Is MSN Updater a virus?

I am running Windows 98 on a Packard Bell PC. My Sygate Personal Firewall says I have an application called MSN Updater running and making frequent attempts to contact the internet. Not knowing what this is, I looked it up on the Net and read that it is something planted by the Win 32\Forbot Worm. Already running AVG and Ad-aware (both of which told me my computer is currently clean), I followed your instructions and downloaded Stinger, CCleaner, Spybot, Spyware Blaster, CW Shredder & Kill2me (HSRemove won't run on Windows 98). I also tried the online security scans you recommended, although the Symantec page kept "winking out" (wonder if one of the other security programs views it as a potentially dangerous internet page) so I couldn't run that one. In any case, all the other security scans--including Forbtgui, which I downloaded from Sophos--say the computer is clean. Are they simply not equipped to detect the MSN Updater virus or this application not a virus at all? According to the Sygate list of applications, it is called MSN Updater, version 1.2.3000.1001, path C:\Program Files\MSN Apps\Updater\01.02.3000.1001\e... When I right click on this information and choose "Advanced" from the dropdown menu, it says the name of the application is MSN Updater [C:\...msnappau.exe]. Am I beating my head against a wall trying to figure out how to find this "virus" for nothing, because it's actually essential to my computer?

 

The file "msnappau.exe" is part of the Microsoft MSN toolbar system, which initiates an update facility for the MSN downloadable toolbar. Disabling or enabling this is down to user preference. Hope this information helps.

 

Thanks so much for the info. I can stop worrying.

 

Your Welcome, Glad I could be of some assistance, also please see this thread as it may be helpful later. Browse Safely!

How to Protect yourself from malware!