Self? Listen! Pay attention!
I’m always telling Jim to log off the Internet whenever he leaves the computer for any length of time whatsoever — no ifs, ands, butts, or questions asked. The longer you are actually connected to the Internet, the greater the possibility that some jerk somewhere will find your static IP address and do something bad.
So guess who took off this morning and left his computer logged on to the Internet?
Yep! You guessed it! Me!
Self? Listen! Pay attention!
Even though we all have the latest and greatest anti-virus/anti-malware/computer security/firewall software, the bad guys (might be some bad gals, too!) are always working to outsmart that software.
Today they got to me with the S.M.A.R.T. Check malware virus. Find out more about it here: http://malwaretips.com/blogs/how-to-remove-s-m-a-r-t-check/
I didn’t have time to resolve the problem myself so after doing some Internet research, I chose YooCare. I went to them because they had 24/7 live online chat. They make money by providing computer services, and I paid $69.95 for a one-PC, one-time virus removal.
I was able to pay with PalPal.
After downloading their remote control software, they took over my computer and went so fast that I couldn’t follow what they were doing. Of course, I was hoping for the best, but I had already done some Internet research on YooCare, so I was comfortable.
In thirty minutes they had my computer back up and running, but let me tell you something. Not only is my computer back up and running, it hasn’t run as fast as this since the day I bought it. Nothing is missing, and my big, bloated digital photo editing programs are all running in the background. Still fast, fast, fast.
YooCare won me over, so this is my online recommendation.
And my warning: Regardless of all the computer security software you have on your computer, don’t tempt fate by leaving your computer logged on to the Internet while you’re away for any length of time. It’s not worth it!
SNIPPETS are short posts about anything and everything.
Each SNIPPETS will have at leasst one picture.
After all, this is Russel Ray Photos.
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County?
I recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re looking for a home inspector,
I recommend Russel Ray (that’s me!)
Posted on July 11, 2012, in Manmade, Photos, SNIPPETS. Bookmark the permalink. 12 Comments.
Sound advice. I would add – back up all the files that are important to you. I have an external hard drive for back up of my manuscripts and other writing, and for my pictures.
And with cloud computing and storage being so inexpensive, it provides another option since they have multiple backups. I already have had two external hard drives go bad, one a Seagate and the other a Western Digital. Both companies are supposed to be very good.
Sounds like you got lucky.
Some of those services are sketchy and do more harm than good.
I’m a big fan of Spybot Search and Destroy,and Malware Bytes software. Both are free downloads that I’ve found useful in a corporate network.
I have used Spybot before but they obviously didn’t come up high in a Google search this afternoon.
Thank you so much for sharing this! My wordpress acct got hacked a few months ago, and I’m still scratching my head trying to figure out how it happened! I was using wifi at a small hotel on the morning that it happened, and ‘whoever’ did it deleted three or four posts AND emptied the trash.
Again, thanks, as it makes us remember to always be on guard!
Z
Thanks for sharing this, very interesting. I hope I won’t need their assistance but I have noted their info just in case. I’m glad that all is now well with your pc and we can continue to view your wonderful posts
Thank you very much for your kind words. I also hope you never need them, but as my wise old grandmother would have said, “Never say never.”
I love the third photo.
That’s a stapelia flower. Almost all of the stapelia species have cool star-shaped flowers.
stapelia…cool name.
G.
Ooo that last one is so weird looking! HAHA I love it
okay, i’ve troubled you long enough, must move on to that other thing i’ve been known to do – “work” – thanks for brightening my day amigo! until next time . . .