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+--- Thread: Can you “test” LL from USB on a computer with a virus? (/showthread.php?tid=4675)
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Can you “test” LL from USB on a computer with a virus? - JanetBiggar - 11-18-2017
this might be a dumb question, but here goes:
I have a youth who contacted me as his computer has a virus, he wondered if I had a Win 7 Pro disk and could reformat his computer. I’m meeting him Tuesday to show him LL 3.4 and if he likes it will load it as I do not want to get into doing the windows thing again - what a time and effort hog,
So I’m wondering:
1) if I can get into setup and change the boot order to USB first will LL start up if this computer does have a virus?
2) am I risking infecting my memory stick by doing so?
My rational is so that I can test drive LL to see if all works ok before using DBAN on the computer.
Thoughts or comments or advice?
Thanks,
Janet
Re: Can you “test” LL from USB on a computer with a virus? - rokytnji - 11-18-2017
It shouldn't infect the memory stick. Linux Lite does not mount drives till you tell it to. I've cleaned Windows machines like my wife 's gear and her co-workers at City Hall with Linux Live USB before. This is one reason I get free gear like you do when City Hall upgrades.
It is their way of paying me for free tech support.
If just wanting to test without mounting the internal hard drive to make sure hardware works and the usb boots. I see no problem.
I might suggest you next boot up a
https://www.eset.com/int/support/sysrescue/
Live Iso on that infected machine. Hook up a ethernet cable also and update virus definitions. Run the scan and clean it that way.
Just my 2 cents.
Re: Can you “test” LL from USB on a computer with a virus? - trinidad - 11-18-2017
1) Hardly ever need to reset the boot order. Use the one time boot option key usually a function key like F12. It's better to boot that way as changing boot order on BIOS that have been without power for a while can give you asset recognition problems requiring default reset just to boot anything.
2) Don't be in such a hurry to DBAN the drive. Newer boxes with proprietary EFIs can be rendereed unusable. Also DBAN is not the most effective way to clean a disk. I never use it. Use corrected dd from a Kali live disk.
3) You are very very unlikely to contract a data infection on a LL live disk for several reasons, not the least of which is that the data is not persistent.
4) Get a Kaspersky live disk to deal with Windows data infections. Very effective for ransomware (which will by the way mess with DBAN)
TC
Re: Can you “test” LL from USB on a computer with a virus? - rokytnji - 11-18-2017
Quote:4) Get a Kaspersky live disk to deal with Windows data infections. Very effective for ransomware (which will by the way mess with DBAN)
Just in case you did not know
Quote:The world’s top cyber security experts are divided over whether Russian intelligence hijacked Kaspersky software without its knowledge or whether the firm or one of its employees was complicit.
Citation: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-security-kaspersky-russia/kaspersky-lab-to-open-software-to-review-says-nothing-to-hide-idUSKBN1CS0Y1
It is your gear. Just letting ya know.
Re: Can you “test” LL from USB on a computer with a virus? - Valtam - 11-18-2017
Yeah I wouldn't touch Russian OR Chinese software with a 10ft barge pole, just my 2 cents.
Re: Can you “test” LL from USB on a computer with a virus? - richtea - 11-18-2017
usa.kaspersky.com
"Founded in 2004, Kaspersky Lab North America is a Massachusetts corporation and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of its holding company, Kaspersky Labs Limited, based in the United Kingdom.
We are one of the world’s largest privately owned cybersecurity companies. We operate in 200 countries and territories and have 35 offices in 31 countries."
If I should choose between Kaspersky and Chertoff, it would always be the former.
Re: Can you “test” LL from USB on a computer with a virus? - trinidad - 11-18-2017
Trying not to stutter, g g g g geopolitics, and of course politicians and newsmen are the brightest b b b b bulbs on the planet. Gimme a break.
TC
Re: Can you “test” LL from USB on a computer with a virus? - JanetBiggar - 11-19-2017
Thanks for the replies I feel more comfortable to check that LL runs before handling the virus.
So I’m now a bit cautious to use DBAN given what Trinidad said. I’m deducing that:
1) if I’m using it to wipe a computer on which I’ve used DBAN before and it didn’t appaear to cause any issues then I’m probably safe to use it again...does this make sense?
2) these particular computers are not newer ones. I’d say the majority are 6-10 years old. Any of what I’d consider “good ones” that I’d place with a youth going to University have been wiped and have Win 7 Pro reinstalled so I leave them as is.
3] I’ve just thought that DBAN would do a more complete job of wiping a computer that has not been wiped and may have donor information that could be retrieved. When you have the option for LL “to erase and install” is this type/degree of wiping sufficient both for privacy/security and in the case of handling the computer virus?
4) since the infected Computer is running Win XP I’m assuming it too is older so would have less concern about DBAN creating a problem. While it takes several hours to wipe it I’m familiar with using it and the results. It’s not that I’m unwilling to make and use the eset rescue disk, but it seems like extra work. Am I missing something important?
J
Re: Can you “test” LL from USB on a computer with a virus? - rokytnji - 11-19-2017
I only mentioned ESET in case you wanted to save the Windows 7 install. It is not beyond my skill set to rid a computer of personal data and save a Windows install.
If you wanna dd the hard drive to zeros plus the mbr on the hard drive. Then have at it with your method of choice.
My choice is usually : http://www.system-rescue-cd.org/Download/
Here is the Manual: http://www.system-rescue-cd.org/manual/
But. Use whatever you are comfy with.
Re: Can you “test” LL from USB on a computer with a virus? - richtea - 11-19-2017
Double-check trinidad points 2) and 4) above. This is why:
ad 2)
UEFI proves troublesome while installing Linux. As long as the hardware is old enough not to have it, you can ignore the issue.
ad 4)
"Virus" is as general as to be meaningless; note especially what trinidad says about ransomware. If there is malware on the computer, identification would be useful. There is anecdotal evidence of nasty stuff hiding, e.g., in CMOS clock, not just HDD.
I have always used DBAN on older Windows machines, to full satisfaction. It has also worked for you thus far, so why not stick with it?
Or not - overwriting the HDD with a Linux distro may well be sufficient, so you might skip the nuking stage altogether.
As for deleting all and sundry sensitive data from HDD, there is only one safe method: physical destruction. Depending on the capacity of the particular HDD with XP (Vista got obsolescent in 2009, so it may be long in the tooth indeed), another option might be replacing it with a brand new SSD. It need not be costly these days, and the old computer will run fast with it.