I think this isn't what you meant when you said instruction, but you might want to separate the idea about instruction/comments on problems loading/running/using the software from problems in using a piece of software to analyse a user's machine.
In terms of the software, there will then be questions about other things like anti virus and antitrojan tools as well as adaware and spybot. You might be able to accomplish a great deal here by "sticking" up some links to tutorials and specialised forums on other sites.
In terms of analysing a users machine, the adaware and spybot logs seem rather lengthy and specialised, I saw one of the experts here who is also on Tomcoyote getting snarled up with an adaware moderator because the user transferring from Dell posted in the wrong forum. Wouldn't it be better to have a "removal" forum which would be based on the hijackthis log as a starting point and then let the expert/helper ask for reports from additional tools based on helper's predilictions and experience and the requirements dictated by the malware on the user's machine?
So in essence:
General information/discussions spyware and security
Spybot & Ad-aware (and pestatrol etc etc) These are normally able to be catered for with a set of instructions and a links to download pages. Much like these two (Both mine) - they are the same page on diff. servers. www.cjwd.demon.co.uk/spybot-adaware.html www.cjwdavis.co.uk/s-a.html My pages link to Texruss's pages for graphical tutorials too. BeepingComputer has some good tutorials also. I think you will find support pages for both of these products hosted by the owners too, and that may be more acceptable for linking to from Dell. They do not need much in the way of support, so could be catered for as part of a more general board, or part of the prelim board for malware removal, I would keep the two (or more) programs together as they compliment each other, more than seperate.
You need a board for 'setting up and problems with Anti-Virus programs' (although a better name could be thought of) - that is problems with the programs not with viruses.
You need a Malware (Virus, Spyware and Ad-ware) removal board - perhaps two, one as a prelim to HJT and one for Hijackthis logs only.
Yes I would say three visable victim posting boards.
Problems with Anti-Virus programs Malware (Virus, Spyware & adware) removals. - To include Spybot S&D, Ad-aware and PestPatrol etc. Hijackthis Logs.
But please bare in mind my feelings on postings to hijackthis logs by the general membership.
In terms of analysing a users machine, the adaware and spybot logs seem rather lengthy and specialised, I saw one of the experts here who is also on Tomcoyote getting snarled up with an adaware moderator because the user transferring from Dell posted in the wrong forum.
-===============
LOL - That was me with a Dell Victim. Of all the boards that he could post on he choose the one board that I was not supposted to help at (TC maintains a board for lavasoft experts to help victims with). BTW he never came back to the Lavasoft expert - so never knew what happened to him.
This is the worst idea to come down the pike in a long time. Since these boards were set up for users, all users should be treated equally. This reminds me of George Orwell's book Animal Farm "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others". To legitimize ASAP is an outrage. They appear to be certifying themselves, A certifies B and B certifies A. I went several rounds with TexRuss and he was never able to supply valid related third-party credentials. If Dell is some sort of business arrangement with ASAP, i.e. money changing hands, it would be nice to know. There is another quote "Do the inmates run the asylum"
Wouldn't you agree that Dell gives you pretty free rein to post wherever and whatever you want...within reason on many boards? Given that reasoning, no one is forcing you to post in the HijackThis board. But, a protocol will be followed and enforced in that one specialized board to expedite the fixing of customers systems.
I agree completely with ChrisRLG's suggestions in
this post.
The loss of experts to analyze HJT logs is completely understandable. But the loss of Dell Forum support for malware victims requiring expert help is real. I frequently refer malware victims through a series of steps (anti-virus/Spybot and Ad-Aware/HijackThis if all else fails), and miss the fact that I can't track whether the victim is getting helped without visiting several other forums.
One way of dealing with the problem of multiple responders is through the use of private messages. I've answered questions about network issues that arose in the course of a HJT log analysis by posting into the analysis thread. If messages like that were directed to the trained analyst via PM's, the contributions could be made without confusing the thread, since such replies are really to the HJT analyst and not the original poster.
If at all possible, HJT logs placed in the new board for log analysis should be replied to quickly, even if the reply is "OK, thanks, please be patient!", or "Please include the complete log", or "Please install HJT in a safe directory!", or "Please download the latest HJT version!". It's not clear that experts are needed in that case, but it's reassuring to the victim that their problem isn't being ignored.
No, I would not agree. I feel you are totally missing my point. Let's try again. What special
verifiable knowledge do they have that sets them apart from everyone else. P.S. it seem to me that you have made you mind already, why then are asking for comments? P.PS. this statement is very scary "I will back these users up without question when it comes to removing unauthorized post." I hope you really didn't mean it?
One of the reasons I started posting here is because I was having trouble doing so at other sites. I do own a (old) Dell system, so I figured my membership here was legitimate and went from there. But this site is the exception, rather than the rule in who can post to logs.
First and foremost, all of us are here to help. If I can have more people helped by shunting them to a specific Dell board that has resident experts, how is that NOT helping them.
verifiable. Have you gone to TomCoyotes website and read about what they do? What training they go through. Have you done any research to refute what is being considered?
Whoa.......! I'm not new to the Dell forums but am to this one, having just posted a first-time Symantec-related issue/situation/question. Have to say from reading various comments in this particular thread I feel like maybe I shouldn't have.....
Re pm's-I think that has the potential of leaving helper/experts controlled by other responders. That becomes difficult in relation to a responder may pm something to a helper they don't want to do. An individual helper may not have time when another one does. And the overall volume can be more than they all can handle.
We have a little bit of that going on right now-One response that could be here is go to ___________ and ask for ______________. At which point he is buried and cannot begin to respond to everything.
The "quick answer" approach has two disadvantages.
1) A way that a helper/expert can select logs is to scan a list looking for zero response logs. That is a way that it is handled at castlecops (computercops) and spywareinfo. When a non helpful post is made, either by the poster - hey man I'm dyin' out here or by a member - boy that's an awful bunch of crud you've got there, one of our experts will have to help you; the visibility of a no response thread is lost.
2) When there is a courtesy reponse made, and you talk about "owning" threads, you then have the issue of does the courtesy responder "own" the threads and does someone else that can help get crossways with the courtesy responder when they (the someone else) responds to the thread. [Additional comment which was an incorrect assumption deleted].
cghost
302 Posts
0
August 31st, 2004 14:00
I think this isn't what you meant when you said instruction, but you might want to separate the idea about instruction/comments on problems loading/running/using the software from problems in using a piece of software to analyse a user's machine.
In terms of the software, there will then be questions about other things like anti virus and antitrojan tools as well as adaware and spybot. You might be able to accomplish a great deal here by "sticking" up some links to tutorials and specialised forums on other sites.
In terms of analysing a users machine, the adaware and spybot logs seem rather lengthy and specialised, I saw one of the experts here who is also on Tomcoyote getting snarled up with an adaware moderator because the user transferring from Dell posted in the wrong forum. Wouldn't it be better to have a "removal" forum which would be based on the hijackthis log as a starting point and then let the expert/helper ask for reports from additional tools based on helper's predilictions and experience and the requirements dictated by the malware on the user's machine?
So in essence:
General information/discussions spyware and security
Mechanics/Strengths/Weaknesses etc. of the tools
Analysis of a user's system with the tools.
cghost
302 Posts
0
August 31st, 2004 14:00
ChrisRLG
3.9K Posts
0
August 31st, 2004 14:00
My thoughts.
Spybot & Ad-aware (and pestatrol etc etc)
These are normally able to be catered for with a set of instructions and a links to download pages.
Much like these two (Both mine) - they are the same page on diff. servers.
www.cjwd.demon.co.uk/spybot-adaware.html
www.cjwdavis.co.uk/s-a.html
My pages link to Texruss's pages for graphical tutorials too.
BeepingComputer has some good tutorials also.
I think you will find support pages for both of these products hosted by the owners too, and that may be more acceptable for linking to from Dell.
They do not need much in the way of support, so could be catered for as part of a more general board, or part of the prelim board for malware removal, I would keep the two (or more) programs together as they compliment each other, more than seperate.
You need a board for 'setting up and problems with Anti-Virus programs' (although a better name could be thought of) - that is problems with the programs not with viruses.
You need a Malware (Virus, Spyware and Ad-ware) removal board - perhaps two, one as a prelim to HJT and one for Hijackthis logs only.
Yes I would say three visable victim posting boards.
Problems with Anti-Virus programs
Malware (Virus, Spyware & adware) removals. - To include Spybot S&D, Ad-aware and PestPatrol etc.
Hijackthis Logs.
But please bare in mind my feelings on postings to hijackthis logs by the general membership.
ChrisRLG
3.9K Posts
0
August 31st, 2004 14:00
In terms of analysing a users machine, the adaware and spybot logs seem rather lengthy and specialised, I saw one of the experts here who is also on Tomcoyote getting snarled up with an adaware moderator because the user transferring from Dell posted in the wrong forum.
-===============
LOL - That was me with a Dell Victim. Of all the boards that he could post on he choose the one board that I was not supposted to help at (TC maintains a board for lavasoft experts to help victims with). BTW he never came back to the Lavasoft expert - so never knew what happened to him.
cghost
302 Posts
0
August 31st, 2004 14:00
msgale
2 Intern
•
2.5K Posts
0
August 31st, 2004 16:00
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
•
56.9K Posts
0
August 31st, 2004 17:00
Wouldn't you agree that Dell gives you pretty free rein to post wherever and whatever you want...within reason on many boards? Given that reasoning, no one is forcing you to post in the HijackThis board. But, a protocol will be followed and enforced in that one specialized board to expedite the fixing of customers systems.
jwatt
4.4K Posts
0
August 31st, 2004 17:00
The loss of experts to analyze HJT logs is completely understandable. But the loss of Dell Forum support for malware victims requiring expert help is real. I frequently refer malware victims through a series of steps (anti-virus/Spybot and Ad-Aware/HijackThis if all else fails), and miss the fact that I can't track whether the victim is getting helped without visiting several other forums.
One way of dealing with the problem of multiple responders is through the use of private messages. I've answered questions about network issues that arose in the course of a HJT log analysis by posting into the analysis thread. If messages like that were directed to the trained analyst via PM's, the contributions could be made without confusing the thread, since such replies are really to the HJT analyst and not the original poster.
If at all possible, HJT logs placed in the new board for log analysis should be replied to quickly, even if the reply is "OK, thanks, please be patient!", or "Please include the complete log", or "Please install HJT in a safe directory!", or "Please download the latest HJT version!". It's not clear that experts are needed in that case, but it's reassuring to the victim that their problem isn't being ignored.
Jim
cghost
302 Posts
0
August 31st, 2004 18:00
Message Edited by cghost on 09-01-2004 01:27 AM
Message Edited by cghost on 09-05-2004 12:40 AM
msgale
2 Intern
•
2.5K Posts
0
August 31st, 2004 18:00
Message Edited by msgale on 08-31-2004 04:19 PM
Message Edited by msgale on 08-31-2004 04:25 PM
cghost
302 Posts
0
August 31st, 2004 18:00
msgale
I think he means it 100%.
One of the reasons I started posting here is because I was having trouble doing so at other sites. I do own a (old) Dell system, so I figured my membership here was legitimate and went from there. But this site is the exception, rather than the rule in who can post to logs.
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
•
56.9K Posts
0
August 31st, 2004 19:00
First and foremost, all of us are here to help. If I can have more people helped by shunting them to a specific Dell board that has resident experts, how is that NOT helping them.
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
•
56.9K Posts
0
August 31st, 2004 19:00
verifiable. Have you gone to TomCoyotes website and read about what they do? What training they go through. Have you done any research to refute what is being considered?
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/?showtopic=1421
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=34
VCraig
2 Intern
•
2.1K Posts
0
August 31st, 2004 19:00
Message Edited by VCraig on 08-31-2004 04:22 PM
cghost
302 Posts
0
August 31st, 2004 19:00
jimw
Re pm's-I think that has the potential of leaving helper/experts controlled by other responders. That becomes difficult in relation to a responder may pm something to a helper they don't want to do. An individual helper may not have time when another one does. And the overall volume can be more than they all can handle.
We have a little bit of that going on right now-One response that could be here is go to ___________ and ask for ______________. At which point he is buried and cannot begin to respond to everything.
The "quick answer" approach has two disadvantages.
1) A way that a helper/expert can select logs is to scan a list looking for zero response logs. That is a way that it is handled at castlecops (computercops) and spywareinfo. When a non helpful post is made, either by the poster - hey man I'm dyin' out here or by a member - boy that's an awful bunch of crud you've got there, one of our experts will have to help you; the visibility of a no response thread is lost.
2) When there is a courtesy reponse made, and you talk about "owning" threads, you then have the issue of does the courtesy responder "own" the threads and does someone else that can help get crossways with the courtesy responder when they (the someone else) responds to the thread. [Additional comment which was an incorrect assumption deleted].
Regards
cg
Message Edited by cghost on 09-01-2004 01:30 AM