Software Every PC Technician Needs

This post will discuss software that I have found essential as a PC technician. This article is not intended as a step-by-step guide nor is it intended as a list of every app that technicians will ever need. It is simply an overview of software that I find fundamental to the PC technician.

Malware Removal

We already discussed my process for Malware Removal in a previous post. Here's a recap of the software that I use:

MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is one of the best malicious software removal tools available.

SUPERAntiSpyware is another excellent malicious software removal tool. Plus, it comes in a portable version.

ComboFix is great at root kit removal.

While CCleaner is not a malware removal tool, it is great at cleaning up junk before purging a system of malicious software. It also has an excellent portable version.

Live CDs

One of my favorite tools is Ultimate Boot CD for Windows. It is a boot CD based on Bart PE. The entire list of tools included with UBCD4Win is far too long to go into here. But, it includes anti-virus, backup, diagnostic, recovery, password, registry, and benchmarking tools. It is well worth your time to build a CD(or USB drive).

Another Live CD to add to your collection is Ubuntu. This user friendly Linux distribution includes a long list of tools as well. Plus, you can install additional software as needed.

Remote Software

I have found three way of supporting users remotely that I like.

First is Remote Assistant. It is built into Windows and works great. Also good are LogMeIn and DameWare. Try them out and see what works for you. 

Misc.

When users have their email applications remember their password for them, they often forget the password when the time comes to migrate to new hardware. Mail Pass View solves this. It can recover lost passwords for many different email apps.

Another thing that users can forget or misplace is product keys. ProduKey has this covered. It can recover product keys for both Windows and Office.

No matter how hard Microsoft tries, Windows XP just won't die. Technicians still spend a lot of time supporting it. I have found that nLite is essential for keeping my XP install CDs up-to-date with the latest Service Packs and patches. Not only that, you can customize the install disk in innumerable ways. It does take a while to download all the updates and set up the CD. But, in the long run, it saves countless hours of downloading updates for each individPC that you service.

A great companion to nLite is DriverPacks. With DriverPacks you can slipstream drivers for practically every hardware device under the sun. You can also create a stand alone disk for updating drivers.

Best for last...

Google. Okay, not really software, but it is vital for every PC technician. It is impossible to know or remember everything about all of the different versions of Windows, much less every application that one may encounter. I use Google all the time to research everything from error messages to how to install a low voltage power supply on a particular HP Laserjet model. Again, Google is indispensable.

Do you have any favorites that are not listed? Let's hear about them. Leave a comment.

How to Remove Malware

Today's post will demonstrate the method for removing malware the I have developed over the past couple of years. Malware includes virus, spyware, scareware, worm, root kit, or trojan infections.

First, boot the PC into Safe Mode. I always do this--no matter the type or severity of the infection. Booting into Safe Mode accomplishes two things. One, it disables services upon which the malicious software relies. Most of the pop-ups and the 'self defense mechanisms' associated with malware are crippled in Safe Mode. 'Self defense mechanisms' include blocking antivirus software from being installed, detecting the infection, or removing the infection. Two, booting into Safe Mode simply allows the scans to run much faster.

After you have booted into Safe Mode, run the portable version of CCleaner. This will remove a lot of junk and speed up scan times. Start up CCleaner, configure what you want removed by checking or un-checking the various boxes, and click Run Cleaner.

Next, click on the Registry tab and then click Scan for Issues. I have never run into any problems, but go ahead and back up the registry before fixing the issues that it will find. I usually back up the registry to the root of the C:\ drive or somewhere that the client won't find it and mistakenly reinstall it.

Next, install MalwareBytes AnitMalware. MalwareBytes is an excellent malware remover. After you have it installed, update it. If you have just downloaded the installer minutes before installing the software, update it anyway.

Next, return to the Scanner tab and run a Quick Scan. I have never found it necessary to do a Full Scan.

When the scan completes, close the text file that pops up and press the 'Remove Selected' button. Reboot, as instructed. Make sure to reboot into Safe Mode, again.

If you removed several hundred infections. It's a good idea to run the scan again after rebooting.

Next, run the portable version of SuperAntiSpyWare. Yes, it's a horrible name for software(or anything for that matter.) It sounds like something from a Japanese monster movie, but it's also an excellent malware removal tool.

Again, update first.

After updating is complete, click the Scan you Computer... button. Choose Perform Quick Scan and then click the Next Button.

SuperAntiSpyWare takes considerably longer to perform it's scan than MalwareBytes does. Be patient, remove the selected infections, and reboot as instructed. If the system is a x86 (i.e. a 32-bit system) reboot into Safe Mode. We have one more step to perform.

If it is a x64 system, you should be done. Boot the computer normally and check it out. Make sure that everything behaves as it should. Make sure that no proxies are set that shouldn't be set. Browse a few antivirus sites and Microsoft.com. If you can't browse these sites, start the process over from the beginning, the system is still infected. Also try scanning with whatever antivirus software your client already has installed. That is, assuming that it is up to date.

If you are working on a 32-bit system, run ComboFix from Bleeping Computer. Be forewarned, the developers of this software do not want you to run it with out their supervision. That being said, I have run ComboFix countless times and never had any problems. Again, be sure to read the disclaimer.

If ComboFix tells you that it needs an update, update it. If it tells you that the recovery console needs installing, install it. Otherwise, let it run. If ComboFix finds root kits, it may need to reboot the system. Don't do it yourself and don't worry about Safe Mode. Let the software do it's thing.

That should do it. Again, check the system out to see that it behaves as it should. Make sure that no proxies are set that shouldn't be set. (Internet Options>Connections Tab>LAN Settings Button>Proxy Server Section.) As above, browse Microsoft's site and a few big name anti-virus software companies' web sites.

If after performing the above process you find the system still infected, remove the hard drive from the system, slave to another clean system and run MalwareBytes and SuperAntiSpyWare on the infected drive. Also, scan the slaved drive with software like AVG or Microsoft Security Essentials.

Be sure to see an earlier post on how to keep your system from getting infected. After cleaning a system, it is a good idea to go through that process as well.

Protecting Your PC From Malicious Software

New threats are unleashed upon the internet each day. In this article, threats or malicious software (or malware) refer to a computer virus, worm, trojan, adware, scareware, or any other computer program designed to compromise your Personal Computer. Although, nothing is 100% foolproof, there are a few simple things that you can do to help keep your PC safer.

Install Anti-Virus Protection

First and foremost, install, run, and keep updated a good Anti-Virus program. I recommend AVG, Avira, Avast, or Microsoft Security Essentials. The first three have a free and a pay version. The pay versions offer a little wider protection. However, I recommend any of the three free versions for solid, basic protection. The fourth is a good, new, free product produced by Microsoft that is also worth considering.

You are, obviously, not restricted to these suggestions. But, you must choose something. Whatever your choice, make sure that you keep it running and up-to-date.

Keep Your System Updated

As new vulnerabilities and bugs are discovered, software companies issue patches, hotfixes, service packs, or updates to repair them. Keeping your software up-to-date is critical to protecting your system. As well as the security updates, you will also want to download and install any non-critical enhancements and added features.

Luckily, keeping Windows up-to-date is pretty simple. To immediately update your Windows XP system, follow this path, illustrated in the following short-hand:

Start>All Programs>Windows Update.



Select the Express method, then download and install the updates.



For Vista or Windows 7:

Start>All Programs>Windows Update.


Check for updates. Then download and install them.

But, even better than that, you should set your system to automatically update it's self. This is easy, as well. In Windows XP:

Start>Control Panel>Security Center>Automatic Updates>Select 'Automatic(Recommended)'

For Vista or Windows 7:

Start>All Program>Windows Update>Change Settings>



To keep up with the latest and greatest innovations on the internet, as well as the latest threats, your web browser must be kept up-to-date, too. If you insist on using Internet Explorer, following the above advice will keep your browser up-to-date along with Windows.

Other browers will keep themselves updated. You might see a pop-up asking you if you want to install updates now or later. Install them as soon as possible. You can check to make sure that you have the latest version on most browers: Help>Check for Updates...

Below is an example of Firefox's Software Update window.

Be sure to keep your Adobe products updated, as well.

To update Adobe Reader, again: Help>Check for Updates...

Check to see which version of Flash you have installed here. If you do not have the most recent version, download and install it.

Avoid Scams

Whether it's a link on a web site, in an email, in a chat room or a forum post, if it sounds too good to be true, it more than likely is. Avoid clicking any links congratulating you for winning a lottery that you didn't enter or offering free movie or music downloads. A lot of these sites host malicious software.

Be sure to avoid the scare tactics, too. Don't click on any links warning you that you are infected or that your system has been compromised. These are often scams looking to install malicious software on your PC or to get their hands on your wallet one way or another.

Logon With Limited Access

A study conducted a few months ago found that 92% of the vulnerabilties patched by Microsoft in 2008 could have had less impact if the users did not have administrative rights.

Here's what I suggest, give everyone that uses the computer an account with 'limited access.' The accounts with limited access will not have the ability to install new hardware or software. Therefore, you'll have to have one account with administrative privileges. Logon with this account only when you need to add a new account, install new software or hardware, or some other administrative task. Logon with the restricted account to check email, play online games, surf the web, or whatever you need to do on your computer.

Although there are registry hacks to show the Administrator account on the Welcome Screen, you'll probably find it easier to just create another account,

Give your new account a name, make the account type Computer Administrator, and create the account. After this new account is created, logon to your old account and change your account type to limited. Be sure to change any other user accounts to limited, as well.

You should give your new account a password if anyone besides yourself will use the computer. This includes anyone from co-workers to your kid's friends.

Thanks to Tim Biden for Tweeting about this study. Be sure to follow him.

Conclusion

As stated earlier, nothing can keep you 100% safe from the malicious software on the internet. But, following the above advice will tilt the odds in your favor.