ReImage.com - be aware

My primary experience is with building custom OS's utilizing the Linux kernel. Yet I also have considerable experience with MS products.  I was recently asked by a friend about reimage.com.

I did a google search and found their website, and this thread among other threads concerning Reimage.

Upon my initial search of their websites and various links. My untangle server lit up showing blocked events by the Phish Blocker. In other words their website was attempting to install software by just going to their website. Check the wikipedia on Phishing if you are not familiar with it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing

For those of you unfamiliar with what Untangle is. If you have a unused box handy. I highly suggest using Untangle or some other server to filter and control your internet access.  You will be amazed at the amount of spyware that is blocked. It is a very dangerous world out there, and more so when using a MS OS.

http://www.untangle.com/

After reading this thread I thought I would add my two cents!

Both Broni and PC_Programmer ran the service with a new install. In both cases they were alerted of sever problems. NicholasBlack response was:

"Our software is designed to fix dysfunctional PCs, not new ones (that's why our tagline is "PC Repair, In Minutes", rather than boosting it)"

It is certainly plausible that a clean install can have corrupted files or missing files. The results posted by Broni clearly does not allude to missing or corrupted files. The results only refer to problems that would cause fear. It is obvious that fear is what Reimage is primarily using to drive sales. Even if Reimage shuffles the wording of their results. Their primary objective will still be to drive sales by the use of fear. In sales fear is the best motivator to get people to sign on the dotted line.

Reviewing their website and reading responces from NicholasBlack. What exactly the installed software does, is not clearly defined. Removing applications that are listed does not ensure that all software has been removed. A hidden application could certainly still be present after removing their visible applications. NicholasBlack is a marketing rep, not a software engineer. He is not involved with the actual coding at all. Therefore he is not qualified to make statements concerning how their software works. Nor would he be aware of what exactly the software does, as he has to rely on what he is told. Which may not be the truth or the whole truth.

NicholasBlack claims that (about 100,000 PCs already fixed and 10 million images in our repository).

With 10 million images in their repository they have access to everything on your hardrive. Therefore there is a big concern about what they are doing with those images. In other words, a script can be written to search all those images to find and list all personal information. Which brings to mind, is Reimage compiling personal information? With my experience with the Phishing on there website. It is clear that their intention is to collect personal information. Not to mention that Israel has one of the largest espionage programs in the world. No better way to get data on people than have them leave an image of there hardrive on their servers, and get paid for it!

In closing it is very simple. If you do not want people looking at your personal information on your computer, do not allow someone access. Through out history people have used the ploy, we will help you, while their real intentions are other wise. Even if Reimage intentions are not malicious, and they do not sell or use your personal information. Their government can certainly demand access to their image repository, any time they want. Do you want some countries government to have all your personal information?

The simplest solution to problems with MS products, is do not use them. There are numerous alternative OS's that are far more capable, and demonstrate better security than MS products.

[Moderator]

What a refreshing 11 month bump...

Hmmm....

[Malware Removal Specialist]

With 10 million images in their repository they have access to everything on your hardrive. Therefore there is a big concern about what they are doing with those images.

That's a very good observation. Made the old bump worthwhile...

My first computer was an apple 2 plus in 1981. I have seen a lot come and go over the years. But since the advent of windows, there has been one constant.

I have seen the same thing time and time again.  The average windows user refuses to take the time to perform basic maintenance, and learn basic security measures. To learn these things takes effort, time and thought. Something most windows users seem to prefer to avoid.

It is obvious that Reimage is preying upon the average windows user. Their claim of the ability to repair and or remove malicious code is absolutely absurd. There are many virus's that are not in the virus scanners definitions list. A good virus coder does not want his virus to be discovered and entered in to the virus definitions list. So if he is careful, and his virus does not flood the entire internet. It can be some time before the virus is added to a definition list or perhaps even never. In many cases it is impossible to determine exactly what is causing slow downs, crashes and strange behavior with windows. But in most cases it is a compounded effect of corrupted files, buggy drivers, malicious code and or one screwed up registry.

Leaving the windows user with but one choice. A clean install. There is simply no short cut.

In most cases problems could have been avoided, lessened or time untill clean install stretched.  If people would simply take the time to learn the basics. Which would have saved them the time, effort, frustration and or cost of dealing with an infected OS.

I often wonder what happened to the saying. Knowledge is power. Knowledge is also freedom.

MS is going towards taking all control away from the user. Perhaps that is the best way to go for MS and their clients.  I recently had a friend talk me into looking at his windows vista. I have refused to help friends with windows for the past 4-5 years, simply tired of advise and suggestions falling on deaf ears.  I found that he had disabled UAC (user access control). I asked him why. His reply was that he did not like the hassle of clicking the button. As long as people refuse to take the time to understand the importance of security features and use them, rather than disable them. Company's like Reimage and people who write viruses will have plenty of people to prey upon.

MS has built a circular dependency that is quite astounding, what a feeding frenzy. But hey if people want to keep paying for it, it's their time and money!

ReImage..Yes, be very wary!!

In my view this company is scam and actually presently fraudulent. Claiming 100% satisfaction or your money back..well, I have asked 4 times for a refund...which of course has not transpired.

After spending £75 on two keys and used two free keys supplied by them my prognosis is the same..on every occasion this programme stripped files from my Window XP SP3..it also corrupted every internet connected programme which had to be reloaded.

The purpose of this programme is to repair leaving your desk top intact. For £20 PC world could have reloaded a new OS and instead of spending 8 days being screwed around by ReImage I could have simple reloaded my software..

A company that has a useless product and even worse, makes fraudulent claims regarding both the capability of the programme and their refund, which clearly isn't a refund....


Avoid at all costs and save your money!!

Thanks for the update

Broni,
Thank you for starting and updating this polemic post.
It has been very informative.

We are told to focus on the positive.
Yes, but we have to deal with the negative.
It takes courage and conviction to tell it like it is.

I just had this software try to download on my machine without me initiating it.  There is no doubt that it is malware.  I think that recently my dns was hijacked but I cant seem to find the source.  I checked the regedit proxy entries, my lmhosts file and ran malware-antibytes, symantec and a few other various scans out there including the ms monthly removal tool.  I don't think anyone would need such a tool even if it was legit.  You can fix all of these problems reimage boasts it can with free tools.  CCleaner, Defraggler and autoruns.

It's been a while....

There is no such things as bad publicity. - Right?   

[Moderator]

**** sigh ****

I actually read this whole thread, for THIS?

I just wanted to make sure nobody falls for it

[Moderator]

Another shameless bump...why am i not suprised ? ?