🚀 go-pugleaf

John Slade <hhitman86@pacbell.net> wrote in
news:i32s10$653$1@news.eternal-september.org: 

> On 7/31/2010 4:21 PM, Dustin wrote:
>> John Slade<hhitman86@pacbell.net>  wrote in
>> news:L0p4o.32466$OU6.4877@newsfe20.iad:
>>
>>> On 7/29/2010 1:40 PM, David H. Lipman wrote:
>>>> From: "John Slade"<hhitman86@pacbell.net>
>>>>
>>>> | On 7/29/2010 3:24 AM, David H. Lipman wrote:
>>>>>> From: "John Slade"<hhitman86@pacbell.net>
>>>>
>>>>>> | On 7/27/2010 11:17 PM, RJK wrote:
>>>>
> 
>>
>>>         You should know there is malware out there that will
>>> trash the registry and it's backup. It will require some sort of
>>> reinstall to get the system back working. I found it very rare
>>> that I need to do a full reformat and reinstall because of
>>> malware. Some malware will also corrupt system files and when
>>> you remove them with scanners, it will make the installation
>>> unbootable. This is yet another reason professionals will make a
>>> backup if possible before removing infections.
>>
>> What software do you use for the backup?
> 
>       I will either use Acronis' or Paragon's backup software 
> depending on the situation.
> 
>> Are you storing the backup on
>> read only media or a hard drive that could fail for any reason?
> 
>      You mean WORM(Write Once/Read Many) media don't you? That 
> media can fail also. No media is perfect. I store the backup on 
> business or enterprise grade HDs and will transfer to other 
> media if the customer wants that backup. If it's a large backup 
> they will have to pay me for it. Tell me what software and 
> hardware would you use to backup your customer's HD before you 
> start removing malware?

I haven't heard the acronym WORM in years... Damn, you have been around 
a long time. :) I was thinking of cd-r or perhaps dvd-r material.

It depends. When I was working at a computer shop; I'd either use 
norton ghost corp edition or the hardware drive cloning device we had 
at the time. I really didn't see much point in cloning a malware drive 
for malware removal; I wasn't stupid enough to trash my backups of the 
registry or important files. besides, I wrote several utilities to 
assist me in verifying various windows dll/exe files were still intact 
and okay for reuse.

We would typically reserve cloning drives for hardware failure signs. 
Although, a customer could have us clone a drive for a malware issue if 
they so desired. By default, we always copied docs, favorites, emails 
etc before doing anything... But, you know, different places have 
different policies.

Why do you spend the additional time to clone an entire drive for a 
malware removal job?

>>
>>>        I know there are a lot of fly-by-night computer repair
>>> people who are just there to do a quick fix and get paid, I find
>>> myself cleaning up after a lot of them.
>>
>> I've encountered a few of those in my time as well.... I enjoy the
>> work they provide me tho.
> 
>       Me too. I especially get a kick out of the ones who don't 
> do backups and leave various screws out.

Or, use the wrong screws and strip one of the drives :)
 
>> Tell me something, John, as a PROFESSIONAL, have
>> you written any of the tools you use for cleanup; or do you use the
>> work others have written, such as myself, David lipman and many
>> others? 
>>
> 
>       For the record, I'm not trying to get into some pissing 
> contest. I was just making a suggestion as to how to fix the 
> problem laid out in the OP.

I understand. It just seemed as if you were being a wiseass towards 
David, from my POV. I didn't personally see any need in doing that. We 
can all be professional and civil here.

>        I use software others have written. I'm not a software 
> engineer. I'm a professional computer repair person. I find that 
> competence in one profession such as software engineering 
> doesn't translate into something else like tech support. I've 
> been repairing computers for close to 25 years and have learned 
> a lot. One thing I've learned is a backup saves a lot of trouble 
> and allows for different approaches to be tried.

Well, a backup is a good way of having an escape route should something 
go wrong. :) From a software aspect tho, I haven't really encountered 
much malware that would justify the time I spent on imaging the drive 
first. I wasn't in charge of billing tho, so that may have played a 
part in that.
 
>        So tell me what products have you and David Lipman 
> written and where can I check them out?

I've written all kinds of old utility style apps, as you've been around 
so long you might know a few of them.. Cmoscon, encode, delock, and 
various others. If your into crypto/security, you might even know the 
old dos file/freespace wiping app called NuKE and/or possibly CryptX.

In more recent times, I developed an antimalware scanner (that's why I 
found your description on how they worked amusing. hehehe) called 
BugHunter. I did a stint as a malware researcher for an app called 
Malwarebytes antimalware..

Like yourself, I've been repairing pcs professionally for over 15 years 
now; you have ten years on me, but I have programming skills on you. 
*g*.

-- 
"I like your Christ. I don't like your Christians. They are so unlike 
your Christ."  - author unknown.