jpiaget
asked on
windows repair tool virus
I downloaded what looked like a legitimate program that popped up when I opened windows explorer and it turned out to be a virus. It has hidden my restore points, won't let me boot in safe mode and isn't identified by Macafee. I found it on google but haven't found a solution yet. My os is Windows 7.
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I would not install and use Microsoft Security Essentials except in a very limited, temporary mode when no other useful alternative is available.
It first makes no good sense that MS can provide good "free" security essentials when it can't already have the facilities simply built in. There is no good reason to think that MS has appropriate experience to create such a tool that would be reliable long term.
Now, MS can clearly hire anyone they want or contract with any vendor they want. But, IMO, it's not a business they should be in nor is it one that we should encourage. The most likely outcome is a shrinkage of competitive anti-virus/anti-malware research, and that can only do harm in the long run.
Many good AV vendors provide competent free AV versions of their products. Only by being successful at blocking attacks can those vendors thrive. Users learn to feel trust in them and feel better about purchasing their higher end products when purchases need to be made. The use of the free versions provides significant feedback to the companies, helping them to detect new threats quickly. The sales of their higher end products fund the research and the necessary production and distribution costs.
If MS becomes a leading supplier, the competition necessarily is crippled. The result will be a continuing spiral downward as fewer and fewer resources can be assigned to investigate potential vulnerabilities. The MS offering will appear more and more to be the better choice, and it possibly will be.
Microsoft gains, competition suffers, and all users become less secure.
If MS creates an environment that is inherently safe, it will be a different situation. Until it does, IT professionals should think long before wide acceptance of its entry into this market segment.
Tom
It first makes no good sense that MS can provide good "free" security essentials when it can't already have the facilities simply built in. There is no good reason to think that MS has appropriate experience to create such a tool that would be reliable long term.
Now, MS can clearly hire anyone they want or contract with any vendor they want. But, IMO, it's not a business they should be in nor is it one that we should encourage. The most likely outcome is a shrinkage of competitive anti-virus/anti-malware research, and that can only do harm in the long run.
Many good AV vendors provide competent free AV versions of their products. Only by being successful at blocking attacks can those vendors thrive. Users learn to feel trust in them and feel better about purchasing their higher end products when purchases need to be made. The use of the free versions provides significant feedback to the companies, helping them to detect new threats quickly. The sales of their higher end products fund the research and the necessary production and distribution costs.
If MS becomes a leading supplier, the competition necessarily is crippled. The result will be a continuing spiral downward as fewer and fewer resources can be assigned to investigate potential vulnerabilities. The MS offering will appear more and more to be the better choice, and it possibly will be.
Microsoft gains, competition suffers, and all users become less secure.
If MS creates an environment that is inherently safe, it will be a different situation. Until it does, IT professionals should think long before wide acceptance of its entry into this market segment.
Tom
ASKER
Thanks. Sorry I didn't get back sooner. The boot disc worked.
You might wish to first boot with Ultimate boot CD and be sure you have saved any important data.
... Thinkpads_User