Interesting Article.

[Head Guru]

I don't spend much time surfing the internet any more. Just to busy with things.

 

However, today I came across a really well written blog about a a computer and its many Trojans.

 

Here is the link.

 

http://tweezersedge.com/archives/2005/02/000534.html

[Madmanmcp]

I fix on average about 2 PC's a week for friends and friends of friends. Lately its gotten to the point where it takes way too long to manually remove and clean all the junk thats on or infecting these machines. Before I start I make sure the owners bring the CD's for each computer and in most cases I just reset the computer back to the state it was when it was purchased. I then download all the patches and upgrades, install Adaware and Spybot and make sure the Firewall is on and a Virus program is up-to-date and running.

 

Trying to fix all the different problems is an impossible task.

[TCH-RobertM]

I am in aggreement with Madman on this.

I find that I get people asking OVER and OVER again how to go about cleaning their systems. Time and Time again I tell usually the same people to make sure that they

run Adaware and Spybot as well as keep their Antivirus Software up to date.

When it comes time for me to actually clean their systems for them I find it easier and less time consuming to do as madman says and just do a complete Clean install

[TCH-Rick]

It is the same for us at the High School I teach at. We have had a big problem with computers becoming unusable because of all the spyware and junk cluttering the computers. This is especially true of the computers running XP.

 

This past week I restored one computer in our Math Lab using the restore disk (Windows 98 SE). I then downloaded the security patches and installed the software we use on it. We then made an image disk and used it to reimage the other 24 computers.

 

When we get into our new school next year the network will be set up so that we can reimage a computer over the network easily. At least that is what we are being told.

[Head Guru]

I do agree but sometimes you just cant wipe things clean.

 

Some situations require the patience and wit to follow thru to a clean system.

 

I commend the guy for having the time and knowledge to get it done.

 

Bill

[TweezerMan]

Thanks for the link, Bill!

 

Wiping the system and doing a clean install was plan B, because the computer in question belonged to a family member that we liked, so I was willing to go the extra mile and put the work in to clean her system up. I had the time, so I didn't mind.

 

I spent 2 full days working on the system - 1 to clean the junk out, and 1 to update Windows XP (I had a heck of a time getting SP2 to install), make sure the XP firewall was on and working, install antivirus software and do some general maintenance and clean up on the system.

 

It is definitely much better and easier to keep a system clean than to let one get that bad then try to recover it.

[TCH-Bruce]

Excellent article David.

[djk]

I don't spend much time surfing the internet any more.  Just to busy with things.

 

However, today I came across a really well written blog about a a computer and its many Trojans.

 

Here is the link.

 

http://tweezersedge.com/archives/2005/02/000534.html

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Thanks for the link. When I find a page like this I always save it to disk. I'm never sure if I bookmark it that it will be there next visit. (Here today, Gone tomorrow kinf of thing) I hae not seen a writeup listing the affects of the various virii before, at least not as concise and on the same document. On a side issue,Gorilla Design Studio,

http://accs-net.com/hosts/

publishes a hosts file to use to block ad servers, the latest update being 3/4/2004.

Anybody know of another publisher of a similar hosts file? Thanks.

[TCH-Bruce]

I've used one from here: http://www.hosts-file.net/phpbb2/