XP: Free Rootkit Scanning Software.

Contributed by AlexTheBeast October 26, 2005  
Tagged: Windows

So you are clean from spyware and viruses but your system is still slow. Are you sure you don’t have a rootkit installed? These software packages will help you.

If your system is still slow after you have used our suggestions for finding and removing spyware, you might have a rootkit installed.

What is a rootkit? A rootkit is a special type of evil program that installs itself deep within the operating system. Unlike normal malware, it actually hides by changing the operating system itself. Many of these rootkits actually give the author of the rootkit the ability to log-in directly to a system without being known.

Do anti-virus and anti-spyware programs find them? Some yes, some no. As rootkits actually hack the operating system, they can be very difficult to find. As rootkit authors get better and better, anti-spyware and antivirus programs will have a tougher and tougher time finding them.

What programs will help me find rootkits?

F-Secure Blacklight- The program is quick, will find, and will fix many common rootkits. It’s a great place to start.

Sysinternals RootkitRevealer- This program is like the hijackthis of the rootkit community. It doesn’t clean, but provides a very detailed method for looking for rootkits. There is nothing easy about this program. Any finding will need to be explored and researched yourself. Reading the instructions in the help file provided is very valuable.