locked computer, 48 hours to pay the fine

MagicBoy · 24 Mar 2013 at 12:13

Dano said:
Same can be said for any machine that connects to the internet regardless of it having had an obvious infection or not. If you're going to be that paranoid you best disconnect permanently.

That's a step too far, it's just a case if mitigating obvious risks.

We've got a rule at work that if a machine has somehow been infected with malware it gets wiped and rebuilt, even if the security software gives it a clean bill of health.

Deleted member 77746 · 24 Mar 2013 at 12:35

Dano said:
Same can be said for any machine that connects to the internet regardless of it having had an obvious infection or not. If you're going to be that paranoid you best disconnect permanently.

I have a mac.

MagicBoy · 24 Mar 2013 at 12:36

*grabs popcorn*

Dano · 24 Mar 2013 at 12:42

mrbell1984 said:
I have a mac.

Ahhh, that explains it then, we all know macs don't need protection...

spoffle · 24 Mar 2013 at 12:49

MagicBoy said:
That's a step too far, it's just a case if mitigating obvious risks.

We've got a rule at work that if a machine has somehow been infected with malware it gets wiped and rebuilt, even if the security software gives it a clean bill of health.

Why would you need to rebuild the computer just to reinstall the OS?

MagicBoy · 24 Mar 2013 at 12:53

It's a term we used for a clean install of the corporate image. We use an automated system to install the same base image on a variety of hardware.

Deleted member 77746 · 24 Mar 2013 at 13:09

Dano said:
Same can be said for any machine that connects to the internet regardless of it having had an obvious infection or not. If you're going to be that paranoid you best disconnect permanently.

There is a difference. Once you are infected you really just don't know what is lurking. No harm in having it connected.

KIA · 24 Mar 2013 at 16:07

MagicBoy said:
We've got a rule at work that if a machine has somehow been infected with malware it gets wiped and rebuilt, even if the security software gives it a clean bill of health.

Very wise.

Deleted member 77746 · 24 Mar 2013 at 16:18

KIA said:
Very wise.

Even from Windows 98 I have done this. If things get nasty just wipe it n start again. Doesn't take long with network tools / imaging systems - home/work.

JonJ678 · 24 Mar 2013 at 16:30

The sequence of events looks screwy to me.

1/ Get virus
2/ Backup all files
3/ Reinstall
4/ Restore files

Pretty clearly a risk of carefully backing up the virus along with everything else.

Deleted member 77746 · 24 Mar 2013 at 16:32

JonJ678 said:
The sequence of events looks screwy to me.

1/ Get virus
2/ Backup all files
3/ Reinstall
4/ Restore files

Pretty clearly a risk of carefully backing up the virus along with everything else.

Files as in documents, music, photos. Shouldn't have a problem then. Unless the user has been downloading illegal applications.

Woden · 24 Mar 2013 at 17:46

Win7/8 install sio quickly now it's often not worth the bother of cleaning a system. I just keep a backup of my important stuff on my NAS and dropbox.

Dano · 24 Mar 2013 at 23:04

mrbell1984 said:
There is a difference. Once you are infected you really just don't know what is lurking. No harm in having it connected.

Yes, but if you don't trust scanners then how do you know you've been infected, like I said, if you're going to be that paranoid disconnect.

harvyH · 25 Mar 2013 at 08:28

~Divine~Wind~ said:
It's not a virus it's just a ranomd piece of ****** ransomware/scareware (w/e label you wanna give it)

Firstly mate, ignore everythin it tells you, utter garbage.

Boot into safe mode, any other accounts? These things tend yto be account specific.

If not boot into safe mode w/cmd prompt

Type: Net user administrator /active:yes (I'm assuming yer on Vista or 7)
Hit enter, this will enable the hidden admin account

and reboot back to safe mode/w nwrking

this should now also give you an admin login.
Log into that account.

Run software of choice MWB/HMP/SAS
Or if ye've got a good idea of whats what run msconfig and look for any iffy looking startup items, they tensd to be randomly named exe's

First of all, thanks to all of you who took the time to answer and help me, I really appreciate it. And please excuse me for the late reply.
To the few of you who encouraged me to pay the fine, c'mon.. I may be a newbie, but seriously?!

As for the virus, we can celebrate, its gone! :cool:

I did some searching in google to find some removal guides (with pics and etc, for dummies

) and i found this http://www.americanpendulum.com/en/2013/02/26/you-have-48-hours-to-pay-the-fine-virus/ (no pics, unfortunately Q.Q)
I noticed that the most appropriate thing to do is to boot my computer into safe mode. Luckily I was able to do it(I read that some viruses disable this option). so i'm quoting ~Divine~Wind~, because i did exactly what he wrote, thank you for the help!

I did a system restore and later i downloaded Malwarebytes When i scanned my computer it said that no infections were found.

Thank you all, again and cheers

Oh and just a question , why are most of your avatars black and white photos, just curious

KIA · 25 Mar 2013 at 09:47

Dano said:
Yes, but if you don't trust scanners then how do you know you've been infected, like I said, if you're going to be that paranoid disconnect.

A locked computer might be an obvious sign.

Deleted member 77746 · 25 Mar 2013 at 11:51

Dano said:
Yes, but if you don't trust scanners then how do you know you've been infected, like I said, if you're going to be that paranoid disconnect.

MSE is still installed on my Windows 7 bootcamp, however I can see signs of infection regardless when things don't start to work properly and that's the time to refresh the system.

V F · 25 Mar 2013 at 12:12

Woden said:
Win7/8 install sio quickly now it's often not worth the bother of cleaning a system. I just keep a backup of my important stuff on my NAS and dropbox.

I just detest all the installing. Adobe apps, setting up all your customised palettes etc and how you like it. Reinstalling everything back to how it originally was. So many hours to do all this and game downloads, so many things. This is why I always detest clean installs. All the hours of putting everything back. Yet Windows can be reinstalled in less than 15 minutes. Thats the only fun part.

Deleted member 77746 · 25 Mar 2013 at 13:09

V F said:
I just detest all the installing. Adobe apps, setting up all your customised palettes etc and how you like it. Reinstalling everything back to how it originally was. So many hours to do all this and game downloads, so many things. This is why I always detest clean installs. All the hours of putting everything back. Yet Windows can be reinstalled in less than 15 minutes. Thats the only fun part.

That's what an image is for.

Dano · 25 Mar 2013 at 13:36

KIA said:
A locked computer might be an obvious sign.

TwsT · 25 Mar 2013 at 15:49

I always re-install windows in these instances but do what ever pleases you but removing these can be extremely hard in the three instances i've had to help other people fix laptops or pc's i've ended up re-installing after much wasted time.