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CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Our support area is filled with small instructional documents, and answers to questions we've been asked in the past. If you cannot find an answer here, we encourage you to send us feedback, or give us a call. Check back often, as this area is updated continually.
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We will email you when your account is set-up.
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| What is the 'squiggle' on my Desktop? |
The file that keeps appearing on your desktop with the filename ~ (tilde) is a backup of your Windows Address Book. This appears as a result of Microsoft's April 2003 Cumulative Patch for Outlook Express (330994). The patch is installed for Outlook Express 5.5 or 6 and is meant to stop a vulnerability that could allow an attacker to run code of the attacker's choice on a user's machine.
Unfortunately, the patch has a bug in it! Whenever you make a change in your Windows Address Book (*.wab file), a backup of this file is made. Usually the backup is called username.wa~, but after the patch is installed the file is renamed to ~ and saved in the folder where you started Outlook Express - usually from the desktop.
The file called ~ (tilde) is NOT SPYWARE or a VIRUS
Can I Delete This File?
Short answer - Yes.
Detailed Answer - If you delete this file you will lose your Address Book backup. A better way of dealing with this is:
- rename ~ to something like addbackup.wab
- move addbackup.wab to your My Documents folder.
This way you will have a backup if you ever have the need for it. Every time you change your address book just go through the few steps above to keep a backup on hand all the time.
Last updated by Administrator (admin) on Jun 29 2006 at 12:55
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