How to get rid of xml document?

[Megster]

Hello,
Some one put a xml document on my laptop. Does this mean that they can view what I'm doing from their computer? if so how can I stop it?

Thank you :)

[Rabbit]

XML documents are just text files. They don't give people access to your computer.

[Megster]

then why would they put a xml file or document on my computer? what if there were tags in there like <strings></strings> and thank you so much for replying :)

[Rabbit]

There could be any number of reasons for a file to be on a computer. They could be part of a legitimate program. Or they could be temporary internet files. Those are just two of many non-viral possibilities. XML files in of themselves don't do anything except contain text. All XML files have tags, that doesn't mean anything. If you do have a virus, it wouldn't be the XML file that's the virus.

[Megster]

so if i delete the xml files would it stop whatever they would be trying to do? because I don't think they were trying to a virus on my computer... You know what here's a sample of what was put on my computer...

<string>allPhotosAlbum</string>
<key>PhotoCount</key>
<integer>0</integer>
<key>PlayMusic</key>
<string>YES</string>
<key>RepeatSlideShow</key>
<string>YES</string>
<key>SecondsPerSlide</key>
<integer>3</integer>
<key>SlideShowUseTitles</key>
<false/>
<key>SongPath</key>
<string>/Applications/iPhoto.app/Contents/Resources/Music/Minuet in G.mp3</string>
<key>TransitionDirection</key>
<integer>0</integer>

What do you think?

[Rabbit]

I don't know why you think that someone's trying to do something malicious. If you delete it, it may cause a program to stop working or it may not. It depends on the program that created it. It can be easily recreated with default values if the program wanted to. Or it could completely break the program, but that is unlikely.

I see nothing in the file that indicates it is related to a malicious program. In fact, it looks like it just contains some preference settings for a photo application.

[Megster]

ok, I'll tell you why I think that, but you're going to think it's stupid and it is. The place I'm at right now doesn't allow a certain kind of music, well I got caught with the unapproved music and they told me that they were going to delete it, but they didn't. Instead I found those documents on my computer. the sample that you see is only a tiny bit of the document.

[Rabbit]

That doesn't really change my assessment. You can delete the file if you want. But deleting it most likely won't affect the program that created it in any appreciable way.

[Megster]

Oh ok, so even if I change some of the information in the codes it won't change anything with the program(xml file) right?

[Rabbit]

An XML file is not a program. XML files don't do anything. They only store information. You can change the information stored but that won't appreciably affect the program that uses it.

[johny10151981]

Rabbit gave you the correct answer. I believe you are using MAC and the file seems some sort of playslist. I also wonder you went through registering in this site :)