Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts
Posted - May 22 2010 : 09:02:56 AM
Hi everyone-
It looks like I have a computer virus. I don't think it does anything other than try to get me to buy bogus anti-virus software.
It shouldn't affect anything outside of my computer but I just wanted to warn you that if you ever get a pop up saying you need to buy anti virus software or if a website says to buy it- please don't do it. I help people at work every day that buy that stuff and then their debit cards get charged lots of money and the program doesn't even work (if they even get one).
Alee, there is a kind of virus that suddenly pops up and tells you that your system is compromised and everything is going to blazes in a handbasket and if you download this software RIGHT NOW they can stop it. The thing is when you load the software you actually buy the virus. You do not get it until you download the software.
But there is another one going around that sends an email to everyone in your email address book and each email has a wierd name in the subject line. If you click on the link it gives it infects your computer. I have checked the links by using my phone email and it is a viagra ad.
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts
Posted - May 22 2010 : 10:42:32 AM
Its crazy isn't it?! I have had the one you mentioned before (the pop up) and luckily was informed enough to not fall into it- but I can certainly see how someone with less computer knowledge might get sucked in. It's a scary world out there on the 'net sometimes! I just wish all these smart people that make these viruses would put their talents to use on something productive and helpful to civilization!
Alee, I just had that happen to me about two months ago. It was so frustrating because I just couldn't get past it. I even had my son in law (computer wizard) try and he finally got it to go away and installed McAfee on my computer. Very frustrating though!
KanMogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
349 Posts
Katherine
Rock
Kansas
USA
349 Posts
Posted - May 22 2010 : 12:33:44 PM
It will occasionally try to pop up with even with McAfee. It looks like it is from Microsoft but it isn't. DO NOT OPEN IT. GET OFF IMMEDIATELY.
I would rather wear out than rust out.----Richard Cumberland
I got the pop up last year and could not make the first pop up page go away. It would not close out. I called the company that has my warranty and the guy walked me through doing a "restore" and that fixed it. I lost a day or twos work but it really was nothing important and that is why I had not backed it up. For those of you who have not ever had to do this you computer seems to save (every so often) what it in it at that point. So if you get infected you can restore it to that earlier point when the virus was not there. It loses all the newer stuff including the virus.
I should be the last one to give computer advice but I have told several about this when they called to say they had something wrong. It fixed all of theirs. I think it would help to become familiar with that ahead of time.
Computer Virus
Posted - May 22 2010 : 09:02:56 AM
