A cautionary tale

[Anonymous]

Hi guys,

Just to let you know that on Wednesday evening my computer picked up a devastating virus that virtually wiped out the machine. I had been on my on line bank site, Yahoo mail and here so I don't know where it came from. It happened as I was closing down and left me with a machine that would boot up to my desktop but wouldn't let me use much. AOL start up couldn't get on line and kept going round in a circle with messages and instructions. I tried to go back to a checkpoint but there was nothing doing so I was left with system restore, what a nightmare. The retore would only run for about 50% of its course before a message came up with corrupt file/data and even leaving it on all night on Friday did nothing, the message was still there. I ran it again when I got up and after my breakfast I found that it had burnt through the problem and now I have back the PC I bought in 2001. The stuff I have lost is considerable but at least I don't have to shell out for a new PC. I can't remember if I had my own protection switched on, but the AOL stuff was. My own stuff is switched on now and I think backups will be a good idea! I haven't heard of anyone else having problems so it didn't get into my mailbox, possibley because I was closing down - thank goodness.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[powlee]

Sorry to hear about your PC problem. Been there, done that! I also learnt the hard way and lost a lot of stuff. Since then I keep all my files on a CDRom.
Recently had to cra***he PC when spyware got on and had a party. Even then, I couldn`t save everything and the time it takes to put back all the hardware attachments.
Did learn another thing. I use Outlook Express and there is a back-up wizard which saves all your emails.

All the best
Ian P

[grandpopswalt]

Kim,

Sorry to hear about the virus. I've had a couple run-ins with them and I know it's no fun fixing the problems. I now back up all my data files at least monthly and usually weekly. I run Norton virus protection with the automatic update option armed. Also important is to have the latest virus protection installed from your operating system provider (since most of us run Windows XP on our machines that means having Service Pak 2 installed).

Walt

[Anonymous]

Walt
i got mine up dated today , Windows XP Service pak 2 , after a few hours , i'm back working again , my norton keeps most things out , BEN

[cacole]

Yahoo was notorious for rampant viruses last year, so that's probably where you got it from. You should consider a good anti-virus package such as Norton Internet Security or McAfee or some-such, and be sure to keep live update turned on.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear mate; I would suggest that you lay off the booze a bit and all will be well.


rgds Ian

[TurboOne]

Glad to see you back Kimbrit, I have much on CDrom as many friends have been hit by spyware taking everything over. Also the fact I use win 98, many virus' seem to only attack XP, so I am lucky so far. How are things going otherwise on your side of the pond?

Tim

[Anonymous]

Looks like a few of us have hit problems like this. Charles, I suspect you're right about Yahoo and Ian, went out and got blitzed on Saturday, started at 1pm and got through to 11pm, one of the local guys at the pub plugged his guitar in and we had a good sing song. Otherwise everything in the kingdom is rosy, spring has arrived and now got two short weeks at work due to easter, lovely!!
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[vsmith]

Sorry to hear of the trouble Kim

Personally I wouldnt touch those on-line banking services with a 10-foot cattle-prod! Just dont feel the security services are as 100% as they claim, I dont like using Pay Pal for the same reasons...

[Anonymous]

I use Norton Anti virus and firewall as well as this other program System mechanic, it frees up ram and keeps out spyware, keyloggers,adware etc. Between these three zero problems for over a year! My norton updates nightly and scans nightly.

[Capt Bob Johnson]

My puter wiz tells me that nightly is ok if you use dial up, but if you're on dsl or cable you'd better run a spyware wash every half hour!

[TurboOne]

Had another friend get hit with spyware, took 4 hours to clean it all up.

Be careful out there.

Tim

[underworld]

Yahoo definately causes problems. I'm not confident that AOL doesn't have spyware. Everyone that I know that has AOL, has spyware problems. These are people that have different interests...so they aren't going to the same sites or the same type of sites. Either the AOL blockers aren't good or maybe AOL is using some spyware themselves. Two good programs available are Ad-Aware www.lavasoft.com and Spybot www.safer-networking.org I run both of these on a regular basis and have 0 problems.

underworld

Easter Easter Easter Easter Easter!!!!!

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by underworld

Yahoo definately causes problems. I'm not confident that AOL doesn't have spyware. Everyone that I know that has AOL, has spyware problems. These are people that have different interests...so they aren't going to the same sites or the same type of sites. Either the AOL blockers aren't good or maybe AOL is using some spyware themselves. Two good programs available are Ad-Aware www.lavasoft.com and Spybot www.safer-networking.org I run both of these on a regular basis and have 0 problems.

underworld
Easter Easter Easter Easter Easter!!!!!
[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

I think AOL is spyware! I don't use it but have you ever tried to remove it from a computer that you have no intensions on using it on? They bury stuff deep in the system!

[wchasr]

I just upgraded to a new computer and am trying to get all the files and programs I've grown so fond of off the old computer to teh new one and clean the old one out so I can load it up for the kids to use until it totally dies. The amount of embedded stuff that AOL has on it is astounding! Well over 300 files and counting! I'll be trying to get the new computer rid of it too! UGH!

Chas Ronolder

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Ha! I knew there was some reason I didn't like aol! I figured it was just thier tie in with time warner whose marketing tactics I despise. That's why I never used aol! Guess my being a difficult, opinionated, semi ethical, pain in the***old fart paid off for me in that instance!

[grandpopswalt]

MSN is just as bad. Once loaded, it virtually takes over your computer and it's SLOW. I went to USADATANET, a small ISP, nothing fancy, $10.00 a month with a killer web accelerator for dial-up for another $5.00 a month. Absolutely no problems so far, been using it over a year now.

Walt

[underworld]

carpenter matt Wouldn't surprise me....everyone I know that has any type of AOL product has serious problems. Ever notice the people that really like AOL??? If you say anything critical of it they get kind of a glassy eyed look.......kinda like that of a cult member. And then they usually start spouting off violently to defend AOL....but usually don't make any valid points. Is AOL mind control??? [:p]

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]