Can we talk about the choice to wipe a drive versus just doing a fresh OS install for a virus-infected machine?

I had to pick between those two options for a client's laptop in Boise last month, and choosing the full wipe saved me 3 hours of chasing weird registry issues that popped up after a simple reinstall.

2 comments

2 Comments

susanm2213d ago

That part about chasing weird registry issues is exactly why I wipe. A fresh OS install leaves the old file system in place. Malware can hide in leftover partitions or the recovery sector. A full format destroys those hiding spots. It's the only way to be sure you got everything. The extra time up front saves more time later.

lilyt9013d ago

I saw a case last year where ransomware hid in a system restore point after a regular reinstall. @susanm22 is totally right about the recovery sector being a risk. Some of these rootkits can even survive a quick format by writing to the drive's firmware. That's why I always do a full zero-fill pass if I'm dealing with a serious infection, it overwrites every single sector. It takes hours but you sleep better knowing nothing is left.