Back online after a week of techno-hassles.
Seems I somehow download a trojan or two, probably a week ago. Don't
know how - I don't spend all that much time online, go to strange
sites, play online games, or do apps where the viruses and trojans lurk.
And my anti-virus software is MicroTrend, which is pretty good.
Anyway, I tried to scrub out the trojan with the anti-virus software
and then tried to manually uninstall the file but couldn't.
Ended up calling the computer guy. The trojan changed some of the
config files, so he had to rebuild the drive.
He told me that no anti-virus software is 100% perfect. Sometimes a
new threat comes out before the anti-virus companies get hold of it.
Sometimes the trojans or viruses get buried in other files. Sometimes a
bunch of them attack at once and the anti-virus software can't stop them
all.
He said it's a good idea to have one or two anti-malware packages in
addition to anti-virus (but never more than one anti-virus, because
they conflict with each other). So now I have Trend Micro (anti-virus)
and the free versions of Malwarebytes' Anti-Virus and Super
Anti-Spyware. With the free versions, you have to download new
definitions and run the packages manually; the $ versions do it
automatically. So anyway, if you don't have anti-malware, might be a
good idea to check it out.
The computer guy said the anti-virus and anti-malware software
makers are getting really sophisticated. Used to be they combated bad
stuff on the basis of names and code. Nowadays, the anti- software
combats viruses and trojans on the basis of their behavior. He thinks
that someday viruses and threats are gonna be a thing of the past - but
that's at least five or ten years away.
Anyway.
Balmy weather around here. Might hit the late 40s today. And there's
only 55 days 'til spring. And I might be catching a cold. Have that
scratchy-throat, cough thing. Bummer.
Some things I read this past week ...
I read that Kate McGarrigle died (1946-2010). She and her sister
Anna have been singing together since the 70s. They're sorta folk, with a
touch of blues thrown in.
Most of their stuff is under the McGarrigle sisters. Google them if
you want.
Also keep reading about Haiti, and the heartbreaking stuff going on
down there. Haiti was once a beautiful land, rich in natural resources.
And over the last few decades, 98% of the land has been clear-cut,
messing up the landscape and the economy. It will be years and years
before that nation recovers.
Also read about a study showing that curiosity is one of the keys to
a long life. Might mean I will live a long time.
And anatidaephobia is a fear that ducks are watching you. Just in
case you're wondering.
