Threat Removals: Reformat / Reinstall Windows? Or conventional removal softwares ?
A standard reply…
A standard reply…
Number one, in mentioning the ‘reformat’ (or re-installing Windows) route,
generally it would be assumed one has not heard of antivirus and antispyware
products. This procedure is actually ancient and serves nothing but
aggravation that is absurd and completely unnecessary. You may see links to
this procedure or had a ‘pc repair’ person advise it or other. The quality security
products available today (antivirus and antispyware) have evolved greatly
and are much more sophisticated – and you will find in independent Lab tests
and results how the several quality products have passed everything thrown
at them. So this in other words, the advice in reformatting / reinstalling
is generally alluding to the backdoor trojans and rootkits and other malware -
to reformat and reinstall ‘to be “sure” there are no threats present’, whereby
the quality products today have already been tested against ALL of these and
blocked and removed all entirely.
generally it would be assumed one has not heard of antivirus and antispyware
products. This procedure is actually ancient and serves nothing but
aggravation that is absurd and completely unnecessary. You may see links to
this procedure or had a ‘pc repair’ person advise it or other. The quality security
products available today (antivirus and antispyware) have evolved greatly
and are much more sophisticated – and you will find in independent Lab tests
and results how the several quality products have passed everything thrown
at them. So this in other words, the advice in reformatting / reinstalling
is generally alluding to the backdoor trojans and rootkits and other malware -
to reformat and reinstall ‘to be “sure” there are no threats present’, whereby
the quality products today have already been tested against ALL of these and
blocked and removed all entirely.
Of course this goes back to before the modern day malware botnets plague
currently, which many times are installing these very threats. The quality
paid sharewares protect against this and remove all other threats to score as
top rated products by the Labs. The top antispyware products (Webroot and
Trend Micro) added rootkit scanners a couple years ago so that now the
security product is also scanning for rootkits effectively.
currently, which many times are installing these very threats. The quality
paid sharewares protect against this and remove all other threats to score as
top rated products by the Labs. The top antispyware products (Webroot and
Trend Micro) added rootkit scanners a couple years ago so that now the
security product is also scanning for rootkits effectively.
This is being posted because it seems you have relied on someone’s
advice to go the ‘reformat/reinstall’ route and you would probably dismiss other
advice. This in the eyes of the vast majority of users worldwide is nothing
more than a scam. Why ? Because the vast majority of worldwide users have
purchased the quality current day products that block and remove all these
threats and have dismissed the other (reinstall Windows) as such an elaborate
over kill for the simple removal of a bunch of computer programmer malware text
basically. The reformat/reinstall Windows option is dismissed by the entire
majority who have chosen the sharewares as the correct solution. The only
time Microsoft has EVER said to reformat/reinstall Windows is in the case
whereby a rootkit evolves past the conventional security shareware (buy) as
the only option left for a clean machine. This occurs by the gross negligence
of the User/Owner of the pc – not keeping paid subscription security software
up to date and scanning almost continually.
advice to go the ‘reformat/reinstall’ route and you would probably dismiss other
advice. This in the eyes of the vast majority of users worldwide is nothing
more than a scam. Why ? Because the vast majority of worldwide users have
purchased the quality current day products that block and remove all these
threats and have dismissed the other (reinstall Windows) as such an elaborate
over kill for the simple removal of a bunch of computer programmer malware text
basically. The reformat/reinstall Windows option is dismissed by the entire
majority who have chosen the sharewares as the correct solution. The only
time Microsoft has EVER said to reformat/reinstall Windows is in the case
whereby a rootkit evolves past the conventional security shareware (buy) as
the only option left for a clean machine. This occurs by the gross negligence
of the User/Owner of the pc – not keeping paid subscription security software
up to date and scanning almost continually.
If you are going to listen to the other – there is obviously nothing anyone could
do for you. You see the world web in security has almost divided. The one
half is the complete money maker and the other is the vast majority of users
employing paid subscription antivirus and antispyware and personal and
hardware firewalls. These are in the know. These have made informed choices.
Everyone else is getting picked off. It even seems that simply installing and using
antivirus products (the most and first basic computer system security) is too much
of a learning curve for too many, which is pathetic when you read the horror stories
that people have actually thrown the computers out in the trash over a simple virus
infection that 30 dollars would have purchased the ENTIRE threat removal -
antivirus software. The rest of those stories go right to the reformat/reinstall options.
I am not uninformed. I have spent a couple years in removals, and am able to
manually inspect my pc like the back of my hand. I am not an idiot or unenlightened
and certainly not a novice as I have ‘discovery’ in threats known as the malware
RASautodial Registry entries posted at the main site – which basically are “traces”
of malware (spyware category) already removed and are “orphans”. As well I
did obtain a “Data Processor Certificate” on IBM computers (and others) in my youth,
for what it is worth as a “source”.
do for you. You see the world web in security has almost divided. The one
half is the complete money maker and the other is the vast majority of users
employing paid subscription antivirus and antispyware and personal and
hardware firewalls. These are in the know. These have made informed choices.
Everyone else is getting picked off. It even seems that simply installing and using
antivirus products (the most and first basic computer system security) is too much
of a learning curve for too many, which is pathetic when you read the horror stories
that people have actually thrown the computers out in the trash over a simple virus
infection that 30 dollars would have purchased the ENTIRE threat removal -
antivirus software. The rest of those stories go right to the reformat/reinstall options.
I am not uninformed. I have spent a couple years in removals, and am able to
manually inspect my pc like the back of my hand. I am not an idiot or unenlightened
and certainly not a novice as I have ‘discovery’ in threats known as the malware
RASautodial Registry entries posted at the main site – which basically are “traces”
of malware (spyware category) already removed and are “orphans”. As well I
did obtain a “Data Processor Certificate” on IBM computers (and others) in my youth,
for what it is worth as a “source”.
So I am writing all this that you can show this to whoever is recommending the
“reformat/reinstall” cure all. That is ABSURD and QUITE unnecessary ! A simple
purchase of a quality (Webroot Spysweeper, Trend Micro Antispyware, Counterspy)
antispyware software program would have blocked malware installations in the 99.99999
percent instance unless you had downloaded some free screensaver (example)
that was bundled with adware and/or spyware, others – which would be
detected in a scan or even upon execution of the bad download.
“reformat/reinstall” cure all. That is ABSURD and QUITE unnecessary ! A simple
purchase of a quality (Webroot Spysweeper, Trend Micro Antispyware, Counterspy)
antispyware software program would have blocked malware installations in the 99.99999
percent instance unless you had downloaded some free screensaver (example)
that was bundled with adware and/or spyware, others – which would be
detected in a scan or even upon execution of the bad download.
The reason I NEVER recommend reinstalling (rootkit exception, Microsoft)
Windows is because the many quality and world known independent security
Labs have thrown every malware in existence at these products – including
ALL threats that the others say are ‘probably’ present and to be “safe” do
the reinstall/reformat. Now do you understand why the reformat/reinstall
advice is absurd and preposterous ? If so then, you could follow any
security advice about the situation. Otherwise you would be double-minded
and unsure between the two advices. Unfortunately, many persons involved in
money scams in this very issue have attacked persons as myself and even
openly. It is the hatred for losing a “mark” and profit. These are the same
that call ALL security products as “snake oil” (worthless protection). Truth
is that their advice is profit-driven (as they accuse the other side of the
isle) and THEIR advice is snake oil. This is what I refer to also as the
division that has occurred in pc security. To help you would cost up to $150
dollars per hour. This is what the “informed public” knows and have made
“informed choices” about how to protect their computers against threats and
remove any present and maintaining ongoing protection 24/7 – 365 and have
dismissed going to a pc repair shop for simple malware removal or even
requesting the reformat/reinstall procedure. What about those horror stories
of reinstalling problems and what of all the software and peripherals (usb sticks,
detachable memory, others – even mobile computers that has been discovered
can cross-infect both the desktop and the mobile computer (PocketPC) that
may have been the infection/infestation source ? Reinstalling those just
reinfects the computer system and you are back with some story that well you
did it, certainly not us – at another 150 dollars an hour to repeat the actions and
perhaps extending services at price to clean the others.
Windows is because the many quality and world known independent security
Labs have thrown every malware in existence at these products – including
ALL threats that the others say are ‘probably’ present and to be “safe” do
the reinstall/reformat. Now do you understand why the reformat/reinstall
advice is absurd and preposterous ? If so then, you could follow any
security advice about the situation. Otherwise you would be double-minded
and unsure between the two advices. Unfortunately, many persons involved in
money scams in this very issue have attacked persons as myself and even
openly. It is the hatred for losing a “mark” and profit. These are the same
that call ALL security products as “snake oil” (worthless protection). Truth
is that their advice is profit-driven (as they accuse the other side of the
isle) and THEIR advice is snake oil. This is what I refer to also as the
division that has occurred in pc security. To help you would cost up to $150
dollars per hour. This is what the “informed public” knows and have made
“informed choices” about how to protect their computers against threats and
remove any present and maintaining ongoing protection 24/7 – 365 and have
dismissed going to a pc repair shop for simple malware removal or even
requesting the reformat/reinstall procedure. What about those horror stories
of reinstalling problems and what of all the software and peripherals (usb sticks,
detachable memory, others – even mobile computers that has been discovered
can cross-infect both the desktop and the mobile computer (PocketPC) that
may have been the infection/infestation source ? Reinstalling those just
reinfects the computer system and you are back with some story that well you
did it, certainly not us – at another 150 dollars an hour to repeat the actions and
perhaps extending services at price to clean the others.
That is why I call the other advice a “scam”. That uninformed or malicious or even
‘prankster” (advising reformat cruelly to the uninformed with malice) crowd is going
to be doing what the majority does – running conventional security products as the
removal process when you drop off the PC at a PC Repair Shop or even get asked
donations for an online help or service. In the past two years I have had about 3 pc
repair persons contact me about how to remove a certain threat. That is pathetic.
I did not answer them because they were charging their clients the $150 per hour
and did not even know how to use antispyware! True, if someone is just that scared
to use simple paid antivirus programs – then this was their route. But the flip side is
that someone like that should not be behind the keyboards period – and it depends
on what you value.
‘prankster” (advising reformat cruelly to the uninformed with malice) crowd is going
to be doing what the majority does – running conventional security products as the
removal process when you drop off the PC at a PC Repair Shop or even get asked
donations for an online help or service. In the past two years I have had about 3 pc
repair persons contact me about how to remove a certain threat. That is pathetic.
I did not answer them because they were charging their clients the $150 per hour
and did not even know how to use antispyware! True, if someone is just that scared
to use simple paid antivirus programs – then this was their route. But the flip side is
that someone like that should not be behind the keyboards period – and it depends
on what you value.
WINDOWS SYSTEM RESTORE….
The other half of the bad advice is in the way of Windows System Restore. System
Restore does NOT remove malware as some may have told you. Only the
uninformed or newbies would suggest that, perhaps meaning well as we all did
in first days without knowing better. You will have to learn how to use Windows
System Restore. It is almost like a daily diary or journal of system or settings or
software changes you wish to preserve just in case. You set new Restore Points
in System Restore after you make changes so that in the event this would be used,
that is the point in time of the current state the pc will return to. Hopefully the other’s bad
advice did not include telling you to never use Windows Updates. Windows will
automatically create a Restore Point (Service), but in Windows XP it is like once
every couple of months. That’s another absurdity as the average user in the
know is setting Restore Points almost daily. The problem is if the computer was
infected (virus,worm) or infested (spyware category of threats) with malware when
the Restore Point was set – then all you are doing is restoring the state the computer
was in a few days or months ago that will include restoring the malware present you are
unaware of…. kind of like reinstalling infected wares after reformat/reinstall. Sound
familiar ? System Restore is mainly to restore all your various personal preference
settings you have made on everything and may restore any software mistakenly
deleted. It is NOT guaranteed and most likely may not be able to restore any
Windows Registry items one may have mistakenly deleted (fatal error).
The other half of the bad advice is in the way of Windows System Restore. System
Restore does NOT remove malware as some may have told you. Only the
uninformed or newbies would suggest that, perhaps meaning well as we all did
in first days without knowing better. You will have to learn how to use Windows
System Restore. It is almost like a daily diary or journal of system or settings or
software changes you wish to preserve just in case. You set new Restore Points
in System Restore after you make changes so that in the event this would be used,
that is the point in time of the current state the pc will return to. Hopefully the other’s bad
advice did not include telling you to never use Windows Updates. Windows will
automatically create a Restore Point (Service), but in Windows XP it is like once
every couple of months. That’s another absurdity as the average user in the
know is setting Restore Points almost daily. The problem is if the computer was
infected (virus,worm) or infested (spyware category of threats) with malware when
the Restore Point was set – then all you are doing is restoring the state the computer
was in a few days or months ago that will include restoring the malware present you are
unaware of…. kind of like reinstalling infected wares after reformat/reinstall. Sound
familiar ? System Restore is mainly to restore all your various personal preference
settings you have made on everything and may restore any software mistakenly
deleted. It is NOT guaranteed and most likely may not be able to restore any
Windows Registry items one may have mistakenly deleted (fatal error).
The reformat advice and System Restore have become ancient in today’s
environment of crimeware and is not any solution but is recommended by the
uninformed and newbies generally, meaning well. The truth of the matter
is that back in the years up to about year 2003 much of the spyware
category threats were predominantly adware. These included some “joke
programs” that would do a run once changing of settings. As well the
browser hijackers (malware toolbars) may have changed Homepages and
Search Assistant settings and THESE settings were restored in performing a
System Restore, although it would not remove the malware toolbar.
Many of the early original adware and malware toolbars actually added
uninstallers in the program language that enabled being able
uninstall them at the Remove (uninstall) Programs in the Control
Panel. That has NOT been seen since about year 2002 and 2003.
Crimeware today began at about that time for sheer illicit profit and
they went headlong into today’s cyber criminal underground. They are
no longer that innocent little adware installation who said “if we
add an uninstaller then it is the consumer’s choice if they keep it
and we can’t be fined or imprisoned for it”. This is how the advice
you got (reformat/reinstall Windows) and the System Restore as
a “cure all” are completely CAVE MAN DAYS.
environment of crimeware and is not any solution but is recommended by the
uninformed and newbies generally, meaning well. The truth of the matter
is that back in the years up to about year 2003 much of the spyware
category threats were predominantly adware. These included some “joke
programs” that would do a run once changing of settings. As well the
browser hijackers (malware toolbars) may have changed Homepages and
Search Assistant settings and THESE settings were restored in performing a
System Restore, although it would not remove the malware toolbar.
Many of the early original adware and malware toolbars actually added
uninstallers in the program language that enabled being able
uninstall them at the Remove (uninstall) Programs in the Control
Panel. That has NOT been seen since about year 2002 and 2003.
Crimeware today began at about that time for sheer illicit profit and
they went headlong into today’s cyber criminal underground. They are
no longer that innocent little adware installation who said “if we
add an uninstaller then it is the consumer’s choice if they keep it
and we can’t be fined or imprisoned for it”. This is how the advice
you got (reformat/reinstall Windows) and the System Restore as
a “cure all” are completely CAVE MAN DAYS.
Of course the first advice is to purchase and install quality security products
(antivirus, antispyware, a personal firewall software) – update and do full scans and
remove the threat. Done. However, you may be experiencing threats that are
preventing you from engaging the internet with the browser – and at best if
it is a timer, then you have to dance between the raindrops just to open and
run the browser or in other words it may do this every five minutes the
browser is open and the whole frozen desktop and reboot scenario. You may
try installing the free Mozilla Firefox browser. The malware programmer
language is different for different browsers so that Firefox may perform as
expected of the Microsoft Internet Explorer. This was always ‘golden’, but
cyber crime has found to cross-infect the two browsers and this might not be
achieved. The cyber criminals are TOO smart to trap the “free stuff” line of
users that even refuse to pay for antivirus. There are threats that can
disable all security softwares and that is generally in those unprotected
machines the “free crowd” is running with no Real Time Protection running
(paid subscription security softwares).
(antivirus, antispyware, a personal firewall software) – update and do full scans and
remove the threat. Done. However, you may be experiencing threats that are
preventing you from engaging the internet with the browser – and at best if
it is a timer, then you have to dance between the raindrops just to open and
run the browser or in other words it may do this every five minutes the
browser is open and the whole frozen desktop and reboot scenario. You may
try installing the free Mozilla Firefox browser. The malware programmer
language is different for different browsers so that Firefox may perform as
expected of the Microsoft Internet Explorer. This was always ‘golden’, but
cyber crime has found to cross-infect the two browsers and this might not be
achieved. The cyber criminals are TOO smart to trap the “free stuff” line of
users that even refuse to pay for antivirus. There are threats that can
disable all security softwares and that is generally in those unprotected
machines the “free crowd” is running with no Real Time Protection running
(paid subscription security softwares).
If you are not able to install Firefox to be able to download recommended
security wares for removal of the threats – then to avoid the PC Repair Shop
and money no one has – you may be able to ask a friend or other
family member to acquire Firefox on CD to install it in the CD drawer and go
from there. Crimeware is getting worst and worst as a real animal blood
thirsty beast and is leaving fewer and fewer and fewer options for
unprotected and unpatched computers. They are at their end when you consider
that malware botnets (zombie networks / slang) in about one year’s time have
gone from the estimated 7 to 11 percent of world computers infected to a
whopping 25 percent estimate or over 150 million infected computers any
moment of the day. Crimeware is a killer and the public needs to hear that
and not act like ostriches about it. This has become literally a fight to
keep the internet alive even ! WHEN your quality antivirus and antispyware
products show a clean machine (nothing detected) THEN consider purchasing
protection for your computer.
security wares for removal of the threats – then to avoid the PC Repair Shop
and money no one has – you may be able to ask a friend or other
family member to acquire Firefox on CD to install it in the CD drawer and go
from there. Crimeware is getting worst and worst as a real animal blood
thirsty beast and is leaving fewer and fewer and fewer options for
unprotected and unpatched computers. They are at their end when you consider
that malware botnets (zombie networks / slang) in about one year’s time have
gone from the estimated 7 to 11 percent of world computers infected to a
whopping 25 percent estimate or over 150 million infected computers any
moment of the day. Crimeware is a killer and the public needs to hear that
and not act like ostriches about it. This has become literally a fight to
keep the internet alive even ! WHEN your quality antivirus and antispyware
products show a clean machine (nothing detected) THEN consider purchasing
protection for your computer.
Threats are able to transmit everything you type (keyloggers) and take
screen snapshots of what you are viewing on the screen and send that out to
cyber criminals. These type scenarios have costed Americans 45 Billion
dollars this past year in IDThefts and others. This is not snake oil. This
is as real as it gets. This is why I run the groups that I do in security
help. But, again as I have went way out of my way here to expound on this -
there is nothing anyone can help you with if you continue to listen to the
others that recommend the other uninformed choices (reformat/reinstall) .
You will be attempting that even several times a day with an unpatched
(Windows Updates) and unprotected (no real time heuristics protection
activated by paid subscription) computer in today’s malware environment.
That is no lie. This is how dangerous it has become:
screen snapshots of what you are viewing on the screen and send that out to
cyber criminals. These type scenarios have costed Americans 45 Billion
dollars this past year in IDThefts and others. This is not snake oil. This
is as real as it gets. This is why I run the groups that I do in security
help. But, again as I have went way out of my way here to expound on this -
there is nothing anyone can help you with if you continue to listen to the
others that recommend the other uninformed choices (reformat/reinstall) .
You will be attempting that even several times a day with an unpatched
(Windows Updates) and unprotected (no real time heuristics protection
activated by paid subscription) computer in today’s malware environment.
That is no lie. This is how dangerous it has become:
Online Tool Developed to Check for Botnet Activity
BotnetChecker.Com
Go To: http://botnetchecker.com/
PRWeb via Yahoo! News Wed, 12 Dec 2007 5:00 AM PST
http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20071212/bs_prweb/prweb575432_1
It is estimated that 1 in 4 computers on the internet today are part of a
botnet. After observing bot activity from thousands of compromised computers,
local administrator develops easy way to check for botnet activity.
BotnetChecker.Com
Go To: http://botnetchecker.com/
PRWeb via Yahoo! News Wed, 12 Dec 2007 5:00 AM PST
http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20071212/bs_prweb/prweb575432_1
It is estimated that 1 in 4 computers on the internet today are part of a
botnet. After observing bot activity from thousands of compromised computers,
local administrator develops easy way to check for botnet activity.
These are NOT false reports but actual publications to the community by the
Professionals and Experts in the computer security industry and Microsoft
themselves. My advice is to not blow money on “snake oil” !
Professionals and Experts in the computer security industry and Microsoft
themselves. My advice is to not blow money on “snake oil” !
Again the public needs to be informed and take action and not act
like ostriches about the cyber crime today and owning and operating a
computer safely.
like ostriches about the cyber crime today and owning and operating a
computer safely.
The responses here have been intentionally long with information as I
will never type all this up again and I am going to use this in a
concise form as a standard answer to these type standard help
requests. So please do not feel singled out about anything. But the
information at such length is QUITE necessary for the average user to
understand how simple all this is really to live in Computing Safety.
will never type all this up again and I am going to use this in a
concise form as a standard answer to these type standard help
requests. So please do not feel singled out about anything. But the
information at such length is QUITE necessary for the average user to
understand how simple all this is really to live in Computing Safety.
Thank you again for bearing with this detailed answer. And one last thought
to reason…. Microsoft themselves have offered the free Windows Antispyware
program that became Windows Defender to the community and has the real
time protection shielding and monitoring those places on the system preventing
malware from running unnoticed or even being installed in the first place.
It is the only free security product with Real Time Protection activated and
running like paid security softwares (heuristics). If the reformat / reinstall
were the mature and educated thing to do to remove threats – why would
Microsoft bother to create Windows Defender and at such a cost ? That
comes out of their pockets – not ours. Do you know of anyone giving
away money ? There’s your argument resolved. Conventional removal
sharewares are the way to go and that according to the Experts – Microsoft.
They are like all computer lovers and obviously wish the best computing
experience to all. What a love of labor it has been.
to reason…. Microsoft themselves have offered the free Windows Antispyware
program that became Windows Defender to the community and has the real
time protection shielding and monitoring those places on the system preventing
malware from running unnoticed or even being installed in the first place.
It is the only free security product with Real Time Protection activated and
running like paid security softwares (heuristics). If the reformat / reinstall
were the mature and educated thing to do to remove threats – why would
Microsoft bother to create Windows Defender and at such a cost ? That
comes out of their pockets – not ours. Do you know of anyone giving
away money ? There’s your argument resolved. Conventional removal
sharewares are the way to go and that according to the Experts – Microsoft.
They are like all computer lovers and obviously wish the best computing
experience to all. What a love of labor it has been.
NOW that you have the common (vast majority) informed choices for
threat removal and ongoing protections – you may wish to review the
other preliminary advice you received and compare consultations, as I
always say as webmaster of bluecollarpc.net “Get several answers when
involved in Security Choices and Solutions”….. here are a few good
information bookmarks detailing the other choice (NOT recommended):
threat removal and ongoing protections – you may wish to review the
other preliminary advice you received and compare consultations, as I
always say as webmaster of bluecollarpc.net “Get several answers when
involved in Security Choices and Solutions”….. here are a few good
information bookmarks detailing the other choice (NOT recommended):
Information / Help / Removal:
MORE OPTIONS:
When should I re-format? How should I reinstall? (#10063)
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/10063
MORE OPTIONS:
When should I re-format? How should I reinstall? (#10063)
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/10063
OS Reinstallation vs. Virus Removal
http://safecomputing.umn.edu/guides/rebuild_repair.html
http://safecomputing.umn.edu/guides/rebuild_repair.html
Part Two: Reinstall an Infected Operating System
http://safecomputing.umn.edu/studentchecklist.html
http://safecomputing.umn.edu/studentchecklist.html
Securing a Personal Machine
http://safecomputing.umn.edu/studentchecklist.html
http://safecomputing.umn.edu/studentchecklist.html
How does the “informed public” know they are running a clean
machine ? Because as stated – the Labs throw every thing available
(malwares) at a “crash test dummy” computer running the different
security softwares to test their abilities. The most aggressive
programs that have won awards are too much of a learning curve it
seems – but Intermediate to Advanced users are able to cope (many
alert pop ups needing decisions). The most aggressive antivirus is
Kaspersky and the A-Squared antimalware. These will find anything
that even looks like it might be malware – alerting the user to open
Windows Explorer and the Windows Registry and to manually inspect
suspected files and keys mentioned in results for programs and
softwares and Windows for paths, locations, and images and mappings
and roots. In inferior softwares these are generally referred to
as “false positives” and the software is crapware. Security software
is rated best finding all threats with NO false positives which is
what my choice has been, and why, for my Security Solution for my new
Vista empowered pc – the (strongly recommended) Trend Micro Internet
Security 2008 suite (all – antivirus, antispyware, firewall). Trend
has surpassed the best – Kaspersky, Norton, NOD32, and all the rest
as well as the antispyware category that includes Webroot Spysweeper
and Counterspy and NOT producing any false positives. The Kaspersky
and others are called “aggressive” meaning it will produce what seems
a false positive – but is a concern prompting user inspection and
decision to skip or quarantine for further investigation and possible
removal. In shorter terms with “aggressive” security products – you are
going to get a few “maybe” items that you need to be enough in the
know to make an informed decision. That seems to much of a learning
curve as well with too many.
machine ? Because as stated – the Labs throw every thing available
(malwares) at a “crash test dummy” computer running the different
security softwares to test their abilities. The most aggressive
programs that have won awards are too much of a learning curve it
seems – but Intermediate to Advanced users are able to cope (many
alert pop ups needing decisions). The most aggressive antivirus is
Kaspersky and the A-Squared antimalware. These will find anything
that even looks like it might be malware – alerting the user to open
Windows Explorer and the Windows Registry and to manually inspect
suspected files and keys mentioned in results for programs and
softwares and Windows for paths, locations, and images and mappings
and roots. In inferior softwares these are generally referred to
as “false positives” and the software is crapware. Security software
is rated best finding all threats with NO false positives which is
what my choice has been, and why, for my Security Solution for my new
Vista empowered pc – the (strongly recommended) Trend Micro Internet
Security 2008 suite (all – antivirus, antispyware, firewall). Trend
has surpassed the best – Kaspersky, Norton, NOD32, and all the rest
as well as the antispyware category that includes Webroot Spysweeper
and Counterspy and NOT producing any false positives. The Kaspersky
and others are called “aggressive” meaning it will produce what seems
a false positive – but is a concern prompting user inspection and
decision to skip or quarantine for further investigation and possible
removal. In shorter terms with “aggressive” security products – you are
going to get a few “maybe” items that you need to be enough in the
know to make an informed decision. That seems to much of a learning
curve as well with too many.
Tags: antispyware, antivirus, reformat, reinstall, Windows
