Does "VAIO_generic_screensaver.exe" contain virus and how to remove it?

[e_flat-schilke]

I purchased my Sony VAIO VPCEB2M1E one week ago. I have installed the computer and after installing AVG antivirus 10 a virus was detected immediately at first scan.

AVG says "May be infected vy an unknown virus"

Object name is: c:\Program Files (x86)\ VAIO screensavers\VAIO_generic_screensaver.exe

Since I wanted to check whether I might have infected it during installation I restored the computer to factory settings and perforemed the virus check again with the same result. I tried to remove the file with the following response.

"Moved object is bigger than archive size limit. Object mentioned below is bigger than maximum size permitted (5MB).

When trying to force removal AVG says that it might cause instability or even crash. I guess this last issue of removing might be AVG related but the main issue is:

Is this a virus?

Why do I have a virus on a new computer "from the box" which have not been used on internet except when installing AVG antivirus?

Shall I try to remove the whole file and if so does it have any side effects?

I checked other non Sony forums and found others having the same problem and different more or less complicated and risky suggestions how to remove it.

Please suggest what to do.

[Blencogo]

My guess would be that this is a false-positive caused by AVG and that your Vaio is not infected at all.  They will probably provide an update to solve the problem quickly.  Meanwhile you may choose to disable your screensaver.

Try running another AntiVirus scan from another AV provider or an online scan from a reputable provider to see if anything else finds an infection.

http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html

[davliber]

I am having the very same problem from AVG and am very concerned about it.

If it is a glitch, AVG have not yet resolved it. If it's a virus, what should one do?

Cheers

[Thalamus. · Accepted solution]

We have similar posts in the past concerning AVG reporting a faulse positive..:smileyconfused:

As Blencogo mentioned try running another AntiVirus scan  from another AV provider or an online scan from a reputable provider to  see if anything else finds an infection.

http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html