Re: What to do with spyware *loaded* PC?

From: Walter Roberson (roberson_at_ibd.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca)
Date: 01/31/05 

Date: 31 Jan 2005 00:52:47 GMT

In article <1107128212.801321.82580@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
 <walterbyrd@iname.com> wrote:
:Suppose a good friend or family member brings you a PC loaded with
:spyware, and asking for your help.

:What is the best way to clean up the PC, and keep it clean?

Save off all of the data files (e.g., recipies and pix of the kids),
scrub the disk and install a different OS. Maybe "Lindows", maybe
vmware on top of Linux.

I know that might sound spurious or zealotted, but the question
you presented was about the best way to clean it and keep it clean;
you didn't state any restriction about having to live with whichever
OS the system arrived with.

If they have Windows 2000 or XP, you could go into the registry and
configure the system so that they cannot install any new software
and can only run software you explicitly configure. This probably
won't leave people particularily happy, but if they are the type
that would be prone to loading malware in the first place, there
is only a certain amount you can do to protect them from themselves.

Let's see... Windows 2000/XP can boot from CDROM, right? I wonder
if the implication is that you could make the boot drive read-only
[such as by installing the write-inhibit jumper on the drive.] 

-- 
   Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston pie.
   A bird can't whistle and neither can I.  -- Pooh

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