Confiker Virus Release April 1st.

[atxcomputernerd]

Calming some of the media scare and hype.

The virus is the 3rd variant of a virus that released a few months ago. Most everyone is already protected from the release of tomorrow’s virus, but to ensure that you are please do the following:

-Make sure you’re computer has all of the most recent Microsoft Windows Updates
-Make sure your anti-virus is up to date.
-Don’t panic

This article on MSN is very good about discussing the virus:

http://tech.msn.com/security/articlepcw.as...4&GT1=40000

If you don't have any anti-virus on your computer, go to downloads.com. Under Popular downloads there are a few free anti-virus softwares listed. Also Microsoft offers a free spyware protection program called windows defender, located in the downloads section of microsoft.com.

If you have a Mac, you aren't at high risk at this point. I'd still make sure to update your Mac and anti-virus.

[maxx (no longer active here)]

Thank ATX, good advice. ;)

[Epicurus]

Thanks for the advice. This one has sure gotten a lot of press. And
it will probably (hopefully) pass without much notice, then we can
all say, "April Fool!"

TJ ;)

[xNaughtyGurlZx]

Thanks computernerd ;) we love you :wub:

[rocker]

Microsoft updates. I once tried microsoft update and it crashed my computer.
Everything was working great up untill that point. Did I do something wrong?


Thanks for the advice.

Rocker

[NippleLuvinFreak]

All updated. I have the full paid version of AGV, so I feel as safe as in my mama's arms.

[AustinLiv]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (atxcomputernerd @ Mar 31 2009, 02:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

-Don’t panic[/b]

I really want that laser etched onto the back of my Kindle2.

[Slowhanz57]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rocker @ Mar 31 2009, 05:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Microsoft updates. I once tried microsoft update and it crashed my computer.
Everything was working great up untill that point. Did I do something wrong?[/b]

Not necessarily. There have been a couple instances in the relatively distant past where MS patches had to be patched. There was at least one instance last year where a MicroTrends update caused systems to go into a continuous reboot cycle. It doesn&#39;t happen very often. But, of course, if it happens to you, you&#39;ll be upset about it. A good compromise is to wait a week or so, check the boards to see if anyone has any complaints, and if so, about what. If no issues pop up relevant to your system&#39;s configuration, you&#39;re probably OK to patch.

But the easiest thing is to probably save a complete system image, ala Norton Ghost or similar product, just prior to running the updates. 99.999% of the time it&#39;ll be unnecessary, but if you&#39;re worried about getting bitten by the .001%, it&#39;s your get outta jail free card. I do the same thing on my Mac box. I have an updateable image. The first time I ran the program to create the base image, it took almost two hours. But I update that image incrementally about once a week, and it takes about fifteen minutes, max. If my drive dies, or something hoses it, I can dump the image back from backup, easy peasy.. There&#39;s no one right answer. It&#39;ll always be a compromise of time and dollars. You&#39;ll have to decide for yourself what &#39;right&#39; is.

Regards,

[rCoder]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Slowhanz57 @ Mar 31 2009, 10:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

But the easiest thing is to probably save a complete system image, ala Norton Ghost or similar product, just prior to running the updates.[/b]

A few years ago when work required I develop on a windows box, I was religiously using ghost. Then my hard drive failed and I discovered that Ghost could only restore to a same size disk. Note, not partition size, but disk size, which just about means it must be the same brand and model. That really sucked the big one. Hopefully that "feature" has been removed but I would highly recommend testing restoration before depending any data on Ghost (or any backup software for that matter). Also burn a liveCD with your restoration program and keep it updated along with the backup software.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Slowhanz57 @ Mar 31 2009, 10:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I do the same thing on my Mac box.[/b]

Mac TimeMachine to a kubuntu server and rsync/cron for the linux boxes. Windows in suspended hibernation in a VM except when absolutely necessary. VM snapshots to recover when (not if) windows gets trashed. Life is great.

[Slowhanz57]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rCoder @ Mar 31 2009, 10:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

A few years ago when work required I develop on a windows box, I was religiously using ghost. Then my hard drive failed and I discovered that Ghost could only restore to a same size disk. Note, not partition size, but disk size, which just about means it must be the same brand and model. That really sucked the big one. Hopefully that "feature" has been removed but I would highly recommend testing restoration before depending any data on Ghost (or any backup software for that matter). Also burn a liveCD with your restoration program and keep it updated along with the backup software.

Mac TimeMachine to a kubuntu server and rsync/cron for the linux boxes. Windows in suspended hibernation in a VM except when absolutely necessary. VM snapshots to recover when (not if) windows gets trashed. Life is great.[/b]

Thanx for the info on Ghost, Coder. I haven&#39;t used commercial software to do Windows backups in a while. I used to use Ghost years ago, before Norton bought &#39;em. The one time I tried to restore a file, it was the one file that was futzed in the backup. My usual luck. I actually use a Linux tool to back up the Windows boxes. I use another linux live distro tool to resize partitions on the fly.

With regard to Time Machine, I was using it, until I read several messages on Mac boards indicating that folks had run into problems trying to do total system restores from Time Machine backups. I use SuperDuper, and it&#39;s great. But yes, definitely test the backup, to prevent nasty surprises.

Regards,

[Mokoa]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Slowhanz57 @ Mar 31 2009, 11:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I actually use a Linux tool to back up the Windows boxes. I use another linux live distro tool to resize partitions on the fly.[/b]

Would that be the Gnome Partition Editor, GParted?

[Slowhanz57]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mokoa @ Apr 1 2009, 12:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Would that be the Gnome Partition Editor, GParted?[/b]

Yup..

Regards,