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-   Linux - Software (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-software-2/)
-   -   Random Things Happening In My Computer (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-software-2/random-things-happening-in-my-computer-4175489396/)

TheChronicScribbler 12-28-2013 12:03 PM
Random Things Happening In My Computer
 
I run a fedora 19. usually my account home has folders like Documents, Downloads, Public etc.

Today all of a sudden there were a lot of folders in it. like .skype, and .local.

I thought it must be some sort of a virus and deleted the entire thing.

When i restarted, i lost all my settings etc. but i read that is because i deleted the '.local' floder.

I wanted to know if the computer is virus infected or hacked.

Also , my 'recent' folder shows many files from folders i just visited but did not open anything from.

Please help ASAP.

metaschima 12-28-2013 12:09 PM
On Linux, files and directories can be hidden by adding a '.' to the beginning. This is usually done in the home directory by programs in order to store settings. So for example all your skype settings are stored in the '~/.skype' directory, all your firefox settings are stored in '~/.mozilla" directory, etc.

This explains why you lost all your settings when you deleted these hidden files and directories. It is certainly a learning experience you are unlikely to forget.

If they were really important you could use the testdisk program to try to recover some of the files.

rknichols 12-28-2013 02:06 PM
Those "dot" files (that were always there, BTW) would start showing up if you set the "Show hidden files" option in your file manager.

snowday 12-28-2013 02:26 PM
Probably all that happened was you hit Ctrl+H (they keyboard combination to show/hide hidden files/folders in most file managers). The good news is that the deleted files/folders are probably in your Trash and can be easily restored. Next time don't panic. :)

GlennsPref 12-28-2013 05:09 PM
Yeah, that's it snowpine.

Click on the waste bin so it shows the files inside.

select the files you want and right click and select restore.

And, yeah... tough lesson.

frankbell 12-28-2013 08:59 PM
If they aren't in your trash, you can log out and log back in and the config files, most of them, at least, will be recreated with default settings. Others may not be recreated until you start the associated applications.

It is generally a good idea to research before deleting stuff.

Knightron 12-28-2013 11:20 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by snowpine (Post 5088189)
Probably all that happened was you hit Ctrl+H (they keyboard combination to show/hide hidden files/folders in most file managers). The good news is that the deleted files/folders are probably in your Trash and can be easily restored. Next time don't panic. :)
This is a good little tip, i wouldn't have thought of.
Additionally, if you go into your trash and don't see anything, remember what metaschima said, these files are hidden. You will likely also have to enable 'show hidden files', while you're viewing the contents of your trash, in order to see those deleted files.

TheChronicScribbler 12-29-2013 04:50 AM
Oh boyyy!!!

I get it now. I was reading a tutorial on how files and folders are hidden. tried it out.
But i didnt know that if i use Ctrl-H on one folder, every hidden file in my system wil be displayed. that is why i freaked out when i saw a lot of unfamiliar folders in my home!

Having been a windows user until recently, i thought it must be the shortcut virus that is common in windows. so i searched the internet and the first post read "linux is not infected by virus but someone must have hacked your system". I got paranoid and have been obsessively checking the "who" command for a while.

Thanks everyone. Yes a tough lesson it was. and when i started with linux some months back i absolutely looked forward to tinkering and learning. but slowly personal stuff started accumulating so i kinda started being careful. I think i should get an external hard disk to store all my stuff and go back to tinkering. :)

Thanks again.

metaschima 12-29-2013 11:31 AM
If you fear viruses, just install clamav. I would also recommend rkhunter for rootkits.

frankbell 12-29-2013 08:01 PM
Glad you're running again.

So far as I know (and I try to keep up with this stuff, though not as compulsively as I did when I used Windows), there are no Linux viruses in the wild and have not been for some time.

Nevertheless, other types of malware, such as browser exploits and, especially, "social engineering" stuff, such as phishing emails and websites, may be platform-independent; safe browsing is always advised.

GlennsPref 12-30-2013 04:48 PM
Quote:
I would also recommend rkhunter for rootkits, which are more common on Linux.
First I heard of this (more common), have I been living under a rock?

metaschima 12-30-2013 04:54 PM
<wrong so deleted>

GlennsPref 12-31-2013 04:48 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by metaschima (Post 5089273)
I'm not saying that rootkits are more common than on Windoze, but rather more common than viruses on Linux. I know many rootkits designed or *nix, but few viruses.
I'd say you were wrong, to state that.

metaschima 12-31-2013 05:01 PM
I looked up some lists of viruses and rootkits for Linux:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...iruses#Threats
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Linuxvirus

rkhunter lists these rootkits:
Code:
Rootkits checked for:
    55808 Trojan - Variant A, AjaKit, aPa Kit, Adore, Apache Worm, Ambient (ark),
    Balaur, BeastKit, beX2, BOBKit, Boonana (Koobface.A), cb,
    CiNIK Worm (Slapper.B variant), CX, Danny-Boy's Abuse Kit, Devil, Dica, Dreams,
    Duarawkz, Enye LKM, Flea Linux, FreeBSD, Fu, Fuck`it,
    GasKit, Heroin LKM, HjC Kit, ignoKit, iLLogiC, Inqtana-A,
    Inqtana-B, Inqtana-C, IntoXonia-NG, Irix, Jynx, KBeast,
    Kitko, Knark, ld-linuxv.so, Li0n Worm, Lockit/LJK2, Mood-NT,
    MRK, Ni0, Ohhara, Optic Kit (Tux), OSXRK, Oz,
    Phalanx, Phalanx2, Portacelo, R3dstorm Toolkit, RH-Sharpe's, RSHA's,
    Scalper Worm, Shutdown, SHV4, SHV5, Sin, SInAR,
    Slapper, Sneakin, Solaris Wanuk, Spanish, Suckit, SunOS / NSDAP,
    SunOS Rootkit, Superkit, TBD (Telnet BackDoor), TeLeKiT, Togroot, T0rn,
    trNkit, Trojanit Kit, Turtle2, Tuxtendo, URK, Vampire,
    VcKit, Volc, w00tkit, weaponX, Xzibit, X-Org SunOS,
    zaRwT.KiT, ZK
I'm not sure what to conclude, because I haven't found a comprehensive list.

GlennsPref 01-05-2014 05:31 PM
Thank you. I stand corrected, and better educated after reading those.


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