Is this actually spyware?

Hirocon

I'm running Windows 7 64-bit and avast! version 4.8 home edition. I left the computer on while I went to have dinner, running folding@home and Steam and maybe a few other seemingly harmless programs. No browsers were open. When I returned to my computer, there was a popup from avast! saying that spyware had been found:

File name: C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Battle for Middle-earth (tm) II\Support\The Battle for Middle-earth II_uninst.exe
Malware name: Win32:Spyware-gen [Spy]
Malware type: Spyware
VPS version: 100120-1, 01/20/2010

When I select "Move to chest", I get the error message

avast!: Access is denied
Cannot process "C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Battle for Middle-earth (tm) II\Support\The Battle for Middle-earth II_uninst.exe" file

The file seems like a legitimate program, so I suspected this was just a false positive until I discovered that I couldn't move the file to the chest. Is it possible the program has somehow been infected with spyware? If so, how do I get rid of it?

TetraNitroCubane

If you can still access the file, upload the executable in question to VirusTotal. Take a look at how many of the 41 virus vendors consider it infected. If it's just Avast!, chances are you're dealing with a false positive. If they all light up, something nasty might've infested that file.

Either way, I'd suggest downloading, installing, and updating MBAM, and then doing a full scan. If nothing else, it'll give you peace of mind!

Crazybirdlady

While I'm a complete novice when it comes to viruses and the likes, I think this is a false positive. I'm also running windows 7 64bit and avast home (as well as pro edition of Malwarebytes). When I was attempting to install Black and White 2 for the first time today, I got an identical message only diff game obv, but it was the unist.exe file. Couldnt remove or delete so I just gave up and decided I have a million games anyway

Running a thorough scan (inc archive files) with MWB and Avast has turned up nothing.

Oh forgot to add - Black and White is also made by EA.