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Free, Near-Foolproof Way to Evade Windows Spyware

Posted by timothy on from the when-100-percent-is-just-too-darn-good dept.

adam wenner writes "I have typed up instructions for 'non-computer people' on how to remove spyware and malware (and viruses for that matter). I have tested this procedure on about 40 computers and have never had any problems with any of it. Most people would say a nice 'format c:' would solve the problem, but for most people, that isn't good, and it's a headache reinstalling and migrating stuff over to a freshly formatted machine." I could have used this a few months ago while trying to mitigate malware damage to a friend's system.

10 of 72 comments (clear)

  1. Expected Linux/10 by jZnat · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Considering this is a /. article, I figured the perfect method to do so would be installing Linux. It fits the description perfectly!

    --
    'Yes, firefox is indeed greater than women. Can women block pops up for you? No. Can Firefox show you naked women? Yes.'
  2. format C: by EnderWigginsXenocide · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Most people would say a nice 'format c:' would solve the problem, but for most people, that isn't good

    Because we're focused on helping 'non-computer people.'

    They might not be able to understand the command line interface to type such a command, nor find the format option in the menu and successfully slection the right options from the dialog box.

    --
    Blessed are the pessimists, for they have made backups. -- 0 1 My two bits
  3. I'd be the last to post something like this, but by A+beautiful+mind · · Score: 2, Insightful

    this article gives new information how exactly?

    Also, if adware/spyware/virus infections are really that big of a problem you can always switch to a better designed system. Like linux (yeah i know).

    Still, the best solution would be simply to educate users, specifically educate enough users so that spam/virus infections would not reach critical mass to be able to survive.

    --
    It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
    Be yourself no matter what they say
  4. An alternative way... by OneDeeTenTee · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Run windows on a livecd.

    Just reboot, and POOF! all the spyware is gone.

    --
    Stop the world; I need to get off.
  5. Re:I'd be the last to post something like this, bu by timothy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    a) The good thing about the linked list is that it gives a step-by-step for those not much familiar with Windows (like me), but sometimes asked to help with someone else's crippled machine.

    b) Not everyone's ready to give up Windows; the grandmother whose machine I (very slightly) helped clean up this winter likes Windows well enough, when it's working, and she brings home work from the office to do on it. Her husband's machine, though, I just replaced with one running Knoppix. Progress, progress. They both like the card games that come with a typical Linux install (and there are more than come with Windows).

    c) This *is* educating users.

    So ... what's the problem? :)

    timothy

    --
    jrnl: http://tinyurl.com/c2l8yr / foes: http://tinyurl.com/ckjno5
  6. Firefox is perfect by brianmf · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Mozilla Firefox is an open-source web browser that has been taking the internet by storm, it is the fastest browser out there, and is devoid of software holes that previously allowed spyware onto your system in the first place while you surfed with Internet Explorer

    Firefox has zero bugs???

    1. Re:Firefox is perfect by rbochan · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Nowhere does it say there are zero bugs, not even in the quote you pasted.
      What it does say, however, is that Firefox doesn't have the software holes, namely Active-X garbage (which IE does), that allow the spyware in. He's just saying so in plain language for non-geeks, who couldn't care less what Active-X is anyway.

      --
      ...Rob
      The American Dream isn't an SUV and a house in the suburbs; it's Don't Tread On Me.
  7. A couple of extra steps.. by Mike+McCune · · Score: 4, Insightful

    1. Don't run as administrator. Create another account as restricted user for daily use. Most spyware requires administrator rights to install.

    2. Download and install Microsoft Antispyware http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/s oftware/default.mspx . Sure is is still beta but it works pretty well. For those anti MS types out there, MS bought this software from Giant Software.

    Any other tips?

    --

    In a world that is Free and Open, who needs Windows and Gates?

    1. Re:A couple of extra steps.. by Curien · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It works fine in Windows. I've been doing it since 2000 (the year, not the OS -- well OK, the OS too).

      Frankly, your "large amount of clients" point is the most bogus of them all. Do you actually work in a corporate environment? I do, with thousands of users. A handful -- 100 or so -- have admin permissions. Believe me, it solves more problems than it creates.

      --
      It's always a long day... 86400 doesn't fit into a short.
  8. yeah, Linux is the solution to everything by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    step 2: spend an entire day trying to configure your hardware
    step 3: realize that you can't play games with Linux
    step 4: figure out that Linux is not ready for the desktop
    step 5: format harddrive and install Windows, the best desktop OS