???????Process "~.exe" in Vista???????

My HP has been running slow the last couple of days ... a lot of locking up and the "blue circle of death" next to my mouse pointer all the time. I checked out Windows Task Manager and noticed a process with the image name ~.exe and it boosts the CPU up to 10 every few seconds. The WTM description is just "~" and when I tried to end the process it just reappeared.

I went to the file location which ended up being:
C:\windows\System32

It tells me that this file was created at about the same time I tried to end it in the process window. I then tried to delete it and I got a message that said I needed permission and it would not let me delete it!

I run McAfee SecurityCenter and I've run scans but nothing was found.

I don't recall ever seeing this ~.exe file before. Is it something I've just missed or does it sound like I may have caught something?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks

 

This ~.exe file does seem suspicious. I would get a second opinion from a different virus scanner. A good trifecta of online virus scanners are:

NOTE: you have to launch IE7 in administrator mode to use these. Right click on an internet explorer icon and click "run as administrator".
www.eset.com - activeX based
www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html - activeX based
www.kaspersky.com - java based

Write down anything they find and post it here if you have any questions. Then again, if you think you have been infected, you may need to create a post in the malware removal thread.

 

I am leaning towards and infection of some type!

When I booted up the computer this evening it flashed to the CRITICAL ERROR screen and then re-booted in SAFE MODE. Right now I am on my laptop trying to see what I can do (if anything) at this point. I don't want to boot out of safe mode because I don't want to create any more problems but then again it may be too late.

I think I'll boot it up and try the links you suggest. I use Firefox but I will use IE 7 as you suggested in your post.

Thanks for your help ... wish me luck!