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On deleting potentially infected file from Dropbox.com

adelaide2023

My antivirus detected a file on Dropbox as a virus and deleted it drom my computer. However Dropbox on my computer is not currently signed in, so I deleted the file from Dropbox manually first on the android app, and then I emptied Deleted items on Dropbox.com in a mobile browser.

I just want to check was this safe fir my android device. The file was not opened or downloaded, just deleted.

FWIW, I believe this to be a false positive anyway as it was an extension file from an 8-year-old Chrome default backup. It was a ".js" file.

I'd appreciate any information you could give me. Thank you.

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Megan

Hi @adelaide2023, if the file was harmful in any way, it would have affected your Dropbox files, and device the moment it got added into the account.

Since you mentioned that there wasn't any odd behaviors there, then I believe you'll be okay. In any case, keep an eye on it and if you have any concerns, or questions, we'll always be one post away!

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Megan

Hi @adelaide2023, let's jump right into this!

Based on the info you gave me, and since you didn't open the file, it seems you followed the right path there about deleting the file.

However, I can't tell you with certainty that this file wouldn't affect your mobile, since I'm not 100% sure if this file was a virus, and what type of ransomware it was -if one-.

Have you noticed something out of the ordinary with your mobile device?

Let me know more!

adelaide2023

Thank you for replying.

Other than my browser briefly jamming when I first tried to reply to you just now, no. And that could have plenty of explanations - I was running a scan,fir example.

I've also run 2 each of Antivirus and Malwarebytes scans, all clear.

Is there any danger to that file sitting in my Dropbox for 8 years and the time between the original virus scan and my deleting it (which was nearly a month)?

Thanks for your help.

adelaide2023

Update:

I went back and checked what the file was flagged as. It's was adware, as outlined here: https://www.kaspersky.com/blog/not-a-virus/18015/

Megan

Hi @adelaide2023, if the file was harmful in any way, it would have affected your Dropbox files, and device the moment it got added into the account.

Since you mentioned that there wasn't any odd behaviors there, then I believe you'll be okay. In any case, keep an eye on it and if you have any concerns, or questions, we'll always be one post away!

adelaide2023

I'll do that. Thank you for your help!