Re: Do I have a virus?


"Bill Ridgeway" <info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ulXXQVxQJHA.1144@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The only absolutely guaranteed 100% way of resolving a virus problem is to
format the hard disk and re-install Windows, all your software and your
user files - which you previously copied to, say, another hard drive or
memory stick.

This is sometimes the *only* solution, and sometimes no solution
at all. Much depends on exactly what malware is involved. Think
about the fact that you could be reinstalling the malware, or the
vector the malware used to gain access initially, by reinstalling the
OS and backed up user programs and data.

Not very practical perhaps but at least it has the redeeming feature of
also clearing out all those bits and pieces of software left behind by an
incomplete uninstall.

Entirely practical if the malware contains "unknowns" such as a
downloader that may have downloaded another, undetected as
yet, malware program.

The next, nearly 100% guaranteed method is to take out the hard drive and
install it in another computer which has antivirus software installed and
updated immediately before and scan for viruses. Doing this gets around
some scanners being crippled by the infection.

Not always a good idea.

The next, less effective method is to update the virus software and scan
for viruses in 'Safe Mode'.

The least effective method is to update the virus software and scan for
viruses in 'Normal Mode'.

Having said that, the most practical way is to work the above list in
reverse order.

Or take it to a professional.

From a post by Kayman in m.p.s. newsgroup

http://www.microsoft.com/emea/spotlight/sessionh.aspx?videoid=359


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Mac Bug Exploit Appears
    ... term/word as a "collection of various types of Viruses, Spyware, ... Trojans, ... the correct one from the beginning of time is "Malware" is: ... Trojans, etc, so is be default incorrect. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: Mac Bug Exploit Appears
    ... Some people incorrectly use that term/word as a "collection of various types of Viruses, Spyware, Trojans, etc" but that is wrong. ... The totally incorrect usage is "Malware" which is software in a collective sense, Viruses, Trojans, etc. ... Yes, valid, everyday software that has been altered to become "malicious", but this definition obviously doesn't include Viruses or Trojans, etc, so is be default incorrect. ... Facts are things that can be proven, NOT things that exist in the little world you made up in your mind. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: OS X Virus myths
    ... Viruses have been created, but I have not seen one in the wild with my ... NEVER has any Mac OS X ... there is no malware for Mac OS X that is self-replicating in the wild. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: Virus Acquisition
    ... the other part is where to locate said viruses not by ... Randem Systems ... Find whatever virus or other malware you want to infect the computer with. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: [opensuse] antivirus
    ... I can't recall any viruses, malware, but then I've probably only put 90 ... What did you mean about being a non-root user. ... It sounds like old linux answers by those that ... To weed out Microsoft viruses. ...
    (SuSE)