Matt Gerrans wrote those programs for HP and has apologized for giving them scary names and writing scarier comments in their properties windows.
Copied from a blog, Matt writes:
> While I did write a program called Terminator that can be> found in the c:\hp\bin directory of most HP and Compaq> computers, it is not at all dangerous and moreover,> doesn't run on its own. It is only used by installer> programs when you re-install a piece of software, using> the Application Recovery feature. It can be used to> close one program and that's how the installer uses it.> For example, if you want to re-install WinDVD, the> he installer might first call Terminator, asking it to> close WinDvd (if it is running), before trying to> re-install it. By itself, my program does nothing; even> if you run it, it will only show you how to use it, but> not actually do anything. I wrote it and many of the> others in the c:\hp\bin directory for HP, as part of the> process that sets up all the software on the computer at> the factory and allows for recovery subsequently.> > By the way, any program can become infected by a virus,> but none of the programs I've written are viruses. Any> one of them could be infected by a virus, just like any> other program, but they are not themselves viruses.> > The Terminator in the second link you give is not my> program and has absolutely nothing to do with me. The> window title "Mattias Utilities: Terminator" is an> unfortunate coincidence that probably leads to further> confirmation of your fears, but my name is not "Mattias"> -- that is another person and it is a different program> (with the same name). The one I wrote is not freeware> and does not shutdown Windows. I don't offer support for> it and I don't solicit or accept $5.00 payments for it.> > There is nothing stopping you from deleting Terminator, if> you want to.> > When this OT thread started here, I started a lengthy> description of Terminator (mine, not the other one),> Killwind, Spawn, Sleep, cloaker, fondlewindow and all the> other utility programs in c:\hp\bin, but I've been too> busy to get it finished. I'll finish it up and put a> link to it here soon.> > I've also asked HP to add a FAQ or a page describing these> things (and even offered to write it up) somewhere in> their support area, but they've not done it. I'll keep> trying, because I think HP's web site is the best place> for such information.
End of Quote
Now Michael, I have an HP Pavillion 9870 and use McAfee and here's what I did to QUARANTINE those files so I could experiment how my Windows ME would behave w/o them.
Disable System Restore
Restart in Safe Mode
Run Scan C:\_Restore
Quarantine files
Re-enable System Restore
Restart
Files are now quarantined J
alpg2752@yahoo.com
January 2005
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