Computer Virus -- I have one

[james]

I am posting this in the general section so that most people will see it [moderators .. if this is a problem please delete/move].

I am running the office/professionsl version of mcafee anti-virus and my computer is used by family members ..

Last night I was called up to the computer to see the message -- basically "your hard drives are about to fail / your cpu is overheating" I believed this and assumed a failed fan. It was coming from something called "System Repair" which looks like part of windows but is not.

The "useful" program told me it would fix things [it looked like part of windows] so I ran it and it did so but only some of the problems and then asked for money to upgrade to the "professional" version [about $100].

I believed all this but $100 was too much so I decided I needed to buy a new disk and decided to see how much I could salvage from the "faulty" disk. I logged in with linux and everything was ok ... I could see everything on the windows disks .. it took me ages to decide it was a virus. [I have a dual boot windows/linux system].

Here is how it works ..
a) produces lots of warning messages that your hardware is failing
b) sets most of your files to 'hidden'
c) looks for your credit card details

So -- a warning/advice -- make lots of backups !!

james

[Ivor]

These are always knocking around. If you google "your hard drives are about to fail / your cpu is overheating" or "system repair" (something unique to the problem) the internet will usually provide a solution. Don't just grab the first one offered though, they can be a scam too!
Take your time, don't do anything hasty. Stay calm!

[james]

Thanks Ivor,
I think I fixed it by doing "System Restore" and then I changed everything to "UnHidden". I ran McAfee again and it found nothing but I am not impressed with McAfee.
Again my advice is -- make lots of backups especially if you are getting into computer audio .. if all my music was on my PC last night I would have been a very unhappy camper.
James

[Fran]

Backups are vital.

I run a bit of software called "goodsync" and find it very useful for this. I keep 2 usb hdds and run identical backups to both.

Fran

[cybot]

What do people think of AVG ? Is it as safe as the ones you have to pay for?

[Adrian]

Those pesky viruses!!

I use Norton internet security, basically I am able to install on 3 pc's with the one license, and 12 months subscription is around 60 or 70 euro or maybe in the mid 50's, can't remember. In addition to anti virus it has a firewall and a utilities section which is great for registry repairs and resolving conflicts etc.

The problem with Norton is that it has a performance penalty, it does slow down the machine, but I have the update settings switched to manual, hence it only updates when I allow it to. Otherwise it would be connecting to the www every time I started the computer.

Whilst not totally bullet proof it is the best antivirus I have come across, much better than McAfee. Cyber threats are getting much more sophisticated and difficult to combat, all sorts of scamming going on.

If you have a computer with important data on it, and it is connected to the www, then you really should be using a good firewall with antivirus, and regularly updated, etc.

Backing up data is very important etc etc, but if your computer gets trashed then it can take time to fully rebuild it. And of course your computer will fail when you require it most!! Hence I just bit the bullet, bought Norton, installed it on the main computer + laptops and no problems since.

[Fran]

The online reviews suggest that AVG or Avast are just as good as the pay ones......

I've uninstalled Norton from many machines to make them useable again, its a big no-no for me.


Fran

[Ivor]

The online reviews suggest that AVG or Avast are just as good as the pay ones......

same here, McAfee wouldn't find a trojan in a brothel.

[tony]

I got one with an aldi pc bulldog (i think) and it had the poor pc gasping for air after a couple of days. Installed avast and no issues since. Its free seems to work fine touch wood.

[cybot]

The online reviews suggest that AVG or Avast are just as good as the pay ones......

I've uninstalled Norton from many machines to make them useable again, its a big no-no for me.


Fran

Thanks Fran you've made up my mind as I was a bit reluctant in forking out €54.99 to renew my current Esat one which I was persuaded to change to last year. It came highly recommended by someone who knows about these things.....Up to last year I had always used AVG but unfortunately I opened what I thought was a legitimate email from UPS about a parcel I was expecting......then all hell broke loose :-(