HUGE *.tmp files growing on my computer... McAfee-related? Acrobat?

[Brotherjohn]

I posted on this the other day, but could not hang around to read responses. Someone else posted with the same problem earlier today, but didn't get many responses (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=160243). I am re-posting it to make the subject line more specific regarding the problem, to see if any of you out there have encountered it.

Has anyone encountered this phenomenon? Huge temp files (up to 40GB) start growing on my harddrive when the McAfee Virus Scan's e-mail scan module (McVSEscn.exe) is running and I check my e-mail. This starts immediately and the files grow to the point of filling the harddrive within minutes. The only way I can delete them is to close McVSEscn.exe.

As I state in the other thread, I contacted McAfee help, and they directed me to delete files and cookies in Explorer, then to delete all the files in the temp folder (Local Settings / Temp) where the giant files were accumulating. But I had already been able to delete the giant McAfee temp files. The only thing I see that I did differently at their direction was to delete some Acrobat temp files (Acr*.tmp) that had been left there. These were the only files residing here when all Applications were shut down. These files were NOT huge files (just a few KB)

This action seems to have solved the problem, but I'm not sure. But they seemed sure that it would (I had told them that the McAfee temp files were already deleted). I did not specifically mention the Acrobat files, but they just directed me to delete everything in the folder. I have started up again, re-started the e-mail scan module, and checked e-mail numersous times without the huge files appearing.

Anyone have any insights? A bug related to how McAfee reads these Acrobat temp files? Maybe it thinks they're viruses and goes crazy? Could it actually be a virus causing this? (McAfee, with the latest updates, doesn't see it). Could it be a backdoor for a hacker. I'm tempted to think it's some glitch in McAfee b/c the tech support guy did not seem to worried, and was very confident my problem was solved. He never told me what the cause of the problem was, though.

HELP!

[meegbear]

1. JOHN ASHCROFT HAS ACCESS TO YOUR MACHINE!!!!!!

AAAHHHHHHH!!!!

:spank:

Just kidding. They were right ... just delete the *.tmp files and you'll be fine. They can accumulate, but only harm is losing disk space over time.

[Brotherjohn]

3. Ha ha... errr. Wait, that really scares me! Actually, though, it's not..

... a case of temp files accumulating over time. I keep on top of things like that. It's a situation where ONE (or two) temp file starts growing and within minutes baloons to the size of my harddrive!

I have 55GB HD space, and typically have about 40-45 of that free. This does not budge even with months of surfing the net regularly, accumulating thousands of temp files and not deleting them.

It's this ONE kind of temp file beginning McV*.tmp that I know is linked to McVSEscn.exe (because I can't delete them unless I close that app).

I mean, you can sit there and watch them grow and fill up the harddrive!

[Kellanved]

2. look here

http://www.computing.net/security/wwwboard/forum/6248.html

:shrug:

[Brotherjohn]

4. Interesting. First thing I notice is it happened on the SAME DATE! (8-27)

n/t

[radwriter0555]

5. Whyd d'ya think they call it SOBIG?

Disinfect.

[Brotherjohn]

6. I have (with McAfee). Didn't find anything, and I have the latest updates

This was after SoBig was well known, and my McAfee updates automatically. Could it be that McAfee was WAY late in updating virus definitions for SoBig?

But also, I read up on Sobig on the web and never found any mention of it doing this.

[OrdinaryTa]

7. Try This

You can't beat the price for trying this - it's free.

http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php

[uptohere]

8. don't you think there is a reason McAfee is never #1 ?

stick with Norton for virus and firewal and something else for spyware. I think they give rebates for abandoning McAfee !

[tkmorris]

9. You aren't alone

Others have reported this problem as well. See the discussion here: http://www.computing.net/security/wwwboard/forum/6248.html .

Not much of a solution I'm afraid but at least know you're not crazy. McAfee will no doubt patch it up soon, look for an update but don't expect it to acknowledge the problem. The fix will likely be done without fanfare. Personally I'd use another product but if you have cash invested in McAfee I'd understand being reluctant to do that.