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#16
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Help for Neighbor?
On Wed, 31 Jul 2013 18:50:58 -0400, Juan Wei wrote:
I would do a clean reinstallation of Windows. And then, *after* doing that, I would change all my passwords. Changing them before the reinstallation does no good, since they might have already gotten the new ones by using one of their "undetectable devices." Define "clean reinstallation". Does it involve reformating the HD first? No. Buy a new machine as the first step! |
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#17
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Help for Neighbor?
On Thu, 1 Aug 2013 05:12:13 -0400, dadiOH wrote:
Why does she think that employees of what appears to be a legitimate company which she hired did anything to compromise her computer or the data on it? ++1 |
#18
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Help for Neighbor?
mechanic explained on 01/08/2013 :
On Wed, 31 Jul 2013 18:50:58 -0400, Juan Wei wrote: I would do a clean reinstallation of Windows. And then, *after* doing that, I would change all my passwords. Changing them before the reinstallation does no good, since they might have already gotten the new ones by using one of their "undetectable devices." Define "clean reinstallation". Does it involve reformating the HD first? No. Buy a new machine as the first step! Preferably a washing machine! |
#19
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Help for Neighbor?
On 07/31/2013 08:39 PM, Paul wrote:
Juan Wei wrote: ray carter has written on 7/31/2013 8:21 PM: What I would do - would be to install Debian. YMMV Why Debian over the others, say Ubuntu? Because Debian might have an interface you can use. Ubuntu has something that looks like Metro interface. I feel a little nausea, when I see these icons on the left. So install a different desktop environment. Unlike Windows 8, where you have no alternative to the tile interface, Linux lets you install dozens of different desktop environments. On my computer at work I have Ubuntu running the Xfce desktop environment. No problem. -- Warren Post http://my.opera.com/wpost/ |
#20
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Help for Neighbor?
Warren Post has brought this to us :
On 07/31/2013 08:39 PM, Paul wrote: Juan Wei wrote: ray carter has written on 7/31/2013 8:21 PM: What I would do - would be to install Debian. YMMV Why Debian over the others, say Ubuntu? Because Debian might have an interface you can use. Ubuntu has something that looks like Metro interface. I feel a little nausea, when I see these icons on the left. So install a different desktop environment. Unlike Windows 8, where you have no alternative to the tile interface, Linux lets you install dozens of different desktop environments. On my computer at work I have Ubuntu running the Xfce desktop environment. No problem. And you dont have to contend with bugs with MS cant fix that go back Windows 3.1 or NSA back doors! |
#21
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Help for Neighbor?
On Wed, 31 Jul 2013 20:29:54 -0400, Juan Wei wrote:
ray carter has written on 7/31/2013 8:21 PM: What I would do - would be to install Debian. YMMV Why Debian over the others, say Ubuntu? I like the stability and the fact that release cycles are longer. |
#22
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Help for Neighbor?
Bob Henson wrote:
Therein lies the problem with Linux too, though - there are more distros and desktops than there are functional programs to use. All the familiar programs that everyone wants to use only run on Windows. No video editor (that works well), no Microsoft office, no latest games, the list is endless. No Intuit software, no Quicken, no TurboTax, no Quickbooks (they don't run properly in Wine or Crossover Office) and I personally have no other reason to own a computer. -- XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://twovoyagers.com/improve-usenet.org/ |
#23
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Help for Neighbor?
Warren Post wrote:
Unlike Windows 8, where you have no alternative to the tile interface, Windows 8 has several alternatives to the tile interface but, of course, you have to RTFM to find that out so most folks will never know...... -- XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups The Usenet Improvement Project: http://twovoyagers.com/improve-usenet.org/ |
#24
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Help for Neighbor?
On Thu, 01 Aug 2013 08:11:00 -0600, Warren Post
wrote: So install a different desktop environment. Unlike Windows 8, where you have no alternative to the tile interface, Not true. Windows 8 comes with two interfaces: the modern/metro interface (which you call the tile interface), and the traditional desktop interface, much like Windows 7's. You can use either or both. Personally I use the traditional desktop interface about 99% of the time. -- Ken Blake |
#25
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Help for Neighbor?
Bob Henson has written on 8/1/2013 11:33 AM:
Therein lies the problem with Linux too, though - there are more distros and desktops than there are functional programs to use. All the familiar programs that everyone wants to use only run on Windows. No video editor (that works well), no Microsoft office, no latest games, the list is endless. Have you tried to get a decent Spider Solitaire for Win 8???? |
#26
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Help for Neighbor?
dadiOH has written on 8/1/2013 5:12 AM:
"Juan Wei" wrote in message I just saw this on a Windows mailing list: A neighbor had a serious senior moment yesterday and let Global Techs PC Support have remote access to her Win 8 HP laptop for a couple of hours. She realized the error of her ways, contacted her credit card companies, banks, etc.; changed all her passwords; called one of the major credit reporting agencies; and so on. Her son, who is a rocket scientist, told her that they could have planted any number of undetectable "devices" on her machine and that, even if she does a Win 8 factory reset, there's no guarantee that doing that would remove all of the devices. I assume he's talking about "ordinary" malware so she's going to have him call me so I can get a better idea of what he's concerned about. At this point, she's frightened of even turning it on. What would you do if you were faced with this computer? Win 8 reset? Nuke and pave? Something else? I don't know what anti-malware she has on the machine -- whatever comes with a new HP laptop, I presume, plus perhaps "Norton Security Suite" as provided by her ISP. Thanks. Why does she think that employees of what appears to be a legitimate company which she hired did anything to compromise her computer or the data on it? I think they are a well-known scam outfit. I mean, who calls you and offers to fix your computer because they've seen so many error messages? |
#27
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Help for Neighbor?
On Wed, 31 Jul 2013 16:56:46 -0400, Juan Wei wrote:
I just saw this on a Windows mailing list: A neighbor had a serious senior moment yesterday and let Global Techs PC Support have remote access to her Win 8 HP laptop for a couple of hours. At this point, she's frightened of even turning it on. What would you do if you were faced with this computer? Win 8 reset? Nuke and pave? Something else? I don't know what anti-malware she has on the machine -- whatever comes with a new HP laptop, I presume, plus perhaps "Norton Security Suite" as provided by her ISP. Thanks. I've seen this when someone asked me for help. Although the person involved denied having done something while online, I didn't believe her. This type of call is common, I believe they simply want some money, what happens if you give it to them I know not. In my case they had control of the machine and had installed software that required a password to gain access. Although it looked like a MS dialogue, password reset software didn't work. You need to have someone who is fairly savvy and has self loading media with virus detection stuff etc. You can't do much harm by firing up the machine after completely disconnecting from the internet. After that, depends on what you see and a knowledgeable person will be needed to take it from there. Fortunately, banks don't hold you responsible for unauthorized withdrawals in the US, but you should contact them. You can put a hold on credit cards or cancel for new ones. In my case I offloaded personal stuff using a linux puppy self loading flash drive and restored the machine to 'as purchased' state. Most machine don't come with restore stuff anymore and after that it's catch 22. If people know enough to create and maintain backups they probably won't get into this type of problem in the first place. If they don't know enough they won't have any backup/restore media. I'm not sure if anti malware will catch this problem. Check these sites: http://www.theguardian.com/technolog...crosoft-virus- scam-continues and this: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=250999 I believe you can get help from the machine's manufacturer for restore media for nominal charge provided you can supply the original purchase details etc. If the machine isn't too old you could also try the retailer. |
#28
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Help for Neighbor?
"Juan Wei" wrote in message ... dadiOH has written on 8/1/2013 5:12 AM: "Juan Wei" wrote in message I just saw this on a Windows mailing list: A neighbor had a serious senior moment yesterday and let Global Techs PC Support have remote access to her Win 8 HP laptop for a couple of hours. She realized the error of her ways, contacted her credit card companies, banks, etc.; changed all her passwords; called one of the major credit reporting agencies; and so on. Her son, who is a rocket scientist, told her that they could have planted any number of undetectable "devices" on her machine and that, even if she does a Win 8 factory reset, there's no guarantee that doing that would remove all of the devices. I assume he's talking about "ordinary" malware so she's going to have him call me so I can get a better idea of what he's concerned about. At this point, she's frightened of even turning it on. What would you do if you were faced with this computer? Win 8 reset? Nuke and pave? Something else? I don't know what anti-malware she has on the machine -- whatever comes with a new HP laptop, I presume, plus perhaps "Norton Security Suite" as provided by her ISP. Thanks. Why does she think that employees of what appears to be a legitimate company which she hired did anything to compromise her computer or the data on it? I think they are a well-known scam outfit. I mean, who calls you and offers to fix your computer because they've seen so many error messages? I thought the FTC shut them down last year. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57...-support-scam/ Chris |
#29
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Help for Neighbor?
Chris S. has written on 8/1/2013 1:33 PM:
I thought the FTC shut them down last year. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57...-support-scam/ Apparently new ones have sprung up. "It's like playing a game of Whac-A-Mole, really, for cybercriminals to find ways to deceive people," Torres said. |
#30
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Help for Neighbor?
On Thu, 01 Aug 2013 08:11:00 -0600, Warren Post wrote:
On 07/31/2013 08:39 PM, Paul wrote: Juan Wei wrote: ray carter has written on 7/31/2013 8:21 PM: What I would do - would be to install Debian. YMMV Why Debian over the others, say Ubuntu? Because Debian might have an interface you can use. Ubuntu has something that looks like Metro interface. I feel a little nausea, when I see these icons on the left. So install a different desktop environment. Unlike Windows 8, where you have no alternative to the tile interface, Linux lets you install dozens of different desktop environments. On my computer at work I have Ubuntu running the Xfce desktop environment. No problem. Does it not occur to you people that someone who gets herself into this type of problem (and is clueless on how to proceed), might not be quite up to downloading .iso files, burning to boot media then go thru' all that might be required to get a linux system running. In all fairness though, the task is a lot easier than it used to be with say Ubuntu latest - still!! As far as NSA is concerned, don't worry about it, they will get what they need whatever you run and you probably don't have anything they want anyway. You are just one of multi millions, there's power in numbers. |
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