wicked computer virus - wants money to unlock my laptop

[james t kirk]

Get and run free Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. It might fix it.

I actually bought the professional edition. Loaded it onto a USB key, then onto the infected machine.

It found 5 trojans, 3 of which were ransomware.

Deleted them all and the machine seems to work fine now. Will know better tomorrow when I start working with it. (Last night, the famous BS lockout screen would pop up the instant the radio engaged.)

Thanks for the tip on Malwarebytes.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Do you feel limited in software or compatibility? Every software is usually made for Windows or Mac.

Not constrained at all!
In fact there is more software, all free, available in Linux repositories for Linux users than there is for M$ and Mac combined.

There is even a section called WINE, that enables you to run Windows programs on Linux.
I passed on WINE preferring to make a total break from M$. Besides I have read reports claiming WINE only works on ~50% of Windows programs/apps. Linux programs/apps are not hard to master.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Thanks for the tip on Malwarebytes.

Malwarebytes is an excellent app.
Used to run it once a week along with a couple other security apps as a form of PM to keep Windows up to snuff back when I used M$. You have too because you never know what you may have picked up pretty much anywhere you surf with Windows.

Hopefully Malwarebytes did the trick.

 

[doggee_01]

Malwarebytes is an excellent app.
Used to run it once a week along with a couple other security apps as a form of PM to keep Windows up to snuff back when I used M$. You have too because you never know what you may have picked up pretty much anywhere you surf with Windows.

Hopefully Malwarebytes did the trick.

got the same fucking thing on my laptop.......thanks for the tip woodpeckr

 

[OddSox]

True, but Apple computers are too overpriced.

Tell me that again after you have to reformat your Windoze and lose everything...

 

[onthebottom]

Buy a Mac.

Calculate how many hours you spent on this and apply an hourly rate then add an aggravation cost.... Macs are cheap.

OTB

 

[WoodPeckr]

Buy a Mac.

Calculate how many hours you spent on this and apply an hourly rate then add an aggravation cost.... Macs are cheap.

LOL!
Here comes the Mac salesman talking points!.....

Linux is cheaper.....its FREE!

M$ is ubiquitous and fairly well priced.

Macs are too proprietary and pricey and in the end will pick your pockets worse than M$.

 

[simon482]

Mac don't get viruses is the biggest lie ever told.

 

[OddSox]

Mac don't get viruses is the biggest lie ever told.

And when was the last time your Masc caught a virus? Yeah, thought so.

 

[OddSox]

LOL!
Macs are too proprietary and pricey and in the end will pick your pockets worse than M$.

Even after all that, Woody is still an idiot!

 

[simon482]

And when was the last time your Masc caught a virus? Yeah, thought so.

Google it. Happened very recently.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Even after all that, Woody is still an idiot!

Not surprised such a ludicrous comment would emanate from an oddball such as you!......:biggrin1:

 

[WoodPeckr]

And when was the last time your Masc caught a virus? Yeah, thought so.

Google is your friend oddone.....

Macs are being attacked now .....because they can.....:eyebrows:

Apple Store now even sells Anti Virus by Norton & McAfee for Macs....and OF COURSE it costs MORE than the M$ versions!....:thumb:

Don't you wonder why???.....:Eek:

Perhaps the AV is made better for Macs, eh......

 

[Babypowder]

macs are over priced because they have rounded corners. if you want a slower machine for 1000's more dollars because you might cut your face on an edge then buy a mac. but they still get viruses.

people who know what the fuck they are doing on their computers don't get viruses.

 

[WoodPeckr]

....people who know what the fuck they are doing on their computers don't get viruses.

Spoken for TRUTH!.....

It's amazing when at Apple Store toying with salesmen there and busting their lil iBallies, you overhear how 'tech challenged' many Apple customers are! They haven't a clue about PC basics and figure buying a Mac will somehow magically transform them into a computer geek!.....

 

[LKD]

You are fucked unless you pay the cash.

I saw a plug on CNN about a virus where the hackers basically take over your computer, encrypt all your files and ask you to pay the money upfront or risk losing all the files. They keep increasing the amount if you delay payment. Apparently, this had happened to a businessman who needed some cruicial files and contacts in his computer for business deals. He approached the real FBI about this and they couldn't help him much to crack open the files. Like you mentioned, when the hackers take over your computer, they make you believe its the FBI or government taking over your computer because of child porn or so and scare you into making the payment.

which computer are you using now btw? take a screen shot of your hacked computer and show us.

 

[LKD]

Fortunately I have no porn on this box. Sure I surf it but I never download it.

I will try calling Norton to see if their software could remove it or not also.

they won't be of help, nor will the FBI... You're pretty much toast in getting your files back unless you pay the hackers or FBI catches these people who are likely living somewhere in China or asia xDDD

 

[FatOne]

FFS the hackers are not going to give you your files. Don't be stupid. If they know they have a sucker they will keep asking for more money.


As for Macs. I knew a guy, his Mac got herpes. True story.

 

[Babypowder]

even if you pay the "hackers" you are still not getting your shit back. just follow those instructions. you are welcome.

 

[james t kirk]

You are fucked unless you pay the cash.

I saw a plug on CNN about a virus where the hackers basically take over your computer, encrypt all your files and ask you to pay the money upfront or risk losing all the files. They keep increasing the amount if you delay payment. Apparently, this had happened to a businessman who needed some cruicial files and contacts in his computer for business deals. He approached the real FBI about this and they couldn't help him much to crack open the files. Like you mentioned, when the hackers take over your computer, they make you believe its the FBI or government taking over your computer because of child porn or so and scare you into making the payment.

which computer are you using now btw? take a screen shot of your hacked computer and show us.

My laptop seems to be working just fine now.

The virus was impotent if I tuned the radio off on the laptop, but the second I turned the radio on, BOOM, there was this damn page.

The link Woody provided did the trick - Malwarebytes.

It initially found 4 trojans, 2 of which were ransomware, but since I didn't activate the malware software, the virus loaded another file for 5. It was wild. Once I activated, I could delete all trojans.

I will be backing up my files more regularly.

I'm not worried about my emails and contacts because we use Google Cloud at work. (Though I fucking despise Gmail with all my passion, it is totally inferior to MS Outlook)