*(#%&*( Malware! - The Saga Continues
May 21, 2013 | 3:57 pm
#16
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,388
And for yourself too. There is really no need to cruise online with a security profile that allows the installation of devices., programs, modification of operating system parameters, etc.
May 21, 2013 | 5:45 pm
#17
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I leave the computer on all the time -- there are other machines that access it for various reasons, and I'll frequently remote into it via VNC to do something. I don't want to lose that access, plus it's a pain to log in and out -- it takes almost as much time as warm reboot.
May 21, 2013 | 5:46 pm
#18
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If all I did was cruise online, I'd agree with you. However, there's an awful lot that I do that requires administrator-level access.
May 21, 2013 | 5:54 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,366
Before you reload your OS. I would give combofix a try. I have seen it fix some really nasty trojans, worms, etc that nothing else could fix. It's a low level utility that's aimed at ridding PC's of nasty malware, which it sounds like you have encountered.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/combofix/
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/combofix/
May 22, 2013 | 5:05 am
#20
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,388
My malware attack that caused me a similar issue was caused by typing in a misspelled URL and once I hit enter, it was too late.
May 22, 2013 | 7:47 am
#21
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Delta Silver, HH Gold, Accor Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,395
Before you reload your OS. I would give combofix a try. I have seen it fix some really nasty trojans, worms, etc that nothing else could fix. It's a low level utility that's aimed at ridding PC's of nasty malware, which it sounds like you have encountered.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/combofix/
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/combofix/
May 22, 2013 | 8:20 am
#22
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 639
I don't know what the best solution is in your case, but if you're going to wipe the entire drive, you might consider just buying a new drive. That way you're sure there's no bad stuff on it.
Also, if logging in takes as long as rebooting, then it sounds as if you might be due for a new computer?
Also, if logging in takes as long as rebooting, then it sounds as if you might be due for a new computer?
May 22, 2013 | 8:26 am
#23
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May 22, 2013 | 9:12 am
#24
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oregon
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1MM, HH Diamond, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,055
Wow. I haven't had to do that on my own computer since before I moved to NT 4. Of course, I'm super anal about what I will let be installed on my computer - resorting to VM's and snapshots any time I have to use something like a "mandatory comcast installer disc".
May 22, 2013 | 10:41 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: AS, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, former AA EXP, UA Gold, Hyatt Diamond
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Another thought for after you fix your system is to partition your hard disk into 2 logical drives:
C: OS
D: Data
I make an image backup of C: twice a year, and can always restore to that point. My data isn't impacted because I have all the data on a separate logical drive (D
.
If you want to get more flexibility, and have the time to configure it, you can further partition your disk into a third partition. We'll call it C2:. When you boot, it can ask if you want to boot to C: or C2: which gives you two OSs on the same PC. I do this, and only use C: for banking, purchases, but I use C2: for work VPN, internet, etc. All data is accessible via either OS. I have image backups of C2: also.
Good luck
C: OS
D: Data
I make an image backup of C: twice a year, and can always restore to that point. My data isn't impacted because I have all the data on a separate logical drive (D
.If you want to get more flexibility, and have the time to configure it, you can further partition your disk into a third partition. We'll call it C2:. When you boot, it can ask if you want to boot to C: or C2: which gives you two OSs on the same PC. I do this, and only use C: for banking, purchases, but I use C2: for work VPN, internet, etc. All data is accessible via either OS. I have image backups of C2: also.
Good luck
May 22, 2013 | 12:54 pm
#26
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oregon
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1MM, HH Diamond, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,055
...I think the best approach is a virtual machine set-up under Win7 on my primary machine. That would just require a single icon for Mrs. PTravel to click and I could even put FireFox (her browser of choice) in the start up folder. I'd give it internet access and access to a printer, only, and no file access (though maybe I'll stick a USB drive on the computer or the LAN for her to use).
May 22, 2013 | 3:55 pm
#27
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: IAD
Programs: United MP
Posts: 7,857
I leave the computer on all the time -- there are other machines that access it for various reasons, and I'll frequently remote into it via VNC to do something. I don't want to lose that access, plus it's a pain to log in and out -- it takes almost as much time as warm reboot.
May 22, 2013 | 4:24 pm
#28
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Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
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I think my inclination at this point is to re-partition the SSD and copy the system drive over from the hard drive on which it originally resided when I installed the SSD last year. I'll lose a lot, but it's better than having to install everything again from scratch. I will still have to "deactivate" a lot of my purchased software, and will undoubtedly have to deal with some vendors that don't provide for deactivation and will tell me I've already activated my software. What a pain!
BTW, does anyone know if (1) it is possible to do a low-level format on an SSD, and (2) whether there's any free software around that will do it?
BTW, does anyone know if (1) it is possible to do a low-level format on an SSD, and (2) whether there's any free software around that will do it?
May 22, 2013 | 4:25 pm
#29
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I think my inclination at this point is to re-partition the SSD and copy the system drive over from the hard drive on which it originally resided when I installed the SSD last year. I'll lose a lot, but it's better than having to install everything again from scratch. I will still have to "deactivate" a lot of my purchased software, and will undoubtedly have to deal with some vendors that don't provide for deactivation and will tell me I've already activated my software. What a pain!
BTW, does anyone know if (1) it is possible to do a low-level format on an SSD, and (2) whether there's any free software around that will do it?
BTW, does anyone know if (1) it is possible to do a low-level format on an SSD, and (2) whether there's any free software around that will do it?
May 22, 2013 | 4:36 pm
#30
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I think the best solution is to hit Mrs PTravel over the knuckles with the laptop ! Mind you it does sound like she is being treated as guilty until proved innocent !
Mind you it does sound like she is being treated as guilty until proved innocent !