A

Anonymous

Question

What is file.org?

Forum|Forum|12 years ago
June 2, 2013
8 replies
60300 views

When I respond to the prompt to update Adobe reader, I am now taken to something called "File.org". What is this? Is it safe? I can't find it listed inmy installed programs, I am not sure where it came from.

Thanks

Bill

file.org

This topic has been closed for replies.

J

jonb58266533

Participant

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You are plagued by the Blue Screen of Death
Computer errors frequently pop up and hassle you
Your system takes forever to boot up or shut down

You don't need technical expertise to use [Link removed - Mod] it is user friendly and doesn't take up too much of your time. Give it a try today and finish the task seamlessly!

S

sethuve

Participant

Ok Mate BillyBob

I think I finally could figure out how to get rid of this nasty .exe file

So here is what i did

when this message popped up I went into the task manager and looked at the processes running then

It was evident this was " File Type Assistant "

I ended this process immediately and went to the control panel and uninstalled the application from the computer

Hope this helps

Sorry ...English is my second language and hope i make sense...cheers

O

Obiwan2310

Participant

In my case, it was FreeFileViewer 2014 that installed File Type Assistant. The very first page of their installer wizard has an option to that effect. That checkbox is selected by default (of course), and is rather cleverly disguised as a simple "update check" option, such as the ones you can find in most applications nowadays. There is no direct mention that a third party software will get installed and that said software would also check for updates to other installed titles (such as Adobe Reader). If you click on the small "More" link, you do however end up on File.org's Web page:

I am usually extremely careful to uncheck all unwanted preselected options in free software I install, but this one slipped by unnoticed, due to the text "check for software updates".

Hope this helps,

Joel

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shuree1968

Participant

Obiwan2310 wrote:
In my case, it was FreeFileViewer 2014 that installed File Type Assistant. The very first page of their installer wizard has an option to that effect. That checkbox is selected by default (of course), and is rather cleverly disguised as a simple "update check" option, such as the ones you can find in most applications nowadays. There is no direct mention that a third party software will get installed and that said software would also check for updates to other installed titles (such as Adobe Reader). If you click on the small "More" link, you do however end up on File.org's Web page:
I am usually extremely careful to uncheck all unwanted preselected options in free software I install, but this one slipped by unnoticed, due to the text "check for software updates".
Hope this helps,
Joe
I've had issues with both types sticking around. I noticed that Norton supports this File.org by Trusted. I used Revo Uninstaller to fix this because it wasn't listed in Programs and Features under Control Panel. I'm thinking about uninstalling Flash and other Adobe plugins fear of it coming from somewhere else other than Adobe and returning. Also, am going to make some changes within Firefox to NOT auto update as I believe that's been part of the issues. Good luck all!

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electric52

Participant

I can't tell you what it is, only that it downloaded itself onto my computer when I was looking for a program that could open up a file and I downloaded that program onto my computer. The best thing I can tell you is that if you are looking for a program to open up a file that you can't open, with what you have on your PC, then you will probably get this "file.org" downloaded onto your PC when you download the "free" program that opens up a file you need to open. Once this file.org program is on your PC it hides itself. It will pretend to be other software programs and will give you a notification when some of your software programs need to be updated. What drew my attention is when I got a notice to update my Adobe software. The notification looked different than all my other Adobe notifications. That's when I knew something had taken over my PC. You can delete the file but you won't find it by sorting your programs according to date

installed because file.org puts a very old "installed" date in the system and it won't show up that way. The program is labelled "File Type Assistant". Go to "Control Panel" / "Programs" / "Uninstall a Program" . Look for "File Type Assistant". Although its "installed On" date will be very old, the date is false. Delete the file and you will be free of the problem.

F

file_org

Participant

Hello,

the software update checking is a free service of file.org. Like Microsoft keeps Windows up to date through Windows Update, we help you keep your other software up to date too. Not all software has built-in automatic updates, and this is where our update notification service can help.

There are many reasons to keep not only your operating system (Windows) up to date, but also 3rd party software. The main reason is of course that newer versions often contain security fixes and improved stability.

If you do not want our update notifications, you can click the cog icon (second icon from the right) on the update notification pop-up and de-select "Enable software update checking". This will disable all future checks for updates through our update service.

You get these update notifications because you have installed our File Type Assistant client. You can read more about it here: http://file.org/app.html. You can remove it like any other program:

1) Click the Start Menu

2) Select the Control Panel

3) Under the Programs heading, click "Uninstall a program"

4) Locate the program in the "Programs and Features" list

5) Click Uninstall

We host the official product installers like other software update notification services like e.g. filehippo.com and computerupdater.com do. The downloads are served by our download manager which uses advanced download acceleration to download the original product updates at the highest speed possible. Yes, it does display a few ads during the download, but there is nothing shady going on. The advertised products are 100% optional to install, and nothing is forced upon you as a user. This keeps our service free, as opposed to e.g. computerupdater.com who charge US $49.95/year for theirs.

I'm sorry you didn't find our service helpful, and I genuinely welcome your constructive feedback on improvements we can make to make our service useful for you too.

pwillener

Legend

The question is how that software gets installed; it appears as if none of the users here were aware that they had that software on their systems. Nobody seems to have installed it consciously.

F

file_org

Participant

It can be downloaded from our site of course, but we do also distribute it as an additional offer with other software downloads - same way as Google distributes their Chrome web browser with other software, like Real Networks distributes their RealPlayer with other software etc. It is always fully disclosed in the installers though.

M

mmazzi

Participant

Apparently, there is a link between these programs. I googled "file type assistant" and it appears that different companies use this generic program "helper"... one of those companies is file.org by Trusted Software Aps. And, they state on this description page that they do software update checking. They show the popup box like we've been getting in the lower right corner.

http://file.org/app.html

I'm trying to uninstall the "Adobe Reader Free Download Packages" that I listed in my last post. When I click "uninstall" I get the following box and nothing else seems to be happening... can anyone help me out here?

C_F_McBlob

Inspiring

That popup has a box to "remove this manager from Add/Ramove Programs"... Guess what? IF you check that it only takes it out of the list of programs to remove... it DOESN'T remove it.

I'm in the middle of my THIRD Windows 7 install in as many days, because of the V-9 portal browser hijack (I downloaded with other software Monday morning) that doesn't show up in Add/Remove, DOES show up in the registry, but reinstalls itself on reboot, and Antivuris neither detects nor removes it.

Filt Type assistant CAN and should be remoed using Add/Remove. That "free download packages" will have ot be manually done in the registry editor. If you're not 100% comfortable doing that, I'd suggest taking it to a PC repair business. They'll "dig it out" and get rid of it. It'll cost you a pretty penny, but the upsdie is, after this experience, you'll be aLOT more careful what you click.

M

mmazzi

Participant

Here's a screenshot of my pgms. The problem with the spoofing popup started a few weeks ago. I see "Adobe Reader Free Download Packages" was installed on 6/5/13 (about when the problem started). There is no publisher associated. On all other Adobe programs, the publisher is listed as Adobe Systems Incorporated. I, too, have the generic "File Type Assistant" listed as having been installed on October 1, 2012. I have also had the problem of trying to run something and getting the box saying "no program associated"... I don't know if it's connected, but it seems like it. I don't want to uninstall it until I get a response from C F McBlob about the batch program to run that will re-associate the files.

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

Let's hope that removing the program will fix this, but malware has little interest in being uninstalled and could easily hang on to keep its claws into you.

Personally I'd wipe the computer and reinstall everything I wanted. Actualyl, no I'd go back to the backup just before the infection, but if I had no backup yes, I really would wipe the disk, because I could not now use this computer for anything private or personal, still less shopping.

A

astroop77

Participant

I have also been having this same pop-up and concern. If you look at the first picture MrK4Steamer (#6) posted, you will see that the publisher of file.org is Trusted Software. I, too, wasn't able to find a file.org application, but I was able to find downloaded software (I don't know how it was downloaded) from this publisher. The name of the software that I have is "File Type Assistant". I will insert a screenshot of the prompt to update Adobe reader (bottom right) along with application that I have associated with Trusted Software (highlighted blue). I will remove this software and then repost at a later time to tell whether this solved the problem.

M

mmazzi

Participant

Did uninstalling "File Type Assistant" stop the file.org "adobe update" spoof from popping up after every reboot? Have you seen any other effect from the uninstall? It didn't disassociate file types from associated programs or anything like that did it? (see #22). Thanks!

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Anonymous

I bought this laptop few weeks ago, and i got same Adobe popup down here. I uninstalled File Type Assistant from windows program as we see some posting.

I remember when I tried to open unsupported file, windows opened like "search how to open this file" window. I thought its official, so I followed. I remember I installed program at that time. About a week later(today), the popup come in. But right before seeing the popup I changed my AVG (Mcafee) setting to ERASE unwanted and old files to speed up my pc(they call it Quick Clean), so I did it. Then the adobe popup came out shortly... I don't know this is a cause of popup or not. But i saw the File type ass--, so uninstalled it.

As some one asked same question at microsoft forum, they replied(it was about XP but same, right?) follows:

============

Hi,

File type assistant is a third party application from Trusted software which helps application that kicks in when you try to open a file you do not have a viewer or player for.

If you do not need it you may unistall the software.

For more information refer the link mentioned below from Trusted software.

http://www.trustedsoftware.com/what.html

Note: This response contains a reference to a third party World Wide Web site. Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you. Microsoft does not control these sites and has not tested any software or information found on these sites; therefore, Microsoft cannot make any representations regarding the quality, safety, or suitability of any software or information found there. There are inherent dangers in the use of any software found on the Internet, and Microsoft cautions you to make sure that you completely understand the risk before retrieving any software from the Internet.

Hope this information helps

=======

I think they already knew this and continuing using this File.org....?

anyway, have more coming up after uninstalling the File Type Ass--...

Some mentioned after uninstalled the program, big window came up to take people stick with them. But I just ignored and closed it.

Then I found one new icon(look like short cut but imitated) on my desk top called "Continue Adobe AIR Free Download Installation". Im pretty sure this is not consented by me but came from them.

I wanted not only uninstalled this icon but also full program causing this. In order to locate the program, right click on the icon and go to property. I didn't try "Open file location" because I didn't want give them chance to install again.

Link location is like this. "C:\Users\"MYPCID"\AppData\Local\Temp\ICReinstall_SoftwareUpdateSetup.exe /RR"

I opened Explorer and try to located but couldnt locate it by following folders.

So I pasted the link(taking file name out from the link to avoid opening) and opened Temp folders. Then I saw about 30 folders and application file same install-date programs...

AND also i found the exe "ICReinstall_SoftwareUpdateSetup.exe" and "SoftwareUpdateSetup.exe". they has same icon and exact same file size(607kb).

Men,,, they have backed it up..

I will uninstall them and erase Temp Files from AVG. Then will see from there what will happen.. I hope nothing happen thou.

Or i may reboot to factory recovery if many things will happen because this is pretty new and not much files or data not installed yet.

Hope this will help some who has same problem..

(Sorry for long posting)

Follow up:

I uninstalled two applecation(mentioned above) from the folder, and erased the icon from desktop. Ofcourse emptied recycle bin thou.

Then I run AVG(mcafee, my case) full scan and erased temp file using AVG function.

Closed all windows and apps. restarted pc.

Thought its should be fine, but i saw the same application in temp folder still.

So, uninstalled it from windows program and erase files from temp folder using AVG again.

Restared pc, and I see no more possible unknown application.

Some will may mention there is still inside of my pc and just i dont recognize or don't know about it. But I don't see any "adobe popups" anymore.

The probrem is, yes, whatever gabage we got somehow. The REAL probrem is the File Type assistant contain partnered some other hidden funtion behind which make some uncomfortable. And it may popup or act strange ocasionally. MS sent me to File.org, and i used File Type Assistant. I thought it helps, but since that time, I started seeing unfamilier programs. I didn't like it, so i uninstalled File Type Assistant and others hidden. If someone still like using File Type Ass--, its ok. Its own choice. But have to deal with popups and unknown programs from certain point. You will see.

Im just wondering why people who like File Type Assistant visit this topic here thou. Or maybe concerning...?

Good Luck.

PS:

If you keep a pc healthy, i suggest(only suggestion) you take a look "windowssecrets.com" and finding topic "Keep a healthy PC: A routine maintenance guide"

It give you some idea.

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

That doesn't sound right AT ALL. Don't follow those links, or download anything from there.

Can you show us a screen shot of the prompt to update Adobe Reader that you get, please?

A

Anonymous

Thx for the response! Sure, I can do that, but I'll have to wait unti the prompt to update pops up again, it has been popping up every day for last few days. First the small box appears in the lower right hand corner of my screen saying an update is ready for Adobe reader, and it gives the number of the update version. I click on that, and up comes a large box from file.org that can not be minimized or removed from front and center on the screen, though I can move it around. I can close it, but not minimize it.

How do I do a screen shot and post it here? I will try to do so next time it happens.

A

Anonymous

OK, I guess I just click "print screen" and then copy it here for a screen shot, so I will try that next time.

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