EAZ-FIX. Pretty cool piece of software.

[Chuck57]

I've been running EAZ-FIX for a few days with sandboxie or shadowdefender engaged. Last night, I decided to go hunting with all defenses down, into some warez sites and began downloading and opening various things. It took an hour or so, but I finally found something that locked my desktop up tight. The hard drive just churned away but keyboard and mouse were frozen.

After a moment of panic, I hit the reboot button and, when EAZ-FIX came up, tapped home and reverted to a previous snapshot. A few seconds later, my desktop was back to normal and computer running nicely. I ran SAS, MBAM, Threatfire and a couple of online scans. Everything came up clean, as it should with that snapshot, and I got rid of the newest snapshot that would contain the bad stuff.

After performing the above stupidity, I read somewhere today that malware can easily defeat EAZ-FIX. Fortunately, I have Paragon HDM and an image saved on my second HD.

I'm curious what other users think. I'm considering purchasing this product, so am interested in comments from users of it and the couple of others like it.

[Osaban]

-{ Quote: "
After performing the above stupidity, I read somewhere today that malware can easily defeat EAZ-FIX." }-

ShadowUser Pro (from Storagecraft) has been lambasted for a long time for the fact that maybe 2 viruses (specifically written for virtualizers) can defeat its virtual volume. Returnil, Shadow Defender were quick to update against this malware, and became the natural choices over ShadowUser Pro.

The fact that even the best AV can be defeated by hundred of new viruses, doesn't seem to worry the most paranoid member. What I'm getting at is that you can probably use Eaz-Fix for years on its own without running into those really few viruses written to defeat it. The paradox is that most AVs will stop these viruses meant to attack Eaz-Fix, therefore using an AV with it would probably make your system quickly recoverable in any situation.

I've read good things about it, but I have never used it.

[danny9]

Hi Chuck57,
Welcome to the forums!
I've been using EAZ-FIX for a couple of years now.
Running it on my laptop with Vista Basic.
Has been flawless and never failed me yet.
I like trying new software and if there's a problem all you have to do is reboot to the prior snapshot. Very nice.
Tech support has been great also.
Every question I ever had was answered within a short period of time.
I would not be without it. :thumb:

[Chuck57]

Good points, Osaban. I'm 99.9% of the time a very safe surfer. I avoid warez, porn (wife wouldn't approve) and similar sites. I have Threatfire on board. Last night I deliberately turned it off.


Danny9, thanks for the info. Being able to play with software is the reason for my looking at it, and being able to dump that software without cluttering up my drive leftover garbage that the cleaners miss. If EAZ-FIX stops most malware, that's an added bonus. If I decide to buy, I'll keep my ShadowDefender. Threatfire may go for something else.

What impresses me is how easy and fast it is to switch from one snapshot to another.

[Saraceno]

Looks very simple to use too.

You tried their Easy Image program as well for external backups? Couldn't find much about it on here.

[Chuck57]

I haven't tried Easy Image. I never even noticed it in fact. I went to their site, found EAZ-FIX since that's the one I've read about here quite a bit, and downloaded the trial.

EAZ-FIX is very easy to use. Even I had it up and running in no time and rolled back to a snapshot last night, and I haven't even looked at the help file yet.

[nanana1]

EAZ-Fix used for software testing, YES ! after testing, reboot to a previous snapshot and your system is clean again;D

EAZ-Fix as a security software against viruses, malware, etc. NO ! It can be bypassed and compromised your system and data 8)

[jmonge]

-{ Quote: "EAZ-Fix used for software testing, YES ! after testing, reboot to a previous snapshot and your system is clean again;D

EAZ-Fix as a security software against viruses, malware, etc. NO ! It can be bypassed and compromised your system and data 8)" }-
is this one similar to what shadow defender and returnil do?thanks

[Osaban]

-{ Quote: "is this one similar to what shadow defender and returnil do?thanks" }-
Returnil and Shadow Defender use a virtual volume, which is deleted with every new reboot. Eaz-Fix uses snapshot technology, similar to what imaging programs do when they backup the system, except it is faster and suitable to test new configurations and programs as you reboot your system either with the same snapshot or a different one depending on what you want to do.

[combo]

Is it work on Windows 7 ?

[suliman]

How does a malware defeat EAZ-FIZ?
As I understand it EF has sort of different filesystem that is hidden from windows (the snapshots). I guess boot sector viruses might do the trick, but what other and how can the malware see the hidden filesystem that even the regular defraggers cant?

[SourMilk]

I own a license for EAZ-FIX but I uninstalled it and rely on a clean image. EZF worked just fine except for high end gaming for me (stuttering) because of the virtual processing and it's inherent drag.

For imaging I found if you place your documents folder and other changing data on another partition or hard drive, the imaging goes quite fast (xp here). If I believe I am infected or my confuser becomes unworkable, I just reimage to a clean image.

If you do not play Crysis, Fallout 3, or other 3D intensive games, EAZ-FIX should work fine for you.

SourMilk out

[aigle]

-{ Quote: "How does a malware defeat EAZ-FIZ?
As I understand it EF has sort of different filesystem that is hidden from windows (the snapshots). I guess boot sector viruses might do the trick, but what other and how can the malware see the hidden filesystem that even the regular defraggers cant?" }-
Any malware which messes with the hard disk directloy at low level.

[blacknight]

My answer is different. I hypothesize that a malware get in my running pc. Well, I recover a previous snapshot of EF, but the malware remains in my system: is it only a closed file as the files nromally sent in the Windows recycle Bin ?

[Longboard]

You might be interested in this thread:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=180969
This post by me:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=1047243&postcount=23
Specifically this question:
-{ Quote: "What were you doing about restoring set-ups between attempted infections?
Image?
VM?
FDISR?
Reinstall?
Also be useful to know which worked
" }-
And Nick's reply at that time:
-{ Quote: "I use snapshots from Rollback Rx (version 7) to restore between all tests. " }-
Now, most of those apps ( And doubtless the mals ;) )have been updated and I dont mean to refer to any of those specific tools; rather the use of Rollback to preserve the original syatem: EazFix is of course RollBack.
I'm not willing to prospectively say nothing has changed but nonetheless, that was impressive at the time; wether still applicable...??
Good Luck.

Disclaimer: I haven't used Rollback since about V5 I think : ie years ago.

[Baldrick]

-{ Quote: "I've been running EAZ-FIX for a few days with sandboxie or shadowdefender engaged. Last night, I decided to go hunting with all defenses down, into some warez sites and began downloading and opening various things. It took an hour or so, but I finally found something that locked my desktop up tight. The hard drive just churned away but keyboard and mouse were frozen.

After a moment of panic, I hit the reboot button and, when EAZ-FIX came up, tapped home and reverted to a previous snapshot. A few seconds later, my desktop was back to normal and computer running nicely. I ran SAS, MBAM, Threatfire and a couple of online scans. Everything came up clean, as it should with that snapshot, and I got rid of the newest snapshot that would contain the bad stuff.

After performing the above stupidity, I read somewhere today that malware can easily defeat EAZ-FIX. Fortunately, I have Paragon HDM and an image saved on my second HD.

I'm curious what other users think. I'm considering purchasing this product, so am interested in comments from users of it and the couple of others like it." }-
I use Rollack Rx (one..."of others like it") and whilst I do not use it as a security app per se (I rely on KIS 2009 & Prevx Edge for that) it is useful if you want to go back to a know stable position.

I use it more for going back to a known point ir (i) I am testing beta software or (ii) have installed software and have subsequantly decided that I do not want to keep it (assuming that I make the decision in a reasonable period of time).

;D

[aigle]

I can,t imagine using windows without it. I use it for malware testing, for software testing, for getting a clean system, etc etc.

Most of all I have not to bother about getting a solution for any major or minor system problem. Peace of mind.

[Chuck57]

-{ Quote: "I can,t imagine using windows without it. I use it for malware testing, for software testing, for getting a clean system, etc etc.

Most of all I have not to bother about getting a solution for any major or minor system problem. Peace of mind." }-

I don't do malware testing, but if it helps keep malware which seems to be showing up even on 'safe' sites off my computer, great.

It's the simplest and ... well ... easiest to use and quickest fix I've ever found for putting my desktop back to freshly formatted - with the software on board, such as Word, Movie Magic Screenwriter, and other programs that I use daily. Plus, now I can happily play with all kinds of new software, including Beta, and with a couple of clicks, be rid of it if necessary, and my desktop stays as clean as new.

I think I've talked myself into buying it, with all of your help.

[Baldrick]

-{ Quote: "I can,t imagine using windows without it. I use it for malware testing, for software testing, for getting a clean system, etc etc.

Most of all I have not to bother about getting a solution for any major or minor system problem. Peace of mind." }-
Spot on! :thumb:

[aigle]

I forgot to mention that you can retreive any file from any of the snapshots by mouting the snapshot as a virtual drive/ partition.

BTW I am using Eaz-Fix with dula boot XP Home and Windows 7 and it is working in both without any significant issues. :)

[aigle]

-{ Quote: "
I think I've talked myself into buying it, with all of your help." }-
But keep in mind, it does has some issues but IMO the benefits just outweigh those issues.

Separate your OS and data partitions and just keep an image backup of your system and data. Such a software might mess up with hard disk at any time. Just a word of caution.

[Baldrick]

-{ Quote: "I forgot to mention that you can retreive any file from any of the snapshots by mouting the snapshot as a virtual drive/ partition.

BTW I am using Eaz-Fix with dula boot XP Home and Windows 7 and it is working in both without any significant issues. :)" }-
Yup, had to do that yesterday and it worked really well/really quickly. :thumb: