Latest computer Virus

[polarisrider1]

Well, got a new version of an old virus on the home/office computer last night. It is called "White Smoke" It dumped 1130 mini viruses, spam ware, trojan horses, etc. (the whole enchalada) into my computer. Then it offers to sell you the remedy while it claims to be stealing your passwords to Ebay, paypal, your online banking and a long list of other things. AVG wipes out about 1100 of these issues, Spybot gets about 29 of them but of course there is alwaays that 1 lingering bug that you can't seem to shake. That bug messes up you internet explorer, which runs my AOL in the back ground. Yes I actually have AOL as my Browser (no, not dial up, and it's free)that is powered by ATT High speed. Works great normally. Well anyways, Off it went to my Computer Guru for a couple days. So I am using the old 1995 lap top and my droid 2 to run the business. Guess what I am trying to say is have a backup plan with your computer, otherwise you may have to shut down all operations and lose $$$ if you are surfing on the business computer and it locks up like mine. That was my up front and personal computer safety Announcment. lol

 

[snowdance]

Get a Mac!

Get a mac and you will have no worries about viruses.

 

[eagle1]

Any idea where it came from?

 

[snocrazy]

Get a mac and you will have no worries about viruses.

Thats funny. The days of MACS not getting viruses is over. They are out there.

I used to recommend AVG for antivirus for home users. This ended about a year and a half ago. Now I recommend Microsoft Security Essentials. It does a much better job. It is free.

Spybot is another one that used to be pretty good. I now recommend Windows Defender. It is free.

A lot of viruses are spread now a days using malicious pdf documents. IF you use Adobe Reader to view these documents, make sure it is always kept up to date.

Backing up your pc - Acronis True Image Home 2011 $50.00
Then all you need is a usb external hard drive to backup to.

And a final tip - If you get emails from sources you are not familiar with, don't open it. If you do open it, don't click on that link or open a document if it is attached.

Hope this helps. It must be frustrating having your business pc messed up.
Good Luck - hope you have a good computer guy

 

[whitedust]

Wikileaks fing up everything. Hackers can mess you up bad.

 

[jmpsly]

Good luck, I use ESETanti virus and does a great job on these sneak in type programs

Also use Malware bytes. The two of them will chase anything. JohnP

 

[polarisrider1]

Good luck, I use ESETanti virus and does a great job on these sneak in type programs

Also use Malware bytes. The two of them will chase anything. JohnP

Don't be so sure. I used Malware also. Alls it takes is openning an attachment or similiar and the little buggers work there way in. The issue my computer has was caused by me openning a pop up stating the my antivirus program (AVG) had a free update. The logo it gave was very similair to AVG's logo and the update looked official. So I clikcked to download the update. Heck it worked in the past. And it gave me a major virus that I could clear up all of it using 4 different antivirius programs (can't be to safe in here) Problem is it left 1 virus that screwed up internet explorer that was a "Brand new bug". So my computer guru who will charge me $90 will play doctor and figure out how to kill of this issur and then repair any damage done. If I would of bought the culprits remedy for $50 then I would of enabled them to continue to do this to extort money. Most the time it is a computer geek who is not willing to work a real job that does this to pay for college. My oldest son said this is a daily issue at Kettering University in Flint. Super smart kids who are bored creating issues. Who knows. Still on the clunky laptop

 

[snocrazy]

Your pc has been completely compromised. I would not mess around with trying to clean it. Copy off all of the files you need to keep and format the hard drive. Reinstall the operating system. You have no idea what has actually been changed or installed. This is your business computer right? Are you willing to take the chance of some one stealing all of your info?

 

[polarisrider1]

Your pc has been completely compromised. I would not mess around with trying to clean it. Copy off all of the files you need to keep and format the hard drive. Reinstall the operating system. You have no idea what has actually been changed or installed. This is your business computer right? Are you willing to take the chance of some one stealing all of your info?

Backed up the business (Quickbooks Pro) managed that and transfered it over to this antique laptop. backing this up about every 12 hrs. Problem I have and this is what we did last time is I did have the operating system reinstalled. Problem part is the Quickbooks version I am using from 2000 will not let me transfer to the 2011 quick books format. Quick books did this a few years back so you have to buy their $600 a copy program (1 for each computer) and start from scratch, I have 15 years on this version of quickbooks. Way back, I would get the upgrade each yr. for $185 and be good. On the reinstall you first back up the data, but you lose the program, the program (quickbooks Pro) can not be saved only its data. This makes it a bit more work. Everything else I have can be reloaded. So I have a software guy who can make it work, can but won't explain how. More on the virus. A logo using AVG's colors and windows security centers logo design will pop up and state that an update for your anti virus program is available, would you like the free update now? Well if you are busy on your computer you just click yes or no and forget about it. The yes click sent it into motion. Had this about a year ago, and about a year before that.

 

[snocrazy]

Frigging Quickbooks. I am familiar with that nightmare. I picked up a laptop and the Operating System is Vista. This forced me to upgrade Quickbooks. Forced upgrades, Gotta love it. Good luck. Sounds like you are in good hands.

 

[skibob]

RE: Virus

I would 1st recommend switching to Mozilla Firefox, immediately if not sooner. There's just no reason to run I.E. anymore. I switched to Mozilla years ago & still run all the free anti virus programs, but I've never had an infected computer since. Well worth it.
Mozilla is free to download as well!

 

[polarisrider1]

I would 1st recommend switching to Mozilla Firefox, immediately if not sooner. There's just no reason to run I.E. anymore. I switched to Mozilla years ago & still run all the free anti virus programs, but I've never had an infected computer since. Well worth it.
Mozilla is free to download as well!

Thank you, I have them all. I have to run them seperately since the anti virus programs sometimes think the other anti virus is a virus too. I simply had not updated my antivirus programs in a while and new virus'es come out daily. I was tricked into thinking I was updating AVG. And it was some rouge virus to sell a fix. I will know more when I get my computer back. This old clunky lap top sure is slow and cranks tons of heat.

 

[fire126]

I just drop my daughters lap top at my cousin who has a computer bus. PC Rescue down in Arlington Heights IL. because it had the virus. It was a HP just a year old with macafee. He said the only way to get rid of it was to stripe the whole thing and start new. He is going to install a better anti virus.

 

[booondocker]

Okay...lesson learned here.


While it might be tempting to use your WORK computer will vital stuff on it, to cruise the web....you know now why you shouldn't...right?

Also, NEVER, EVER...NEVER EVER...EVER NEVER, accept anything that is prompting YOU to upgrade, or restore, or fix...whatever it is....since this is the number one way to get a bug...there are just way too many computer junkies...out there working on stealing logo's and other ligit companies to accept them and run....cause as you can see it cost you a bundle to get back on your feet.

Always up date the virus protection, and go b uy another laptop to do your cruising with it. Use it strictly for cruising...and run with piece of mind.

I would run with mozzilla, and foxfire...but there are always compatibility issues somewhere or other doin it...and I just don't have the time to work out the work around cause when you want to get stuff done...you want to work on THAT and not put your computer fixer hat on....life is too short to get left holding the bag....so go buy and use the cruisin computer and leave the work computer for work....

 

[polarisrider1]

Okay...lesson learned here.


While it might be tempting to use your WORK computer will vital stuff on it, to cruise the web....you know now why you shouldn't...right?

Also, NEVER, EVER...NEVER EVER...EVER NEVER, accept anything that is prompting YOU to upgrade, or restore, or fix...whatever it is....since this is the number one way to get a bug...there are just way too many computer junkies...out there working on stealing logo's and other ligit companies to accept them and run....cause as you can see it cost you a bundle to get back on your feet.

Always up date the virus protection, and go b uy another laptop to do your cruising with it. Use it strictly for cruising...and run with piece of mind.

I would run with mozzilla, and foxfire...but there are always compatibility issues somewhere or other doin it...and I just don't have the time to work out the work around cause when you want to get stuff done...you want to work on THAT and not put your computer fixer hat on....life is too short to get left holding the bag....so go buy and use the cruisin computer and leave the work computer for work....

Good Advice. I just got the same upgrade notice with this computer when I turned it on 5 min. ago as the one that got screwed up. It said On a very formal looking screen that My AVG anti virus will expire on DEC. 16th And I need to update now. I updated AVG on dec.13th. first clue. IT uses AVG colors in a shield instead of a box 2nd clue. looks for real.

 

[beakjones]

Technically, using the internet from a virtual machine on your computer is the safest way to browse the web on an important computer. There is no way back to the host operating system, and an infection is killed by you turning off the virtual machine.

The suggestions of reformatting.... don't do that obviously.

 

[mulchatna]

You can also help eliminate viruses by using a viewer utility called Quick View Plus. It will allow you to view over 300 file formats without the need to launch a program. It's cheap and effective. You can even download a free 30-day evaluation. www.avantstar.com

 

[polarisrider1]

just got it back and will hook it up as work computer only. This clunker lap top has been doing its job so I will keep it for the internet. If it gets totally messed up, in the trash it will go.

 

[polarisrider1]

Well this computer is back working again. I lost the last 15 yrs. of the company info and the Quick books Pro software it was running on. I did have a back up of the company, and I did have to buy a new Quick Books Pro 2011 program. Got explorer going to. Had to reset passwords on everything even this site. I was amazed that the quick books 2011 worked with my older version of Quick books 2005 on Windows XP and windows 7 but not on windows Vista. So I am back in Business. Having a little bit of glitches on the old aol software but works thru explorer as a newer version. But I lost my favorites Bar at the top. I only use the aol for email anyways since I have DSL high speed and not dial up. and my email has been the same since Gore invented the internet. lol

 

[ibendwire]

Congrats on getting your computer back. It is amazing how much we rely on computers these days. Unfortunately I know so little about computers that when anything goes wrong it has to go to the computer guy.