Wednesday, September 5, 2012

There Should Be a Special Circle of Hell...

Reserved for people who create computer viruses. My practically brand new laptop has become infected to the point where it is completely non-functional. This is the third time in a year I've gotten a bad virus. And I even have anti-virus software. Very frustrating... and since Best Buy tells me that new computers don't come with a backup disk for your operating system like they used to, I'm probably going to have to pay a lot of money to get Geek Squad to take care of it. And don't even get me started on the horrendous service I've gotten from Norton after I paid them to remove the virus.

Okay, rant over! Anyways, I'm borrowing hubby's computer at the moment, but I probably won't be able to visit as many blogs since we have to share at the moment. Just wanted to let everybody know... As I said to my husband yesterday, it's probably a really good thing I don't have those special witch powers I always wanted or there would be a lot of virus-creator carnage in my wake...

So, has anyone else experienced such bad luck with viruses? Any words of wisdom?

18 comments:

  1. I'm sorry! My wife gets them on occasion, but I've escaped so far.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh no! Alexia, I'm so sorry!

    If you have microsoft software on your computer then you can download microsoft security essentials for free. I downloaded it on all three laptops in my household years ago and it not only solved the virus problems we had back then, even better is that we haven't had any virus issues in the time since. It's really good and it does automatic updates itself so once you've downloaded it from the microsoft website you never have to worry about it.

    Here's the link if you think it'll work for you: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/security-essentials

    Jai

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, three times in a year? That blows.

    My first suggestion? Get rid of Norton. It's bloatware at first. I use ESET Smart Security which is really good at catching stuff even before it affects anything. My second suggestion is an ad blocker, or even better, NoScript, especially if you're using Firefox. Best way to get rid of those incoming viruses is to block them on the websites to begin with.

    Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  4. That sucks! i agree that virus creators should receive an ironic punishment befitting their crimes. If Dante wrote it, I think he'd do something like have them riddled with every disease ever to plague mankind at the same time. That'd show 'em.

    ReplyDelete
  5. As a Mac user, I've never had that problem with a computer virus. I certain I have viri in my computer, but they don't affect it, and eventually I get them cleared out.

    Still, I'm sorry that you have had these problems. When we depend on our computers, being without is a real problem. Especially for work.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well, that just sucks. There should be a special hell for twerps with nothing better to do than make viruses (and with such a horrible sense of life they have to hurt people to make themselves happy). I've been virus free on all my computers - knock on wood - but my husband had a nasty one on his laptop a few years ago. And my mom's office computer had a bunch of them - discovered after this one guy quit. Unfortunately, the only answer is: don't download anything unless you know exactly what it is - even if it's from someone you trust. If you have to receive attachments, receive the emails through something like gmail that scans the attachment before it lets you download it.

    If I suspect trouble, I use Trend Micro's free online virus scan 'House Call' - scans and fixes a myriad of problems. http://housecall.trendmicro.com/us/

    And yeah, what Jai Joshi and Hildred said, too.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I ditto Rob-bear - Macs equate to health.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ugh, that's awful! I hope it gets resolved quickly (and cheaply)!

    ReplyDelete
  9. That's terrible, I'm sorry! I don't understand computer viruses... what exactly is the gain of making them? Just to annoy the general public? Really?

    ReplyDelete
  10. That is awful. I'm afraid I will just have to pass on sympathy because I know nothing about viruses, but I agree with the special circle in Hell.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh computer viruses are awful! Sorry you had to go through with this. Good luck getting the computer fixed.

    ReplyDelete
  12. So sorry! That is profoundly frustrating.

    ReplyDelete
  13. That's how our last computer died, but it wasn't new . . . it was 6 yrs old so we figured it was time for another one. So sorry for you~hugs

    ReplyDelete
  14. Alexia, so sorry that you are having to deal with all of this. : (

    ReplyDelete
  15. So sorry to hear that... that's awesome... I have a mac and so far I've had no problems... fingers crossed it stays that way.

    ReplyDelete
  16. So sorry to hear, and so totally agree with you. The people that create these things ought to be strung up by their... Well, you know. I've been hit a couple of times and it sucks. I trust nothing these days. It's sad...
    I hope you get back on your feet soon, Alexia.

    -Jimmy

    ReplyDelete
  17. Feel bad that you had another virus attack. Three in one year. Hope you are being cautious in downloading stuff. I had one in May end. It destroyed my system files and I had to format the hard disc. Hope you get your computer back running as before soon.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Gah, really. Don't people have anything better to do? I mean, obviously these people are very intelligent. They just need to focus all that amazing brainpower into something constructive rather than destructive...

    ReplyDelete

I love talking with friends new and old! What's on your mind?