Ken Dwight's paid course for beginners?

[cbsnyder87]

Hey everybody,

I am a start-up (as in, haven't even repaired my first computer "for profit" under a business name) and I was extremely glad to see Ken Dwight's video's come across Technibble. Even some of the most respectable and recommended technicians go straight to the nuke and reload method because Malware removal just takes too much time...more than it's worth in today's economic state.

So, I find Dwight's information invaluable for a start-up. That being said, I have very basic Malware removal skills. In the past, I have just done safe-mode, Avast, Malwarebytes, and TDSS Killer, cleaned up the registry with a software program (which I was surprised to hear Ken say he didn't recommend), and that would be it.

I would love to have the knowledge and ability to remove these things manually and timely. One of the most successful computer shop owners I know told me that nuke and load is the quickest way to get a bad name and ruin your business. He does all his removal manually as well. He said customers want their computer back exactly the way they give it to you, minus malware. Every setting, every icon, and every function exactly the way they had it...a nuke and reload does not allow this.

I'm reaching out to you seasoned techs and experts...would it be worth it for me to spend the $450 on Dwight's class at such a low level of expertise? I'm afraid it will all be way over my head and that I'll waste the money.

Or, on the other hand, could there not be a better time for me to grab hold of the training and utilize every bit and piece of it before I learn to do things the "wrong" way?

Thanks!

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

Some of Britec's Youtube videos may be of assistance. Also check out Bleeping Computer's guides for malware removal. I wouldn't spend $450 on a video, granted I am not familiar with it either.

 

[cbsnyder87]

Some of Britec's Youtube videos may be of assistance. Also check out Bleeping Computer's guides for malware removal. I wouldn't spend $450 on a video, granted I am not familiar with it either.

I should have mentioned, it's not just the video. It's step-by-step "How To's" from a guy who has been in the industry since practically it's inception. So I feel he at least has some experience and reputation to back him. Plus, it comes with the software subscriptions and all that (which would be helpful for a start-up).

I don't doubt the course is worth the $450...I just don't want to be sitting there drooling because I don't know what is going on....

I'm not exactly a "pro" at registries...it's all Greek to me.

 

[Zone22]

I am not an expert but here's my two cents.

l would not pay that kind of money to learn manual Malware removal. Start making a habit of collecting all of your clients Malware for experimentation when you have downtime. The key to manual removal is learning to utilizing your tools properly, recognize what belongs on an operating system and how to repair the damage caused malware.

I also recommend checking out Bleeping Computer's guides for malware removal. In addition read the "Virus, Trojan, Spyware, and "Malware Removal Logs and Am I infected? What do I do?" forums on Bleeping Computer. The tools that Bleeping Computer utilizes will provide you with a vary basics set for manual removal. My last piece of advice is spin up a virtual machine with a Windows and infect it with Malware. I recommend virtual box and take snapshots throughout the process and allows you to compare changes across the system. Then verify removal by running anti-malware programs and/or search malware signature for to check files/registry keys.

 

[altrenda]

I realize I don't know much but I have been doing this over 10 years and have never seen this guys videos.

My suggestion would be to get either an extra machine and or load a VM on it and get some malware on it. From what I can tell from my clients, it's not that hard.

Download apps from cnet or softronic and let it install all the garbage and then remove it. Do a google search for infected sites, get a little FBI Moneypak, fake anti virus, whatever.

Remove the malware, rinse, repeat. Try different techniques mentioned here, on Bleeping, Maj. Geeks, whatever. Find what works for you.

It's free, and educational. In about the same time you would spend watching videos you will get real hands on experience. There is no shortcut or one way to do this, you just need experience.

And I think the people here that know their stuff can count on one hand how many times they were stumped enough to need to Nuke and Pave.

 

[cbsnyder87]

I appreciate the advice!

I have an extra machine lying around...an old Dell running Vista. To be honest, I've been so meticulous about protecting my own computer that I've never had a "serious" infection of anything..maybe a pesty pop-up ad here and there that came packaged with some stupid software I downloaded. That was as easy as CTRL+Shift+Esc, processes, then uninstall it from Control Panel>Programs. Somehow I don't think that will cut it with a client's seriously infected computer....

So as silly as this will sound...I really don't know where to go to "get infected", rofl. I could install Pirate's Bay and download everything I can see....

Quick question on VM's...I have a Windows 8.1 OEM CD that I used for a new build recently (a personal build). Can I use that exact same CD to install on a VM without Microsoft jumping down my throat or violating their licensing?

 

[Markverhyden]

Yep, plenty of free tools out there to learn on. You can create pristine VM for each major OS. Then make copies to infect them and see how they work. There was some site link someone posted that was a forum where malware could be downloaded but cannot find it for some reason. Personally I've got an email account with no filtering so I'll get emails with malware attachments. That's what I use for a source when I want to fiddle around with malware cleanups.

 

[Markverhyden]

Quick question on VM's...I have a Windows 8.1 OEM CD that I used for a new build recently (a personal build). Can I use that exact same CD to install on a VM without Microsoft jumping down my throat or violating their licensing?

You need to look at the EULA for the official answer but I would guess you can VM it. The big thing is you cannot have more than one copy running at once. That being said if it was me I would not worry about it as long as my license was legitimate. By the way if you have Pro it comes with Hyper-V built in.

 

[cbsnyder87]

You need to look at the EULA for the official answer but I would guess you can VM it. The big thing is you cannot have more than one copy running at once. That being said if it was me I would not worry about it as long as my license was legitimate. By the way if you have Pro it comes with Hyper-V built in.

I do have Pro, so that's a plus. Immediately after I posted that question I realized, "OEM Windows is tied to the MOBO for life. As long as the VM is on the same physical machine (I.e., same MOBO) then there should be no "differences" realized by Microsoft."

So I hope I'm on the right track with that.

 

[altrenda]

Try this site, but be very careful. http://www.malwaredomainlist dot com/

And. like I said, download almost anything from cnet's download.com to get your fill of junkware to remove. You will see that no one tool removes them all.
Take a look at this how-to-geek story http://www.howtogeek.com/198622/heres-what-happens-when-you-install-the-top-10-download.com-apps/

 

[tek9]

I've never tried these sites, but I heard you can download malware from them:
hackforums.net
malwaredomainlist.com

Hope this helps.

 

[cbsnyder87]

As long as I access these sites within my VM, then the software is sure to be "sandboxed", right? I don't want to infect my brand new PC I'm running the VM on...

It's Virtual Box by the way.

 

[altrenda]

Should be fine. The how to geek article has a link to setting up a VM for testing.

 

[cbsnyder87]

Should be fine. The how to geek article has a link to setting up a VM for testing.

Haha, read it several times in the past. I'm going for it.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Another way of learning as well, if you have a client with interesting infections, create an image of the drive that can be restored BEFORE you start, and you can test some of the methods there. I would not pay $450.00.

But yes, you can always infect your own system. This list is not comprehensive, but honestly, I find that for say 70% of cleanups I do these days, all I need to run is rogue killer, JRT, and adwcleaner. Then follow up with a bootable av scan. That method usually kills a lot of things. Though there will be times you need to go to more advanced methods.

When I started doing this stuff, I already had experience as a tech, and my bachelor's degree. But honestly, as far as cleaning computers, mostly I just sat down, tried what I knew to do, which may not have been much at first lol. When I came across something I could not clean, I would research and look for alternate methods of doing it and basically learned by the seat of my pants. But I saved $450.00 apparently lol.

 

[Martyn]

It all depends on if you have money to spare. There are plenty of other "tools" you are going to need for your business. Virus removal is just a small part of the business especially if you're going to do hardware repairs as well.

 

[HFultzjr]

My best advice at this point:

ALWAYS DO A FULL IMAGE OF THE DRIVE 1st and check the hardware BEFORE doing any work. Really sucks to do a lot of work and find the hard drive was trashed.

You will screw something up (we all have), and it's nice to go back to square one and not make the same mistake twice.

Saved my a$$ many a times.

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

My best advice at this point:

ALWAYS DO A FULL IMAGE OF THE DRIVE 1st and check the hardware BEFORE doing any work. Really sucks to do a lot of work and find the hard drive was trashed.

You will screw something up (we all have), and it's nice to go back to square one and not make the same mistake twice.

Saved my a$$ many a times.

This, I have done this more than once and obviously found out the hard way. ALWAYS run a hardware/ HDD diagnostic first, no matter what the machine comes in for.

 

[cypress]

My best advice at this point:

ALWAYS DO A FULL IMAGE OF THE DRIVE 1st and check the hardware BEFORE doing any work. Really sucks to do a lot of work and find the hard drive was trashed.

You will screw something up (we all have), and it's nice to go back to square one and not make the same mistake twice.

Saved my a$$ many a times.

Absolutely!!

@cbsnyder87 I sat in for one of his 2 day free webinar hosted by YFNCG a couple months ago. He went over what he offers and such. Although it seems like excellent information I don't think it is worth the amout of money offering. Like mentioned befor you want to load up a VM or get a spare machine and infect it and go over the routes. Nuke and Pave should be one of your last resorts. Customers do want their computer back to exactly how it was before, many don't understand the concept of a re-install.

I learned through years of doing it, and fine tuning my process with tools either discussed here or going back and forth through threads on how to make things quicker. Each tech here has their own may of doing clean ups but the point of eveything is do it correctly.

 

[TechLady]

I've been interested in his courses for a long time and I'm sure it's totally worth it, but I just don't have that kind of change lying around as a one-lady shop. Even half that is too steep IMHO. Especially after what Logmein decided to do recently (no still not over it, grrr).