How you "clean" PC's

McDaniel

McDaniel

McDaniel

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As title suggests, how do you go about cleaning PC's from virus' spyware etc..?

What programs do you use / recommend?

I tend to get annoyed and just wipe peoples PC's clean if there are any issues (obviously backing up first) - but how do you guys tackle the situation?

Got a friend at work whos boys have downloaded some dodgy videos (lol) and its caused a few popups and run.dll errors when he starts the PC.
 
Disconnect from net

Start -> run -> msconfig - Disable everything that's not suppose to be there.

Add/Remove Programs - Unistall everything that's not suppose to be there.

C:/Docs & Settings/etc/Temp - Remove everything

CCleaner
Ad-Aware
Not sure on free Anti-Virus these days AVG used to be awesome but last one I used was very resource hungry and far too obtrusive, usually stick NOD32 30 trial on, do a deep scan and remove.

Give them a new account without admin privileges if they're insistent on acting like children.
 
Frapple said:
Disconnect from net

Start -> run -> msconfig - Disable everything that's not suppose to be there.

Add/Remove Programs - Unistall everything that's not suppose to be there.

C:/Docs & Settings/etc/Temp - Remove everything

CCleaner
Click to expand...

^This^

Services.msc and vut out whatever I don't recognise (The amount of crap that gets installed with programs these days I'm not surprised that computers run like old dogs that have just been pancaked by a passing truck)

I also use Avast and Spybot just to make sure all is all right.
 
To be honest if you are asking the question then I would stick to your format / re-install option.

There are so many different variations of malware, you need to just have a "feel" for it, a keen eye for the "out of place", spotting patterns and the knowledge to track back to the source (usually multiple sources) which comes with experience. Anything beyond plain sight (alternate NTFS streams and beyond) is worth a format / re-install in my opinion.

msconfig
autoruns
computer management w\ hidden
google
another system to put the hdd into if its a real deep one in order to remove the suspect files

All you need to know is that malware starts up with everything else, in the same ways as eveything else. You just need to find where that place is and remove it. Personally I rarely need to use a peice of software to automatically do the job for me, in most cases, the automated software can't do it and is why a person is needed in the first place.

I hope this gives you a little insight.



EDIT: And yes I do manage to get out of the house, occasionally.
 
bledd. said:
disable system restore
remove whatever av you've got now

run..

ccleaner slim
nod32 av trial
spybot s&d
adaware
avg antispyware (remove this after)

put firefox on with adblock plus and Easylist subscription (do this on your pc too)
Click to expand...

or format


i never clean mine, i never crap it up
 
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