After Virus removal.

[gsjutla]

After a virus attack, unless the system is critical it is advisable to
reinstall the OS since you never know what it has changed or damaged.

However you can try autoruns from http;//sysinternals.com to check what all
is running on teh system at startup. Also you can usethe process explorer to
see if anything suspecious is currentlyrunning on the box. process explorer
is an extension to the task manager and has a lot of added functionality.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

5 weeks into my 12yo's attention to
messenger and limewire etc, his computer has
slowed to a walk. (hopefully lesson learnt)

I have removed all the virii, and adware that I can see
(3 backdoor trojans, 2 other virii 70 adware)

Will the status be similar to prior?
or is a fresh install of XPSP2 advised?

There is no answer to this question. It depends on what viruses,
trojans, and adware were present, and on whether you properly removed
them. It's possible that you may not even have identified all the
malware that was present.

Reinstalling cleanly is certainly safer, and in a multiple infection
scenario, it's often the best course. But I can't say whether it's
necessary in this situation.

 

[Rod]

5 weeks into my 12yo's attention to
messenger and limewire etc, his computer has
slowed to a walk. (hopefully lesson learnt)

I have removed all the virii, and adware that I can see
(3 backdoor trojans, 2 other virii 70 adware)

Will the status be similar to prior?
or is a fresh install of XPSP2 advised?

Thanks
R

 

[Rod]

After a virus attack, unless the system is critical it is advisable to
reinstall the OS since you never know what it has changed or damaged.

However you can try autoruns from http;//sysinternals.com to check what all
is running on teh system at startup. Also you can usethe process explorer to
see if anything suspecious is currentlyrunning on the box. process explorer
is an extension to the task manager and has a lot of added functionality.

Thanks gs and Ken Blake,
I'll try the autoruns, and leave the decision to the nipper.
He can re-install, if and when he decides
He may then treat IT with more respect, especially if he
has to lose all that music he has ripped.

Time for delegation of responsibility.
R

 

[GT4me]

Rod,
Sorry but i will have to disagree in what you saying in regards to messenger
and limewire, as i have both these programs on my sons pc and never not once
got any viruses or spyware.Try updating your anti virus protection, if you
have its not working well or you may have to pay for one dont rely on free
one's. And a good firewall.
I say this with all due respect.
Regards

 

[windmap]

5 weeks into my 12yo's attention to
messenger and limewire etc, his computer has
slowed to a walk. (hopefully lesson learnt)

I have removed all the virii, and adware that I can see
(3 backdoor trojans, 2 other virii 70 adware)

Will the status be similar to prior?
or is a fresh install of XPSP2 advised?

Thanks
R

After Virus/Spyware/malware infection its always good to reinstall
windowsXP.All the infections cannot be treated successfully.There's no
program or expert in the world who knows how to disinfect the computer
fully from Virus/Spyware/Malware.
After reformating install antivirus/Windows updates/Spyware
protection/turn on firewall/Install SP2 First if u dont have.

 

[Kayman]

5 weeks into my 12yo's attention to
messenger and limewire etc, his computer has
slowed to a walk. (hopefully lesson learnt)

How the right user account can help your computer security
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/advanced/useraccount.mspx

The Importance of the Limited User Account (LUA)
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2006/05/the_importance_of_the_limited.html

I have removed all the virii, and adware that I can see
(3 backdoor trojans, 2 other virii 70 adware)

Virus = singular, Viruses = plural. Virii?

Will the status be similar to prior?
or is a fresh install of XPSP2 advised?

Security Management.
So, you didn¢t patch the system and it got hacked. What to do? Well, let¢s
see: ...
"The only way to clean a compromised system is to flatten and rebuild.
That¢s right. If you have a system that has been completely compromised,
the only thing you can do is to flatten the system (reformat the system
disk) and rebuild it from scratch (re-install Windows and your
applications)..."
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/secmgmt/sm0504.mspx

 

[Rod]

Rod,
Sorry but i will have to disagree in what you saying in regards to messenger
and limewire, as i have both these programs on my sons pc and never not once
got any viruses or spyware.Try updating your anti virus protection, if you
have its not working well or you may have to pay for one dont rely on free
one's. And a good firewall.
I say this with all due respect.
Regards

Thanks GT and Windmap,
well that's interesting, because we have had
AVG antivirus, and my machine has never been infected.
He is connected via wireless,
perhaps he has not been checking his AVG for updates,
I was presuming it occurred automatically, as it does on mine
I'll check his settings.

 

[Rod]

How the right user account can help your computer security
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/advanced/useraccount.mspx
The Importance of the Limited User Account (LUA)
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2006/05/the_importance_of_the_lim
ited.html

Virus = singular, Viruses = plural. Virii?

Thanks, viruses....right!
now I notice our local auctioneer insists on a descriptive...mouses.

Thanks for the links,
we are only newly arrived at XP from 98
and there is only so much we can take in at once,
The "for dummies" tome is like 3" thick
I'll pass on the links to the nipper as well.

 

[Kayman]

5 weeks into my 12yo's attention to
messenger and limewire etc, his computer has
slowed to a walk. (hopefully lesson learnt)

How the right user account can help your computer security
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/advanced/useraccount.mspx

The Importance of the Limited User Account (LUA)
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2006/05/the_importance_of_the_limited.html

I have removed all the virii, and adware that I can see
(3 backdoor trojans, 2 other virii 70 adware)

Virus = singular, Viruses = plural. Virii?

Will the status be similar to prior?
or is a fresh install of XPSP2 advised?

Security Management.
So, you didn¢t patch the system and it got hacked. What to do? Well, let¢s
see: ...
"The only way to clean a compromised system is to flatten and rebuild.
That¢s right. If you have a system that has been completely compromised,
the only thing you can do is to flatten the system (reformat the system
disk) and rebuild it from scratch (re-install Windows and your
applications)..."
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/secmgmt/sm0504.mspx

 

[Plato]

5 weeks into my 12yo's attention to
messenger and limewire etc, his computer has
slowed to a walk. (hopefully lesson learnt)

I have removed all the virii, and adware that I can see
(3 backdoor trojans, 2 other virii 70 adware)

Will the status be similar to prior?
or is a fresh install of XPSP2 advised?

While one can remove all viruses and spyware, any app WILL NOT fix the
damage done by such.

 

[Rod]

While one can remove all viruses and spyware, any app WILL NOT fix the
damage done by such.

Thank you.
what a tangled web, we weave.
I may have to surf using my 98se,
and enjoy the results on the divorced XP