Microsoft Says Recovery from Malware Becoming Impossible

[Ben Scott]

On 4/19/06, Python <python at venix.com> wrote:
> Sorry to keep beating the dead horse, but generally, the Linux reinstall
> is more painless ...

  I don't know about that.  Our Windows installs aren't really all
that different from a Red Hat KickStart install.  Hit F12 during boot,
boot into RIS, start install over network, a little bit later, you're
done.  Of course, I know what I'm doing and have invested in the time
and tools to make Windows operate properly.  But I've seen clueless
Linux admins before, too.

  The cost of a reinstall is generally all the post-OS-install,
application-specific configuration that has to be done, anyway.  Our
crappy ERP system is hard to automate.  I've encountered the same on
nix, too.  Ask the list about installing Oracle some time.... :)

> ... unless you are dealing with pre-built system images and
> have kept the image archives up-to-date.

  There are other ways to do automated Windows installs besides than
via Ghost-style hard disk images.  Like RIS, above.

>  Most of the system will have come from the distributor (e.g. Redhat) ...

  Oh, really?  When did that law get passed?  :)  I've had plenty of
nix installations where the critical software most especially did
*not* come from the distribution.

> There should be relatively little rummaging around for installation
> media.

  The big time cost is not looking for CDs.

> This recent advice on theregister looks like a good approach for future
> system setups.  Perhaps some of the savvy folks on this list are already
> doing this.
> http://www.theregister.com/2006/04/13/virtual_security/

  Virtualization is a valid technique, but a second ago you were
saying about the difficulty of keeping pre-built images of a single
system.  How is keeping images of multiple virtual systems easier? 
:-)

-- Ben