Multiple User Accounts versus Malware - Real World

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by zapp, Feb 23, 2010.

  1. zapp

    zapp Staff Sergeant

    Friends
    I have looked through the autosearch threads for this topic but found none with in-depth responses.

    In many, perhaps 90% of small business installations, we're dealing with multiple user accounts under the various MS Windows OS's [as well as others].
    My question is this: in trying to defend-against malicious ware, programs, emails, etc, and in trying to remedy systems that have already been compromised, what are the best practices with regard to multiple users on one machine????
    An effective trojan of modernity can so compromise a single user account that its difficult to even deal with the issue. So I, like others, will go safe-mode through administrator or little-used auxiliary accounts created for the purpose. But how effective is this?

    so, it would be great if somone could augment the very effective "sticky" items here with this critical information which seems missing from these otherwise effective tutorials.

    ?
     
  2. evilfantasy

    evilfantasy Malware Fighter

    If you are needing assistance with your business the best advice is to find a licensed technician. Our goal here is to help home users clean their computers of malware.

    There is information as a sticky dealing with home computer security. How to Protect yourself from malware!
     
  3. zapp

    zapp Staff Sergeant

    wow! i learnt something new today. Tech business people not welcome on Majorgeeks!
     
  4. evilfantasy

    evilfantasy Malware Fighter

    I never said that you are not welcome. I said we are geared at helping the home user, not businesses.

    What if we trashed one of your clients systems or networks? Would your explanation of "oh some guy on the Internet told me to do that" go over very well? Probably not!

    Use licensed technicians (who are hopefully insured), not free volunteers.
     
  5. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Just to add a line or two, you are correct that using an auxiliary ADMINISTRATIVE account would be generally effective. We often have users who have multiple Admin. accounts ( being foolish by allowing children to have such accounts, as an example). On occasion, we do need to have the OP log into each account and run SAS and MBAM on each account. Speaking from personal experience, that is exactly what I have had to do on infected computers in a business setting with multiple accounts. Most tech's would know to do this. Or have standard procedures already in place to deal with infections. If you are talking about business PCs then you need to be running a pro version of Windows that uses Group Policy and make sure no user can install apps, limit the accounts and maybe run Network Access Protection :major
     

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