BS: I was hacked twice by ransomware

Subject: BS: I was hacked twice by ransomware
From: Donuel
Date: 26 May 16 - 08:23 PM

First I get a phone call informing me my computer will not function.
Then it won't open or access functions.

The first time it was an American voice. The second was an Indian dialect accent.

Both times we ignored all demands and restored function on our own.

If it had been a different secret password version malware I wouldn't be so lucky.

Buying ransomware protection is a bit like paying ransom.

Subject: RE: BS: I was hacked twice by ransomware
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 26 May 16 - 08:35 PM

Be careful what you click on. It can be so tempting. The delete button is your best friend. And get free Avast! antivirus.

Subject: RE: BS: I was hacked twice by ransomware
From: Donuel
Date: 26 May 16 - 08:41 PM

Avast ye matey. I do not click on porn but have clicked on those "where are they now" type advertising websites.
Inserting a trogon horse is invisible to anti vira scanners.

Subject: RE: BS: I was hacked twice by ransomware
From: Rapparee
Date: 26 May 16 - 09:55 PM

There are also free Spybot Search and Destroy, Malwarebytes, and Windows Registry Repair. F*R*E*E, although they would like you to buy the whole package. Nevertheless, they work.

Subject: RE: BS: I was hacked twice by ransomware
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 May 16 - 10:02 PM

errrrmmm.. some folks might suggest using an expendable spare PC or cheap Android TV box for dodgy surfing...

Btw.. I trust mudcat enough to allow it on number 2 PC... 😜


[.. and for the past few years I've found Windows own built in Windows Defender to be adequate day to day protection,
even for number 1 PC, used primarily for internet shopping, personal email accounts, and related passwords...
Though I still don't trust the security of, and refuse to use, online Banking...]

You'll have to guess what number 4 PC is mostly used for...???

Subject: RE: BS: I was hacked twice by ransomware
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 May 16 - 10:02 PM

No, the "delete" button is not your best friend, not if you mean the red "X" in the corner of the page. In malware the functionality of pages has sometimes been shifted (re-written or coded) so that if you click X it's like hitting "enter." Your best bet is to do Control + Alt + Delete and use the task manager to close the faulty program, then go into scanning and whatever you do to get rid of malware. I'm told that normal shutdown can allow malware to write itself into the system, while hitting the off button and a quick shutdown prevents that. I haven't researched that idea since I read about it.

Windows 10 will let you write a clean copy of your windows software over the messed up version and save your data (refesh) or you can restore and completely clean out everything and have a clean version of windows. Everything needs to be reinstalled, etc. I think those were the terms - I had to clear some crud out of my neighbor's computer and I used the method to just refresh the Windows, not delete her data, and it worked fine.

Subject: RE: BS: I was hacked twice by ransomware
From: Donuel
Date: 26 May 16 - 11:11 PM

Acme, wise words


Punk, your #4 made me laugh.

Windows registry repair did not work

The task manager method plus other stuff did work.

Subject: RE: BS: I was hacked twice by ransomware
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 27 May 16 - 09:24 AM

I have nothing on this cheap laptop that is sufficiently valuable to me that I'd even consider paying ransom. I'd just toss the thing and go buy another.

The only things I'd pay ransom for are my wife and a couple of my guitars, and I don't think the ransomware folks have figured out how to use a computer virus to hold them hostage.

Subject: RE: BS: I was hacked twice by ransomware
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 May 16 - 09:57 AM

You only have four computers??

Subject: RE: BS: I was hacked twice by ransomware
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 27 May 16 - 10:15 AM

I could not acknowledge that any other computers in my rumoured underground complex ever existed.

If they did they would be 'classified'...

Including the old XP celeron in a box under the stairs which might still store some compromising photos of the mrs on holiday in Bratislava..... 😜

Subject: RE: BS: I was hacked twice by ransomware
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 27 May 16 - 10:20 AM

... and by 'holiday' I don't mean 'secret covert mission'...
that got a bit out of hand because of the very cheap strong local beer and spirits.... 😳

Subject: RE: BS: I was hacked twice by ransomware
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 27 May 16 - 07:14 PM

No, I don't mean the little x. That is not a delete button. That just closes the page. I mean deleting emails from any unknown source, unread. I mean not clicking on links in emails that you don't one hundred percent trust the provenance of. Just delete the damn thing. You shouldn't have opened it anyway, probably. These nasty people are hoping that your curiosity will get the better of you. I delete around 95% of my emails unopened. You will never hit a problem if you delete an unopened email. Most are harmless but irritating. A few are wanting me to click links. I get about four criminal false PayPal emails per day. They are full of misspellings, they never use my name and they want me to click links. There is never a valid reason why PayPal should be sending me an email that I need to open. In fifteen years of using a computer every day I haven't run into any difficulties. And never, ever click on pop up ads. Telling people I give bad advice could be, er, bad advice. The trashcan symbol is a good friend. Your clicking finger could be your worst enemy.

Oh, and back up all the files that are dear to you on something that never stays connected to your computer. In more than one place, preferably.

Subject: RE: BS: I was hacked twice by ransomware
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 May 16 - 09:55 PM

There is a free program called, I think, "Shredder." Shred your files, don't just delete time. Especially shred "junk" emails.

Unless you melt your drive into a blob a governmental agency can restore your files IF they want to take the time, money, and effort to do so. I don't think the baddies can. This applies to all types of drives. The last time I destroyed a couple of hard drives I just punched holes through them and bent their case -- good enough for 'most things.

Subject: RE: BS: I was hacked twice by ransomware
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 May 16 - 10:00 PM

It's called "File Shredder" and it's at fileshredder.org.

Subject: RE: BS: I was hacked twice by ransomware
From: Donuel
Date: 28 May 16 - 12:04 PM

Hey punk, got any old 8 inch floppies and an IBM generation 1 computer?
If you do notice how brittle the floppies have become.
Speaking of classified...

Its what our silo ICBM's still run on.