How to run an anti-virus in the start-up sequence

  • Thread starter Thread starter The Doctor
  • Start date Start date
T

The Doctor

Does anyone know how to tell Windows to run a thorough AV scan
before going into GUI mode?

I have a nasty Virut acc AVG and the only way to get rid of it
I suspect is to catch the virus before GUI is entered. GRR!
 
The said:
This will work in GUI! What is needed is that the anti-virus/anti-malware
has to work in the startup sequence **before** going into GUI mode
like chkdsk. This malware will defeat you in GUI mode.
Click to expand...

Don't some AV's allow you to make a boot floppy to scan independently of
Windows?
 
So far I've not found any malaware / trojans that I was not able to remove
once the PC was booted, in the gui.
What is the name of this suspect?
 
The said:
Do you know how to do that with AVG 8.0 Free?
Click to expand...

No I'm not familiar with it. I know that some AV's do this and I was
really asking the question about AVG.
 
The said:
The question again is how do you remove the virus ***before*** entering
into GUI mode / safe mode.

This malware is defeating every attempt to remove itself
when in GUI mode.
Click to expand...

Did you try removing it from Safe-Mode? To run before the Session
Manager starts to load Windows the AV would be launched from the
BootExecute registry value. If your AV software package is capable of
running scans before Windows boots it would have an option to do so, you
would enable this from within the AV program. Otherwise many AV
programs can run from an MS-DOS session, or in a PE environment like
Bart's PE boot disc or a custum PE from the AV vendor. If still no joy
mount the disk as a data disk in another Windows 2000/XP machine or USB
enclosure and have a go at it while Windows is anesthetized.

John
 
The symantec KB tells you how to manually remove

The Doctor said:
I know.

The question again is how do you remove the virus ***before*** entering
into GUI mode / safe mode.

This malware is defeating every attempt to remove itself
when in GUI mode.
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Member - Liberal International
This is (e-mail address removed) Ici (e-mail address removed)
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USA petition for dissolution of your nation!
Click to expand...
 
Did you try removing it from Safe-Mode? To run before the Session
Manager starts to load Windows the AV would be launched from the
BootExecute registry value. If your AV software package is capable of
running scans before Windows boots it would have an option to do so, you
would enable this from within the AV program. Otherwise many AV
programs can run from an MS-DOS session, or in a PE environment like
Bart's PE boot disc or a custum PE from the AV vendor. If still no joy
mount the disk as a data disk in another Windows 2000/XP machine or USB
enclosure and have a go at it while Windows is anesthetized.

John
Click to expand...

Yes. Even in safe mode this 'bug' shut downs the system.

The ***only*** way to bypass the shut down is to
unplug the system from the Power Supply and
restart it from there.

Question, if you know the 32-bit CLI exec command, how do you
launch from the BootExecute registry value.
 
The symantec KB tells you how to manually remove
Click to expand...

From http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2006-051402-1930-99&tabid=3

Discovered: May 14, 2006
Updated: February 13, 2007 12:55:21 PM
Also Known As: PE_VIRUT.A [Trend Micro]
Type: Virus
Systems Affected: Windows 2000, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP



The following instructions pertain to all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.

1. Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP).
2. Update the virus definitions.
3. Run a full system scan.

For specific details on each of these steps, read the following instructions.

1. To disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP)
If you are running Windows Me or Windows XP, we recommend that you temporarily turn off System Restore. Windows Me/XP uses this feature, which is enabled by default, to restore the files on your computer in case they become damaged. If a virus, worm, or Trojan infects a computer, System Restore may back up the virus, worm, or Trojan on the computer.

Windows prevents outside programs, including antivirus programs, from modifying System Restore. Therefore, antivirus programs or tools cannot remove threats in the System Restore folder. As a result, System Restore has the potential of restoring an infected file on your computer, even after you have cleaned the infected files from all the other locations.

Also, a virus scan may detect a threat in the System Restore folder even though you have removed the threat.

For instructions on how to turn off System Restore, read your Windows documentation, or one of the following articles:

* How to disable or enable Windows Me System Restore
* How to turn off or turn on Windows XP System Restore


Note: When you are completely finished with the removal procedure and are satisfied that the threat has been removed, reenable System Restore by following the instructions in the aforementioned documents.

For additional information, and an alternative to disabling Windows Me System Restore, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article: Antivirus Tools Cannot Clean Infected Files in the _Restore Folder (Article ID: Q263455).

2. To update the virus definitions
Symantec Security Response fully tests all the virus definitions for quality assurance before they are posted to our servers. There are two ways to obtain the most recent virus definitions:

* Running LiveUpdate, which is the easiest way to obtain virus definitions:
o If you use Norton AntiVirus 2006, Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 10.0, or newer products, LiveUpdate definitions are updated daily. These products include newer technology.
o If you use Norton AntiVirus 2005, Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 9.0, or earlier products, LiveUpdate definitions are updated weekly. The exception is major outbreaks, when definitions are updated more often.
* Downloading the definitions using the Intelligent Updater: The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are posted daily. You should download the definitions from the Symantec Security Response Web site and manually install them. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by the Intelligent Updater, refer to Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater).

The latest Intelligent Updater virus definitions can be obtained here: Intelligent Updater virus definitions. For detailed instructions read the document: How to update virus definition files using the Intelligent Updater.


3. To run a full system scan

1. Start your Symantec antivirus program and make sure that it is configured to scan all the files.
* For Norton AntiVirus consumer products: Read the document: How to configure Norton AntiVirus to scan all files.
* For Symantec AntiVirus Enterprise products: Read the document: How to verify that a Symantec Corporate antivirus product is set to scan all files.
2. Run a full system scan.
3. If any files are detected, follow the instructions displayed by your antivirus program.


Important: If you are unable to start your Symantec antivirus product or the product reports that it cannot delete a detected file, you may need to stop the risk from running in order to remove it. To do this, run the scan in Safe mode. For instructions, read the document, How to start the computer in Safe Mode. Once you have restarted in Safe mode, run the scan again.

After the files are deleted, restart the computer in Normal mode and proceed with the next section.

Warning messages may be displayed when the computer is restarted, since the threat may not be fully removed at this point. You can ignore these messages and click OK. These messages will not appear when the computer is restarted after the removal instructions have been fully completed. The messages displayed may be similar to the following:

Title: [FILE PATH]
Message body: Windows cannot find [FILE NAME]. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.


Writeup By: Mircea Ciubotariu
Technical Details

Sounds like you need the GUI **and** SymAV.
 
The said:
Yes. Even in safe mode this 'bug' shut downs the system.

The ***only*** way to bypass the shut down is to
unplug the system from the Power Supply and
restart it from there.

Question, if you know the 32-bit CLI exec command, how do you
launch from the BootExecute registry value.
Click to expand...

The Win32 subsystem isn't running when the Session Manager Subsystem
(SMSS) processes commands in the BootExecute registry value, only Native
applications can be started in the BootExecute value as only the native
NT API is available at that early stage in the boot process. The AV
application would have to be a Native application, I don't even know if
such an AV product exists, ask your AV vendor.

John
 
The Win32 subsystem isn't running when the Session Manager Subsystem
(SMSS) processes commands in the BootExecute registry value, only Native
applications can be started in the BootExecute value as only the native
NT API is available at that early stage in the boot process. The AV
application would have to be a Native application, I don't even know if
such an AV product exists, ask your AV vendor.
Click to expand...

I will consider I have a native application.
 
The said:
I will consider I have a native application.
Click to expand...

I think you are probably considering wrong, If your AV program could do
this it would be in the program's option menu.

If you really think that you have a native AV scan tool just add an
entry for the application in the BootExecute value, it's that simple.
The application has to be in the %systemroot%\system32 folder.

Hint: You will have to use Regedt32 to do this.

John
 
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