What is the process of cleaning viruses from a network?

Question

We have a problem with a network virus that spread through our network and most computers have been infected.

What should I do to remove the virus? By installing and scanning anti-virus software, the virus wasn't removed. So I want to create Remote Installation Service and install Windows XP for each client and deploy Symantec anti-virus client to protect against viruses. How can I be sure that my server doesn't include a virus?

So please tell me the best and most efficient way to remove the virus from all computers.

Thanks

Answer 1

Slash-and-burn. Just start reinstalling, making sure your installers aren't infected. There's no other way to get a well-written virus out.

While you're at it, set something up to quickly re-image machines. You'll need it again :)

Answer 2

Do the Internet and yourself a favor, disconnect your LAN NOW. This keeps the virus from phoning home (so to speak) for more trojans to download, more targets to go after, etc.

Shut down all infected or suspect computers, as in, power them off.

Start with, or make a known good machine, either by re-installing it or unpacking it. Harden it. Make another if you have someone working with you, so you each have one to work from. Attached them to the Internet or the LAN, but never both (for now). Now you have a computer to work from.

Start with all your managed network equipment, routers, switches, firewalls and gateways. Make sure there are no hacks installed. Harden them. Now you have a LAN you can work on.

Disinfect suspect computers by pulling the hard drives and attaching them via USB adapter to the known good machine(s). If too far gone, reinstall.

Once you get to volume disinfecting/reinstallation, call in help. Temps, shipping/receiving clerks, admin assistances, interns, power users, if you tell management it will cut time they'll find someone to help you. Just having someone grab computers and put them all in a row will save you time to focus on the hard stuff.

Answer 3

Bill is right. You'll spend a LOT more time trying to "fix" this than you would adopting a more aggressive policy.

• Disconnect your RIS/antivirus server from the network
• Format and reinstall (it's the only way to be sure)
• Format and re-connect additional machines to the 'clean' network one at a time
• At no time should you expose 'clean' computers to those that you know are infected

Beforehand, you may want to take a very close look at how this happened in the first place. Do you have a firewall betweek your network and the Internet? Do you have users connecting over VPN from their (virus-ridden) home computers? What are the chances that your users are disabling local antivirus? Do you have a DMZ separate from your LAN where Internet-facing servers (such as web servers) reside?

Answer 4

if your gateway allows traffic analysis, it could be very helpful in finding (some of) the infected machines

Answer 5

Uses your virus detector and HiJackThis to scan each system. The ones that are infected should be re-installed. After installation put "Windows Defender" on them and the virus program asap.