Unknown 0 byte file with link to malware.

Viruses and worms
1

Hi.

I am on macOS running Avast Premium Security.

For the past 2 days, every single day an unknown file appear in my trash that is 0 byte in size and Avast does not detect it as malicious.
However, if I upload it to Virustotal, there is a debate in the community section regarding the file is generated by malware and it is a sign the system is infected.

VirusTotal link:
https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/e3b0c44298fc1c149afbf4c8996fb92427ae41e4649b934ca495991b7852b855/detection

The file in question:
https://gofile.io/d/XglKMo

Avast does not detect anything. I do experience this since I have installed The Elder Scrolls Online MMO game on my Mac, currently it is free to play on Steam for a few days. I did scan the game folder with Avast but nothing.

Could anyone please tell me what is up with this file? Is it really linked to Malware and a sign my system is infected as some people claim it on VirusTotal?

Thanks.

2

So, I did some more reading on VirusTotal and some people suggest, the original file on VirusTotal was most likely infected with a virus that was removed from the file. After the virus was removed we left with this 0 byte file that someone uploaded to VirusTotal and this is why the file has links with malware. Some people claim that now VirusTotal incorrectly redirect other 0 byte files to this detection that has nothing to do with the malware and it can be reproduced by creating an empty file and generate a has from the empty file. I was not able to reproduce this, I have no idea how to generate a hash file. Could someone please confirm if this is indeed true?

I did also look up Apple support and this is what I’ve found:
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mchlp2919/mac

The page describe exactly what is happening to me and suggest that an application generate temporary files but unable to delete them for some reason in which case macOS move these files in to the trash when I shut down the computer.

What I can think of is that Avast may be prevent The Elder Scrolls Online from deleting the temporary file when I quit the game and so macOS move the file in to the trash.