Posted on 11/23/2010 1:30:19 PM PST by DGHoodini
Ran into a Win 7 PC problem today. I got a 'Win Activation Notice from Microsoft, telling me that my copy of Windows was not legitimate.
Now my PC was running the same Win 7 copy that came preloaded on my PC from Toshiba, and I made sure it was activated within 24 hours of receiving it. I also have been running McAffee Security suite on it the entire time.
On the Win Autehtication notice was a link to test my copy. I ran the software, and *It* was talling me my OS copy was illegitimate. I knew this not to be true, and no one has access to my PC but me.
So even though it was prompting me to shell out a $100+ for a new "legitimate* copy of Win 7, I opted to try System Restore first, and picked a Restore point ftom a month wearlier. When it restored, I then rana full McAfee updatwe and scan, and then checked my activation status, that cam up as 'Successful'.
I am assuming that I wrnt to a site, ran some file that had this nasty little bug buried inside it, that not only attacked my Win Verifican, but likely attacked other things as well, and to my displeasure, was not detected by McAffee at all.
So, be forewarned.
Who has data on a computer where the government can track it? I keep all my data on post it notes that I keep under my tinfoil hat.
Actually, I think they do, with Vista and later. I'm still on XP.
Least you could do when insulting someone in jest is ping them.
I used to feel that way until i lost the data. had it on a mirrored external drive. Then a disgruntled seagate employee downloaded some new code to the device and turned it into a brick.
I agree about the more aggressive. I had one that ate my hard drive and even my geek couldn’t figure out how to fix it. I’m not going to tell you all what I finally did.
here is a link to a removal tool by microsoft.
Yes, when you first install the OS, or - like in his case - when you purchase a machine with a preloaded OS, you must activate it. But, he states he did that when he first received it. That would be norm.
This is something that happened well-after initial activation. Actually, this is not an uncommon threat. These pop-up "security notices" or "activation notices" infect a lot of the lessor-traveled websites. The site displays a dialogue box that says any number of BS claims, like "your Windows is not authenticate, please click here". That launches a script, which then installs the malicious software. Happens all the time to unsuspecting users. It's happened to my 80-year old mother a number of times.
I just bought a mirrored drive external network drive.
It also happens if you download tons of porn (so I've heard anyway).
You need f-prot.
It’s not the memory hog and bloated POS like some crapware called McAfee.
I know it cost some loot but you will be happier with it.
I disagree. That honor belongs to Symantec. And I used to be a Norton devotee back in the day, so it's really hard to say that.
“I’m not going to tell you all what I finally did.”
Installed Linux? I rarely use a Windows machine to access the Internet anymore — occasionally at work, never at home.
I was hoping that someone would let swordmaker know I am thinking of him this holiday season.
JUST MY OPINION!
Most likely the virus came by clicking the link. ALWAYS be suspicious of alerts that want you to click a link or download a test program. It’s usually the virus in disguise.
Bump for later
Linux? I don’t think I can use that on my Mac.
I wish I could get my teenager to understand that he is never to click on anything. This is the second time he has gotten the Thinkpoint trojan in a couple of months. Webroot caught it for me when it was trying to get into my system.
LOL to the porn. I swear i was NOT going to porn sites. I laugh because my son starting quizzing me, I was having so much trouble with bad things. And I was very careful. In hindsight I think I had picked something up that never really got scrubbed. But, after I spent a zillion $$ (not to mention the rude treatment) at the Geek Squad on my lap top and lost my hard drive on my desk top I just gave up and went Mac. I know, I probably could have figured out a way to deal with it, but I was seriously at my wits end. I don’t want to have to be a computer geek just to be on the internet. It does seem that the bad guys have gotten more aggressive and in a lot more places. I hardly ever click on anything. Even with a Mac.
Get him his own cheap computer and tell him when he kills it he doesn’t get another one.
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