Do not use Combofix on your own!!

[Jacee]

This is a 'specialized/heavy duty tool' and it can render your computer as a doorstop if not used without trained supervision.

Please don't download and run it unless you are asked to do so by a "certified" malware instuctor who has gone through the use and special training of this Application.

You have been warned. :warn:

 

[marsmimar]

Good reminder, Jacee.

 

[Golden]

+1 Jacee. Glad to see its stickied.

 

[A Guy]

+1, glad you made this post Jacee We might add, if you are not a trained malware instructor, don't recommend Combofix as well. Point the poster towards this forum, and one of our certified experts will do any recommending. A Guy

 

[python134r]

Yeah, I agree.......I have seen a few folks hose their OS installs. Good intentions, in the history of humankind more suffering has been allocated under the auspices of "good intentions.

OK, I took it to a level it did not need to go to.................................................

 

[Zepher]

Where do you get special training to use this app?
There aren't any options or setting or anything you can mess with when running this app, you just run it and let it do it's thing.
I use it all the time on systems that are infected, haven't had an issue in the 3-4 years I've used it.
It's usually the only thing that can fix a machine to get it to boot properly and then I can run other malware and virus apps to get rid of anything else left over.

 

[A Guy]

Most forums that have instructions for using Combofix, also say to do so only after being asked to do so by a helper. There are sites that will interpret your results, but again, only if you have been asked to run it.

You should not run ComboFix unless you are specifically asked to by a helper. Also, due to the power of this tool it is strongly advised that you do not attempt to act upon any of the information displayed by ComboFix without supervision from someone who has been properly trained. If you do so, it may lead to problems with the normal functionality of your computer.

Source

Forums to receive help

As with registry cleaners, while it may be ok for you, I believe it is a much different thing recommending Combofix to another, especially when the post may be viewed by thousands, any of which might decide to try it themselves, with possible disastrous results. I'm sure Jacee or Corrine could tell us how you become trained in it's use. A Guy

 

[Zepher]

Ok, I see what's going on. That statement on their site is a disclaimer so that they aren't responsible for anything going wrong.
They are passing responsibility to the helper.

 

[A Guy]

Well, I'm sure that enters into it, but I interpret to mean don't try this on your own. Only when asked to, and then only under expert supervision. A Guy

 

[tom982]

Where do you get special training to use this app?
There aren't any options or setting or anything you can mess with when running this app, you just run it and let it do it's thing.
I use it all the time on systems that are infected, haven't had an issue in the 3-4 years I've used it.
It's usually the only thing that can fix a machine to get it to boot properly and then I can run other malware and virus apps to get rid of anything else left over.

There are several schools teaching malware removal, I'm currently studying at GeeksToGo in their university called GeekU On the UNITE site, you can find a list of malware removal schools:

UNITE - Unified Network of Instructors and Trained Eliminators

It's a lot of work, but I would really recommend doing it. I'm currently 9 months into my training.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Um now just being your average small nong if I had not read this I might have gone in boots and all - thanks Jaycee.

But just as matter of curiosity why should such an app be freely available for dopes like me to use and not be really fully aware of the consequences. Because I suppose you are always going to get the ones - like me who will try anything if frustrated enough?

From the little understanding I can glean does this app work like those regedits one does in some of the tutorials? - which is why I said I would be diving in without testing the depth of the water so to speak

 

[A Guy]

The security forum(s) where Combofix originated, will warn about it's use. But it's all the "helpful" people posting "try this program for your problem, it's great!" that are the issue. Lots of dangerous things are freely available, it's the end user not researching what they are about to use that is the issue. But then, that's what dopes do

A Guy

 

[ICIT2LOL]

The security forum(s) where Combofix originated, will warn about it's use. But it's all the "helpful" people posting "try this program for your problem, it's great!" that are the issue. Lots of dangerous things are freely available, it's the end user not researching what they are about to use that is the issue. But then, that's what dopes do

A Guy

Yeah mate gung ho dopes like me but I do usually research a bit before I do anything but not being that savvy some things just look too easy eh?

 

[A Guy]

Lol, didn't mean you You might run it and all will be well, but then again...

People run these cleaner/optimization programs willy nilly all the time. Hell, they pay for them. Might even use them with no issue. Or use them 1000 times, but #1001...oh boy. A Guy

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yeah I guessed you didn't mean me but all the same something that I would be likely to do in the mad scramble to get things done

Yeah I know been there doe that too just one wrong key sometimes eh?

 

[nitroman84]

Common sense could greatly reduce or even totally eliminate the need for heavy duty programs such as this. Sadly that virtue seems to be in ever diminishing supply these days. An ounce of prevention... Just saying.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Common sense could greatly reduce or even totally eliminate the need for heavy duty programs such as this. Sadly that virtue seems to be in ever diminishing supply these days. An ounce of prevention... Just saying.

Absolutely Nitro I have always said that the responsibility is up to the end user after all is said and done. I think a lot of ordinary users think that just because they have a security system suite call it what you will in place they are safe but we know that nothing is 100% safe.

If one doesn't mind being a bit reckless and take the odd risk then sooner or later then one is going to get caught out eh?

 

[tom982]

Um now just being your average small nong if I had not read this I might have gone in boots and all - thanks Jaycee.

But just as matter of curiosity why should such an app be freely available for dopes like me to use and not be really fully aware of the consequences. Because I suppose you are always going to get the ones - like me who will try anything if frustrated enough?

From the little understanding I can glean does this app work like those regedits one does in some of the tutorials? - which is why I said I would be diving in without testing the depth of the water so to speak

I don't (yet) have the experience that Jacee does, but from the training that I've been doing, I understand that the current distribution method is the best balance between the ease of downloading and restriction of it's use. If you tried to lock down the download (such as behind temporary passwords or something disclosed to the malware removal community), you're just making the process one step harder for the OP. So it remains how it currently is: download links active for a limited time period and direct download links are not freely distributed Hope this helps.

Tom

 

[Corrine]

Nice explanation by Tom about the distribution method! If anyone sees ComboFix offered at any location other than the normally supplied download links by security analysts, walk away quickly as there is no way of knowing what the file contains. It would most definitely not be an authorized download site. In addition, it would not be the most recent version, the program being changed regularly to deal with new malware.

From the little understanding I can glean does this app work like those regedits one does in some of the tutorials? - which is why I said I would be diving in without testing the depth of the water so to speak

No, it does not work like what you see in some of the tutorials here or at other sites. Techniques and procedures change. The private discussion about procedures, questions, problems, etc. among trained analysts and the developer at just one security forum is over 700 pages. That does not include the extensive tutorial or a number of related sub-threads.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Thanks Tom and Corinne you have just made it that much clearer what not and what to do re these things. I am a suspicious person by nature and also no Einstein either so it has helped me understand just that little bit more (?nice pun ).

I suppose just the very name / title Combofix sounds so matter of fact - or at least it did to me and I suspect many other people too. But I suppose these are the benefits of SF membership.