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Post by paulette on May 31, 2011 21:13:20 GMT -6
OK. I admit at the beginning that I am not particularly computer savvy. So I have other people set things up. I had a very good viral block and in all the scans I've turned up nothing but it has caught a few things that went into the "cage". (Here I envision something like the ghostbusters had - a box with green vapor seeping out)
Anyway. In the midst of some mundune activity on a rock hunters page (just explaining I wasn't at a risky porno site or whatever) the whole screen went red and the words said - you are in contact with a bad virus. You should perform a scan immediately and then reboot.
I did that and that was the last thing my computer was able to do. The viral pop-up ate the boot capacity. My techie was able to retreive and re-install stuff (at a COST of course) and he installed new programs which I don't know how to use - how to get back the ability to edit, select paste etc. To watch video clips. To play (sob) my Scrabble game...
I'm making a list of what I don't know what to do for his next visit here. I've lost all my passwords (and of course didn't remember them or to write them down anywhere). So its been fun and my advice to anyone as uninformed as me is - don't assume that your viral shield is what is up on the screen. Don't in a moment of panic, click on ANYTHING. Better to shut down and call the expert.
So far, its cost 275$ (which included upgrades). But I'm not in the clear yet...
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2011 22:22:14 GMT -6
There are some pretty mean tricks out there now. One is a virus that performs a 'scan' on your computer then holds it hostage unless you purchase the program to get rid of it. My neighbor had that one settle in. Part of the problem is that his computer never gets to run a virus scan or spyware scan because he shuts it down unless he's on it. The virus scan is scheduled to run at night but if the computer is off..it can't scan. Mine hasn't shut down in the 3 years I've had this one and the one before it 4 years (I just turn off the monitor). I use them for my business and I've never had a virus....knock on wood. I scan it daily for spyware and virus's. I also run a firewall, symantic anti virus and a spyware program. The creativity is as bad as UFO hoaxters
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2011 22:56:23 GMT -6
Ad-Aware by Lavasoft works wonders at removing viruses and spyware. I scan my computer every week with it. One of my girlfriends I knew from the university told me about it. It's completely free to download. www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
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Post by skywalker on Jun 1, 2011 9:59:58 GMT -6
I'm sorry to hear about your computer troubles Paulette. I had the exact same thing happen to me about a year ago and I ended up having to buy a new computer (after paying hundreds of dollars to try to fix the old one.) It's practically impossible to get things back to the way they originally were after one of those stupid viruses gets in the system. I scan my computer almost every day now just like Jo does just because there are so many idiots trying to hack into it and cause problems. Those people need to get lives and do something useful for a change instead of just making people miserable. I hope you get everything sorted out soon.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2011 19:02:36 GMT -6
I don't know Sky..it's really no wonder that Harold's followers were more than ready to check out..things are becoming so strained on our planet..it's hard to hang in there. Hoaxers and hackers are tame and sweet by comparison to the Syrian security guards who tortured (and I mean horrendous, hideous torture usually reserved for serial killer types) and eventually killed a sweet faced 13 year old boy who was at a protest with his father and became separated. Mind you..they were Syrian guard..he was a Syrian child and a month later his parents received his mutilated body back. Now...he's a Syrian martyr with broken hearted parents who just wanted freedom. If you are very strong of stomach... google 'tortured Syrian boy'...at first..Utube took down the video but to make an extreme point they reinstated it. Right now..I'd be happy if the world of the weird would stay happy with hoaxes and hacking...
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