SOS- Anti-virus Rescue Disks to the rescue

Posted on Aug 12,2008

I'm generally called up by friends and family to fix their computers when things go wrong. Fixing often means getting rid of malware stuck deep into their systems. And have you noticed the ugly trend now? No longer do you find viruses that destroy data, but rather Trojans that very happily collect data and phone home to their server secretly. Well if I've to choose between data destroying virus and secretly collecting information virus, I'd rather prefer the latter.

In any case, this often means I've to download updated virus definitions, carry anti-virus software installers, process explorer when Windows Task Manager fails to open, spyware programs and assorted cleaning utilities to pry the nasty buggers loose. Though this kit does most of my job, I do lack one essential utility - a Rescue Disk.

Rescue disks aren't backed up files; these are special anti-virus disks that can be used to scan the computer without starting the operating system. What's the use of this, plenty!

Why use Rescue Disks

1. Rescue Disks can scan when the operating system in not ON, meaning if a virus is preventing it's deletion under Windows or any other operating system, the anti-virus on the rescue disk will instantly be able to remove the infection as the operating system is not active, rendering the virus inoperative.

2. Rescue Disks can help when Windows refuses to start due to virus attack. Just pop in the disk and let the scan begin, hopefully it can fix the problem by removing the virus.

3. Rescue disks aren't prone to virus attacks themselves as these are CD's normally (which are read only), or even if one uses USB devices, the virus cannot operate as it needs the operating system to work. Note in case of USB device, your BIOS has to have the ability to boot from USB device.

4. You'll definitely need a Rescue Disk if the over-smart virus doesn't let an already installed anti-virus do its job.

5. You'll definitely need a Rescue Disk if the virus prevents any attempts to install a fresh anti-virus.

Though one does not need something as severe as a Rescue Disk nowadays, I still prefer this method to booting into the OS and then scanning, as it's a lot more thorough.

Free VS Paid

This debate can go on for eternity - What is better paid or free? Let's not get into that, though I can say that free Anti-viruses generally do not allow one to create a "Rescue Disk", this option often is left to paid counterparts. However, there are always nice blokes that allow one to download/make Rescue disks for free, mind you these aren't worse or cut down versions of paid counterparts. Though I would still recommend you to check documentation before using an Anti-virus that claims to be free, as some scan and recognize for free but do not remove viruses.……..Continue reading