 Techno Rant Posted by Tawny Weber Aug 14 2012, 2:30 am I love technology! I really, really do. It makes my life easier. Except when it doesn’t. It offers a lot of fun. Except when it doesn’t. It’s pretty easy to figure out. Except when it isn’t. But then, I could say the same about my husband.
I’m a careful Internet user, a little obsessive about virus protection and use my delete/block function with regular glee. I back up everything in multiple places (thumb drive, email manuscript to myself and back up to offsite storage and to iCloud). You know, just in case. And I still get hit with viruses. I say it again: What is UP with that? How does it happen? Who on earth takes a mind clever enough to come up with this kind of heinous and wastes it on a non-profitable hobby like messing up other people’s computers. Wouldn’t it be more productive to use it to make money? Or create something. Or, heck, play video games for all I care. Just quit sending out sneaky viruses! Can you tell I’ve been hit? Just yesterday, actually. I *thought* I’d eradicated the sneaky virus, too, but given that my computer shutdown three times while typing this blog, I’m guessing I haven’t won the battle yet. Are you as frustrated as I am with the sneaky virus attack, malware, cookie spying, techno-headache stuff? Do you have a nasty virus story to share, and how’d you get through it (is there a support group?) Any techno protection tips or ideas? I’m so over this, I tell ya! Tweet Posted in Tawny Weber, technology Comments40 thoughts on “Techno Rant” |
   
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Oh I hate viruses and the hackers that make those problems. I mean come on do yougave to do that. It’s like can’thou find something better to do with your time. Sorry I have techno tips for protection. I think if there was a support group it would so many people.
I hear ya, Melody
They’d need a huge meeting room for that support group. And donuts. computer woes always require donuts to recover from!
And hey -congrats on nabbing the Golden Rooster. He’s actually pretty good at keeping the viruses away. For some reason, hackers are afraid of him. I’d say he’d be worth cloning if it’d clear up computer problems… but that’s just too scary to imagine *g*
I agree, Melody and Tawny. Why would a perfectly clever brain choose to damage other people’s work and lives? I suppose some people are just bound to do mischief. I imagine some bored teenager messing around just because he/she can. What a waste!
Oh! That reminds me of the movie War Games. Wasn’t that the one with the teenager (was it Matthew Broderick?) who hacked a government computer and started a war? But he didn’t realize what he was doing, right? It wasn’t malicious obnoxiousness -which is my term for the day for virus creation *g*
Hi Tawny,
I hope you get rid of the virus soon. It seems like there’s always a warning about some upcoming massive shutdown or planting of viruses. My brother is the techno wiz in the family and I always call him when something funky is happening to my computer and he always lectures me about being more careful about what I download and visiting sites that aren’t legitimate.
Thanks, Jane
My virus program *says* the virus is all gone. But I’ve shut down twice since it started spouting that cheery news, so I’m not so sure 
I’m with your brother LOL – I’m always warning the family to stay off questionable sites NOT to download anything. I was on what I thought was a very legit site (my backup subscription did something wonky and I was trying to fix it – I’m guessing therein was the evil) but clearly I messed up somewhere.
That’s awesome that you have someone close to do the fixing when things go wonky
We got hit with a virus about two years ago. The only way to get rid of it was to wipe EVERYTHING. It was extremely annoying, but it did the job.
*shudder* Oh the horrors!! I can’t even imagine having to wipe everything. My husband had that happen a year or so ago, and after the wipe, he’d lost his sound driver and a few other things. He ended up buying a MAC, swearing that would cure all woes. Since he hasn’t had any problems since, he might have a point *g*
We’re tempted to switch to Macs too because of their known ability not to be attacked by viruses.
I was thinking of getting a mac next, too, Tawny and Anna. I started off with one, but all my techno-savvy kids poo-pooed them, so I got a PC.
Hey, maybe I need one of each LOL!
I like the idea of one of each
My husband swears by his Mac. I’ll admit, I’m partial to the name because its the same as my fave go-to makeup line (MAC) but I’m just not quite on the changeover express yet. I mean, everything I have is Widows based, including our homeschool curriculum (which is networked with my daughters windows based computer). I think of changing and then think of losing a few days a year to cussing out virus wienies, and cussing just seems a little easier *g*
Tawny
We to have been hit with a virus on our PC and we had to send it to a computer workshop to get fixed and it took them days to fix it and cost a fair bit of money as well I agree surely these idiots who create them could use there brains a much better way.
I do not like being with out my PC I feel cut off from the world LOL we do have a good anti virus programme now and touch wood all seems to be going well
Have Fun
Helen
Hi, Helen! I’ve missed seeing you lately because I’ve been under the radar. We had a recent death in the family.
I know what you mean about feeling cut off from the world. It’s so easy to feel connected when you go online. I don’t know what I’d do without my Banditas and Bandita Buddies.
Hi Jo
I have been wondering where you were I am sorry about your loss and happy to see you back. There is nothing worse than not being able to get in touch with all of my friends around the world.
Hugs
Helen
Thanks, Helen. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Friends and family are what get us through hard times.
Helen, isn’t that the pain of it- the loss of both time and money in trying to get the sucker fixed when it’s hit. My daughter’s was hit earlier this year and while we muddled along ignoring the issues I couldn’t repair myself instead of paying a professional, last week we couldn’t ignore it anymore – not with school starting and her and my computers having to be linked. But it was cheaper to buy a new laptop than to get it fixed. Whassup with that?! So really, even if the hacker/virus spawners are people who think they’ll make money doing repairs, they’d be wrong.
And I’m so with you – without internet, I feel isolated. It’s not a pretty thing
Oh man – not you too! I hate when that happens. Whether it’s hacking me email account or sending viruses. Really? Do you have to pick on the ordinary person?
I don’t have any tips, I’m afraid. When my email got hacked, I downloaded a virus sweeper from Moo Soft that everyone online recommended and it found a deep-seated trojan that none of the others did. Of course, it then stopped working after the free trial was up and I started to pay for it, but at the time, it did the job.
Ooooh, great tip
Thank you. I’m off to see what Moosoft is all about!!
Right now my various programs are trying to get rid of each other. I think they need to learn to play nice with each other and just take care of my computer.
That’s something that really frustrates me, Dianna! Why does everything conflict with everything else?!
Oh yeah, I hear ya! Programs are so proprietary sometimes, and it’s like you have to have a degree in engineering to make everything fit together right.
I know NOTHING about technology. If I’m shown how to use it, I can do it, but if anything goes wrong I immediately call for my son or husband to come help me. But I feel like hackers who put these viruses out there should be strung up and quartered. They don’t even know who their victims are! Nothing is more important to a busy writer than time and they take that from us. Off with their heads!
I’m still LOL at you channeling the Queen of Hearts, Diane!
YESSssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!
Love the Queen of Hearts answer
Love love love it!
There should be a law…wait-there is…there’s just jurisdiction problems in enforcing it.
I hate hackers & viruses. I moved to a MAC for that reason and it’s been wonderful (now if they can just figure out a way to eliminate spam BEFORE it hits my inbox…)
I saw a nightline edition where they followed up on one of those “help I’ve been stranded. Send money” hackers. They traced the guy to the Phillipines and apparently he pulled in a ton of money. I understand the viruses often carry a backdoor into your computer so it can be used by some nasties to steal information and operate on a free broadwidth from overseas.
There’s a special place in hell for these guys.
Donna, you’re right – since the only thing I tend to use the computer for is writing (or fashion *g*) related, I forget about the vast financial and personal information that could be stolen from some. ARGH, now I’m just more frustrated LOL.
But Anna’s sweeper suggestion rocked, even though it froze my computer for a couple hours while it did it’s work. I think I’m good to play now
So… let’s talk Macs *g* You really love yours? my hubby does his, and swears its the best decision he ever made. I’ll admit, I’m always a little in awe that the iPad and iPhone, with their online access don’t seem to get any sort of virus issues.
You’re too funny for words, Tawny, and it doesn’t surprise me at all that you’re a techno-nerd dweeb. Just kidding!
I totally, totally WANT all the new gadgets, bells, and whistles, but I KNOW I’ll never be able to master them. I’m still struggling with my not-so-smart (as pretty stupid) cell phone!
Oh baby, I’m such a total techno nerdy dweeb it isn’t funny *g* Except the part where I only know enough to cause trouble LOL.
Ahh, those smart phones. I saw rumor that the iPhone 5 might be out this fall
Are you telling me that doesn’t get you excited???? *ggg*
Oh, yeah, I get excited, but in a really, really scared way LOL.
My first computer got a trojan virus so bad that I lost everything and never got back into that computer – it was old but still. I have spent 3 days on the phone with “customer service.”I spend a lot of money on antivirus protection but a few things still seem to happen. Right now mail is going out under my name that isn’t mine but I’ve noticed that has happened to a lot of people. Apparently AOL was hacked. I have one annying thing that happense every once in a while where the tabs just start replicating over and over and I have to shut the computer off completely. I’ve given up on gettin wifi because no one in my family can figure it out. Instead of a doctor in the family, I wish I had a computer wizzard!!
Oh yeah, I hear ya!! Those AOL email hackers are vile. UGH on the trojan, and all the phone waiting time. It really does come down to the loss of frustration and time being an even bigger pain than the content and money.
No.
Wait.
The loss of content and money pisses me off, too
sorry – tons of typos in that post – I am going to blame it on the cat on my lap lol.
cuddling cats is always priority over tidy typing!
Tawny, I don’t understand the joy of sabotage. It’s like having a superpower and deciding to use it for evil instead of good. Why destroy when you could create instead? Is it a “See, I’m way smarter than you professionals?” mindset, or what?
I haven’t had a lot of virus issues because I have an older Mac. That’s frustrating because I can’t run the new software, which requires an Intel chip. At the same time, though, it’s rewarding because the more-PC-like Intel chip is also the one viruses target. I’m going to have to upgrade sometime, though, I know. And I dread it. All those documents with names ending in x–ugh.
Nancy, it sounds like you’ve got a pretty good deal with the Mac -not quite sure trading off for documents that end on x is worth it *g* But being able to upgrade to the latest and greatest probably is. I’m always amazed at what ‘they’ come up with next to improve what we usually think is pretty good to start. Or to make it less effective -it’s always one of the other, isn’t it.
Yes, unfortunately. This is the last generation of OSX that will talk to the iPad, and it won’t talk to iPad2. I’m afraid to upgrade iOS for fear it will no longer talk to my computer.
The .docx and .xlsx hold little actual appeal. They’re just a pain because I can’t open them. :-/
Tawny,
Spawn of the devil – that’s what I call those
things that unleash such devilment on the
world! Can’t even call them people! They
have caused too much damage to too
many innocent computers and their owners.
BTW1, I really do dislike these culprits, they
have caused me and family members so
much trouble! BTW2, I have a laptop, cell
phone & Kindle. I have those only because
Honey gave them to me, he’s the techno
freak/expert inn our house!
Pat C.
Spawn of the devil. I like that
It definitely fits, too! There is something so evil about those who create this kind of problem for others. And sometimes you have to wonder if they have some special intuition that tells them when the virus would make life the MOST stressful, like when someone has a major report due or a book deadline *g* Cuz that’s always when it seems to hit.
That’s so sweet that your Honey gets you techno toys *g*
Oh, Tawny! So sorry about your virus woes. I hate those nasty bug people! And I live in fear of them. I had a horrible run-in with them last year. The Blue Screen of Death showed up every few hours and I knew I was going to lose everything.
Happily, we got it fixed and now my DH can’t wait to switch to a Mac. Sadly, I’ve been using MS for so long, I just figure I’m doomed to spend the rest of my life dealing with its stupid issues and living in fear of the next virus.
Good times!!! LOL
Thanks, Kate
And OMG hugs on the blue screen of death sightings. Do you have flashbacks? Does it require wine? I’d need tequila shots everytime I thought about it. Scary!!!
I’m like you, totally addicted to MS after a lifetime of use, but am so tempted to peek over the fence sometime and see if the Mac world really is greener. I’d ask hubby to let me borrow his for a weekend, but I don’t think he trusts me *g* I might not give it back.