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Found strange AppData\Local\Temp\ file

Anonymous
2025-06-23T01:09:24+00:00

I'm no longer software knowledgeable but have screen freezes and black screen flashes. Gave up asking my virus support. Yesterday I cleaned my computer using eraser and first files in AppData\Local\Temp\ it took 7 minutes before a strange file was deleted. No joke it showed "Zelensky ink.dll".

I should have printed screen but didn't think until afterwards.

I don't click on email attachments but I do research pretty heavily including other countries.

Thank you!

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Security and privacy

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-06-23T02:35:45+00:00

    You are welcome!

    Best regards,

    Harry

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-06-23T02:08:22+00:00

    Thank you Lizzie! I have a bad feeling about it right now. I tried to check updates for Dell and it's not loading. I remember my first virus from Russia 20 years ago. May need to do complete restore.

    Thanks again!

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-06-23T02:05:34+00:00

    Thank you Harry! Will do! I should have thought about Defender from beginning.

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-06-23T01:50:51+00:00

    Hello Kevinbagwell! Thank you so much for reaching out, I am Harvie an Independent Advisor, and I am glad to assist you today with this issue.

    Try to scan your PC with Microsoft defender offline and Malwarebytes to rule out malware and delete all temp files (%temp%) then run: sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to fix system issues. Also use Task Manager to disable suspicious startup items and keep graphics drivers updated. If Zelensky ink.dll shows again upload it to VirusTotal.com for analysis.

    Best regards,

    Harry

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-06-23T01:47:34+00:00

    Hello Kevin,

    Welcome to the Microsoft Community. Thanks for describing the issue!

    The file name “Zelensky ink.dll” does sound suspicious—especially since it showed up in your  AppData\Local\Temp folder and took a long time to delete. This kind of behavior might point to malware or a leftover from a hidden script, particularly with symptoms like screen freezes and black screen flashes.

    There's no known legitimate software component called “Zelensky ink.dll,” which further raises suspicion.

    Here are a few things you can do:

    1. Full virus scan: Use Windows Defender or a trusted antivirus like Malwarebytes to perform a complete system scan.
    2. Check startup programs: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and check the “Startup” tab for any unusual entries.
    3. Look at Event Viewer logs: Press Win + R, type eventvwr, and check under “System” and “Application” for errors related to crashes or black screens.
    4. Update your graphics drivers: Black screen flickers can sometimes be caused by outdated or buggy drivers. Visit your GPU manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) to download the latest driver.
    5. System restore: If the issues started recently, you might try rolling back using a system restore point.
    6. Back up important data: Just in case your system is compromised, make sure your essential files are safely stored elsewhere.

    Best Regards.

    Lizzie Zhang-MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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