Thanks for the advice, Solution Architect. Lesson learned : /
Thanks for the advice, Solution Architect. Lesson learned : /
1) Erase your computer;
2) Install Linux Mint.
Been there ~ wrote:
1) Erase your computer;
2) Install Linux Mint.
And then your computer will be even worse and unusable than with a virus on it.
Stop using Windows.
Stop being an idiot by clicking on emailed attachments or downloads you don't understand.
Been there ~ wrote:
1) Erase your computer;
2) Install Linux Mint.
Wise One I'm Not wrote:
And then your computer will be even worse and unusable than with a virus on it.
Wrong.
99.999999999% of all viruses & problems are on windows computers.
Idiot Alert wrote:
Been there ~ wrote:1) Erase your computer;
2) Install Linux Mint.
Wise One I'm Not wrote:
And then your computer will be even worse and unusable than with a virus on it.
Wrong.
99.999999999% of all viruses & problems are on windows computers.
Wrong, Linus. Most viruses and hacked devices are Linux ones now adays thanks to Android and critical kernal bugs in Linux.
Wise One wrote:
pop_pop!_v2.2.1 wrote:I guess all that advice you hear from computer geeks about the dangers associated with using Windows fell I deaf ears?
Stop running Windows and problems like this stop.
What? Linux is way worse. Just look at Android.
Posted the poster that doesn't understand Android is not a Linux desktop distro, among other things. I know you don't know the difference between a kernel and an operating system, but there is one.
The basic scenario as described (clicking on a zip file) will not execute for a couple of different reasons. It's the UNIX way.
Or, you can ignore good advice some more and punish yourself some more. Americans seem quite fond of that these days.
pop_pop!_v2.2.1 wrote:
Wise One wrote:What? Linux is way worse. Just look at Android.
Posted the poster that doesn't understand Android is not a Linux desktop distro, among other things. I know you don't know the difference between a kernel and an operating system, but there is one.
The basic scenario as described (clicking on a zip file) will not execute for a couple of different reasons. It's the UNIX way.
Or, you can ignore good advice some more and punish yourself some more. Americans seem quite fond of that these days.
Windows also doesn't execute zip files, Linus. You can keep sticking your head in the sand and ignore the numerous Linux vulnerabilities that have made Android insecure and exploitable.
I work in IT, and I seriously can't get myself to have any empathy for this kinda stuff any more.
Client: 'PLEASE help, my computer crashed and all my files are gone. They are VERY important to me!'
Me: 'Sorry to hear that. Did you bring your backup? We'll fix your computer and restore everything, no problem.'
Client: 'No, I don't have a backup…'
Me: 'But your files are VERY important?
Client: 'Yes!'
Me: 'But you don't have a backup?'
Client: 'No…'
Me: 'But your files are VERY important?
Client: 'Yes!'
Me: 'But you don't have a backup?'
Client: 'No…'
Weird thing is, you can repeat those questions over and over, without them getting the message. People are stupid. Computers crash, virusses exist, bad luck happens. Be prepared, or don't come crying.
I'd add that backup is free and automatic. There's no reason to not set up an automatic backup system. I've used Dropbox Pro to store and sync files between our household's five laptops for five years, but there are several others and some are free. Other posters could share their experience with those systems.
Once you start using a backup system, the laptop becomes a disposable device. If the motherboard burns out or it gets dropped, you can just toss it.
sredlums wrote:
I work in IT, and I seriously can't get myself to have any empathy for this kinda stuff any more.
Client: 'PLEASE help, my computer crashed and all my files are gone. They are VERY important to me!'
Me: 'Sorry to hear that. Did you bring your backup? We'll fix your computer and restore everything, no problem.'
Client: 'No, I don't have a backup…'
Me: 'But your files are VERY important?
Client: 'Yes!'
Me: 'But you don't have a backup?'
Client: 'No…'
Me: 'But your files are VERY important?
Client: 'Yes!'
Me: 'But you don't have a backup?'
Client: 'No…'
Weird thing is, you can repeat those questions over and over, without them getting the message. People are stupid. Computers crash, virusses exist, bad luck happens. Be prepared, or don't come crying.
Not expecting empathy. I agree that I've been stupid about this issue. I guess it was the "it'll never happen to me" mentality I developed on this issue for some reason. That's all about to change today. I'll be one less of "those people" from now on.
fisky wrote:
I'd add that backup is free and automatic. There's no reason to not set up an automatic backup system. I've used Dropbox Pro to store and sync files between our household's five laptops for five years, but there are several others and some are free. Other posters could share their experience with those systems.
Once you start using a backup system, the laptop becomes a disposable device. If the motherboard burns out or it gets dropped, you can just toss it.
That sounds great! Looking into it right now.
Unfortunately you've had to learn the hard way. My suggestion (which is contrary to "official" advice) is to pay the ransom. There is a reasonable chance that the offender will then give you the key to decrypt your files.
This is an excellent essay by Scott Hanselman on having a good back-up strategy - well worth a read. It also contains links to other useful ideas:
http://www.hanselman.com/blog/TheComputerBackupRuleOfThree.aspx
Just wow... wrote:
fisky wrote:I'd add that backup is free and automatic. There's no reason to not set up an automatic backup system. I've used Dropbox Pro to store and sync files between our household's five laptops for five years, but there are several others and some are free. Other posters could share their experience with those systems.
Once you start using a backup system, the laptop becomes a disposable device. If the motherboard burns out or it gets dropped, you can just toss it.
That sounds great! Looking into it right now.
And it is fast. Sometimes my wife and I work in the same room. I can save a file on my computer and about five seconds later, I can hear its telltale beep saying that the new file has been saved to the cloud and then sent to my wife's laptop.
Wise One wrote:
Windows also doesn't execute zip files, Linus. You can keep sticking your head in the sand and ignore the numerous Linux vulnerabilities that have made Android insecure and exploitable.
You keep equating Android with a desktop distribution like Debian, or Ubuntu, or Mint. That's a fail.
You also keep trying to claim windows doesn't blindly execute binary file types. Also wrong.
Who do I contact to get paid to troll like you do? I can do better than you. Does it pay well?
I've installed Dropbox, and just put my first file in. Easy as can be. But what's to keep a virus like the one I encountered from getting into my Dropbox files as well?
fisky wrote:
Just wow... wrote:That sounds great! Looking into it right now.
And it is fast. Sometimes my wife and I work in the same room. I can save a file on my computer and about five seconds later, I can hear its telltale beep saying that the new file has been saved to the cloud and then sent to my wife's laptop.
I just researched my question and see the Dropbox support can restore your files back to their status prior to the event. Pretty cool if it will work on the type of virus my files got. Is there not a "turn back time" feature in Windows to undo these viruses as well? I'd think there should be a way to reset the files stored to their status as of x number of minutes, hours or days back.
I used Windows computers for ~10 years, did all the updates, backed them up, used all the virus protections, however the computers were always crashing anyway, the operating systems locked me out several times and I had to get new computers and/or new windows operating systems. Using the windows computers was always a major hassle and expensive.
I used a mac for 7 years and it was a hassle as well. First of all the computer kept crashing from the start, but Apple wouldn't admit the problem, and wouldn't take back the computer. Finally 2 years later they admitted the issue I'd asked them about from the start, and it was fixed, but the expensive computer only had basic programs and was not worth the price.
I switched to Linux about 10 years ago, have used Ubuntu, Mint, Sabayon, Fedora, never use virus programs, never back them up, and have never had any issues with any of them. Mint is the easiest to use and most popular.
My experience ~ wrote:
I used Windows computers for ~10 years, did all the updates, backed them up, used all the virus protections, however the computers were always crashing anyway, the operating systems locked me out several times and I had to get new computers and/or new windows operating systems. Using the windows computers was always a major hassle and expensive.
I used a mac for 7 years and it was a hassle as well. First of all the computer kept crashing from the start, but Apple wouldn't admit the problem, and wouldn't take back the computer. Finally 2 years later they admitted the issue I'd asked them about from the start, and it was fixed, but the expensive computer only had basic programs and was not worth the price.
I switched to Linux about 10 years ago, have used Ubuntu, Mint, Sabayon, Fedora, never use virus programs, never back them up, and have never had any issues with any of them. Mint is the easiest to use and most popular.
I can tell you are a liar, Linus, because desktop Linux crashes all the time due to unstable drivers and Linux not being able to recover.
Windows = Real Runners - It can take some work and isn't always pleasant but works out in the end.
Mac=Hobby Joggers - Selling people a lot of expensive trinkets.
"Linux"=Cross Fit - A few may benefit. After an initial promise of "miracles" it fades.
As to back ups, regardless of you os. I personally have my important stuff squirrled away in different locations. A fireproof safe/box with dvd, hard drive, and flash drive redundancy as well as a bank safe deposit box if its really really important. I don't really trust the cloud as they can and have been hacked e.g. celebrity nude photos, yahoo email, sony, the US govt, Ashley Madison, linux mint server. I go so far as to periodically save my emails outside of their normal file location. As careful as I am last year I managed to delete all my emails from the servers when I switched clients. I had my proper folders backed up (with thunderbird) and with thunderbird was able to copy them back to the servers. As to viruses, that may be the only slight advantage with linux. Hardware failures, system crashes and theft don't discriminate. Current os's, browsers, anti viruses, routers, and isp's do a way better job than they used to to filter out the crap, not perfect but a lot more advanced than 10 years ago. OP, was this attachemnt opened with a client or web base? Like driving defensively, using any device that goes online requires defensive tactics as well.