1) I used it to make a very slow pdf download (2.65 kilobytes/sec) from a university located ftp server
2) I used it to open the individual .png .gif .jpeg files (of the folder that is saved together with the HTML file) of a Web Page I had just saved but which I could not view using the usual procedure of opening the HTML file.
3)I used it to screen capture copyrighted images of a fwe pages describing the contents of a book that was promoted on the aforementioned Web Page.
4)I used it to test a 7 1/2 year old member of my family to verify if he was able to log into a Twitter account by himself (as he claimed he could do with his parent's computer).
The test proved he was truthful and because I don't use Twitter but have heard of its dangers, I got quite uneasy to see him fascinated reading tweets of his favorite sports celebrities.
After deciding it was time for me to change my conduct regarding Internet child protection, and having heard that "mouse-over flaws" and other malware had been spread through Twitter some years ago I thought that, at least, it would be wise to unmount and unplug the USB flash drive I usually use to store my personal stuff.
In trying to do that I discovered the following strange things :
1)The text displayed under the USB flash drive icon I was about to unplug had changed!!
2)I couldn't close the browser's tabs and the browser (Seamonkey 2.9.1) or quit it as usually!!During that process a strange flicker of the images on the screen occurred!!
3)I couldn't power off my computer as usually!! I couldn't get it to respond to the usual commands.
4)When I finally powered it of an restarted it:
- 4a)My PS/2 keyboard didn't work correctly but after replacing it for about 40 minutes with a USB keyboard which worked correctly its problems disappeared and I am now using it again.
4b)After plugging my "personal stuff" USB flash drive into its socket the text displayed under its icon returned to what was expected.
4c)At least one .gnumeric file I had been using that day, vanished from the flash drive.
4d)A couple of .gnumeric files I had been using that day couldn't be opened by the procedure I usually use (clicking on their icons). I tried to open them inputing "gnumeric pathandnameofthefileIcouldn'topen.gnumeric" after the urxvt console prompt and the only output I got was "Bus error".
4e)The icon of the folder where I had saved some of the .png .gif and .jpeg files and the screen captures of the copyrighted images I have described in point 2) and 3) changed into a orange triangle with an exclamation mark and it's impossible for me to access the aforementioned files.
4f)If I ask for the Properties and Permissions of the folder mentioned at 4e), I get a "input/output error" message.
4g)In the parent directory of the directory mentioned in 4e), a new file has appeared. (GOUTPU~1)For the sake of accuracy I'm attaching a snapshot of its "Properties" window. The contents of GOUTPU~1' resemble an older version of a file that's also in the aforementioned parent directory. but has a completely different name.
Do they mean that the security of my system has been broken?
Is my system now lodging some sort of malware?
Is there any way of ruling out these possibilities?
The opinion and/or questions of those who are experienced in security will be very much welcomed.
Thank you in advance.