How to Remove a Sneaky Script Changing Your Desktop Wallpaper
Have you ever encountered a peculiar situation where your computer’s wallpaper mysteriously changes to an uninvited image? If so, you’re not alone. Recently, a friend of mine found themselves in a similar predicament after a brief, lighthearted prank turned into a troubleshooting challenge. Here’s how the story unfolded, along with some effective methods to resolve such issues.
The Background of the Issue
It all kicked off when my friend’s computer was left unattended for just a few moments. A mischievous friend took that opportunity to quickly write a script that sets the desktop wallpaper to a humorous image of two monkeys. This was no elaborate piece of code; it was simple enough for someone with basic scripting skills to create in a matter of minutes.
The script triggers the wallpaper change every 10,000 seconds (approximately 2 hours and 46 minutes) or whenever the computer is restarted. While the playful intent behind the prank was harmless, my friend wanted to regain control over their desktop environment.
Investigating the Script
Initially, they searched for any .bat files or recently modified images related to the wallpaper, but that proved fruitless. However, a bit of sleuthing led them to discover an image file that seemingly had a connection to the behavior. This image hinted at the artifice behind the prank.
Upon further investigation, it was revealed that copies of the script were lurking in the startup folder and Task Scheduler, complicating the removal process even more.
The Script Revealed
Here’s a glimpse of the script responsible for the wallpaper changes:
“`vb
Dim shell : Set shell = CreateObject(“WScript.Shell”)
Dim wallpaper : wallpaper = “C:\Intel\download.jpg”
Set oSHApp = CreateObject(“Shell.Application”)
Do While True
shell.RegWrite “HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper”, wallpaper
wscript.sleep 3000
shell.Run “%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\rundll32.exe user32.dll,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters”, 1, True
wscript.sleep 10000
Loop
“`
This script continuously updates the wallpaper based on the path provided, meaning it can be challenging to eradicate completely if multiple copies exist.
Steps to Remove the Script and Restore Normalcy
If you find yourself in a similar situation, here’s a practical guide for you to follow:
- Search for the Script:
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