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    ClamXav antivirus - Does it clean files?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by passive101, May 11, 2008.

  1. passive101

    passive101 Notebook Deity

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    Does it only quarantine or delete files, or does it actually clean files?
     
    passive101, May 11, 2008
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  2. diggy

    diggy Notebook Deity

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    Find a virus for the Mac and let us know :)
     
    diggy, May 11, 2008
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  3. passive101

    passive101 Notebook Deity

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    It found a virus but I think it's a windows virus as it's from a USB flash drive.

    It didn't offer to clean it or attempt it at all.
     
    passive101, May 11, 2008
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  4. cashmonee

    cashmonee Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    Your best bet. as with any infected drive is to just format it. Just reformat the USB drive.
     
    cashmonee, May 11, 2008
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  5. passive101

    passive101 Notebook Deity

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    I want to keep the files obviously. I just went into windows and fixed it with AVG no problems.

    I thought ClamX could clean viruses as well. I don't want to be sending viruses to other people. Going into windows to clean then every time is not the most convenient.
     
    passive101, May 11, 2008
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  6. cashmonee

    cashmonee Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    Well the infected file, if it was infected, cannot really be cleaned. The other files that were not infected could have been copied with no problems.

    In all honesty, there is no such thing as being able to truly clean a system of viruses. The way viruses work now, it is impossible to get them out without damaging other files.

    The only way to truly rid yourself of a virus is to format. I wouldn't trust a system without doing that.
     
    cashmonee, May 11, 2008
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  7. passive101

    passive101 Notebook Deity

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    Many viruses can be removed as they are simply attached to other files BEFORE they get into a system. Such as attaching them to .jpg or .bat or .exe or even driver files or Microsoft office files.

    There is no reason to format these. That also is not a solution for clients who's computers I work on many times.

    I'm not a virus expert, but having a program that can do more then delete or quarantine would be nice. Any that are free or not free that can handle this?
     
    passive101, May 11, 2008
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  8. cashmonee

    cashmonee Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    Perhaps look at Symantec/Norton. Although I would caution against installing those on any system, Windows or Mac. You could also see if one of the online virus scanners will do it, although I am not sure how they work with Macs. Your best bet is to trash a corrupted file and use a backup or original.

    As for clients, I am not in the IT business, but I will say once a system is infected, it should never again be trusted without a format. And a file that has been corrupted should probably not be used. You can see the one virus, but you may not be seeing the dozens of others it let in. I am sure it is difficult to tell that to a client, but if I were given the choice of a format or the integrity of my data, I would take the format.
     
    cashmonee, May 11, 2008
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  9. passive101

    passive101 Notebook Deity

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    I agree that it should be done, because you have no idea what settings could have been changed sometimes by viruses with little data available to find out what they do.

    I was hoping there would be a free option that could do it. I guess I should have read what ClamX actually did.
     
    passive101, May 11, 2008
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