This is a little rant I'm afraid. I know it's basically my fault BUT!!!!!

Sometimes when at clients premises, I have to use a series of rescue/installation discs to resolve an issue.

Sometimes, it can take quite a few hours to sort out the multiple problems people allow to accumulate on their computer before seeking professional help. A lot of which is helped along by the 'bar room fixers' who know absolutely sod all in real terms about much at all.

They don't know what the real problem is because they've not seen it and clients rarely know how to describe the problem fully anyway - not that there's anything wrong with that, I don't expect it.

The client then goes and mis-follows the wrong advice they've been given and make an even bigger dogs breakfast of the whole thing and after they've totally screwed their computer, they call me.

Now to the point of my rant.

After I've spent hours sorting out the cock-up, I put my things back in my bag (or so I think) and head off home. Some days, or even weeks, later I open my bag looking for the discs to find that I've accidentally left at my clients.

The annoying thing is the client, who now has a full set of service and recovery discs that I've paid for, and doesn't have a clue in hell how to use them, hasn't had the decency to ring me and let me know I've left them. This has happened every time I've done it.

I now have to go through the time and expense of getting a new set of dics together.

ONE THING YOU GET FROM ME IS HONESTY, IF YOU CAN'T RETURN THE FAVOUR THEN YOU DON'T DESERVE THE SERVICES I OFFER.

​I will work out where I left them and that person will have a heavy bill next time they call me!

It just goes to show, there's a lot of really dishonest immigrants out there.

How the mighty fall.

Bitcoins, the on-line currency that was recently worth over $500 per coin has suddenly disappeared - along with all its' investors money. Oooppppssssss.

They've deleted all their Tweets from Twitter and their CEO resigned on Sunday.

It would appear that Bitcoins has 'lost' 744.408 of its' users bitcoins worth almost $360 million. Seems they didn't foresee the way their system could be used for fraud and put a halt on all withdrawals earlier this month but by the time they'd stopped all trading on Monday, the bitcoin value had plummeted to just $130 - ouch.


Full story here.


There are other implications to this as anybody who now gets infected with the Cryptolocker virus might have a problem getting their files back as the villains behind it were using the anonymity bitcoins offered to ply their trade.

So what happens now is anybodies guess as I'm not aware of any other on-line payment system they can hide behind for more than a couple of days without being found out. Long term, that's a good thing but for the short term, many people will be up the creek without a paddle. Don't let it be you.


Don't have nightmares - back-up your data - stay safe.

A new malware is out pretending to be part of CryptoLocker and using the same name in its lockscreen. This one displays a lock screen before you can access your desktop, blocks you from running any programs, and displays a box stating that you must fill out a survey in order to unlock your computer. It does not appear to encrypt any files and only blocks you from accessing your desktop. This is not a very professional looking malware, is coded in Visual Basic, and is probably the creation of a script kiddy. This malware was first reported here:

https://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=140110

The text of the screenlocker is:

CRYPTOLOCKER WARNING

Your computer has been locked and all your files are encrypted with 2048-bit RSA encryption. In order to unlock your computer and files you need to fill out a survey.

You must use only REAL information while filling a survey (name, surname, address, phone number...). SMS mobile phone surveys unlock faster.

After completing a survey, you will download a txt file containing the needed code to unlock your computer and files.

Once the right key is entered, this message will disappear forever, your computer and files will be unlocked.

At the end there is an Open Survey button that brings you to a page hosted at totally-legit.biz. This page contains javascript to show you a survey widget from sharecash.org. Sharecash.org offers a survey widget that developers can use to unlock programs they offer if someone fills in the survey.

Do not worry, this one can be removed and it does not appear to encrypt your files.

A group called Malware Must Die have just reported they have successfully identified and suspended 138 Cryptolocker Command and Control (C&C) servers.  This is wonderful news but is surely just a drop in the ocean but there could be other ramifications with this for those people already infected with Cryptolocker.

The way Cryptolocker works is by encrypting your files using a public and private key. The public key is on your computer and the private key is held elsewhere. In this case on a C&C server. Once this process is complete, it then tells you you're infected and currently, the ONLY way you can get your files back is by paying the 'ransom' displayed on your screen before the countdown timer gets to zero. This 'ransom' could be anything upwards of $300.

But what if your private key is on one of the C&C servers suspended by Malware Must Die? Quite simply, I believe your files are toast because your computer cannot communicate with the C&C server to retrieve the private key and decrypt your files.

Don't think this will never happen to you. It has hit BIG companies and private individuals alike, all who believed they were immune to such attacks, or didn't think they had anything worth bothering about. How wrong they ALL were.

Now if you haven't done so already, get your files backed up off your computer. If you back up to a USB drive, make sure it's totally disconnected from the computer between backups and don't try backing up if you find yourself infected with Cryptolocker unless you want to lose the lot.

How do you back up?

You could use the Windows Backup and Restore option if you wish, or just follow the instructions below.

First, make sure all your files are where they should be - somewhere in your 'My Documents' folder (Win XP) of somewhere in your 'Libraries' folder (Vista/7/8) and not on your desktop like I see all too often.

Then all you need to do is copy the 'My Documents/Libraries' folder to the external drive.

Keep safe!

It has just been announced that the people behind the cryptolocker malware infection have increased the ransom fee from 2 Bitcoins to 10 Bitcoins due to the success of their campaign and the number of people and organisations that didn't have a backup policy in place and had no option but to pay the ransom.

For those who don't know about Bitcoins, they are a digital currency. More about Bitcoins on Wikipedia here.

Whilst it doesn't sound much, the price per Bitcoin is roughly $212 so as you can see, the ransom has gone from just over $400 to just over $2,100. How much is your data worth? Maybe not that much you might think but I'd advise you to think again.

You might not think you have anything worth losing on your PC but wait until it's gone, then you'll realise how much you actually did have so get your stuff backed up off your PC now - before you lose it.

If you've already backed up your data, well done but remember to add all your new documents and photos as you go along so you don't get caught out.

Keep safe everyone.

If you ever needed a reason to move away from a Windows OS, this is it.

The Cryptolocker Virus is gaining victims by the hour and there is very little you can do about it.

When you know you have this particular virus, the damage has already been done. The way it works is by getting into your system via email, social media sites (facebook), pirate downloads or other infected website that you happen to drop on. It then starts encrypting EVERY data file on your Windows PC using industry standard technology as used by places such as The Pentagon and other high profile organisations.

There are currently only 2 ways to get your data back, pay the €300 ransom or totally format your hard drive, reinstall from your recovery discs (you know, the ones I'm always telling you to do) and restore your data from that backup you've done (what do you mean, what backup).

I think that means you have a couple of jobs to do sooner, rather than later! That's backup your data - all those photos and important documents - and create your recovery discs so your PC can be reset to the day you bought it. Generally speaking, if you have Windows XP, you should have an installation disc somewhere, if not, get one form your PC manufacturer or we can source one for you. Most Windows 7 systems have an option to create recovery media as do Windows 8. Do it!

You cannot be complacent, this threat can and will destroy your data and/or the entire contents of your hard drives if you don't pay the ransom.

I am receiving regular updates of individuals and corporations alike, all succumbing to this threat at an alarming rate and most are paying the ransom to get their data back because they didn't look after it in the first place. Don't let this happen to you.

The easiest way to backup your photos and documents is to copy your 'my documents' folder (or libraries folder - win7/8) onto a usb memory stick. If you don't have all the photos and documents on your PC in the 'my documents/libraries' folder, then put them there now and stop being sloppy. That's where they belong if they're on your PC.

Please be assured that if you get this and you don't have your data backed up, there is only one way you MIGHT get it back, and that's paying the €300 to the crooks within 3 days or it's gone. If they 'give' you your data back, it can take days before all your files are returned and you need to keep you PC turned on and connected to the internet until the job is finished or you lose what hasn't been undone.

This can be a problem for those on wireless services such as Ole, Telecable, TeleEast and the like because they always have momentary dips in service when it's not available and this can be enough to disconnect from the remote PC doing the decryption.