Should you reload your OS when you system is compromised?

[Jimmy Smith]

Hi

In the event that you get a virus on your OS, and you remove it using Malwarebytes, and change all your passwords, how can you be 100% sure that there is nothing left behind by the virus or hacker on the system? Is the best option to wipe the disk and reload the OS?

Thanks
Jimmy

 

[Koroke San]

The best option is do a backup so if u get in situation like this, backup will save u.

 

[Deleted member 178]

it is what i do , i dont let any % chance to get leftovers

 

[Ink]

Reload? Do you mean a reformat followed by a clean installation.

- Connect to the Internet
- Activate your Windows OS
- Use Windows Updates to fully update.
- Create rescue mediums (Windows 7 and higher allows a Rescue disc and System Image disc to be created - Windows Backup and Recovery).
- Download AV or Suite directly from developers website (on this PC) - there's always a risk when transferring data via USB.
- Install, Update and reboot PC.
- Personalise your PC.

 

[Deleted member 178]

i second the post above

 

[Cain]

I just can't trust her once she's been violated
...Strip down and full rebuild.

 

[Exterminator]

Reload? Do you mean a reformat followed by a clean installation.

- Connect to the Internet
- Activate your Windows OS
- Use Windows Updates to fully update.
- Create rescue mediums (Windows 7 and higher allows a Rescue disc and System Image disc to be created - Windows Backup and Recovery).
- Download AV or Suite directly from developers website (on this PC) - there's always a risk when transferring data via USB.
- Install, Update and reboot PC.
- Personalise your PC.

This is the best option to be absolutely sure

 

[Shaun]

You could use a previous backup if you had one.
Or run a few different AV scanners.
Or use the recovery partition if your computer has one?
Or if indeed it just affected your OS back up everything you need that will not have been infected or that you are sure is safe along with all the product keys of any software you have bought(You should have them but this is a precaution) then make a list of all the programs you have. After that reinstall your OS and put everything back on it.

 

[LuciferSam]

Does Win 7 / 8 installation rewrite MBR? Some malware writes itself into Master Boot Record, and time ago i read a malware that writes itself into bios EEPROM (mebromi) just like his father: CiH. I don't know for UEFI firmware, anyway...

 

[Koroke San]

Does Win 7 / 8 installation rewrite MBR?

Some rootkit bypassed even u clean format it. If u wipe ur disk before clean install then rookit can't bypass ur system.

 

[LuciferSam]

Some rootkit bypassed even u clean format it. If u wipe ur disk before clean install then rookit can't bypass ur system.

Seems strange, I mean if I rewrite Boot Record and Master Boot Record with a standard Boot Record / Master Boot Record, should be ok. If you have some malware like this, can you post it into malware exchange? Thanks

 

[Koroke San]

Seems strange, I mean if I rewrite Boot Record and Master Boot Record with a standard Boot Record / Master Boot Record, should be ok. If you have some malware like this, can you post it into malware exchange? Thanks

Don't know much about it & i saw a peep tested it in yt video, some rootkits bypassed it

 

[ZeroDay]

Just make sure you've always got a clean system image.

 

[Deleted member 178]

if the worst case some malwares infect the BIOS so reformating is useless until you flash the BIOS; but a clean reinstallation should negate any "normal" infections.

 

[Koroke San]

if the worst case some malwares infect the BIOS so reformating is useless until you flash the BIOS

Can u make a review on that how to flash BIOS?

 

[Deleted member 178]

cannot since each BIOS is different; using different flash tools

 

[Koroke San]

ok, got it