NunjaBusiness
Posts: 36 +0
"8 Steps" missing a couple of important ones!
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I am really surprised that the oft-quoted "8-step Viruses/Spyware/Malware Preliminary Removal Instructions" do not include two of the most important steps of all when diagnosing/fixing/cleaning any system:
Disable System Restore. (XP and beyond)
Back up your system. Or better yet, have automatic backups on an external drive and/or offsite that you have verified.
Then the other steps can be followed.
Let me explain why these two other steps are critical.
1. System Restore - Many malware products use the system restore feature to their advantage and that is EXACTLY how they keep coming back time after time, even after you remove them. The system restore function can be used by these malevolent processes to reinstantiate themselves every single time you reboot.
2. Backup - This should go without saying, but sadly a tiny percentage of users EVER back up their system and very few of them do it regularly or completely (verifying the ability to restore those files). A good backup will allow you to recover from absolutely any malady that befalls you and if you do incremental backups you can pretty much "go back in time" to a point before the affliction occured.
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I am really surprised that the oft-quoted "8-step Viruses/Spyware/Malware Preliminary Removal Instructions" do not include two of the most important steps of all when diagnosing/fixing/cleaning any system:
Disable System Restore. (XP and beyond)
Back up your system. Or better yet, have automatic backups on an external drive and/or offsite that you have verified.
Then the other steps can be followed.
Let me explain why these two other steps are critical.
1. System Restore - Many malware products use the system restore feature to their advantage and that is EXACTLY how they keep coming back time after time, even after you remove them. The system restore function can be used by these malevolent processes to reinstantiate themselves every single time you reboot.
2. Backup - This should go without saying, but sadly a tiny percentage of users EVER back up their system and very few of them do it regularly or completely (verifying the ability to restore those files). A good backup will allow you to recover from absolutely any malady that befalls you and if you do incremental backups you can pretty much "go back in time" to a point before the affliction occured.