Downloaded the MINE.exe trojan, eh? Well let me tell you some facts about this nasty little critter! Relax and calm down. It's not the end of the world...

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This nasty little critter is a TROJAN WORM. It is a password stealer. It can really mess your computer up, depending upon how long it has been on your computer, but IT IS NOT TERMINAL! That's the good thing about it. It has been designed to attack America Online members with Windows 98, or 95 if the file MSVBVM50.DLL is present. Its real name is called: APStrojan.qa This Trojan has been persistent, or has been around for a very long time. The best thing is you do not need to re-install your America Online program or reformat your hard drive.

What is a Trojan Horse? In computer terms, a trojan horse is (in MSN Encarta's language, hehe) "a destructive program disguised as a game, a utility, or an application. When run, a Trojan horse does something devious to the computer system while appearing to do something useful."

You can receive this nasty litter critter by an email named "Hey You!" The description of the trojan's letter can say that it has 5-6 pictures and describes how you can decompress the zipped file. It can be a "Mi35.zip" or a "Mi40.zip" or whatever. If it has that "Mi..." on it follow by a number, it's that nasty little critter! Your friend(s) can send this letter to you, although they never sent it to you to do any harm. But don't panic!! Panic is the least thing you need to worry about - it won't solve anything! For an example of the Trojan's letter, click here.

If you downloaded the file, America Online (yes AOL, however...) will decompress, or unzip, the file for you, if you use their download manager. For future downloads, if you do not have WinZip, please click here for a download of the WinZip 8.0 Evaluation Version. I find WinZip to be better than America Online's Download Manager (AOL Members, click here to see Download Manager or AOL KEYWORD: Download Manager). America unzips files automatically while with WinZip you have control of what you want to unzip. WinZip also can help you open files that are ZIPPED:) Also recommmended, if you don't use Nigel's Trojan Remover, you use the other popular brand - SYSTEMATIC: Norton's Antivirus 2000.

YES, THIS TROJAN CAN BE DISTRIBUTED, IF YOU DOWNLOADED AND CLICK ON THE FILE "MINE.EXE", TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE ON YOUR BUDDY LIST THAT ARE ONLINE! NOT ALL, BUT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE ONLINE WHEN YOU HAVE ACTIVATED IT!

Now the bad side of it? Well, it can do the following:

  1. Alternate your Desktop Background to not Work (it has happened on mine)
  2. Freeze your computer once you have signed onto AOL for 5 seconds or less.
  3. You cannot shut down/restart your computer from the START MENU, so you have to turn it off manually, by pressing the REBOOT button continuously, which is bad by the way.
  4. I advise you if you downloaded the MINE.EXE Buddy List trojan to please not sign onto that infected computer, but someone else's. (your password will be continuously sent out if you keep signing onto AOL on the infected computer. As you may see, this trojan is ON YOUR HARD DRIVE and not on you AOL).
  5. You cannot open the win.ini or the registry
  6. It can have your *NEW* and *OLD* passwords everytime you sign onto AOL on your own computer. An example of this is that when you sign-on, a password box saying "invalid password" comes up continuously, when you know you have typed in the correct password. The invalid password box accepts your password.

It is just a pesky little WORM that the author of this virus created just to aggravate you and your computer. Believe me, I was mad when I finally got rid of this thing. To the author of this Trojan, it is nothing but play and games, but you know the real side of this pesky critter. The author is just doing their job - a Password Stealer :(

*YOU DO NOT NEED TO BACKUP OR RE-FORMAT YOUR HARD DRIVE!!*

One way you can tell if you have the trojan, you can check your SENT MAIL everytime you sign onto AOL, and you will have a letter titled, "Confirmation" with the screen names listed:

  • To: PlanetSils@gurlmail.com, PlanetSils@yahoo.com
  • To: PlanetSils@juno.com, DJClue97@hotmail.com

Your Anti-virus can't do nothing about this Trojan Horse. (I've heard that the Norton's 2000 Anti-virus also tracks this Buddy List Trojan, too!) My McAfree Anti-Virus didn't track this nasty little critter at all. Everytime you sign onto AOL, you will get the Confirmation letters in your SENT MAIL mailbox everytime you type in your password, whether you have changed it, or it is your current one on the infected computer. Back to Top

Have no fear! SimplySup's Trojan Remover is here!

To get rid of the MINE.EXE Trojan is by: a) Downloading the latest Trojan Remover (30-Day Free Trial) or b) Manually Delete the Files Associated with Trojan.

Simplysup's Trojan Remover

*IMPORTANT NOTE* If you have downloaded any versions of the Trojan Remover on your computer, and the expiration date is pass due, you CANNOT download this version of the Trojan Remover. You will have to either SUBSCRIBE/PAY or use the MANUAL instructions to remove the trojan files off your computer.

If you are currently using a regular Internet provider, such as Microsoft Explorer, MSN, Netzero, Compuserve, or Netscape, on your computer, but not sign onto your AOL, click here.

Manual Instructions (in Safe Mode)

*IMPORTANT*If you are courageous enough to fix the problem manually, and you know the Trojan is still on your computer, get the MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS by clicking here.

*IMPORTANT NOTE* If you are about to print and use the Manual Instructions, do not panic! As long as you follow the directions (you may not have to back-up your files), your computer will be as normal as a piece of cake! Once you start, do not stop until you finish. It only took me 10 minutes to get rid of the trojan files manually. It may take you 10 - 30 minutes, depending upon how experienced you are with computer systems. You can have a guide with you.

*OPTIONAL* To register your software of the Trojan Remover online after 30 day free trial, register at the home page by clicking here.

Why should you register this Trojan Remover? There are a lot of good reasons!

  1. The Trojan Remover is only a 30-day free trial. Once it's up, it does not work anymore.
  2. It's a best buy: only $24.95!
  3. You can keep it on your hard drive for life to fight off other trojans and scan at start-up!
  4. People, you cannot just delete your AOL program and re-install it thinking that the trojan was only a minor gliche on your America Online. The MINE.EXE is on your system, not your AOL!
  5. Downloading it again and again won't work, trust me. You will have to register. Once you have registered the Trojan Remover, you will get updates of newer versions of the Trojan Remover. Isn't that great? I think so!
  6. For Updates, check out this page by clicking here.

NOTE: Make sure that once you activated it, don't register, just hit Continue. But after the virus on your computer is gone, you may register. It will make Nigel, creator of this wonderful Trojan Remover, happy! :)

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Okay, the teachers should have taught you this long time ago about learning your system...this is only for those who downloaded the AOL version. If you downloaded the Internet Version, you should be able to open the program once it has downloaded, and you are able to click "OPEN." (make sure you don't close the download dialog!)

  1. Go to the START MENU. Click on it.
  2. After you have downloaded the program from America Online...Go to Programs, and select WINDOWS EXPLORER. If you remember where you have downloaded the file, you know where to go to. All I can do now is describe the AMERICA ONLINE folder. Anyways...
  3. Go to the America Online Folder. Click on the Download folder.
  4. If you can remember what the file is, it's an application called "trjsetup.exe"
  5. Click on it and activate it. Follow their instructions. Now remember, this is only a 30-day free trial. My advice is that you keep this Trojan Remover! If you are under the age of 18, please tell your parents what happened and the results of the MINE.EXE worm. The cost to fully licence your Trojan Remover is $24.95. Once you pay for it, then you don't have to worry about the countdown date. It's all yours for life. Stay tune for version updates in the meantime. For Updates, click here. Anyways, you are paying Nigel for the best Trojan Remover of all! He deserves some rewards - he's doing his job to protect you and your system! :)
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Easy as pie. Once you have deleted the three main files (MINE.EXE, MSDOS98.EXE, UNINSTALLMS.EXE) your Trojan Virus has scanned and renamed with a .ex$ after them, DELETE THEM PERMAMENTLY. You do not want any of those traces of the Trojan. Also, look for key signs to find that your computer is TROJAN-FREE are:

  1. You can log onto America Online (and rare cases Internet Explorer) normally
  2. You no longer get the "Confirmation" letters in your Sent Mail folder
  3. The three files are no longer on your system (uninstallms.exe, msdos98.exe, mine.exe)
  4. You deleted every "Hey you" letter you have in your mailbox or AOL's Personal Filing Cabinet (I recommend this if I were you.)
  5. You can shut down and restart your computer properly (automatically)
  6. Your Desktop is back to normal and everything runs smoothly (you may have to refigure your desktop background if you get a blank desktop background after you rebooted, but your desktop is not corrupted)
  7. Your Anti-Virus works and the Trojan Scanner finds no evidence of the MINE.exe virus.
  8. You told all of your friends not to download the "Hey You" AOL e-mail trojan horse. However if your friends have downloaded and activated the virus, you can inform them how to get the Trojan off their system by telling everyone this web page :)

When this happens after you have removed the MINE.exe trojan succesfully, it is normal or common for this behavior to happen. It is possible to recover your desktop, and to fix this problem:

  1. Run the Trojan Remover on a *NEW SCAN* again
  2. To reset your colors, right-click on the Windows Desktop. Select Properties, and under the Settings Tab, you will reset the colors there. You will get a dialog box to re-start your computer or automatically reset the color mode. Do so efficiently.

I have received many complaints on this problem, and I have now POSTED THIS on my web site so that you will know how to figure this problem without having to email me. :)

Last, but not least....

CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD OF THE SCREEN NAME IN WHICH YOU DOWNLOADED THE TROJAN !!

WHY? So that the Trojan worm's author doesn't know your new password!

And one more reminder: Don't store your passwords. Trust me on this one for the future. Memorize or jot them down on a piece of paper.

Troubleshooting Box

Do you have any other problems, questions, or other responses you will like to ask LTOrivia? Please type your question in the textbox below:
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If you know what kind of problem you have, please select the following:
  •   Registration of the Trojan Remover
  •   Wrong/Missing URL
  •   System Problems
  •   Downloading the Trojan Remover
  •   Other

    What is your email address? (I must have email address to answer your questions.)

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    • Comments from the Page Designer

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    I hope this page has helped you a LOT!

    I have had this MINE.EXE back in February of 2000, and I freaked out just like every one of you! I feared that I was going to lose my *new* computer for good! Now that my Windows is back to normal, I did not have to back-up or re-format anything! Whew! I feel very lucky. I dedicate this page to everyone who was infected with this Trojan Worm, and it is in my best interest to help you get through this Trojan safe and simple; it is not complicated as it seems! Also for the most part, please thank Nigel for making the Trojan Remover - he is truly one lifesaver! The bad side of things are that we do not know who is the author of this Trojan Worm. I know it is terribly annoying and frustrating dealing with this critter, yet it is quite clever that it is passed through whoever is on your AOL BuddyList. We will catch this miscreant soon!

    I still have the TROJAN REMOVER on my computer. I'm being safe!

    Have any comments or suggestions for me? CLICK HERE

    **AOL ONLY** If you wish to Instant Message me on AOL, CLICK HERE.

    I have my AIM Toolbar up now! If you have the AOL Instant Messenger software and an AIM member, you can IM me and even e-mail me! Try it out!
    Download AIMAIM RemoteSend me an Instant MessageAdd me to Your Buddy ListSend me an EmailAdd Remote to Your Page
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    HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY AND BE TROJAN-FREE!

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    Web Page designed by LTOrivia.

    NOTE: This page was created and copyrighted March 13, 2000. No one may copy or distribute this page as their own piece of work. Penalties of plagiarism will follow this crime.

    Revised December 21, 2005.

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