The viruses of today's web are vicious.

[Cowboy Brian]

I consider myself quite adept at computing, anytime in the past that I have been unfortunate enough to get a virus I would load up safe mode and have (what I considered) a fun time going in and deleting the virus. Removing its trace from my PC and then running an avast startup scan just to make sure. Maybe 2, 3 hours and it was done.

Well yesterday I got a virus and it was a completely different story. It created a new class of administrator, giving it "special permissions" and removing my accounts owner access - it blocked off access to all of its files scattered around my PC and made it so that any anti virus program failed and gave an error message "Can not run on 64 bit windows". Even when attempting it in 32 bit mode! I battled with this virus for 6 hours going as far as a clean install.... IT WAS STILL THERE! By goly, I got this virus not in some dark nasty cavern of the deep web but reading a video game website downloading a guide program for Runescape's recently released 2007 servers (hey, I wanted a nostalgic trip!). This was ridiculous. I have never had to seek PC support from anyone else since I was about 7, well I just dropped it off at a PC store and for $129 they claim they can fix it. I reluctantly paid, I was exhausted of options. I don't know how to go in and modify the BIO source codes if that is where the virus has attached itself and I don't know how to modify the firmware for the computers hardware. The viruses on the web are scary, vicious and they are only growing more so.

 

[MonsterD]

So lesson learned here is check the download links and see if it is rated/discussed as being malevolent.

 

[5Stars]

I consider myself quite adept at computing, anytime in the past that I have been unfortunate enough to get a virus I would load up safe mode and have (what I considered) a fun time going in and deleting the virus. Removing its trace from my PC and then running an avast startup scan just to make sure. Maybe 2, 3 hours and it was done.

Well yesterday I got a virus and it was a completely different story. It created a new class of administrator, giving it "special permissions" and removing my accounts owner access - it blocked off access to all of its files scattered around my PC and made it so that any anti virus program failed and gave an error message "Can not run on 64 bit windows". Even when attempting it in 32 bit mode! I battled with this virus for 6 hours going as far as a clean install.... IT WAS STILL THERE! By goly, I got this virus not in some dark nasty cavern of the deep web but reading a video game website downloading a guide program for Runescape's recently released 2007 servers (hey, I wanted a nostalgic trip!). This was ridiculous. I have never had to seek PC support from anyone else since I was about 7, well I just dropped it off at a PC store and for $129 they claim they can fix it. I reluctantly paid, I was exhausted of options. I don't know how to go in and modify the BIO source codes if that is where the virus has attached itself and I don't know how to modify the firmware for the computers hardware. The viruses on the web are scary, vicious and they are only growing more so.

Well, there you go!

My son did the same thing a few years back messing with Runescape.

It took me about 2 hours to fix it, and the way I did it was to re-boot and hit F12 to get into the BIOS. From there, I did a "repair" for everything that was offered while in the BIOS mode. Did a restart and it was all fixed up.

From now on, when you get your computer back, find out how to go to your BIOS with whatever F key that gets you in there, and right down all of the settings that are set in your fixed computer. Many times if you get something that you cannot fix with a virus protection, you can solve most problems with re-typing all the current settings in the BIOS, reboot, and most likely things will get back to normal.

 

[BringBackThatOleTimeBoys]

Have to be more careful than ever checking emails...there are a few that fool you into thinking they really are from FedEx, Facebook, etc. First rule is never rush thru email. Next is hover over images and links to see if the URL is suspicious (i.e. a foreign domain or just something that does not match that company.) If you are still in doubt, right-click the URL or phrase and let your browser's default search engine give the results...often you will see documentation of spam or scam.

There is a browser add-on at www.mywot.com. It rates sites so you can have a heads up if they are objectionable with things like malware.

 

[muck4doo]

Back in the old days, viruses were polite, and we liked it like that.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Back in the old days, viruses were polite, and we liked it like that.

Never were polite but they are deadly now. No financial gain in frying a hard drive, just malicious intent.

 

[BringBackThatOleTimeBoys]

^ organized crime has gone from bootlegging and drugs to hacking/identity theft - that's where the money is.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

^ organized crime has gone from bootlegging and drugs to hacking/identity theft - that's where the money is.

Yep your right, but the virus I had wasn't a traditional keylogger. The best keylogger would be near unnoticeable so you get the persons entire identity. This was just evil. Some no life person who thought costing mass amounts of people their computers would be fun. They didn't gain anything from frying my hard drive. Heck, they probably don't know it happened. I equate it to throwing bricks over an overpass that you can't see the results off. You know your screwing up lots of peoples lives but you can't see how but the fact you are causing misery brings you happiness. These people are screwed up. The people stealing identities are doing it for financial gain, I don't agree with it but atleast their motives aren't demented & twisted.

 

[Shunpike]

Hi R2A

Sorry to hear your story. And thanks for informative posts.

My question is about keyloggers

I am always using my company's computer for my financial stuff and my company's computer and network is protected by a very expensive firewall.

Any risks?

I also keep a password file in my work computer for easy access

Is it dumb?

What are your suggestions not to be a victim of keylogging and identity theft?

 

[RastaRocket]

^ organized crime has gone from bootlegging and drugs to hacking/identity theft - that's where the money is.

Cartels still rake in billions off drugs.

 

[Teren_Kanan]

By clean install do you mean you completely reformatted your computer and it was still there? I've come into contact with some nasty virus's before, but never one I couldn't get rid of with a full reformat.

Sounds nasty.

 

[Phoenix]

Hi R2A



I also keep a password file in my work computer for easy access

If you do this, use encryption. I recommend the free & easy to use Password Safe.

http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/

 

[Cowboy Brian]

By clean install do you mean you completely reformatted your computer and it was still there? I've come into contact with some nasty virus's before, but never one I couldn't get rid of with a full reformat.

Sounds nasty.

Yup. It attached itself to all the firmware & bios and I even had a firewall and an antivirus.