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Cocktail
Talk
Bits and bytes of computer chat-chat
to help you through those dreary Cocktail Parties.
October 2010
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Dear Craig,
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Welcome to
CN Consulting's "Cocktail Talk".
Cocktail Talk is a casual monthly newsletter intended to arm you with
amusing bits and bytes of information on whats happening in the computer
world. Topics sure to break the ice and capture an audience at many a
social or business event.
Cocktail Talk is
archived on www.cnci.us
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RansomWare
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 RansomWare. Technologically
it's nothing more than a virus, like a pimple. But add insult to
injury and it gets worse. Peepologically* it's still a pimple, in the
middle of your forehead, on your wedding day.
It's criminal. These guys give you a virus so they can
sell you a cure. A cure that doesn't even work. This is how it goes.
Somewhere along the line you're minding your own
business, performing routine internet tasks, and somebody slips a
little something into your Cosmopolitan. Like GHB at a Frat Party. But
instead of waking up naked in a strange place you get a very official
looking warning telling you you have Viruses, Spam-Ware, Ad-Ware, and
threats with very scary indications. Funny thing is, the program telling
you about all these things, is all these things.
The little package in your Cosmo is a Trojan False
Alert Virus. You agreed to download it, unknowingly, when you downloaded
something else. It hitch-hiked and snuck into your party. False Alerts tell
you you have a bunch of problems, when you really don't, hoping to trick
you into infecting yourself at their request, and eventually into buying
their Anti-Everything panacea. It advertises, unsolicited,
constantly, which is Spam-Ware and Ad-Ware.
After you get the false alerts you're offered a solution, a
way to cure all that ails you. You have reached the point of no return.
Decision time. Failsafe.
Turn off, unplug, trip the switch. Don't Shut Down.
Unceremoniously, and with great malice, pull the plug from the
wall. Don't click on anything. This is an instance where No might mean Yes.
Don't close anything, Don't Save anything. Whatever you lose by unplugging
is less than you risk through indecision. Unplug, count ten, plug it back
in and hope for the best.
If it's too late, it's too late. I hate to be the one
telling you your baby is ugly, but someone has to. Pick up the pieces and
go home.
Maybe you feel computer savvy and think you can fix this.
Maybe your Brother-In-Law works for a company that is somehow related to
the computer industry. Fine. Google the name of the
"Anti-Virus" software popping up with the false alerts.
Read what they say about removing it. Site after site will tell you to
download some software or run their "Free" scan. Look at the
names of these websites. Are any of them Trusted websites like Microsoft or
Symantec? No. Because they're in bed with the same clowns that gave
you the virus in the first place. Some of them even walk you step by step
through procedures to disable all your defenses and cripple your PC. If
you don't believe anything else, believe this; If you can't spot the patsy
at the Poker Table, it's you.
Maybe you hope if you pay the ransom they'll release your
loved one unharmed. I've seen "Dirty Harry" 13 times and it
always ends the same. Which brings us back to Failsafe.
Smart Money is on you rebuilding your PC from the ground up.
It takes time and you want to avoid it. But in the end you'll most likely
to be adding that time to the time you've wasted chasing rainbows. I have
ongoing conversations with people that have been chasing a solution for
months. What have you got to lose right? If it gets worse then you
rebuild, if you fix it you save all that hassle. I'm just saying set a time
limit, be realistic,
Rebuilding is a hassle. Install Windows, format the
hard disk, install AntiVirus Software, find all the CDs that came with your
PC, get to the internet, update your Anti-Virus from
the web, install years of Microsoft updates complete with restarts, then
install your software and personal data. Even if you have a System Restore,
like Dell, you have to run all the updates and add back your stuff.
If you've had this happen before, you're probably better
prepared for the possibility of it happening again. If you haven't, you're
probably not. You can be, but that's your call, and that's
Cocktail Talk.
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Craig Phillips
CN Consulting, Inc.
* I have no idea. But usually putting an asterisk after
something makes people think you can explain it and they never read down
this far.
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CN Consulting, Inc - www.cnci.us
Computer Consulting for Business!
CN Consulting Inc. (CNCI) is
an independent consulting company formed in 1990 and located within easy
reach of both Chicago and Milwaukee.
CNCI maintains a select
client base providing consulting services concerning the use of
information technology. We persistently look for advantage to our
clients in added value and reduced cost made available by advancing
technology.
CNCI does not have financial
interest in any given product or product line. We evaluate current and
emerging technologies solely based on their benefit to our clients. CNCI
implements the solutions it recommends and readily partners with companies
that offer products and services to the advantage of our clients. CNCI
offers complete client support with singular accountability.
We maximize the benefit of
our clients' existing technology, systems, and platforms while integrating
the benefits provided by new technology.
Business Continuity and
Business Development are our goals with Continuity being the foundation
of Development.
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