Windows 7: Do not use Combofix on your own!!

Well- again, Im not arguing with the OP other than to say that he was a little overly scarey about a program I have used for years and had no issues with.

I made sure to be cautionary and say *...as a last resort* and that you should always let the admin make the descision on a network. I also stated that with any program that doesnt have MS cert, you use it at your own risk.

The responses to my posting seems to be an attack. I stated my experince with the program and the cautions that should be implimented. You wish me to be silent instead of letting people know that this isn't a scarey program to use on your own machine?

#1 If you dont have your machine backed up and you dont have a disk to restore your machine, you shouldn't be playing with any program like this.

#2 If you have followed the protocols in #1 then use any program you like and learn how it works and what it will do to your machine. Or use a secondary machine to test things on like I do. You learn much more by doing than you will learn anywhere.

#3 If you are working with a network machine, unless you are the Admin, dont do anything on your own. Build a server and play with it so you can make your mistakes in a situation where you dont have to worry about compromising security and or crashing the machine.

#4 The title is system security not network security and Combofix, in my experience, does nothing to mess with your security. I dont use an AV software so my machine is secured by me and since I am not perfect, I run into security issues occationally. And when I go to fix those issues, I do everything else before using Combofix. It has helped me recover from situations I have been told were unrecoverable.

#5 Combofix should NEVER be used as a primary fix. It is a last ditch to recover your system from hijacks, etc.

#6 When you use programs that aren't certified by microsoft, you are using them at your own risk.

Yes, because a large proportion of people here are the ones looking for help, not giving it out, so it's quite likely that they're not very confident with using a computer. If they see ComboFix fixing lots of issues in this forum they might think that it's a good idea for them to try it without knowing what it could do to their computer.

If you want to play with it, then get the necessary training beforehand so you know what you're doing.

So the 162 A4 pages of ComboFix tutorials are useless then? When everyone can apparently learn on the job.

You see, you're wrong again. ComboFix performs certain subroutines dependent on what files it detects in the initial scan, if you remove some of these then there's a good chance that others will be missed as a consequence. Perform initial scans (OTL, DDS, GMER etc.), diagnose problems then use the appropriate tools.

Tom, you forgot
If we follow this, most would have no software to use.

ComboFix: A guide and tutorial on using ComboFix

ok then... there's the help with Combo fix

And if you DL it, be sure to note that this version has been downloaded over 4 million times

Also note that Combofix themselves give the warnings I stated and the warnings the OP stated.

Did you forget you posted this drivel Shane?!?

That's a general guide on the installation, not the usage. It's designed to save the malware removal experts the hassle of having to explain it each time, instead we give warnings and links. So yes, it's help, but not the help that would make you know how to use CF properly and safely.

Sorry to be blunt, but what's that got to do with anything?

Are these the warnings that you are arguing against?

I can't give some 'rep' to the people who totally "get" this topic (need to spread more around), but the rebuttle of not using Combofix on your own is well documented by them! Thank you team!!

Thank you Jacee for the original post. Let's hope it educates some. A Guy

Yes! Jacee you've saved many a butt around here.

Well... I guess 14 years of using a program doesn't qualify me as an expert. Nor does 20+ years of working with computers. So I'll leave you *experts* to your certifications.

FYI- it says IT student because due to health issues I lost my career. I went to get a job in the field and couldnt due to a lack of certifications. Not a lack of knowledge. I would have hoped that you would have asked me pertinant questions about the program, etc instead of attacking me. But I can see that without those certs I may as well be trying to convince a congressman not to load a bill with earmarks.

I wish you all well and hope that you have as much luck with your other programs as I have had with this one.