Hewlette Packard.......Cloaker.exe????

[maxximilian]

Hi,

I have an HP and I was roaming around in my Windows/TEMP file and came across this file, Cloaker.exe.

According to properties it is an HP file, but I have no idea what it is or how it got in there. Any HP ownwers out there have this file? OR does anybody know about what it is?

It's icon shows a recycle bin with what looks like a lizard or something crawling out of it. Yes....I'm serious. http://discussions.virtualdr.com/smile.gif

Gotta go, but will be back later. Thanks.

EDIT: Here's a pic of it.

http://members.home.net/maxximilian/graphics/cloaker.jpg

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Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.

MAXXIMILIAN'S (http://members.home.net/maxximilian)

[This message has been edited by maxximilian (edited 07-26-2001).]

[zipulrich]

I have 2 HP 6630's, no 'Cloaker's here.
'Clunker's, yes. No Cloakers.

[snarfll]

Hey Maxx,,

Took a look over at Google and came up with this: http://www.help.com/cgi-perl/question/2/191/192/201/202?tag=st.hp.cat.q-2&sidx=1786842&from=/cat/2/191/192/201/202/index.html

Might give you a start for an answer,but seems to be a needed file for Win95?

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Get off my Interface!!

[closurdo]

"This is Cloaker, a very powerful programmer's tool. Among the things
it does:

Takes a data file and transfers it to a resource, and vice versa
Takes a PICTure file and transfers it to a resource, and vice versa
Encodes/decodes resources and data files
Creates ASCII pictures from PICTures
Includes Whacked encryptions--very powerful, very small library" http://macinsearch.com/infomac2/development/cloaker-12a.html

Larry

[maxximilian]

Thanks for the replies.

Snarfll,

I saw that link when I ran a search. It was the only hit I got. If it's a true HP file, then they are doing their best to hide what it does. Also, it is in the TEMP folder which gives me the impression that it was just a staging area for an install. And if that is the case, then it wasn't part of the original factory installation and came later. Hmmmmm.....

Closurdo,

Thanks, but the link you show is for a MAC file, so I don't think they are the same even though they have similar names.

Any other HP victims out there? http://discussions.virtualdr.com/biggrin.gif

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Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.

MAXXIMILIAN'S (http://members.home.net/maxximilian)

[closurdo]

Hi Maxximilian
This is straight from HP web site:
Cloaker.exe is an internal program that runs in the background masking other running processes during the recovery. http://forums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,1150,0x07fcf9beca68d511abcd0090277a778c,00.html
hope this helps
Larry

[maxximilian]

Closurdo,

Thanks...that helps alot. I had forgotten about the HP forums. At least I know now that it is a legitmate file and not some malicious thing. Of course just about any HP file can be looked at as malicious I guess...LOL http://discussions.virtualdr.com/biggrin.gif

Thanks again. http://discussions.virtualdr.com/smile.gif

------------------
Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.

MAXXIMILIAN'S (http://members.home.net/maxximilian)

[closurdo]

Maxximilian
Glad I could help.
Larry

[Nanceel0]

Dear Max,
I have an HP. Don't try to delete cloaker! I think if you do, your cd-rom won't work. It is definitely an HP file.
Sincerely, Nancee

[maxximilian]

Hi nancee,

Now that I know it is an HP file, I'll leave it alone until I get more information. Actually I found that there are three cloaker.exe files onboard. My guess is that this one in the TEMP folder is expendable, but who knows. http://discussions.virtualdr.com/biggrin.gif

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Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.

MAXXIMILIAN'S (http://members.home.net/maxximilian)

[sting]

Hi maxx, update on cloaker.......

Cloaker has a white beard and moustache, and carries a sword and a round shield. Domino is wearing a purple executioner's mask and a blue cape. Cloaker uses physical attacks, while Domino uses special attacks. They are found at the Gate and have about 1200 Hit Points each. Use Mario, Princess Toadstool, and Bowser at Level 27. You only have to defeat one of them, so it is better to concentrate your attacks on Domino. Have Mario use the Lazy Shell, Princess Toadstool heal the party with Group Hug or attack with the Frying Pan, and Bowser use the Drill Claw. As always, use Timed Hits to increase the amount of damage you inflict and try to lessen the damage they give you by using Timed Blocks.

oh well ... all i found http://discussions.virtualdr.com/cool.gif

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"Onward Through the fog"

Stings Shack (http://stingsshack.tripod.com)™

[maxximilian]

Sting,

That's the kind of stuff I turned up when I changed my Google search from "cloaker.exe" to "cloaker hp"...LOL.

Actually, for future reference. I have found out that this program is required whenever you use the recovery discs. At least for WindowsME anyway. It masks other processes while the restore takes place...or something like that. http://discussions.virtualdr.com/smile.gif

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Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.

MAXXIMILIAN'S (http://members.home.net/maxximilian)

[IMM]

maxximilian If you right clik 'em and check properties - are they all the version 2.0.0.0 with a jan 30 1998 date and a description of 'Stealthy Application Catapult' such as the one distributed with the multimedia keyboard driver set?

[maxximilian]

Hi IMM,

Here's what I found. The three files have these locations:

C:/windows/TEMP
C:/HP/bin
C:/hp/HPCoach

They all have the following information in properties:

File Type-application

Description-cloaker

file version- 3.1.0.0

Product Name- cloaker, cloaker, cloaker!

last modified 11/6/99 (No creation dates)

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Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.

MAXXIMILIAN'S (http://members.home.net/maxximilian)

[IMM]

I guess?? it's interesting that they would distribute the older one with a latter half of 2000 release for the keyboard stuff.

[maxximilian]

After playing around with this HP, now, for a couple months...I'm not surprised by anything HP does anymore...LOL http://discussions.virtualdr.com/biggrin.gif

They really put some weird stuff on this machine. And what rocket scientist decided it was a good idea to name this file "cloaker". I haven't seen such a bad name for a file since PCTel named one of their drivers, "PTsnoop". http://discussions.virtualdr.com/rolleyes.gif

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Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.

MAXXIMILIAN'S (http://members.home.net/maxximilian)

[IMM]

Even back in DOS'ish days the name 'cloak' raised some eyebrows when Logitech used it for placing the mouse driver http://discussions.virtualdr.com/smile.gif

[k4]

I thought that had to do with the internet shortcut button on the keyboard. Spyware?

[maxximilian]

Daizy sent me this link via email:
http://computing.net/windows95/wwwboard/forum/64006.html

This one along with Closurdo's HP link, above, both refer to restore discs. That's all I have to go on for the time-being. http://discussions.virtualdr.com/smile.gif

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Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.

MAXXIMILIAN'S (http://members.home.net/maxximilian)