[ale] [OT] Databases of viruses/malware

[Ron Frazier]

Hi Randy,

I'm sorry, but, based on all the information I've heard from technical 
resources I trust, mostly podcasts on the TWIT network, many, but not 
all, modern viruses can either evade detection while the infected system 
is running or evade removal. In some cases, they use rootkit technology 
to hide themselves even from the operating system. In some cases, format 
and restore is the only option to be certain the virus is gone. If I or 
my family had a virus of any consequence, this is the method I would 
use. It depends on what you do with the computer, but I certainly don't 
want any doubts as to whether someone in Russia is receiving the logins 
to my bank account or copies of my tax returns. To each his own though. 
At the very least, I would boot a recovery CD and try to remove the 
virus from there. That way, the virus is not active while you're trying 
to get rid of it. Also, keep in mind that modern computer viruses 
mutate, the same way as biological ones do. They self encrypt parts of 
themselves. So, the signature for the virus may change from day to day 
and machine to machine.

A number of good technology related podcasts are available at:

http://www.twit.tv/

Sincerely,

Ron

On 03/02/2011 03:30 PM, Randy Ramsdell wrote:
> Ron Frazier wrote:
>    
>> Hi Mike,
>>
>> I'm not a virus expert, but here are some resources I've come across in
>> my reading and listening to virus related news over the years.
>>
>>      
> My god man, you really know that much about windows virus and cleaning
> methods.
>
> Short and simple.
> 1. Run AV software and choose to remove virus.
> 2. Go back to working on something important.
>
>    

-- 

(PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new messages very quickly.)

Ron Frazier

770-205-9422 (O)   Leave a message.
linuxdude AT c3energy.com