|
|
Rank: You're gonna stick that where?
Groups: {pDs} Member, Registered User, Server Admin
Joined: 11/15/2007
Posts: 474
Points: 447
Location: San Diego
|
Just scored a sweet Computer from Dad. Quad core, 8G Ram, Retarded Mem cap etc etc. Bad thing it had a key logger previously on it. Whats the best way to be be sure a keylogger has been removed from a computer before I begin installing my games and stuff on it? Also, I don't mind reverting to factory settings and starting all over. But is there a better way?
|
|
|
Rank: You're gonna stick that where?
Groups: Registered User
Joined: 5/5/2009
Posts: 353
Points: 1,113
Location: San Antonio
|
Well a good anti-virus like AVG can get it out. Of course....honestly the only way you can be absolutely sure is to reformat the hard drive :\ [CMS]defiance - Steam: defiance018 - Xfire: defianceoby - www.constantmayhem.com
|
|
|
Rank: Fuckstick
Groups: {pDs} Member, Registered User
Joined: 1/14/2008
Posts: 984
Points: 1,856
Location: Michigan
|
I'm with defiance on this one. You might also want to do more than just reformat the hard drive and use a program that overwrites everything before because I've heard of some keyloggers that will survive a simple reformatting "I love the smell of napalm in the morning. Smells like ... victory"
|
|
|
Rank: Administration
Groups: Server Admin, Administration, {pDs} Member, Registered User
Joined: 11/19/2008
Posts: 1,014
Points: 2,767
|
defiance wrote:Well a good anti-virus like AVG can get it out. Of course....honestly the only way you can be absolutely sure is to reformat the hard drive :\ This is the only 100% method. In my last job I was the "Malicious Software Removal Technician" which means that I got really good at rooting out and crushing infections. But unless there were documents that needed to be backed up, software that couldn't be replaced, or the client was missing disks, we'd just nuke it and reinstall because it was faster, cheaper for the client, and far more effective. Since you just got it, I doubt there is anything that need to be saved. Just make sure that you do a full reinstall, with at least a quick format of the drive because I have seen some viruses get past a repair.
|
|
|
Rank: You're gonna stick that where?
Groups: {pDs} Member, Registered User, Server Admin
Joined: 11/15/2007
Posts: 474
Points: 447
Location: San Diego
|
Did a factory reset/reinstall of the comp and basicly started from sratch. Can anything make it past that? It was a program specific key logger that stole my fathers EVE online account info.
|
|
|
Rank: Administration
Groups: Server Admin, Administration, {pDs} Member, Registered User
Joined: 11/19/2008
Posts: 1,014
Points: 2,767
|
WarMachine wrote:Did a factory reset/reinstall of the comp and basicly started from sratch. Can anything make it past that? If it wiped the drive then no, if it was a "repair" possibly.
|
|
|
Rank: Fecal Impaction For the Win!
Groups: Ogamer, Registered User
Joined: 5/9/2006
Posts: 1,666
Points: 2,478
Location: La Habra, Orange, CA
|
The best thing to do is install Windows all over again and tell it to do a thorough wipe of the drive (not a quick format). Peace of mind, you know. PS, your dad plays Eve? That's fucking awesome. silverwasp wrote:Be careful what you wish for... I have 10 younger siblings and I am only 20....
Yes.... Same parents WarMachine wrote:meh...maybe if he hadn't been handed a burning house he could have done great things, but right now he has won the Prize for what? Damage Control?
|
|
|
Rank: Administration
Groups: Server Admin, Administration, {pDs} Member, Registered User
Joined: 11/19/2008
Posts: 1,014
Points: 2,767
|
HolyJaw wrote:The best thing to do is install Windows all over again and tell it to do a thorough wipe of the drive (not a quick format). Peace of mind, you know. It doesn't matter if it is a full or quick. Full write 0's across the whole disk, quick just clears and writes a new Master File Table. Either way the data can't be accessed.
|
|
|
Rank: You're gonna stick that where?
Groups: {pDs} Member, Registered User, Server Admin
Joined: 11/15/2007
Posts: 474
Points: 447
Location: San Diego
|
Yeah the Factory reset ( which my father did once and I did again) seems to have killed everything. Got myself a decent Anti-spy / Anti Virus / Firewall etc. So I should be fine for now. I am not a clicky click kinda person. If I dont know the link then I most likley dont go down that avenue. Has kept me virus free (or so I think) my entire computing span of exsistance. The only time I have had to deal with virus/spybots is when wife/kid click everything on the secondary computer I keep around just for them. I wipe the drive every so often. Which brings up network security questions ..hrmmmmm. Any suggestions here? I run local hard wired through a router with file sharing & remote access off. I have not had problems in the past with my home network but I'm sure there are possible threats out there. This was the first time I have had to dispose of a Keylogger and it was from an inherited computer. *EDIT* I also did the old trick of turning off system restore, rebooting, scanning registry and startup with Anti Virus. Which again came up with nothing. I know this worked well with XP dunno if Vista makes a difference.
|
|
|
| Users browsing this topic |
|
Guest
|