by williamconley » Mon Sep 19, 2011 5:00 pm
And I'm not saying fighting a virus isn't great sport ... but is it worth the risk and effort (both)?
10 years or so ago when most of the country (windows users anyway) got hit with that supervirus (ok, lots of places did), I got a heads-up call from a network admin that she had "a problem" with her network, and I should check ours, too. Turns out servers across the known universe were being hit. Her company called in "the pros", and my boss said "handle it, but it comes out of YOUR department's budget".
Her company's "Pro's" battled the virus, blew about $8000, lost that day's data, wiped all the workstations and servers clean and reinstalled all their software. Bear in mind, that we both had Norton installed. And updated.
*I* on the other hand (after learning that when the Pro's began to try to delete files and fight the virus ... it began do delete data and essential system files!), did that thing many forget in that moment. I initated a backup, and told everyone on the sales floor and admin offices to Keep Paper Copies of everything today.
As soon as the backup completed, I broke our connection to the Net (pissed off everyone, of course, but since we didn't have VOIP, it was not a big deal).
As soon as business closed for the night, I did another backup, and once again pulled out the DAT tapes as soon as they were done for storage (hoping they would not be corrupt).
Then I shut off every computer in the office by pulling the plug, including the servers.
Then I turned on the net.
Then I booted every machine from a Live Desktop (Demo!) CD one at a time, starting with the domain controller ... and scrubbed every computer in the office with "Housecall" and every other virus checker I could find until each one scanned clean.
Then I loaded up the new virus rules into Norton (apparently there was a new version for some reason) ... and restored the data and immediately scanned again.
*Poof* no loss of servers or systems or $8000 (but I worked well into the morning). Nobody took a pay cut. (I got the next day off due to unconsciousness.)
You ready to try to do that without Norton or Housecall? There are rootkit detectors for Linux. It should only take a few hours. Maybe.
Or you can just back up your mysql data (text file, no virus) and reinstall, then restore your data.
Up to you, though. Obviously.
Vicidial Installation and Repair, plus Hosting and Colocation
Newest Product: Vicidial Agent Only Beep - Beta
http://www.PoundTeam.com # 352-269-0000 # +44(203) 769-2294