Ask the Expert

Getting rid of a boot-sector virus

I have a boot-sector virus. When installing anything but Norton 2002 it says I am virus free. How do I get rid of it?

Requires Free Membership to View

Login

By submitting you agree to receive email communications from
TechTarget and its partners. Privacy Policy Terms of Use.

Several issues here. First, what is the name of the boot-sector virus? What do the programs tell you? Second, what virus definition are you using with Norton 2002? If you have an outdated definition file it may NOT detect the virus.

After you have resolved these two items try the www.symantec.com or www.MacAfee.com Web sites and look up your virus name. They both will list instructions on removal.

Remember to always update both your antivirus software and definitions. Without being both correctly installed and maintained, any antivirus program is useless.

For more information on this topic, visit these other SearchSecurity.com resources:
Executive Security Briefing: Beating malware: Beyond antivirus software
Featured Topic: Virus busters
Ask the Expert: Best practices for implementing antivirus software

More News and Tutorials

Articles

Related glossary terms

Terms for Whatis.com - the technology online dictionary

This was first published in March 2002

Join the conversationComment

Share

Comments

Results

Contribute to the conversation

All fields are required. Comments will appear at the bottom of the article.

Back to top

More from Related TechTarget Sites

Cloud Security
Consumerization
Financial Security
SMB Security
Security AU
Security IN
Computer Weekly

Cloud Security
- Gartner: Negotiate cloud contracts with detailed security, control
  
  When negotiating with cloud providers, enterprises must demand cloud contracts with specific security and control provisions, Gartner analysts say.
- Cloud data breach notification: Defining legal obligations
  
  Francoise Gilbert provides a cloud data breach notification overview for enterprises concerned about placing personal information in the cloud.
- Are FedRAMP security controls enough?
  
  Cloud service providers are working with authorized third-party auditors to meet FedRAMP security controls. The 3PAOs tell us how it’s going, so far.
Consumerization
- How to choose the right enterprise mobile, cloud and social tools
  
  IT departments need to evaluate vendors for social tools, such as mobile and cloud. Without a secure plan, IT risks an unsecure liability.
- Office Mobile for iPhone requires Office 365
  
  Microsoft released Office Mobile for iPhone but it requires an Office 365 subscription and isn't made for iPad.
- NSA surveillance leads to tighter data privacy policies
  
  Knowledge of the National Security Agency's surveillance has led some companies to revamp their data privacy policies.
searchFinancialSecurity
- PayPal CISO: Laws must foster better cybersecurity information sharing
  
  PayPal's Michael Barrett says many firms fear misuse of shared cybersecurity data. He also discusses the evolution of PCI DSS and mobile payment security.
- Cybergang plans to use Trojan against U.S. banks
  
  A cybergang in Eastern Europe revealed plans to attack U.S. banks with a Gozi-like Trojan, according to RSA.
- Improved Shylock Trojan targets banking users
  
  The latest variant of the banking Trojan is causing numerous problems, Symantec said.
searchMidmarketSecurity
- Windows Phone 7 security: Assessing WP7 security features
  
  Windows Phone 7 security features are proving to be a mixed bag. Sam Cattle assesses the enterprise security pros and cons of the latest Windows mobile platform.
- Choosing the best security certifications for your career
  
  Whether starting your career or planning your next step as an IT security professional, this tip will guide you toward the best certifications for your interests and experience.
- Midmarket security tutorials
  
  SearchMidmarketSecurity.com’s tutorials offer IT professionals in-depth lessons and technical advice on the hottest topics in the midmarket IT security industry. Through our tutorials we seek to provide site members with the foundational knowledge needed to deal with the increasingly challenging job of keeping their organizations secure.
searchSecurityAU
- Exploit kits evolved: How to defend against the latest attack toolkits
  
  Expert Nick Lewis details how automated exploit kits are evolving and offers mitigations for the latest methods employed by these attack toolkits.
- May 2013 Patch Tuesday fixes IE8 zero day; Adobe tightens ColdFusion
  
  The software giant's May 2013 Patch Tuesday update permanently fixes the IE8 zero-day flaw found in the Dept. of Labor website attack.
- Can self-managed cloud security controls ease enterprise concerns?
  
  Expert Dave Shackleford details how enterprises can increasingly manage their own cloud security controls with private virtual cloud offerings.
Information Security
- Security tech market set to grow 8.7% in 2013, says Gartner
  
  The worldwide security technology and services market will reach $67.2bn in 2013, up 8.7% from 2012, according to research firm Gartner
- A malicious charger could hack Apple devices easily, claim researchers
  
  A modified phone charger or battery could be used to hack Apple devices, say researchers from Georgia Tech
- How to reduce IT security risk with IT asset management
  
  IT asset management expert Barb Rembiesa explains how ITAM best practices like IT asset standardization and rationalization reduce IT security risk.
Computer Weekly
- UK mobile industry remains behind the times in digital payments technology
  
  The mobile payments industry is struggling to grow due to many convoluted payment technologies that are difficult to develop for
- Interview: John Swainson, president of Dell Software
  
  Dell Software president John Swainson's aims to make Dell Software a $5bn business
- Tech firm ditches Rackspace hosting service for ‘lack of support’
  
  Cloud sales service company Price & Quote has ditched IT hosting provider Rackspace due to “lack of support and unresponsiveness”

All Rights Reserved,Copyright 2000 - 2013, TechTarget