Sweet Maude.
I know I am the middle of tax season when something untoward and unexpectd happens to yank my chain and wrestle me to the ground.
Beware all ye who read here of the most atrocious computer virus EVAH to attack without provocation. Known to those in the know of such things as "Internet Security 2012", it looks exactly like Microsoft Security Anti-Virus down to the logo. Sorry can't link to the details as I am on my netbook very far from home having entrusted my laptop to the wunderkind who has saved my techie-arse many times before.
This may take a while, he tells me, grave of face, sad of demeanour, we would have to do a full scan once we remove it, it is one of the most insidious ones yet.
You don't have to push a button for this one. This installed itself when I had my back turned on the screen while talking on the phone. I shut down right away and fingers crossed I got away with it before it took charge of my bank account, etc. -
Murphy's Law # 89: The busier I am the behinder I get.
Best of luck on this one. It's happened to me a couple of times when I was using unsecured wi-fi on my netbook.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the Blogger glitch is fixed now, so I can post here.
I think this is the same one I caught (or it caught me) not long ago. I had to pay a remote techie to get into my 'puter from a distance help get rid.....
ReplyDeleteVery nasty little blighter it was and caused all kinds of peripheral
messes.
Hope you get it fixed.
My remote techie advised me to try Anti-virus Panda Cloud and put it on for me - it's free. I had a paid-for one on the machine which was letting stuff in fairly regularly, and was one of 3 I'd tried in quick succession due to problems. This free Panda Cloud has been really reliable so far - fingers crossed.
I think this is the same one I caught (or it caught me) not long ago. I had to pay a remote techie to get into my 'puter from a distance help get rid.....
ReplyDeleteVery nasty little blighter it was and caused all kinds of peripheral
messes.
Hope you get it fixed.
My remote techie advised me to try Anti-virus Panda Cloud and put it on for me - it's free. I had a paid-for one on the machine which was letting stuff in fairly regularly, and was one of 3 I'd tried in quick succession due to problems. This free Panda Cloud has been really reliable so far - fingers crossed.
My condolences. Such things are sent to try us, and without doubt they succeed. I've always found the free Avira antivirus very good (at least, so far!) and as for firewalls I've tried them all. Presently running in one called, 'Outpost'. I never purchase any. The costly ones seem no better than the freebies and often slow the computer right down.
ReplyDeleteOh, Lord! You've just reminded me my taxes are coming due!
Ewww, gross!
ReplyDeleteOf course if it wasn't tax time it wouldn't happen .Ah the perversity of life.Thanks for the heads-up WWW. I'm sure your tech guy will fix the problem.
ReplyDeleteI'll sure be on the lookout for this virus. Thanks. Sorry you're having to deal with that bug. Must get started on my taxes, too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nightmare :-( Will have to double check our PC (most of my browsing comes through a Linux running netbook, but hubby prefers Windows - not sure if he's kept the AV up to date...)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds kind of like you got caught by a sort of trojan made to trick you into thinking that you have been infected so you will then download and install one of it's scam anti-virus programs.
ReplyDeleteIf you have been tricked by this Trojan don't actually buy it for any reason.
If you already paid for one then contact your credit card company and tell them you dispute the charge and that you believe it is a scam and a computer virus.
You then need to remove the fake Microsoft Security Essentials Alert and the related rogues.
Microsoft do a malicious foftware removal tool that may help. You can get it at their site. The URL is:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/malware-removal.aspx