THE 'Fix Me Stick'
- Thread starter Dawgger
- Start date
Interesting discussion here
Basically, it is a scripted execution of a bunch of existing file scanners, anti-virus and malware removal programs.
Lots of technical guys are going to say you can do-it-yourself by finding all the programs online for free etc. But for someone with a locked up computer or something really wonky with it, or just someone who doesnt want to spend a day tinkering, it seems like a reasonable option. Better first attempt before just taking it in to some computer repair place.
Basically, it is a scripted execution of a bunch of existing file scanners, anti-virus and malware removal programs.
Lots of technical guys are going to say you can do-it-yourself by finding all the programs online for free etc. But for someone with a locked up computer or something really wonky with it, or just someone who doesnt want to spend a day tinkering, it seems like a reasonable option. Better first attempt before just taking it in to some computer repair place.
Read some reviews and while they aren't negative, I really did not find them positive either. It sounds real simple but when you read the reviews there could be issues. Still not sure about the cost of this thing either. Was hoping someone on here had tried and would have definitive position. if no one on the board has tried it, I think I have my answer.
Hi Dawgger, I personally don't think this product is worth shit
http://www.walmart.ca/en/fixmestick/N-1021412
and pc mag has reviews. There really isn't a magic stick/drive etc that can clean up a f'ed up machine. Yes it may save you, depending on what version of the common cold you have caught. For that price, get an external drive. $60/1t. I would get 2 in that case, 1 for your back up and the other one you put in when your computer/main drive is screwed. No magic here, That's my opinion btw and might not be worth 2 cents.
but I speak from experience, and check my last/most recent post. No shortcuts on the market. I wish windoze went over to a jounalized file system like (apple/linux)
it boils down to, how important is your shit, costwise/timewise?
http://www.walmart.ca/en/fixmestick/N-1021412
and pc mag has reviews. There really isn't a magic stick/drive etc that can clean up a f'ed up machine. Yes it may save you, depending on what version of the common cold you have caught. For that price, get an external drive. $60/1t. I would get 2 in that case, 1 for your back up and the other one you put in when your computer/main drive is screwed. No magic here, That's my opinion btw and might not be worth 2 cents.
but I speak from experience, and check my last/most recent post. No shortcuts on the market. I wish windoze went over to a jounalized file system like (apple/linux)
it boils down to, how important is your shit, costwise/timewise?
Dawgerr
Do you currently have a problem you want to resolve or are you just looking for something preventative?
If you are just looking to stay safe, then get an external drive as enyaw suggested. Partition it into two partitions and copy your data, picture and document files only to one partition, and then back up your system to the other partition using whatever Back up software you like, even with whatever Windows comes with. Set it to automatically back up every day. Once you back it up the first time, you can likely plug it into a USB port on your WiFi router and it will do the incremental backups wirelessly.
And also get one of the free anti-virus programs like AVAST
Here is a quicky run down on some
http://lifehacker.com/five-best-desktop-antivirus-applications-1607557993
Do you currently have a problem you want to resolve or are you just looking for something preventative?
If you are just looking to stay safe, then get an external drive as enyaw suggested. Partition it into two partitions and copy your data, picture and document files only to one partition, and then back up your system to the other partition using whatever Back up software you like, even with whatever Windows comes with. Set it to automatically back up every day. Once you back it up the first time, you can likely plug it into a USB port on your WiFi router and it will do the incremental backups wirelessly.
And also get one of the free anti-virus programs like AVAST
Here is a quicky run down on some
http://lifehacker.com/five-best-desktop-antivirus-applications-1607557993
Back atcha Schlong,
I'm far from techie. Initially I saw this thing advertised on TV and it sounded like a tool that would help someone like me.The more I read about it the more I am sure it would cause me more grief than anything. I do use avast and swear by it. I like your advice now all I have to do is utilize it. Thanks
I'm far from techie. Initially I saw this thing advertised on TV and it sounded like a tool that would help someone like me.The more I read about it the more I am sure it would cause me more grief than anything. I do use avast and swear by it. I like your advice now all I have to do is utilize it. Thanks
Ain't that the truth!!!!
WHEN, not if, you have a HDD crash or virus/malware attack you will make the time from that moment forward!
Regarding Fix Me Stick:
I personally don't have experience with the Fix Me Stick, but I can confirm that the professional technicians at the company I work for, use USB sticks and/or CD based tools when trying to scan and eradicate malware. Windows OS has lots of limitations - one of the biggest is; if a computer boots into the OS, there are many places a virus can hide that prevents detection and/or removal. That's why most professional tools boot the computer from a CD/USB, thus preventing the OS from becoming active allowing for a higher probability of detection and removal. <-- fact is most professional techs will run their tools and if a problem still exists: reformat the drive, reimage the OS and reinstall the data from backups. It's simply not cost/time effective to manually remove malware.
"I've never gotten a virus ......"
I hear and read this statement all the time, including here on TERB. I usually respond with "how do you know? Fact is most AV software products only detect 95-98% of malware. Currently there is >>10,000,000 known viruses. Not all are a concern, but there are >200,000 currently undetectable malware payloads and zero-day threats being created every day. Most malware is totally invisible to the PC's user, for example a key logger, port scanner, email relay or even a DOS bot. Some malware limit the amount of CPU, memory and bandwidth they use and can hide themselves in the process table. Some are only active for short periods or on certain days. My point is: 99% of us have no f*cking idea if we have malware or not.
Everybody I'm sure has read about preventing viruses and good pc habits. I'll push two: RUN YOUR SCANS WHILE IN WINDOWS SAFE MODE (better, but not foolproof). If you are bit of a techie, create a bootable Windows CD/DVD and install a virus scanner along with malwarebytes and superantispyware. Boot your PC from the disk and run your scans from it. I'll try to find a good tutorial and post the link in this thread.
"back-up to an external drive and you will be safe"
This is always good advice, although it's not foolproof. Some malware has the ability to attach themselves to applications and files and aren't detectable because the OS/AV is compromised. It's rare, but it's possible. When you copy the file to the drive and back again during recovery .... you are re-infected. In the business world, a common methodology is to back-up to a server or SAN. The server/SAN independently scans for viruses in a virtual protected image (similar to a sandbox if I understand correctly) and since the scan is independent of the compromised PC OS, more viruses can be detected. Not all, but more. ;-)
Also if you simply leave your external drive attached to your PC to allow for incremental backups, a malicious virus could erase it, then your PC and you are left with nothing. External hard drive are unreliable, they will fail eventually.
I use an SSD external drive for weekly backups and I also back-up monthly or as appropriate to DVDs. It's a hassle, but it's safer and provides archival quality storage for my pictures, tax files, etc. Even DVD-R have a shelf life, but it's a good, cheap, safe alternative.
What if a fire destroys your PC and backup drive? Consider an encrypted (on your PC) cloud solution or store your back-up DVDs at another location.
I personally don't have experience with the Fix Me Stick, but I can confirm that the professional technicians at the company I work for, use USB sticks and/or CD based tools when trying to scan and eradicate malware. Windows OS has lots of limitations - one of the biggest is; if a computer boots into the OS, there are many places a virus can hide that prevents detection and/or removal. That's why most professional tools boot the computer from a CD/USB, thus preventing the OS from becoming active allowing for a higher probability of detection and removal. <-- fact is most professional techs will run their tools and if a problem still exists: reformat the drive, reimage the OS and reinstall the data from backups. It's simply not cost/time effective to manually remove malware.
"I've never gotten a virus ......"
I hear and read this statement all the time, including here on TERB. I usually respond with "how do you know? Fact is most AV software products only detect 95-98% of malware. Currently there is >>10,000,000 known viruses. Not all are a concern, but there are >200,000 currently undetectable malware payloads and zero-day threats being created every day. Most malware is totally invisible to the PC's user, for example a key logger, port scanner, email relay or even a DOS bot. Some malware limit the amount of CPU, memory and bandwidth they use and can hide themselves in the process table. Some are only active for short periods or on certain days. My point is: 99% of us have no f*cking idea if we have malware or not.
Everybody I'm sure has read about preventing viruses and good pc habits. I'll push two: RUN YOUR SCANS WHILE IN WINDOWS SAFE MODE (better, but not foolproof). If you are bit of a techie, create a bootable Windows CD/DVD and install a virus scanner along with malwarebytes and superantispyware. Boot your PC from the disk and run your scans from it. I'll try to find a good tutorial and post the link in this thread.
"back-up to an external drive and you will be safe"
This is always good advice, although it's not foolproof. Some malware has the ability to attach themselves to applications and files and aren't detectable because the OS/AV is compromised. It's rare, but it's possible. When you copy the file to the drive and back again during recovery .... you are re-infected. In the business world, a common methodology is to back-up to a server or SAN. The server/SAN independently scans for viruses in a virtual protected image (similar to a sandbox if I understand correctly) and since the scan is independent of the compromised PC OS, more viruses can be detected. Not all, but more. ;-)
Also if you simply leave your external drive attached to your PC to allow for incremental backups, a malicious virus could erase it, then your PC and you are left with nothing. External hard drive are unreliable, they will fail eventually.
I use an SSD external drive for weekly backups and I also back-up monthly or as appropriate to DVDs. It's a hassle, but it's safer and provides archival quality storage for my pictures, tax files, etc. Even DVD-R have a shelf life, but it's a good, cheap, safe alternative.
What if a fire destroys your PC and backup drive? Consider an encrypted (on your PC) cloud solution or store your back-up DVDs at another location.
