A Wee Bit of Advice

[GT182]

Watch out for what you download off the internet. There's a bunch of Ransome Ware Trojans out there. I've picked up 2 in the past 3 months from website downloads that I thought I could trust. I've gotten software from them before with no problems. One site was from a HypeSnap program, and the other for anti virus software. Most have one main email address they depend on, with an alternate just in case. But most of you are way smarter with a computer than I am. ;)

My local MS store got them out for me both times. I could pull the plug on my computer fast enough both times. This last time was the worst. It took them 6 days to get it out of my computer. Just before it hit I'd changed my main email account's password. And didn't write it down. I for4got what is was and tried for 4 weeks with the various passwords I've used and could remember.... to no avail. Finally after a Chat online with a MS rep I thought all was going to be ok. She sent it to their Global tech. Their reply was that "someone" had tried so many times to get in that they would not help. Their say was final... get a new account. Well, I couldn't as there's too much important info saved in it, along with my contacts and the websites I belong too. SubSim is one of them.

I wouldn't give up. I'm a tenacious SOB. I went to our local MS store this past Friday afternoon and asked them what to do. They know me well and said, "You shouldn't be having this problem. Actually no one should." So the tech I talked to sent of an expedited request for a MS tech to call me at home. I would get a call within 24 hours. And almost to the minute one called. He checked everything I'd done previously, a tech code I'd been sent, and my security. All was good to go. Within 5 minutes I received a link to reset my password. So now all is well again, thank God.

All my passwords for email accounts and websites are now written down in my "little black book". What I didn't know is passwords are save on our computers. But that's only if you know where to look. They aren't saved on mine now, as recommended by the technician, because some one can hack your computer and see them all.

So.... be careful with downloads, write down your passwords, and don't give up if you have a problem like mine. Or any problem you have. Someone out there will eventually give you a hand to get it straightened out. MS did all of this for free. Except the restoring of what I had on my computer when they reinstalled 8.1. That cost me a very reasonable, in my mind, $49.99.

If you've had these same problems you know what I'm talking about. Stay safe on the web.

[Jimbuna]

Rgr that....I also us a little 'black book' :03:

[STEED]

Rgr that....I also us a little 'black book' :03:

Is that the same one the wife has been trying for many years to find and burn? :03:

[Commander Wallace]

Thanks for taking the time out, relating to your experiences, Gary. Most people I know keep a Black Book with regards to passwords. It makes good sense like backing up important info.

I'm glad you were able to retrieve your passwords. Viruses are turning up in innocuous areas in safe sites one wouldn't expect. I had a computer infected with a virus while looking for flooring in a small renovation project.

One option you can use is to purchase or create a CD / DVD disc which has an imbedded operating system and sometimes an accompanying anti virus suite. The viruses can't infect those. With the disc, you can use the anti virus and clear out the infected files. You have to first establish the boot order so the computer knows to boot into the disc, not the onboard operating system.

Most viruses disable the operating system on the computer in addition to the anti virus suite and roll back features as well as the ability to boot into safe mode. The CD provides an operating system on the disc to enable you to clear out the viruses and reestablish the operating system on your computer and it's files.

It would be a good thing to have in case it happens again and is just another tool or toy in your tool / toy box. :yep:

[Eichhörnchen]

It's good advice to write your passwords in a book (mine's not black, it's called my "spotty book")

[STEED]

I think people should change their passwords every six months on their emails and sites you shop on along with important sites like making appointment to see your GP. As for downloads i get fed up with some extra rubbish that i do not want or asked for so clear off.

[ValoWay]

For safer and anonymous web-browsing I use:
www.getadblock.com
www.ghostery.com
www.eff.org/https-everywhere
www.ublock.org

and in reserve:
github.com/andryou/scriptsafe

[GT182]

After I was all done and my email was working again, there was a pop up that showed me my computer saves them. How I could have gotten it back from there I have no idea. But do know that your computer has them all saved for you. Not a good idea if someone hacks your computer.

It's done thru the control panel, but as I said I've no idea how to get back to it. I tried to make a shortcut to if but that didn't work.

[vienna]

Saw a segment on the local TV morning news about various scams targeting Windows machines; at the end they mentioned a free malware scanning and repair app provided by Norton, the Norton Power Eraser. It does a very aggressive scan and automatically seeks out any root kits lurking on a machine. I downloaded and ran it and it seems to do what it claims; however, be advised to read carefully the caveats given by Norton: the scan is very aggressive and may result in some false positives. The scan I ran did return a few legit apps as suspect, but there is the ability to not have those specific apps removed or repaired. Here is a link to the Norton page:

https://security.symantec.com/nbrt/npe.aspx




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