Back Online

I am back in business....Got my computer back, and it had 8 viruses, because I clicked on a link that said something was potentially dangerous.
Thank goodness, my computer whiz guy here got rid of it all and I am clean as a baby once again. It cost me $168.00, but I am so grateful for computer geniuses that are putting their genius to helping rather than hurting...

Be careful, folks, what you click on...no matter how legitimate it looks.

Anyway, great to be back!

 

Welcome back! Glad your computer is over it virus!

 

I've got no clue about the costs or efforts that were needed to remove some virusses of your computer but to me 168 dollars seems extremely expensive for that!

 

Thanks, Tazer!.......and crappola, I have to go back out again to eye appointment...yearly visit physical thing and I get to pick out new glasses, and I already have a drawer full of those....Just got this back, and have to leave again.....WAHHHHHHHHHH! LOL

Keeping it computer related.... better to see computer screen with correct lenses.,...hahahaha

 

He charges $75.00 an hour. He is very expensive...the best around these parts, and I trust him, and he is worth it...Plus, he always gives me breaks....

 

Just want to point out that this is a good reason to convert to Mac -- almost no viruses or malware.

 

Not clicking on dubious links works just as good, sunfighter I haven't got a virus in years.

edit: also, the rare occasion I am about to visit a site with harmful content like viruses or malware my antivirus scanner warned me if I want to proceed or not. So yeah, a good antivirus scanner obviously helps!

 

Sunfighter, what is Mac? I just have e-machines.
Am supposed to call Gary, my computer guy, later and find out how to keep these things from popping up, as he told me that even if you do not click on them, they can be potentially hazardous. I have firewall. I thought I was protected from these things.

I just cancelled my eye thing for another day. I am not up for that today.

 

So did he set your system up to prevent it happening again or just leave it as is in order to make more $$$ in the future?

The 3 biggest mistakes people make that allow malicious files to infiltrate;

1) running as the administrator account and not using passwords.
if you enable UAC and run as a standard user, there is no reason to ever use the Admin account except in cases of system recovery and such. Sure you get the nag screens, but it's a lot cheaper than paying someone to clean it up for ya.
Plus ALWAYS change the default username/password for the built-in Admin account, especially with anything older than Win7.

2) Not running/keeping anti-virus software and OS up to date.
A lot of people, especially laptop users, will enable automatic updates for the OS and AV software, yet never actually leave the damn thing on so it can do the updates!
I have seen so many laptops user who set the auto-updates to happen in the middle of the night, yet they always turn the damn thing off so it never updates. Sound simple, but I see it all the time.

After years of trying most AV suites available, free and pay, I have found that the best balance of performance, reliability, system overhead and cost for most users is Microsoft's Security Essentials.
Free download, auto updates almost daily and reliable detection for most threats.
Also allow Windows to do it's auto-updates, usually released on Tuesday nights unless a major security threat.

3) Clicking on links in pop-up windows, rogue e-mails, porn sites, torrent sites, etc, etc.
I don't even look at the suspect e-mails I get (been a flood of ones claiming to be Microsoft about Office 365 lately, just delete them, NEVER click anything)
When a pop-up comes up and tells you something is out of date and such. it's 99% of the time bogus and is a trap.
Also when downloading stuff you actually want, take the time to read what it is you are actually downloading, even from legit places like Adobe (they always try to sneak some other apps into the download for Reader and stuff)

Those are the 3 most common, yet easily preventable, things that allow malicious files to fuck up your day.
:mickey:

 

What is e-machine?

 

^
if you get those pop ups again already I have my doubts as well.

Either your system is not (fully) protected or you are surfing some bizarre dangerous sites/opening dubious stuff you should not think about clicking on at all!

 

A computer brand, I guess. Sunfighter....

NoxiousGas, I am going to read Gary what you said here...without the making more money part...but will ask him about several points. Gary is almost like family to me...and he hates it when I call him, and he has to charge me again.

 

Well, so far no pop ups...Did not have any until yesterday, either.

 

LOL, we have been over this WAAYYY to many times....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/apple-virus/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/timwors...us-problem-with-computer-viruses-and-malware/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/9355995/Apple-drops-virus-immunity-claim-for-Macs.html

it is exactly that fallacious belief that somehow Macs are immune and "better" that actually makes them even more vulnerable than a Windows based PC. Even Apple execs bought into that bullshit and as a result when they DID get hammered hard they didn't know what the the hell to do about it or just didn't give a shit.
The MAIN REASON Apple computers have been "immune" is simply a matter of numbers. If I am going to write malicious code to harass or try to extort $$,. why waste my time on a relatively miniscule market share of potential victims???
You always seem to forget that by and large Macs are non-existent in the business world, Windows based PC's dominate, so why write code that isn't going to target the intended victims????

Stop drinking the Jobs Juice man, it's effecting your judgement.

Again, today Macs are nothing more than Intel cpu's, nVidia graphics, standard hybrid HDD's and hi-res displays, running a flavor of Unix, in a glossy package.
All the above can be had for a fraction of the cost that Apple extorts from people.

so where's all the special uniqueness now????

 

Yeah, I have windows....
As far as computers go, I am pretty dumb...Took me awhile to figure out where to plug what in to get this thing on the road again...LOL

 

They are a budget level PC manufacturer.

 

Yeah, I did not go top of the line expensive. Gary told me it was as good as any to do what I do on a computer....which is not much.

 

Just spoke to Gary. You can do task manager to get rid of any pop ups....and do not click on any pop ups ever...or in a pinch and confused about task manager...hit the power button to off on your PC, even if you are in the middle of something, and it will kill the thing pronto....

 

I am not sure about Gary right now

 

In other words, don't even click the x to click the pop up thing away...make sense?

What is wrong with Gary? He did not create me these problems.LOL