SAS & Nod32 Clean up of infected pc

[jcampi]

We visited my nephew and wife last night and I brought along my stuff to work on their computer. I'm still amazed how many novices think you spending two hours on their pc is an inordinately long time. Many people I advise and work with are just so impatient when it comes to working and solving problems on their pc. I used the free version of SAS and it cleaned 111 items on their pc! Then, I ran SAS again - in Safe Mode and it found and cleaned another 32 infected files. I removed the Etrust version antivirus they were using and scanned the pc with the evaluation version of Nod32. It found and cleaned 18 infections! In the end I installed BitDefender Version 10 on their pc and all is well. I thought BitDefender 10 was ok for them, especially since they use Windows XP. I'd rather they pay for Nod32 and use it, but it's their call.
I was just surprised how everyone thought me spending two hours on the pc was so unreasonable and too long. I guess if you aren't used to working and resolving issues on a pc you just don't know how long it can take to fix an issue. I get the same thing from my wife all of the time. She hollers at me for taking too much time on the pc. I sure am thankful for SAS and Nod32. The free versions of each program helped me to fix this computer - for now.

[sho-dan]

Good job, J

Its a funny thing that it two hrs to clean it and to them its forever, but when they're on the computer for 8 hrs its like only a few minutes they were on the net. It must be internet withdrawal pangs they must be feeling.:D

[allheart55]

Both of you guys hit the nail on the head!! :D

[Seth]

Both of you guys hit the nail on the head!! :D

Agreed.

People have become so reliant on the net, that my customer's main question is not, "Can you fix it?", but rather, "How soon can you get it back to me?".

[jcampi]

It is really something. People just don't know much about malware at all. They know a little bit about viruses, but spyware and malware are still a mystery to them. Everyone was just so amazed how I took about two hours to clean this stuff up. I also think many users are impatient and think you can resolve their pc issue or clean up a mess in a matter of minutes. They don't realize it took them days or weeks to create their infected mess. This particular computer hasn't been cleaned or addressed for several months. It was amazing that it was even running. The owners don't know how to run a simple Internet cleanup or even know what a defrag program does. I could maintain the pc about every three to four weeks in this case.

[Dan18960]

As Seth says - they don't care IF you can fix it they just want you to get it back to them in 30 minutes OR LESS!

They think it is like one of those Jiffy Lube oil changes or Domino Pizza :mad2:

BUT I have to admit IF they don't "help" me, I can solve the problems a lot faster than if they have downloaded 1,000,000,000 free programs to try to clean it themselves.

Had a cleaning on Friday afternoon - took 1.5 hours to clean, update, and burn for the night. Some how MY Admuncher had been disabled and a FREE pop-up blocker with toolbars galore had been installed. Threw the drive in my bench box, ran AVG Pro against it, deleted about 45ish trojan files, and then mounted it back in the box. Blew away the toolbars (and the pop-up blocker disappeared in the process hmmmm), ran SAS and cleared out 71 infected registry entries, 1 memory resident, and 170ish internet temp scabs. Re-enabled Admuncher and setup the default settings that had been unchecked and everything was normal.

Client had Norton 360 - sure didn't provide much protection :eek:

[mylanta]

Client had Norton 360 - sure didn't provide much protection

Yeah but the name "360" is impressive, right? Next version will be called "24/7" for effect?

[Seth]

Yeah but the name "360" is impressive, right? Next version will be called "24/7" for effect?

Lol.

I can't remember if I posted this, but the last time I had to use the registry filter fix was because the customer purchased Norton 360 and realized that the cdrom wasn't reading cd's. So anyway, I fixed the cdrom read problem, then had to install 360. I'm still washing my hands:D.

[allheart55]

They think it is like one of those Jiffy Lube oil changes or Domino Pizza :mad2:

A five minute instant drive thru car wash without the wax! :D

BUT I have to admit IF they don't "help" me, I can solve the problems a lot faster than if they have downloaded 1,000,000,000 free programs to try to clean it themselves.

I love when my customers "just" drop off the tower, I take it home and no one is breathing down my neck asking me what was that or why did you get rid of my toolbar, I NEED that! More annoying than anything is HOW MUCH LONGER IS THIS GOING TO TAKE?????

Yeah but the name "360" is impressive, right? Next version will be called "24/7" for effect?

NORTON WHO? Nevva herd of 'em!:D Is that the dude that has goats? :mad2:

[June]

The owners don't know how to run a simple Internet cleanup or even know what a defrag program does. I could maintain the pc about every three to four weeks in this case.

John, you know that old Chinese proverb: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime". (http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/2279.html)

Unless your real purpose is to spend quality time with them, teach them how to maintain their computer. There was an excellent post awhile back with a list of maintenace to perform regularly on your computer. I couldn't find that post. Can someone find it for me?

[allheart55]

John, you know that old Chinese proverb: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime". (http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/2279.html)

Unless your real purpose is to spend quality time with them, teach them how to maintain their computer. There was an excellent post awhile back with a list of maintenace to perform regularly on your computer. I couldn't find that post. Can someone find it for me?
June, Were you looking for either one of these?
Get started with computer maintenance XP
http://www.kickenhardware.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11608 (http://www.kickenhardware.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11608)

Spring clean the computer
http://www.kickenhardware.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3835

[dale@fcg]

John,
Now you know why Dan charges double for relatives- and takes half of them to court for stress damages. Too much of this :ear:.

I totally agree with June, that if I'm gonna fix someone's computer for them, part of the price they pay is to listen to me tell 'em a thing or two about proper preventive maintenance, what with a good av, sas, and admuncher- no freeware apps (unless I approve) , no toolbars or file-sharing apps, and above all- no AIM or Aol at all for that matter (the garbage I've dealt with from Aol rivals Norton). Whether they choose to follow my instructions or not is their choice- but (1) many do care to do things right and just don't know how, so they are glad for the tips; (2) if they don't follow my advice, I can hold them accountable when (not if) that pc comes back a while later with same problems (at which point I re-image their pc back to the place it was when it left my place the first time- a quick fix if their ever was one. There's your half-hour solution, friends.)

Btw, John, I would NOT put much faith in the free BitDefender10 as it does not provide real-time protection (not at my latest check a few months back, anyway). You may be better served going with the free version of AVG or one of the other half decent freebies mentioned on this forum.

[June]

Thanks Cindy, As usual, you are right on top of things. The second one was the one I was looking for but BM's is a good one to keep on hand also.

[jcampi]

The version of BitDefender 10 I installed for them was not the free version (it's the full version). I did explain some matters with the user(s) about pc maintenance, but some people get it and some don't. I don't perform much user assistance to anyone outside my family at this time so my experience with users is pretty limited. I do feel for you guys that do this work as a full time business. However, sometimes dealing with family members and doing the work for 'free' can be more trouble than charging for it.