:huh: Virus/Malware Toolkit: How Much Is TOO Much?

Because I too like so many others have a sluggish computer and slow response time with high CPU & PF usage I thought I might have malware issues. I am running Windows XP with IE8. I’ve read about this issue online but didn’t really find any satisfactory or long-lasting results. So I cam here to see what I might accomplish on my own (short of disaster).
I went to the Malware/Virus tool page and proceeded to download and apply your various tool suggestions.

I will describe my specific problem(s) in another new topic. Here however, I would like to know “How much is too much?” In other words, while I’m watching each of these programs running their scans with their log results it just seems to me (a layman not a techie) that for the most part most all of these programs do the SAME thing!? So why then don’t you just recommend the ‘cream of the crop’ that yields the best results without all of the redundancy?
Also, is there a specific order these programs should run?

I understand that one program might not catch something that another program WILL. But when ‘less is more’ isn’t this an overabundance of ‘more is less’?
Example: OTL claims to be “HijackThis on steroids”. I realize this may just be propaganda but they go on to claim that HJT doesn’t update its program to remain current as OTL does. Whether this is true or false I don’t know. Do you? Irregardless these are 2 programs that do virtually the same thing and I suspect yield the same results depending how updated their program(s) are. The only program that found an ‘issue’ that the others didn’t was MalwareBytes.

So if I have an issue what logs are most beneficial for you to view and in what order of importance?
ComboFix, HijackThis, OTL, Avast, MalwareBytes, RootRepeal, other(?)

Thank You.

Hi Iceman107, welcome to the forum.

it just seems to me (a layman not a techie) that for the most part most all of these programs do the SAME thing!?

The type and wgat the infection is will determine the tools used.

OTL claims to be “HijackThis on steroids”. I realize this may just be propaganda but they go on to claim that HJT doesn’t update its program to remain current as OTL does. Whether this is true or false I don’t know. Do you?

Yes. Hijackthis shows running processes and some select registry entries. OTL shows those and more. More registry entries, file association hijackers, files created in the last 30 days, firewall settings, add/remove programs, the list goes on.

Irregardless these are 2 programs that do virtually the same thing and I suspect yield the same results depending how updated their program(s) are.

No even close to the same results.

The only program that found an ‘issue’ that the others didn’t was MalwareBytes.

Between HJT, OTL and MalwareBytes, MalwareBytes is the only one with automatic detection and flagging. This is because it is an antimalware program while the others are diagnostic scantools which produce a log that needs to be analysed.

ComboFix, HijackThis, OTL, Avast, MalwareBytes, RootRepeal, other(?)

Combofix while it is a very good tool when used by someone who has been trained in it's usage can be a very dangerous tool in the hands of someone who is not. A decision on whether or not to use combofix will be made after other logs are analysed. As mentioned HJT and OTL are scan tools. Avast is an antivirus program, logs from these programs are usually not asked for except from an online scan. RootRepeal is one of several anti rootkit scantools.

When posting in the Malware Removal forum you should read this first. Post the log fromone of the 3 scan tools listed there. If you post a HJT log you will most likely be asked for an OTL or DDS log so you may as well just post one of those to start with.

The helper that picks up your topic once they analyze the initial log will advise you which other tools will be needed.