Why do idiots put viruses out?

aardvaak

Why do idiots put viruses out? Two days ago I reformatted OH's computer because some prat sent a virus now it's happened again!

Why don't the courts treat these f-ing prats as terrorists and send them to be shot and instead hand out suspended sentences for the the prats to go again!

Complete wasters!

Knarf44

Which virus, did you make a note of its name?

After reformatting did you do all the windows updates? Which anti virus programme did you install? Although none of them are a 100% guarantee, some are definitely better than others.

Most of the current viruses doing the round are an irritant rather than catastrophe and can be removed effectively without doing a complete reformat/reinstall.

If it happens again, check out the bleepingcomputer website for easy to follow guides on removing them.

aardvaak

Yes all the updates an AVG - but why do the prats do it?

spannerzone

It's often organised crime gangs doing it these days, not snotty teenagers... they do it to dupe people into paying 'release fees' for those sorts of infections, or to make your PC a spambot PC to spam millions of others using your PC and connection etc. or to make your PC a denial of service bot, where the crime gang blackmail a company to pay or they'll get thousands of PCs to all attack a site to prevent access by others. This happend to betting sites during major events etc.

You need to use imaging software.... format and load the system, update, make an image using cheap software like acronis true image or Macrium, this creates a complete backup image of the PC.

When you next need to reformat and load the OS simply load the image (takes 15 mins) and the PC is back to how it was. No formats, no reinstalling the OS and drivers or software, no 269 windows updates (other than new updates that weren't in your backup image). No wasted days just 15 mins wasted. Make regular backup images for easy roll back that works.

Finally you'll want to kick yourself in the head for not doing this sooner

NiftyDigits

and get rid of AVG.

spannerzone

NiftyDigits wrote: »

and get rid of AVG.

oh and yeah, what he says

_Andy_

"send them to be shot" -over-reacting much?

Exemplar

They put them out there so that people with little or no computing knowledge suffer. Lets be honest here if you open an attachment in an email who's fault is it?

Gillor

aardvaak wrote: »

......but why do the prats do it?

A bit like asking why muggers mug or thieves rob houses - money!

If you are getting so many infections I would suggest you probably need to take a look at the sites you are visiting and the way you have your computer security set up.

As a start you could install WOT (Web of Trust) on your browser. Not 100% but at least it will indicate which sites are safe and which are dodgy.

Elliott_Fox

Install chrome with adblock and make sure you keep on top of your system updates.

giraffe69

If you have twice got a virus that has led to you reformatting then it does suggest AVG is not doing a great job.