Strange files in the 'Roaming' folder in 'AppData'

[Ren]

I was looking through my Roaming folder and I found two folders that I find suspicious:

- Leadertech
Inside this folder is a folder called 'PowerRegister' and inside that there are two files called 'PowerReg.dat' and 'stxinfo.dat'.
- TuneUp Software
Inside this, there is a folder called 'TU2012' and inside this folder is an empty folder called 'Backups'.

Does anyone know what these are and if I should/shouldn't remove them?

Thanks.

[T_Desekrator]

Somehow the Leadertech sounds familiar. Just don't remember why...

Have you tried checking for viruses and checked for malware/adware?

[Midnight Fawn]

Here is a link to their site
http://www.leadertech.com/ereg.html#
which explains how their power reg system works, but what they don't say is that they hide it, inside vendors software, apparently quite a few different companies have this unwanted adware/spyware included with driver packages,my main point is that the end user should be given an informed choice during installation process.

[MancSoulja]

TU2012 is a very old version of TuneUp Utilities before AVG bought them out.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

It is from LeaderTech, however that is just the scripter; many branded software use this.
System Tweaker or other similar software; such as things from Viewsonic, Logitech, etc.
If you have Logitech Gaming Software on the system, chances are it has this on the system as a result:

C:\Users.. \\AppData\Roaming\Leadertech\PowerRegister\PowerReg.dat

Nothing to worry about.

But yes, adware/malware love to hide within AppData or ProgramData folder structures; if skeptical, run a full scan with Malwarebytes 3.0 and others like it.

[MancSoulja]

Escrito originalmente por Scottish Tablet:

Here is a link to their site
http://www.leadertech.com/ereg.html#
which explains how their power reg system works, but what they don't say is that they hide it, inside vendors software, apparently quite a few different companies have this unwanted adware/spyware included with driver packages,my main point is that the end user should be given an informed choice during installation process.

Then people should read the EULA. I'm 100% certain all the information is contained within.

[Ren]

Escrito originalmente por TheDesekrator:

Have you tried checking for viruses and checked for malware/adware?

Escrito originalmente por Bad-Motha:

But yes, adware/malware love to hide within AppData or ProgramData folder structures; if skeptical, run a full scan with Malwarebytes 3.0 and others like it.

I just ran a full scan with Avast and Malwarebytes; no threats were detected. Well... besides Razer. For some reason Avast considers Razer Synapse a virus, but besides that, my PC is clean (at least according to those two scans).

So, should I remove these files or just leave them? I saw @TheDesekrator mention that LeaderTech is adware/spyware? I did research these two files before creating this discussion, but I didn't find much, which is why I made this discussion.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Many free apps will be labeled as PUP "adware"
Cause the apps tend to have DLLs that will callout (Com Surrogate) to that software brands servers to bring you updates or even ads through that software. A majority of everything deemed "PUP" are usually harmless; it's just good that they detect that so you are aware of it.

adware is completely different from spyware/malware/trjoan types; most adware is just a way for ads to enter the app and be shown to the user.

Look at pretty much any free software (especially on the Mobile market platforms) they have ads; thats how they pay for the software.

[SmollBrain 🏹]

.dat file are usually just text files and very common in the appdata folder. Open it with a text editor and see if it's text

[Bad 💀 Motha]

I used Notepad++ to open the one I have on 3 systems here; its from Logitech

[Ren]

So, nothing to worry about then?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

No

[Ren]

Okay, just making sure.

Thank you all for replying! =)