Unknown Folders Created: ".smileys" & ".x"

[chickens]

Awhile ago I noticed some folders appearing in my root folder, called ".x" and ".smileys" (no quote marks). I did not create them, and they seem to reappear if I delete them. The .x folder appeared first and does not contain anything. The smileys folder appeared later and contains a bunch of .gif files with little smiley faces.

Are these some sort of installation package on cpanel, or what?

Thanks...

[slapshotw]

Smileys sound like they're from a bulletin board installation. Do you have one?

[Pitrow]

I noticed the other day that I was getting some random folders created in one of the accounts I was working on. They were all just empty folders with random characters for names. For example: XYSTYmEs. I figured it had to do with Dreamweaver failing to connect when I tried to update files (my internet connection has been up and down lately). I just deleted them and they haven't come back. I only noticed it on that one account.

sounds like you have a completely different problem though.

[chickens]

I don't have a bulletin board installation...Unless I've been hacked and that's all they did...

The folders don't seem to be doing anything worrisome other than being there, but I didn't like that the .x folder came back after I deleted it. I didn't know if it was some auto-folder that had to be there with a Hostgator upgrade (ie, to cpanel, php, etc), but if you guys don't have them I doubt that's the case.

Thanks for your replies.

[slapshotw]

"x" is also the name of the default cPanel theme, if that helps your diagnosis at all. I'm not sure if it's related though.

[chickens]

I wonder if that's what caused it, then. Thanks. Is it possible to change the Cpanel theme - and then I can see if a different folder appears? I suspect that I can't however...

[slapshotw]

Yes, do it through modify account/package in WHM.