I ain’t that deep a geek who can hack into a Uni‘s website and get you question papers, neither I am a guy versed with creating PC viruses (I just know that Notepad is good enough for you to create a virus); but I can handle viruses well, can advise you on tech (especially software) issues and so on.
Coming to the core part, Computer Viruses are obnoxious little weeds who just trouble you in every possible way. We won’t discuss the technical part of it but rather discuss how to get rid of them.
First things first, a very simple yet very sophisticated advise: Never install any application that gets rid of malware (virus); in short Antivirus, Antispyware, Antimalware and so on; on a “”used”" PC. You can of course install the app if the PC was protected by other app initially. You can also install the application on a fresh PC and a ‘fresh’ PC means – it has not been connected to the internet and no remote storage media (CDs, DVDs, BRs, Flash drives, External Hard-disks) have been ever used with the system.
The reason: If your PC has ever got connected to the internet and the system has been used for normal web surfing without any protection, a probability of 1.0 prevails which suggests that your PC is infected. If that media comes from a trusted source, I guess you need not worry but if even the owner isn’t aware of infections, you better be wary.
Hence, these two – internet and media storage, do easily transmit infections and once a malware (or if you say virus) resides in your PC, it starts its work too soon. Predominantly it attacks the files associated to the operating system and the files associated to programs installed in your PC. In short, if the virus isn’t that dangerous, it would just slow down your system just a bit without you even not noticing the change. Anyway, the virus resides around and now, it resides over the installed programs as well. In this case, if you install an Antivirus (AV) program at this point, your programs which have been infected by the virus are surely going to stop running (because of the AV) and if the operating system files have also been touched by the badman, slowly your system might just go down.
Apart, if your virus is a bad one, it is possible that it starts his job first with the operating system files and within a matter of couple of days shuts your PC. But wait, don’t be too afraid, that kinda malware is very uncommon these days. You need to be way too unlucky to have those in your system.
Anyhow, if something alike mentioned above happens to you, you shouldn’t worry. There is always a way out – a tough one though.
SOS #1: If your PC has been hit by the worst – that is it won’t start and if would, it would stop at the login screen or in short, it wouldn’t let you access files, here’s what to do to get your important files back (I did this successfully to rescue some really important, P&C files of dad)
You’d need another system for this small process. If you have an alternate one, its fine; else catch hold of a friend or a cybercafe.
1. Get yourselves a blank CD or a blank DVD.
2.Next, go to www.puppylinux.com and download the latest version of Puppy Linux.
Puppy Linux is a free Operating system that would run from the CD itself. Its hardly is 70MB – 110MB in size and will download in minutes, given you have a good speed around.
3. The download file would be an “.iso” file. If you’ve Windows 7, it will be easy to burn the disk. Just pop in the blank disk and run the file; you’ll get an option from Windows offering you to “burn image to disk”. Unluckily if you don’t have have Windows 7, you might just have some disk burning software – Nero can do it, so can Roxio. If you have nothing left, you Free ISO Burner – its free, its small, does the job and its perfect!
Now the tough part is done. You have Puppy Linux and all should be well!
4. Go to your own defective PC. As the PC starts, somehow manage to find a way to change your “boot sequence”. It is usually done by pressing either “DEL” or “F12″ keys. On ThinkPad laptops, those can be done by pressing the “Thickvantage” button. In the boot sequence, change the settings so that the CD drive gets the priority instead of HDD. Now, save and restart the computer.
5. The PC will boot (start) with Puppy Linux. Select the options as they fall into place – its kinda too user friendly. Once the OS is up and running which would hardly take not more than 5 minutes after step #4, look for “Mount Drive” option. This lil app will let you access your hard disks. You can even run flash drives.
6. Save the required files to an external drive and voila you have just recovered your files back without paying your computer adviser a single penny!
But wait, do not pop in the flash drive in any darn system; only pop that in if that system is protected. Clean your drive, clean your docs and then use them.
The old PC now needs a format; install the OS from a scratch and the first thing to do should be installing some Antivirus program.
SOS #2 There is also a possibility that you pop in a media which is infected and even after having protection, the PC gets infected. Here, if you’re quick, you can make amends. All you need to do is, remove the media – update the AV and scan the system. Now, note down all the program that have been infected from the AV report- if you don’t find any program, good for you; if you find, re-install those. But if you’re late, better format the system.
As far as recommending any AV software is concerned, I’d say go for – Avira AntiVir Personal - its free, its effective and its really good in handling situations well. Doesn’t annoys for updates and upgrades and does the updates automatically in a particular time frame that you could customize.
Firewall is also a necessity but if you keep your Windows Firewall turned on, its fine. If you’re still too worried about having a firewall, go for ZoneAlarm Free Firewall.
This post has been aired in the past on Seventh Heaven.
