Deadly New Virus

TO: All Our Valued Clients

FROM: Jim Burley at CT Norwalk

RE: Recent Virus Outbreaks       

We wanted to bring to your attention a new and alarming type of computer “virus” which is being widely reported, called CryptoLocker or Trojan:Win32/Crilock.A.

This is technically not a virus – like the “FBI virus” or “Moneypak virus” which we’ve seen way too much of, this is a malicious program that has to be installed on your computer. 

The good news is, it’s relatively easy for us to fix this infection.  The bad news is, there is a 99% chance that you will lose every single file, photo, program, and shred of data on your computer in the process.

Here’s a typical scenario of what happens and what you should avoid:

1)      The CryptoLocker software gets installed on your computer.  This most often happens either by letting someone who calls you claiming to be “from Microsoft Support” into your computer remotely, or from downloading “free movies” or similar illegal files from torrents, or from clicking on pop-up messages from the internet that may say things like “Your Computer Is Infected, Click Here To Remove Virus” or “Your Computer Is Running Slowly, Do You Want To Fix The Problem? Yes or No”.  Clicking on these ads (even if you click “No”) or letting unknown techs into your computer remotely are the primary ways people get bad software put on their PC or Mac.

2)      The  CryptoLocker waits a random amount of time, then encrypts your hard drive.  Encryption is usually a security measure – you might encrypt your own files to make sure no one can ever get to them, even if they steal your hard drive.  When you encrypt files,  no one else can ever read them unless they know your encryption key.
In this case CryptoLocker encrypts your hard drive, making all of your files inaccessible without the encryption key.  Some previous viruses have also used encryption, but we were able to beat them because they left a copy of the key on your hard drive.  With CryptoLocker, the only copy of the key is kept by the bad guys.

3)      At this point CryptoLocker will stop your computer and post a screen demanding money – usually $300.  Not only that, they demand the money within 72 hours or they will destroy the encryption key, making your data completely gone forever. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Unfortunately there are no good choices.

Option 1: Pay the criminals.  DON’T.  They could not care less if you lose your files.  They will not help you.  More likely they just demand a second payment.  Even if they do unencrypt your files, keep in mind you’ve just informed the criminals that you are someone who will pay money when extorted, so they are more likely to target you in the future.

Option 2: “Nuke and Pave” – remove the virus, clean your machine, lose your encrypted files, restore from your data backup.

Option 2 will work well IF you have your files backed up.  We can’t stress this enough – EVERYONE should have their files backed up, for many reasons.  Every day we talk to someone who has lost important photos or business documents or financial data because their hard drive crashed, or a file was accidentally deleted.  Now we have criminals encrypting your files via the internet.   

Our advice: Keep your virus protection up to date (we recommend AVG Pro or ESET Professional), keep Windows patches up to date, have regular backups of all your important data, and never click on or download suspicious files from the internet, or believe anyone claiming to be “Microsoft Support” (or similar) when they call you.

For advice on solutions for your particular situation, feel free to call us anytime, and pass this on to a friend.

Jim Burley

Computer Troubleshooters of Norwalk

203-840-1287

Apple arrogance

Have you noticed how, when companies get big and hold most of the cards, they always become arrogant.  They stop listening to what users want or need, and start telling users what they want or need.  Apple, Microsoft with Win 8, Google, they are all the same.

Case in point;  OS X has had a problem for years with copying to/from external drives.  It's know as "error -36".  It happens regardless of whether a drive is USB, Firewire, Network.  Format does not matter; Apple or Miccrosoft NTFS. 

In it's typical style, Apple refuses to acknowledge the problem, like they won't acknowledge the existence of viruses on OS X (bad marketing you see).  Every release of OS X is supposed to fix it, according to web know-it-alls.  But it never does.  There seem to be various reasons for it, and some workarounds have worked for some users, but not for me.  I've tried them all.

Now you would think that a major problem like this that has been around for years would draw some attention within Apple.  If it has (I don't know of course) the developers assigned to fix it have been utter failures.

If you run into a copy problem with other systems you can usually tell it to skip the file and continue, but not OS X.  It halts the copy and the entire folder it was copying is deleted from the destination.

And so we tech guys continue to suffer while we try to explain to our customers why we can't fix their problem.  All while the big shots drive around in their limos and sip champagne, completely ignorant of the real world.  When I was in management we used to say that you have to communicate two levels up and two levels down.  The problem with these guys is that there is no "up", and 20 levels down to where the truth lies.

Am I cynical? Damn right.  Being in this business for 35 years will destroy the optimism of a saint.

Techno-stupidity

It seems like every technology company is run by corporate monkeys these days.  The decisions coming out of the likes of Microsoft, Samsung, Verizon, etc. are almost beyond belief.  The almighty dollar rules all; screw the customers.

- Microsoft comes out with Windows 8, a disaster on the desktop.  "Testing shows user love it".  Reality shows users hate it.  Then Office 2013 becomes an ugly colorless mess running on a colorful Windows backdrop.  Really?  Now the Xbox One.  Screw all you current customers, we are going fully online.  No more reselling old games to get new ones, no using old games on the new system.  We demand total control.  Mark my words, Office will be next.

-Apple, and only Apple, will decide what you can and can't put on your phone or tablet.  (Hint: Jailbreak your device and you can actually have WIDGETS!)

-Adobe goes "online only" with Creative Suite (Photoshop, etc.).  No more buying Photoshop, you have to RENT it for far more than you pay to buy it and upgrade every few years.  Everyone, run out and get PS CS5 while you can.

-Samsung announces a "new" version of the wonderful Note 10.1.  Only problem is the screen is the same 149pixel-per-inch that is on the current one, and it is terrible by comparison.  Go for the Goole Nexus 10 with it's ipad killing 300ppi at less than either the ipad or Samsung.  Oh by the way, the Nexus is MADE BY SAMSUNG.  Really Samsung, did you do something moronic like Apple did when they gave ATT exclusive access to the iphone for a few years?

-Verizon can't seem to decide what products to carry.  Look at the limited selection of tablets, then jump over to ATT and look again.  Why?
It takes Verizon months to get an update to Android out, while if you have a Google product you are kept up to date immediately.  Why?  Well that one is easy, so Verizon can jam in all their proprietary junk apps that you can't uninstall.   (Hint: Root you phone and clean it up.  It will run better.)

And the list could go on and on, but it's clear that all this "innovation" is done with nothing but the bottom line in mind.

If I've missed any stupid moves please comment, or if I've got any of my facts wrong.  Many will disagree with my assessment of these decisions, but that's what blogs are all about.  Let's hear it.  (I'm sure I'll hear LOTS of bitching by the mindless brand loyalists, but who gives a crap.)

More TD Bank mess

P.S.  Forgot to mention they also have added the requirement for FIVE security questions to the web site, so every time I log on it asks for two answers.  What a PITA!  This has also broken the ability for Quicken to connect.  When I called TD they said they would have a technician call me back.  Of course this never happened.

TD Bank - worst bank ever

With all the carnage on the east coast, most banks sent emails out telling customers that any late fees or penalties would be waived on credit card payments.  They also offered to help in other ways.

All our banks did this - except TD BANK.  Not a word from them.  Pathetic.

A few weeks ago they did another really stupid thing.  All our other credit card banks call when they have a doubt about charges.  They give us an opportunity to call back and verify things before cutting off the card.  Not TD!  They cut off the card, then call.  I was denied a $3 charge at Dunkin Donuts without warning.  Assholes!

I have also had some very bad experiences at the branch.

My advice to everyone is that when shopping for credit cards or a local bank stay far away from TD Bank.

Crazy parents part two

Once again wacko parents make asses of themselves, this time at a flag football game for 7-8 year olds.  One parent shouts something nasty at the coach, the stupid coach shouts back.  The head of the flag league comes over.  More yelling; the coach is thrown off the field.  Another coach puts in his two cents and he is nearly thrown off the field.

This is 8 year olds playing flag football for heavens sake.  Are you nut jobs really that competitive and obnoxious that you make idiots of yourselves in front of your kids, who are just there for fun?

If flag football for kids is that important to you, you need to get a life.

Who is killing us

There are 40,000 a year killed in car accidents.  200,000 are killed by Doctor's mistakes and diseases picked up from Doctors and hospitals.

According to the CDC it's because doctors don't wash there hands.  UGH!