Computer virus

[sheepfarmer]

I had the misfortune to have my first ever computer virus, and I have been around computers since the operating system had to be toggled in in hexadecimal, and data was stored on paper tapes. Every single data file, except .tif files, were encrypted and became unreadable. My virus protection program popped up when I was doing a google search and said dangerous file had been quarantined and deleted, but it didn't work. The virus is Cryptowall,

http://www.techrepublic.com/article/cryptowall-what-it-is-and-how-to-protect-your-systems/

The criminals try to get you to pay a ransom for a key to decrypt them, but even if you pay $500 on up, you may not get them back. The current practical solution is to sanitize the computer by formatting the hard drive and start over from scratch. This means reloading software and hopefully finding data files on back up disks or drives. Any back up drive that is physically attached to the computer at the time of infection, or thereafter, will also be infected!!!! so be careful.

The point of my posting this here is that the virus can be distributed via ads for sites carrying legitimate security certificates, and spam email. Simply opening the spam email can do it, not just clicking on a link or an attachment. Those spam posts that appear in this section came to mind as well as the myriad of ads along the borders. I mostly access OTT on my tablet and in the course of scrolling touch them by accident, and end up going to the site. So far these viruses do not seem to attack tablets, but it is only a matter of time.

I had outdated equipment and browser, but even new stuff is at risk. I hate learning things the hard way, not everything on my hard drive was backed up. I hope to learn how to create an image of my hard drive and software after I start over, since reinstalling the drivers for scanner, monitor, printer etc will be a PITA. This all will take many hours of work and a fair amount of money.

Hope this doen't happen to anyone else here, but it has become more prevalent, so take care!

 

[BadDog]

I access the internet from a dedicated virtual machine. There are several alternatives for low cost or even free. That "Internet" dedicated VM is very simple. It has a basic install of the OS, and the internet browser of choice. Any browsing support apps like PDF views, Flash, whatever are installed. But none of the main productivity applications you may use (Word, AutoCAD, whatever) are installed there. Once you have it the way you like, backup the whole VM. Now you can browse with impunity. If you get infected, just shut down and copy the backup over the in-use VM, and problem gone (some VMs other options). The only real risk to the host system is if you download an infected file and move it to the host, or if you get the VM infected and don't know it, a safe file could get infected on the way through to the host. But all in all, a sacrificial VM is the way to go.

 

[koja]

Where I live we have no high speed internet so I use my smart phone to access the internet . Not real fast but at 11mbs still faster than satellite . I USB tether to computer . My question is can my PC still get a virus like that through the phone ? IP address changes each time I hook up . I also run the same makers of anti virus , spamware and root cleaner on both . Safe ?

 

[BadDog]

Short answer, no.

Safe enough for your purposes, maybe.

My wife actually managed to get a virus on her Android, and another relative got one on her iPhone (to be technically correct, both were mal/adware). Nobody is safe regardless of choice, it's more about mitigating the risk and cost of recovery. "Antivirus" in general is more marketing than value, and in general the more marketing the less value, though for the masses, better than nothing. I haven't run any sort of antivirus or the like in well over a decade, haven't had an anything I would consider a problem yet.

 

[koja]

Short answer, no.

Safe enough for your purposes, maybe.

My wife actually managed to get a virus on her Android, and another relative got one on her iPhone (to be technically correct, both were mal/adware). Nobody is safe regardless of choice, it's more about mitigating the risk and cost of recovery. "Antivirus" in general is more marketing than value, and in general the more marketing the less value, though for the masses, better than nothing. I haven't run any sort of antivirus or the like in well over a decade, haven't had an anything I would consider a problem yet.

I guess nobody is safe out there .

 

[sheepfarmer]

I access the internet from a dedicated virtual machine. There are several alternatives for low cost or even free. That "Internet" dedicated VM is very simple. It has a basic install of the OS, and the internet browser of choice. Any browsing support apps like PDF views, Flash, whatever are installed. But none of the main productivity applications you may use (Word, AutoCAD, whatever) are installed there. Once you have it the way you like, backup the whole VM. Now you can browse with impunity. If you get infected, just shut down and copy the backup over the in-use VM, and problem gone (some VMs other options). The only real risk to the host system is if you download an infected file and move it to the host, or if you get the VM infected and don't know it, a safe file could get infected on the way through to the host. But all in all, a sacrificial VM is the way to go.

Thanks Russ, I will look into this. I'm afraid you're right, it will all be about mitigating the damage. What is the fix for the phones?

 

[BadDog]

On the Android, a full reset. She doesn't have much on it, and most of that (contacts and such) is managed by a few logins (Google, Facebook), so a reset was a no-brainer. I think the only other option would be to root it to gain access to needed tools, and I'm not interested enough to manage that for her.

I deal with her computer problems in much the same way. Her somewhat outdated computer is not quite up to running VMs (mainly lack of memory), but she doesn't do much beyond email, facebook, etc. along with some silly games. So when she gets it screwed up, I just pop in the Windows install disk and repave it. Takes a LOT less time and frustration than digging out the crap she gets on it. I have an old machine of mine I've been meaning to setup for her, and it can run VMs just fine. I'll just scrub her old HDD and slave it as a data drive to the SSD in the one she is inheriting. Then I'll set her a VM and lock her out of the host OS. Then it will take only a few minutes to reset to clean, so easy and fast I can do it preemptively once every day or two just to narrow the window to help make sure something doesn't set up camp and become a spambot or keyboard logging for passwords.

I'm not sure on the iPhone (or maybe it was an iPad?). I gather they went to the store which did something, perhaps a reset. I'm not even sure exactly what she had, but I know she was getting unsolicited advert popups and lock-up/out on some sites. Absolutely blew her mind, she was convinced she couldn't get infected because she has an i[Whatever].

 

[skeets]

And youz guys wonder why I hate these thing,,,lol

 

[ShaunBlake]

Short answer, no.

Safe enough for your purposes, maybe.

Spot on!

Smart phones and tablets are actually more vulnerable than typical PCs as there are far fewer tools to protect, coupled with an astonishing naivety about the danger. Few of us stop to think of the things that we do with our phones that would be dangerous if we did them on our PCs.

There is no such thing as assured safety except to stay off the Internet. No browsing; no email; no connection at all.

The only nearly-safe thing we can do is to follow BD's method of never accessing the I'net except through a VPN. This is so very easy to do, and can be done for free, yet almost none of us bother to learn how to to it. And as Russ confessed, even those who do sometimes get careless.

So, stay off the I'net and be safe! (To a greater extent -- there is still the ice chunk that falls off the 747 flying over your city...) And one great benefit: you'll cut off my goofiness, permanently!

 

[Tooljunkie]

When my iphone went black a week ago, i figured it got hit with something. Went into what they called a Boot Loop. All i know it turned into a brick.
Use it for business as well as intertainment.
It was unpleasant to be without my lifeline for 14 hours.

I have had computer issues in the past, panda antivirus worked well,use avast and seems to grab all kinds of bad stuff.
Play safe isnt always the case, viruses can come from anywhere.

 

[CaveCreekRay]

Simple Solution: Public execution of hackers online.

Sounds extreme but, even SheepFarmer who wouldn't hurt a sheep was frustrated to the max after getting her electronic life hacked: It came through in her post. The cost to her in lost productivity and data loss will be huge as will be the huge amount of time to re-build. And, it NEVER goes back quite like it was before. The devastation on such a wide scale makes old-time crimes like bank robbery or burglary seem so lame and not worth the effort. I refer to this kind of mindless cruelty as "electronic rape." The effects are life altering.

BIG penalties and LONG jail time. You'd think the UN could come up with something like that ratified by every country. Only problem is a lot of member countries like Nigeria are corrupt and probably participating in cyber crime in some way shape or fashion.

I think "The Cloud" will turn out to be a huge disaster as vast numbers of users get their data hacked or altered.

Sad. What a wonderful world it could be if everyone was like you and me.

 

[Lil Foot]

Simple Solution: Public execution of hackers online.

i could not agree more, but I want that for virtually all crime.
I did a 4 month stint as the foreman of a county grand jury, and we handled 265 cases. About 225 of them were identity theft. The subhuman filth who do this mostly seemed to fit the same profile- long arrest & conviction records for assorted crimes, usually numbering 30 or more, living on our tax dollars with subsidized housing, welfare, & food stamps. To see how these turds ruined the lives of hard working Americans, who did everything right their whole lives, is just sickening. People's credit ruined, savings gone, home equity gone, retirement accounts emptied, collection agencies on their a$$, levies & liens put against what ever they have left…. Identity thieves should all be publicly hanged or shot, or (my personal preference) fed feet first into a dull brush chipper.

 

[olthumpa]

About two weeks ago I got hacked also. Took two days to 'semi straighten" things out. Data and files lost. Some I could REALLY use now.

Better Solution:
after the SOB's are convicted, turn them over to the victims, their families and friends for 48hrs what/if anything is left, sentenced to life without any of the "rights" that convicts now enjoy -forced labor. This would also work for violent crimes such as murder, rape etc.

Just my wandering thoughts. Such a solution would be ghastly.

 

[skeets]

Youz guys should really stay off them porn sites

 

[sheepfarmer]

The problem seems to be to catch the bad guys first, and then extradite them since many of the online bandits are overseas, many in Russia, judging from the comment about Cryptowall, where an error message about a server came up in Russian. I am afraid I think the assorted governments should outlaw the electronic tricks that allow someone to be completely anonymous in their money laundering deals on the internet. May not be possible.

In any case I especially like the brush chipper punishment, sounds highly suitable, although I don't think I could actually turn the switch, a bit messy.

 

[Tooljunkie]

I trust very few people in and around the interweb. I use different variations of my name/address when signing up/on forums. I usually explore before i sign up, if i dont like something i dont sign on.
Paypal is off limits, one attempt from someone claiming to be paypal and i needed to update credit card info. I immediately checked with paypal and info was current. Deleted account and never looked at it again.

I agree with there needing to be swift and harsh punishment for these dirtbags.
But they let convicted killers walk the streets every day, so these destructive crimes fall between the cracks. Imagine imprisoning all these scumbags,the world would need many more prisons.

 

[Lil Foot]

Imagine imprisoning all these scumbags,the world would need many more prisons

One of the reasons I like brush chippers, the world always needs more fertilizer.

 

[sheepfarmer]

I have always wondered why they didn't run prisons so that if prisoners didn't do something useful, they didn't eat. I think we could make a contribution to the energy shortage if we lined them all up on treadmills set up to generate electricity. Say 4 hrs a day running on a treadmill if you want to eat. A tired puppy, horse etc is a good one. Same principle might apply to those who have "made bad choices". The last is dripping with sarcasm.

 

[ShaunBlake]

Simple Solution: Public execution of hackers online.

I agree. Though I am an opponent of capital punishment, as well as a very devout, bible-thumping, love-thy-neighbor Christian, I firmly believe that the abandonment of public executions has contributed to the rise in crime. (Not, but any means, the cause, but I believe a factor, however small.)

... What a wonderful world it could be if everyone was like you and me.

Well, perhaps like you. Like me? <shudder> Perish the thought!

Better Solution:
after the SOB's are convicted, turn them over to the victims, their families and friends for 48hrs what/if anything is left, sentenced to life without any of the "rights" that convicts now enjoy -forced labor. This would also work for violent crimes such as murder, rape etc.

Sorry, that would be a non-starter. (See a victim's thoughts...)

In any case I especially like the brush chipper punishment, sounds highly suitable, although I don't think I could actually turn the switch, a bit messy.

That's the rub... decent folk just can't do the deed. It takes someone particularly 'gifted' in exacting such vengeance to be able to pull the switch.

I have always wondered why they didn't run prisons so that if prisoners didn't do something useful, they didn't eat...

That has actually been implemented in various countries, and tried in some prisons in the U.S. I can't recall the specifics of what I've read but I have the idea that forcing prisoners to work was ruled unconstitutional -- forced slave labor.

<shrug> If I had a say, I wouldn't force them to work; I would offer them the opportunity to 'earn' meals, based on what tasks they performed with a variety of choices such as sheepfarmer's 4-hours-on-the-treadmill for a cup of Mac & Cheese & 2 cups of water; or 6 hours on the rockpile for a Big Mac & 20oz Coke; or not work at all, and...

 

[BadDog]

Give them basic minimal sustenance. No spices, no variety, no concern for taste or "presentation", just basic sustenance. Same for environment. No TV, no books, no basketball and weight rooms. Open yard so they can make their own exercise at will, you know like us of the older generation made do as kids? Can't make them earn their living and recreation like the rest of us, otherwise the bleeding hearts will cry fowl. Slave labor, cruel and unusual, the usual ACLU looking after the crap crap. But who says we have to give them nice stuff (other than the bleeding hearts)? Why should they eat and live any better than cattle, horses, dogs, and other animals? And frankly, I don't see why they shouldn't be FORCED to at least earn their keep or starve. Why are they better than the rest of us? Like my hero Joe and tent city. How is it that our best and bravest can be forced without recourse to live in tents with no amenities and far WORSE weather in the ME desert AND risk their lives for the goals of "superiors" serving their own agendas from luxury offices with limo services and all the perks. But criminals deserve better than our service men? This country is so messed up I'm sad to say I'm embarrassed to call my self American any more. Unfortunately it seems a universal failure of all countries these days, and most are sadly worse than us. Otherwise I absolutely would leave. When criminals commit crimes to go back in because it's a better life than their worthless selves care to achieve on their own, the system is broken to say the least.

And don't get me started on the silliness of the lethal injection situation. Our legal system held hostage by ultra liberal bleeding hearts using economic and supply control should not be possible. Utah has the right idea. Bullets are cheap and effective, though I would hold forth the guillotine as the better solution. With proper design it works 100% with no complexity or dependencies. And you don't have to worry about a botched shot leaving someone thrashing for the liberal media to whine about endlessly. They leave us with no other choice for eliminating trash, so they get what they deserve.

If they want to work while inside to better themselves, I'm ok with that. Rehabilitation should be the first option for those who can be and want to be rehabilitated. But they should earn it, proving they have what it takes to at least have a chance of seeing it through. And our recidivism rate is another embarrassment that presents obvious steps to at least improve the situation.

Incarceration for crime SHOULD be a punishment, it should be unpleasant to act as a deterrent. Sure, that's only one piece of the puzzle, but why must we stack the deck so completely against us, and bankrupt the system in the process. Like profiling. It can be unpleasant for unfortunately impacted individuals in certain situations, but when it HAS to work, like for our current "radical" Muslim threat, it should be an option. Treating a senior citizen with not even a tenuous tie to the problem group the same as a readily identifiable significant probability of providing improved success simply because it is PC is a waste of resources that could be better allocated AND in the misallocation of those resources makes us more vulnerable. Insanity. And you know what, the inconvenience imposed on the innocent members of the high risk demographic might just help encourage help and self policing from within. When they refuse to report or work against the supposed fringe element, that is tacit support, and that alone justifies the inconvenience they will experience as a result. Same for the illegal problem. As a legal citizen I have to show my ID all the time. If I don't, I forfeit the goal I'm trying to achieve. And honestly, for "sensitive" activities, I'm perfectly fine with showing it more. Why are the Hispanics and liberals so against this? Even to the point of trying to make it possible for them to vote without showing IDs! Don't get me wrong, I'll not give up any of my liberties or freedoms without a fight, but that is NOT the same thing.

Here's an example from MY life. I know first hand of a drunken illegal Hispanic with no documentation at all running a red light in an unregistered truck with no insurance and out of date tags hitting my neighbor who was a legal citizen and had everything in order (with his 5 year old son in the car). The drunk was SO drunk, apparently he didn't realize anything was wrong and kept trying to dive even though the truck would no longer steer and was hung on a concrete barrier! He was belligerent, cursing both my neighbor and the cop, and urinated himself right there on the side of the road. The PHX city cop actually told him to "just walk away". Apparently he claimed the jail was full off those like him, and ICE wasn't processing them to get them out, and they had received multiple complaints for over crowding, so they had been told (off the record) not to bring in any more unless it was a violent crime. On a side note, apparently even when they do anything at all, ICE usual MO is to release them with a "promise" to show up for a court date some months later. Any guesses to how many show up? My neighbor is doing the "license, registration, and insurance" drill at this point, and basically lost his cool seeing the guy stumbling away leaving the totaled truck for the city to deal with. Now, he didn't act any worse than the drunk Mexican (though at least he had cause!), but did raise his voice (well, spitting mad yelling more like) and cursed. Not at the cop, but at the injustice of the citation. Any guess what the cop said to him? "Sir, you need to settle down or I'm going to have to take you in!" He REALLY lost it then. He was a law abiding CITIZEN, one who politely provided all the required paperwork, was sober, following the laws, and the victim in every way. But apparently they had resources to arrest him! My neighbor was just outside the neighborhood, and knowing I work from home, called me to come pick them up, so I witnessed some of this. And if I hadn't been there to intercede, reminding him that his son was still there, I'm fairly he would have gone to jail, possibly for assaulting the cop. My neighbor, one of the best neighbors I ever had sold his house and moved up to Prescott Valley within 6 months of this. The moral of the story here is that if you are here illegally, the laws simply don't apply, but a citizen will be held accountable to the fullest extent. The whole experience left me feeling disgusted. I've got another personal experience of far less drama but showing the same pattern, I'll spare all of us the torture of passing it along.

This country is fundamentally broken. And it's broken by corruption and self service within the system, so change from within the system can't realistically happen.

It's late, I over did it today and I'm hurting and grumpy, so I could go on all night, but that's probably more than enough...