How can I verify that a Windows XP POS operating system executable is authentic?











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11
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I have a 3rd party firewall that alerted me that msiexec.exe was replaced by another version. The timing didn't correspond to an OS update, so I was worried a bad actor replaced the exe. How can I verify the signature of the exe?



EDIT:
I found this link at Microsoft which shows this, and it matches on byte size and file date:



Versions and Sizes of files



I'd feel better if it had a hash too, but it looks like it's not nefarious.



As suggested in harrymc's answer, I ran sfc /scannnow and it came out clean. Thanks!










share|improve this question




















  • 2




    Suspicious indeed, as XP is not in active support. You could maybe check the history in Windows Update and run sfc /scannow, if they exists in XP Embedded. Reboot the device before starting.
    – harrymc
    Dec 12 at 20:43






  • 1




    sfc /scannow is exactly what I needed!
    – Dale
    Dec 12 at 20:48






  • 1




    Since you like it, I added it as an answer.
    – harrymc
    Dec 12 at 20:51















up vote
11
down vote

favorite












I have a 3rd party firewall that alerted me that msiexec.exe was replaced by another version. The timing didn't correspond to an OS update, so I was worried a bad actor replaced the exe. How can I verify the signature of the exe?



EDIT:
I found this link at Microsoft which shows this, and it matches on byte size and file date:



Versions and Sizes of files



I'd feel better if it had a hash too, but it looks like it's not nefarious.



As suggested in harrymc's answer, I ran sfc /scannnow and it came out clean. Thanks!










share|improve this question




















  • 2




    Suspicious indeed, as XP is not in active support. You could maybe check the history in Windows Update and run sfc /scannow, if they exists in XP Embedded. Reboot the device before starting.
    – harrymc
    Dec 12 at 20:43






  • 1




    sfc /scannow is exactly what I needed!
    – Dale
    Dec 12 at 20:48






  • 1




    Since you like it, I added it as an answer.
    – harrymc
    Dec 12 at 20:51













up vote
11
down vote

favorite









up vote
11
down vote

favorite











I have a 3rd party firewall that alerted me that msiexec.exe was replaced by another version. The timing didn't correspond to an OS update, so I was worried a bad actor replaced the exe. How can I verify the signature of the exe?



EDIT:
I found this link at Microsoft which shows this, and it matches on byte size and file date:



Versions and Sizes of files



I'd feel better if it had a hash too, but it looks like it's not nefarious.



As suggested in harrymc's answer, I ran sfc /scannnow and it came out clean. Thanks!










share|improve this question















I have a 3rd party firewall that alerted me that msiexec.exe was replaced by another version. The timing didn't correspond to an OS update, so I was worried a bad actor replaced the exe. How can I verify the signature of the exe?



EDIT:
I found this link at Microsoft which shows this, and it matches on byte size and file date:



Versions and Sizes of files



I'd feel better if it had a hash too, but it looks like it's not nefarious.



As suggested in harrymc's answer, I ran sfc /scannnow and it came out clean. Thanks!







digital-signature windows-xp-embedded






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













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share|improve this question








edited Dec 12 at 20:53

























asked Dec 12 at 20:31









Dale

266112




266112








  • 2




    Suspicious indeed, as XP is not in active support. You could maybe check the history in Windows Update and run sfc /scannow, if they exists in XP Embedded. Reboot the device before starting.
    – harrymc
    Dec 12 at 20:43






  • 1




    sfc /scannow is exactly what I needed!
    – Dale
    Dec 12 at 20:48






  • 1




    Since you like it, I added it as an answer.
    – harrymc
    Dec 12 at 20:51














  • 2




    Suspicious indeed, as XP is not in active support. You could maybe check the history in Windows Update and run sfc /scannow, if they exists in XP Embedded. Reboot the device before starting.
    – harrymc
    Dec 12 at 20:43






  • 1




    sfc /scannow is exactly what I needed!
    – Dale
    Dec 12 at 20:48






  • 1




    Since you like it, I added it as an answer.
    – harrymc
    Dec 12 at 20:51








2




2




Suspicious indeed, as XP is not in active support. You could maybe check the history in Windows Update and run sfc /scannow, if they exists in XP Embedded. Reboot the device before starting.
– harrymc
Dec 12 at 20:43




Suspicious indeed, as XP is not in active support. You could maybe check the history in Windows Update and run sfc /scannow, if they exists in XP Embedded. Reboot the device before starting.
– harrymc
Dec 12 at 20:43




1




1




sfc /scannow is exactly what I needed!
– Dale
Dec 12 at 20:48




sfc /scannow is exactly what I needed!
– Dale
Dec 12 at 20:48




1




1




Since you like it, I added it as an answer.
– harrymc
Dec 12 at 20:51




Since you like it, I added it as an answer.
– harrymc
Dec 12 at 20:51










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
15
down vote



accepted










Windows XP Embedded POSReady is now on extended support until April 9, 2019.
This means no new features and fewer bug fixes and patches.
It is entirely possible that this update was legitimate, but is better checked.
It is also possible that the firewall detected just now a change that happened
some time in the past.



Possible checks:




  • Verify the history in Windows Update,

  • Run sfc /scannow to check system integrity.


Reboot the device before starting, just in case.






share|improve this answer



















  • 15




    XP POS (essentially XP embedded) is for one more year.
    – Joshua
    Dec 12 at 22:31











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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes








up vote
15
down vote



accepted










Windows XP Embedded POSReady is now on extended support until April 9, 2019.
This means no new features and fewer bug fixes and patches.
It is entirely possible that this update was legitimate, but is better checked.
It is also possible that the firewall detected just now a change that happened
some time in the past.



Possible checks:




  • Verify the history in Windows Update,

  • Run sfc /scannow to check system integrity.


Reboot the device before starting, just in case.






share|improve this answer



















  • 15




    XP POS (essentially XP embedded) is for one more year.
    – Joshua
    Dec 12 at 22:31















up vote
15
down vote



accepted










Windows XP Embedded POSReady is now on extended support until April 9, 2019.
This means no new features and fewer bug fixes and patches.
It is entirely possible that this update was legitimate, but is better checked.
It is also possible that the firewall detected just now a change that happened
some time in the past.



Possible checks:




  • Verify the history in Windows Update,

  • Run sfc /scannow to check system integrity.


Reboot the device before starting, just in case.






share|improve this answer



















  • 15




    XP POS (essentially XP embedded) is for one more year.
    – Joshua
    Dec 12 at 22:31













up vote
15
down vote



accepted







up vote
15
down vote



accepted






Windows XP Embedded POSReady is now on extended support until April 9, 2019.
This means no new features and fewer bug fixes and patches.
It is entirely possible that this update was legitimate, but is better checked.
It is also possible that the firewall detected just now a change that happened
some time in the past.



Possible checks:




  • Verify the history in Windows Update,

  • Run sfc /scannow to check system integrity.


Reboot the device before starting, just in case.






share|improve this answer














Windows XP Embedded POSReady is now on extended support until April 9, 2019.
This means no new features and fewer bug fixes and patches.
It is entirely possible that this update was legitimate, but is better checked.
It is also possible that the firewall detected just now a change that happened
some time in the past.



Possible checks:




  • Verify the history in Windows Update,

  • Run sfc /scannow to check system integrity.


Reboot the device before starting, just in case.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited Dec 13 at 11:09

























answered Dec 12 at 20:51









harrymc

251k11259558




251k11259558








  • 15




    XP POS (essentially XP embedded) is for one more year.
    – Joshua
    Dec 12 at 22:31














  • 15




    XP POS (essentially XP embedded) is for one more year.
    – Joshua
    Dec 12 at 22:31








15




15




XP POS (essentially XP embedded) is for one more year.
– Joshua
Dec 12 at 22:31




XP POS (essentially XP embedded) is for one more year.
– Joshua
Dec 12 at 22:31


















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