Topic: HIDEOUS VIRUS!!!

[Gordon]

A HUGE thanks to Mark (mlinder) for all the help he's given me over the past few days on cleaning up my computer.   If there's anything I can do to help you in the future, Mark, please let me know.

I was still having some problems with google search and my gmail account, but after another scan with Malwarebytes' everything is working fine.  Thanks for everything! 

[Gordon]

I just made a $5 donation to this website in honor of Mark helping to bring my computer back from the brink of e-hell, which is a major bargain considering how much it would have cost me to take it somewhere to get cleaned up.  

This thread is just one example of how the members of this forum can help each other in ways that have nothing at all to do with the motorcycles that brought us here.  If you've ever been helped by someone here or saved yourself some cash with the knowledge you've gained from any of the thousands of topics in the various forums, please consider tossing in a few bucks toward the upkeep and server space that makes this website possible.

I wonder what Glenn could do with the sohc4 website and forums if every person who were ever helped with the info here gave just 10 cents each time they got something useful from it.  I also wonder how poor some of us would be if we had to give 10 cents every time we got something useful from here.    

[mlinder]

Glad to be of service, and glad it went back to our community.

[Achmed]

I haven't been here long at all and the entertainment value alone I think is worth a donation. Plus the technical info and the political talk! SOHC4 for president! Can I get a witness?!

[mlinder]

Huzzah!

[Achmed]

Do I have to have paypal? What the fuk.

[Gordon]

Do I have to have paypal? What the fuk.

No you don't.  When you click the "Paypal Donate" button, look over to the left where it says "Don't have a PayPal account?
Use your credit card or bank account (where available)", and click there.  You can use a credit or debit card without a paypal account.  

[MickeyX]

Ohforchristsakes! This thing just got me again. It's been clean all this time and I go on a site to get a "#$%* you" smilie  and it took my laptop down hard. It wouldn't let me get into safe mode or anything. Kit got on her mac, downloaded everything to a thumb drive for me and it got it back pretty quickly. Well, it was quick after I came back to it since I walked away from the whole thing for a few hours because I was so pissed off. 

I'm going to buy the full version this time. I went cheap last time and just did the one time freebie.

[Gordon]

Stop downloading all that porn!!!

[spitcrazy]

Download LINUX, kick windows to the curb and don't look back!

[MickeyX]

Stop downloading all that porn!!!

LOL! Yeah, well, I couldn't help myself. That bike was hot!! 

[Retro Rocket]

Stop downloading all that porn!!!

LOL! Yeah, well, I couldn't help myself. That bike was hot!! 

Get a decent anti virus Mickey and you will have no problems at all. If i try opening an infected site my anti virus puts up a warning and asks me if i still wish to proceed which you obviously don't. Haven't had a virus in 8 years and i go {looks around} everywhere....

Mick

[dave500]

im only using a free avg anti virus/a free spybot and a free zone alarm fire wall,ive never had any problems,,i guess if you walk down a dark alley way youll be testing it all?

[spitcrazy]

If you absolutely need Windows for business purposes (running Windows specific software) Bitdefender is good AV and inexpensive...easy on your cpu.... top rated by PC magazine. Get another computer and go LINUX for your PORN

[Zaipai]

If you absolutely need Windows for business purposes (running Windows specific software) Bitdefender is good AV and inexpensive...easy on your cpu.... top rated by PC magazine. Get another computer and go LINUX for your PORN

+1

I also find that Windows Security Essentials is just fantastic, and because it's from MS its very easy on resources and it includes Malware and Spyware support ontop of Virus scan support. Its also free as in Beer, just not free as in speech.

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

That said, I only use Linux at Home and have never had a virus, malware or spyware and.. I also go down some dark alleys...

http://www.ubuntu.com <-- good option and you can test it on your PC with out installing it to see if you want to use it. Just keep in mind its slower running from the CD then it would be running from the hard drive.

Tho I am not a big fan of Apple products.. At the moment Mac OSx is also a good choice, however it would require you buy Apple hardware.. Well to be legal anyway..

.: Scott :.

[Gordon]

im only using a free avg anti virus/a free spybot and a free zone alarm fire wall,ive never had any problems,,i guess if you walk down a dark alley way youll be testing it all?

Pretty much.  Those are the same things I'm using and was using at the time of my malware issue.  The only difference between now and then is that I was downloading a lot of stuff from Piratebay at the time.  I have since stopped, and have had no problems. 

[Zaipai]

im only using a free avg anti virus/a free spybot and a free zone alarm fire wall,ive never had any problems,,i guess if you walk down a dark alley way youll be testing it all?

Pretty much.  Those are the same things I'm using and was using at the time of my malware issue.  The only difference between now and then is that I was downloading a lot of stuff from Piratebay at the time.  I have since stopped, and have had no problems. 

Yeah, Torrents can be an issue, when torrents work they work well, when they don't it sucks..

.:  Scott :.

[seaweb11]

Late here..... I just clicked on this.

 Wow! I'm a Mac user, and have no where near as much knowledge about computers as some of you do ?
Thing is, I make a living with mine. 
   I'm not being cocky, but I have a question, I just turn mine on.

My computer choice day #1 was sort of like my bike choice. In the case of my computer, a new business partner in a publishing business was a Mac user.
I was computer illiterate and learned on one of these, 1995.   Same with the bikes, they just came in to my life, now I have a few




What is it that makes having an IBM/PC/Microsoft computer so great that you have to become a computer mechanic to run one safety?  Or is it the same mentality of working on old bikes, you like to problem solve, change, update, customize etc.?

Serious question?


After my ignorant backup loss last year, "solved"
I use this every day


I haven't had a virus an all those years, so it is very hard to understand?

[spitcrazy]

Late here..... I just clicked on this.

 Wow! I'm a Mac user, and have no where near as much knowledge about computers as some of you do ?
Thing is, I make a living with mine.  
   I'm not being cocky, but I have a question, I just turn mine on.

My computer choice day #1 was sort of like my bike choice. In the case of my computer, a new business partner in a publishing business was a Mac user.
I was computer illiterate and learned on one of these, 1995.   Same with the bikes, they just came in to my life, now I have a few



What is it that makes having an IBM/PC/Microsoft computer so great that you have to become a computer mechanic to run one safety?  Or is it the same mentality of working on old bikes, you like to problem solve, change, update, customize etc.?

Serious question?


After my ignorant backup loss last year, "solved"
I use this every day


I haven't had a virus an all those years, so it is very hard to understand?

Thing is, some of us use software for business that won't run on a Mac unless you buy windows for 300.00 ... what's the point then?

PC's suck, in general, IMHO. But LINUX (ubuntu) makes life easier and you can surf the website of HELL itself with no problem.

Apple machines, especially currently are the most gorgeous well made machines available in the world. Apple engineers and designers have thought of everything. They are worth every penny. When I can afford it, a macbook AIR 17'' is on my list. And an iPad for the ol' lady... she's basically illiterate.

[Gordon]

What is it that makes having an IBM/PC/Microsoft computer so great that you have to become a computer mechanic to run one safety?  Or is it the same mentality of working on old bikes, you like to problem solve, change, update, customize etc.?

Serious question?

It's not that it's so great, it's just the better option for the price for my needs (internet, word-processing, cd/dvd burning, pictures, iTunes) than a Mac.  I spent a total of about $400 on my PC three years ago, and all software with the exception of the dvd copying software has been free.  The only problem I've had was the one in this thread that Mark helped me with, and that was my fault for being so "loose" with my downloading.  I can also upgrade cheaply, as necessary, to keep the computer current for years to come without having to buy a whole new computer.  

Basically it's a price thing.  I like Macs, but I'd rather spend a little time occasionally fixing a malware problem on my cheap PC than spending an extra thousand dollars or more for a Mac that I would be using for the exact same purposes.

And a few months ago I got a new, pretty decent PC laptop for $300.        

[Zaipai]

To answer your question you have to go back to when Mac's were PPC chips. If you wanted to run anything it had to be on a PC because very few things ran on a PPC that the average user would use. Also if you wanted to use what you used at work, you needed the PC with Windows. The other issue and its still one in my book, tho very nice looking Macs are just way to pricey. Its the same reason I don't have a HD.. More often then not it has to do with price. For me, it also has to do with freedom. I choose not to live in Steve Job's walled garden, and only live in Bill Gates because it has a few less walls. I also make my living fixing Windows Servers (Thanks MS).. I use Ubuntu when ever I can, its on my home PC's and its on a USB flash drive that I use when I don't have my Laptop and want to surf safely. All that said, Windows7 is pretty dang secure and very slick looking so I also have that and use it at work even tho I could just use Linux (insert your favorite distro here). Never under estimate how popular a low price is.. Some thing Apple has not figured out. I have tried the iPad and took it back, its not for me or my life style. I can see why its popular.. That said, Android has out sold (in just 18months) the iPhone, (this will change for a few months with the new iPhone that is out), why? Mostly Android gives you choices and has a lower price, and that is what people (not everyone) wants. I suspect the same will hold true with the tablets that come out running Android, time will tell tho. Even on AT&T Android phones are selling very well.

.: Scott :.

[Zaipai]

Oh, and just so there is no confusion, viruses today know no OS. The fact that most are Windows related is simply because Windows accounts for the most users on the net. Also IE 6 is still the most widely used browser out there.. And you don't have to hit porn sites or download stuff from bit torrent..

Here is an article from a credited security firm...

According to reports, many online users are almost always attacked from the hacked websites of legitimate providers. Previously a majority of surfers used to assume that malware was only found on sex sites and other shady websites, but these days all you need to do is visit your favourite newspaper to come under attack. Antivirus vendor Avast reports reports that there are now 99 "normal" infected websites for every infected adult site. Current cases, such as the manipulation of Lenovo's server or of Vodafone UK's server seem to support that finding. In the case of Vodafone, attackers manipulated the Blackberry product pages so they could upload an exploit in an iFrame for an unpatched hole in the Windows Help Center.

So you just have to be careful what ever you do.

.: Scott :.

[Laminar]

What is it that makes having an IBM/PC/Microsoft computer so great that you have to become a computer mechanic to run one safety?

You don't, really. It's more about taking a few simple steps - run a good AV, know how to see phishing, stay away from iffy sites. It'd be about the same as knowing how to change your oil and listening for engine knock. Not in-depth activities, but things that every bike owner should know how to do.

Or is it the same mentality of working on old bikes, you like to problem solve, change, update, customize etc.?

For some, definitely. They couldn't fathom being locked into a single hardware configuration. An iMac with a built-in screen, soldered processor, etc. is unthinkable. Apple has proven that there's enough of a demand, though, that they can at least stay in business. Although right now the Mac Pro is probably THE most overpriced computer on the market.

I haven't had a virus an all those years, so it is very hard to understand?

It's easy enough to find a Windows user that's never had a virus either (even ones that don't run an AV), a single example isn't necessarily indicative of a pattern.

My main machine is a Mac Mini hooked up to my HDTV dual booting OS X and XP. I bought it new for $580 three years ago and it's still working great. I have 8500 photos in my iPhoto library from the past seven or eight years, I can go from camera to YouTube with a video in just a couple minutes with iMovie, my iPod Touch is fantastic for all of the traveling that I do - my workflow is very much built around the Mac, so switching would be illogical for me.

I bought my wife a netbook since her school uses Windows-only apps and my garage computer is one I built for super cheap from NewEgg. It replaced the Pentium III/1Ghz machine I've had in there for the past couple years. I use Avast! anti-virus on all of my machines, it has let me know a couple times when a site I'm visiting is less-than-ideal.

[Laminar]

Never under estimate how popular a low price is.. Some thing Apple has not figured out.

Oh they've figured it out, but they know low price=low profit margin and that's not something they want to deal with. The only entry-level device they sell at all is the iPod shuffle, and even then it's probably twice as much as any of the competition.

When they can sell severely outdated hardware (in the case of the current Mac Pro) for thousands of dollars, why bother taking the time to come up with a cheap, low profit margin computer? 

[Zaipai]

Never under estimate how popular a low price is.. Some thing Apple has not figured out.

Oh they've figured it out, but they know low price=low profit margin and that's not something they want to deal with. The only entry-level device they sell at all is the iPod shuffle, and even then it's probably twice as much as any of the competition.

When they can sell severely outdated hardware (in the case of the current Mac Pro) for thousands of dollars, why bother taking the time to come up with a cheap, low profit margin computer? 

Agreed, what bothers me most is people pick form over function. I agree Apple puts out some really nice stuff.. Most if it is not nearly as functional as its counter parts, and costs more, in some cases much more.

I only have a Mac Pro, because I got a good deal on it from a co-worker, and being the tech head that I am I like to have what ever I can get my hands on. I fire it up once a month and update it and play with it for a day or two.. I have to say the interface to Mac OSx is still very nice.

.: Scott :.