may have something to do with adobe flash player. Anyway thanks for the help.
By the way I just downloaded Sins of a Solar Empire and this looks like it's going to be just my kinda game. Should be plenty of gaming fun for me. Later and thanks for the advice.
By the way I just downloaded Sins of a Solar Empire and this looks like it's going to be just my kinda game. Should be plenty of gaming fun for me. Later and thanks for the advice.
scorpNZ
Reply #11 Monday, February 11, 2008 1:44 AM
Reply #11 Monday, February 11, 2008 1:44 AM
First off i'll start with with uniblue "quick access process explorer",it assigns a link beside every entry in the taskmanager,clicking on link will take you to the page that gives an explanation of what it is,it's certified by microsoft & free,you can delete it when you're satisfied all is ok
WWW Link
Next thing you need is something simliar to this app http://www.spywareterminator.com/ , apart from being a realtime spy scanner that uses little resource or no slow down unless you've got it set to do a full scan,anyway more importantly it will alert you to anything that attempts to install itself, it's a much better scanner than the microsoft one & is free ,it also has antivirus if you want it.
WWW Link
Next thing you need is something simliar to this app http://www.spywareterminator.com/ , apart from being a realtime spy scanner that uses little resource or no slow down unless you've got it set to do a full scan,anyway more importantly it will alert you to anything that attempts to install itself, it's a much better scanner than the microsoft one & is free ,it also has antivirus if you want it.
Leo the Lion
Reply #12 Monday, February 11, 2008 2:45 AM
Reply #12 Monday, February 11, 2008 2:45 AM
BDBF.........I've got Adobe Flash Player installed on my PC - as have most people - but it does not show up in my processes as GDM.exe. Not sure where to go from here. Perhaps a quick email or call to Adobe will tell you one way or another but I don't think it is Flash.
You are quite right about the link in my post #1. Could a Moderator please remove it as we don't want anyone going to that site.
You are quite right about the link in my post #1. Could a Moderator please remove it as we don't want anyone going to that site.
2of3
Reply #13 Monday, February 11, 2008 3:41 AM
I hate it when software wants you to install a searchbar or change your default browser.
Reply #13 Monday, February 11, 2008 3:41 AM
Oh well might have to remove Google's tool bar for that crap.
I hate it when software wants you to install a searchbar or change your default browser.
BigDogBigFeet
Reply #14 Monday, February 11, 2008 5:40 AM
Reply #14 Monday, February 11, 2008 5:40 AM
Found it! I had to search hidden folders and files and there it was in many incarnations too. Google Desktop is auto loading and running without my knowing it. Who knows maybe by having the Google toolbar installed in IE7 and FF2 it's creating these files in my user profile documents and settings. Time to eradicate this Google menace and reclaim my system memory and browsers. Just do a search on GDM*.exe including hidden folders and files in the advanced search options and see if you guys have this bugger too. It's created lot's of them. I saw at least 8. Time to exterminate. Davros and the Dahleks sic 'em. And to think doing a search with Google for it, GDM*.exe, and they act like they don't know what it is.
Leo the Lion
Reply #15 Monday, February 11, 2008 8:39 AM
Reply #15 Monday, February 11, 2008 8:39 AM
Glad you got it sorted. After seeing this and some of the problems that people are having with the security of Gmail I am beginning to wonder if Google really 'is your friend'
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Reply #1 Sunday, February 10, 2008 6:22 PM