Karaoke Forums

about a week ago...i recieved an email titled thankyou....i was curious...so i opened it..and because i opened it i ended up wit thousands of zip files on my pc...i managed to delete them all, but everytime i shutdown my pc and restart it...i keep losing programs etc...i turned it on today...and theres hardly anything left on....i have lost things that cannot be replaced that mean alot to me...lke photos of my son...so whoeever it was that sent me the email...and i know it was someone from here..afterall...some of the emails had BT in them....i would just like to say to this person...THANKYOU,,,i hope your are really happy with what you have done...you must be really pleased with yourself...i know that this is a family site and all but i am very upset and angry...and i just want to say to this person that...I HOPE YOU ROT IN HELL YOU *$@&# ....well...so long for now all....be back when i get a new pc....whenever that will be

all the best

Lee (BeatlesTribute).

Hey!

That sux so bad for you! I definately know how you feel as I have broke my computer a couple times dowloading things from Kazza....with no virus protection (that evil program is now banned from the household )!

I don't think you would need to get a new computer...You just have to reformat your old one (although that still takes time and is a PITA!)

I also know what it is like to lose cherished things like pictures and stuff. It sucks!

I totally feel for you, and that sucks so bad! I hope that it all gets fixed proto for you! Good luck!

Can't wait to have you back

That is ugly, that is really ugly! BT, I am with you my friend! May he/she burn in Hell for that! What has been done to you is the lousiest, lowest possible thing to do!

What does the following mean?

Allstar!

You used the BT....then asked the question as to what that means you goof!

BT - Beatles Tribute.

That is why he knew it was from someone here.

Can't you trace it...find out who it was from? Shouldn't all that information be in the header of the email? They always told us that emails can be traced....even if you are trying to be anonymous.

This is goofball! (Thanks R )

Hey BT, I have software that will unerase files from your computer that have been totally wiped, it works great and is legal! Shout if you need a hand getting your stuff back, I'll gladly help where I can!

You do realize that half of the viruses sent are not sent knowingly from the sender. That is what a virus does, replicates itself & some even work with the Outlook program & sends it automatically - without the sender even knowing - to anyone that may be in the address book. You need to get a good virus protection program that will scan all e-mails & attachments.

This is more than like the virus you recieved. You can read up on it here - Provided this link doesn't get erased - we are trying to HELP someone here to get info on how to save their computer - no advertising!!!
http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusen ... RM_SOBIG.F

I honestly think the virus protection companies hire people to create new viruses so that people will always need their product. Think about it, really - who benefits from a virus??

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

BT,

I virus like the 'Thank You' virus propagates itself by going to the address book of the infected person and sending itself to everyone in it (if they are using MS Outlook). So, chances are that the person that you received this email from was unaware that this virus was sent to you.

Just an FYI, before you made any accusations.

-Patrick

_________________
Patrick
Twinbrook Sound
Waltham, MA

You make valid points regarding a spreading virus, (like the Thank You virus) but I think everyone with a PC must have the latest virus protection! If I don't have it and I send you and email to which a virus has attached itself, I am guilty!

I have a lot of sympathy with BT, because he has become the victim of a sick brain! The lesson to learn from this is always backup and keep your anti-virus updated!


Nah, I cannot agree. Virusses are written by people who take it as a challenge (sick never-the-less) to infect your system. It's a hackers toy.

I agree with AllStar....even though sometimes it makes me wonder....

I think that Everyone is just so pissed at Microsoft (for whatever reason), so they take it out on everyone else.

They can make viruses and know how they work because of updates on Microsoft's website that tell you what the service packs and security updates do. Then, the hackers make up their viruses to compromise those that did not or have not updated their systems with the Windows Updates and they get the viruses (this is what my BF told me...he is a computer programmer/server runner at his work).

When you look on Norton's Website...you never see a Unix or Linux system getting attacked, usually only Windows and Microsoft

whoever sent it to me...knew what they were sending...i have the latest antivirus software....the email contained an attachment....and me...like the idiot i am was curious what they had sent me and opened thae attachment......at first...i thought all these zip files were just to zap my memory on my pc.....its after i deleted them all that everything else started to dissapear.


now i think ill go find a hammer and smash this thing up

Looks like Lonman and I posted at the same time!

BT, I feel for you. It is devastating to lose all of your data.

But I still have to disagree with the assumption the person who sent you the email 'knew what they were doing.' There are millions out there that, although they use a PC daily, do not know what the heck they are doing.

That being said, I wouldn't run out and get a new PC (unless you want a new one anyway!). I would just have the hard drive wiped and the operating system reinstalled.

_________________
Patrick
Twinbrook Sound
Waltham, MA

Sorry to say, but Lonman was absolutely correct in that the Thank You virus was most likely sent unintentionally by the person you think it came from.

The Thank You virus has actually been around awhile and it is a well known fact that you should NEVER open an email attachment. I always scan them first, but even if it appears to come from someone I know, I always ask them first if they sent me an attachment just to be sure before scanning and opening.

It does infect the person's computer and collects emails from their address book and sent out an attachment email to everyone in their email address book.

Also, the other person that said you don't have to buy a new computer is right. Just reformat it and if it came with restore discs, just start over like the day you got the computer. Unfortunately you lost some important stuff.

If you don't have a CD-RW drive, they are real inexpensive now and you should get one so you can back up everything on your computer, photos, applications you downloaded off the internet or whatever. This way if you ever have to reformat, you can just reinstall from your discs.

Hope this helped. Good luck.

_________________
Simply Celtic
(Glenn)

I think it depends...

If he got an email from someone saying "Hey, Hows it going, how is work, how are the kids...blah blah...." then perhaps it was on purpose.

Most of the viruses that get filtered out here at work are stupid....like:

"you have been waiting for this" in the body of the email from some strange address. The attachment is then blocked out with a text document saying what attachment and virus was blocked.

I don't think a virus has the capability to write an entire email. If it was a one liner, then yes, it probably was some stupid copying contact list virus.

And, like I said before, I am quite sure you can track an email by the stuff in the header.

It just sux to have that happen

Ritsiroo, you are absolutely correct. If it was a personally written email then they did it on purpose, but usually that isn't the case. It is a pre-written, general email that is the same for everyone...like you said a stupid one liner type of thing.

I am thinking about putting together a good eBook on how to protect your computer, how to set it up and stuff for those that aren't too computer literate. I have many friends like this and it has been something that has been on my mind as of late. It would be something very easy for the average person to understand and follow the step by step instructions.

Like you said, it sucks. A close friend of mine lost their hard drive to a virus. It totally trashed the hard drive, it couldn't even be reformated. They had to go out and buy a new one. I tried to tell her about her son downloading off of KaZaA without the virus protection running. He would disable it as it was effecting his games. Oh well. Some people will never learn I guess.

_________________
Simply Celtic
(Glenn)

Oh, I feel for ya.. I have had.. "viruses" ON my computer, etc... but, as a mac user, they can't exactlynhurt me.... I also watch my firewall ward off millions of attacks to certain ports, daily... like the windows file sharing port, etc. I am always downloading crap off of the net....and luckily, have never had a problem.. mind you, if I had a pc, I would be screwed:)

I have had them sent to me by close friends though, from their address book, and they in NO way intentionally sent them... there are always a lot of things going around. Lol, my best advice, is to use a mac, but, hey, if everyone used a mac, then more viruses would attack OSX:)

Hope you get everything fixed, and decide to not say goodbye!

The three most important applications you can put on a pc:

1. Anti-Virus (Norton, McAfee, AVG, etc)
2. Spy-ware cleaner/blocker (Ad-Aware)
3. Pop up blocker (Google Toolbar, also included in XP SP2)

Kazaa contains a spyware application called Gator. It's one of the nastiest spyware applications ever made and is required for Kazaa to run. Kazaa-Lite and similar applications don't contain spyware and have been sued sucessfully by Kazaa to stop being offered. If you 'must' use Kazaa by all means get Kazaa-lite or a similar non-spyware containing application.

A virus is any self-replicating code. A worm is a type of virus that spreads from machine to machine without the end user doing anything. Another form of virus is a trojan horse that 'hides' itself in a normal file and requires the end user to run the file to activate the virus. The actual result on the end user is called a payload. Most virii have a damaging payload but most of the 'proof of concept' virii don't have a payload at all.

If the email was sent intentionally they can be prosecuted under a variety of laws. Problem is that even though the pictures and other files are important to you the government entity that would prosecute doesn't see the economics of what they did and will likely pass on the case. Even if they did decide the prosecute - the evidence they need has been damaged - likely preventing prosecution.

I wish you luck in cleaning up in the aftermath and hope you can recover the files you've lost. BTW, chances are, the zip files you were deleting contained the files you're missing. There is a virus or two that zips your existing files into zips as an 'inconvenience' and will eventually shutdown the computer when a critical file is no longer available.

I am truly sorry for your loss and whoever sent it to you should be notified so they can clean up their machine as well (if unintentional) or so they can report to the firing squad and/or crucifixtion.

Karaokemeister said it well. I would also add that for those that don't have lots of money to buy expensive applications, there are some free, high-rated applications that are rated by the team on Tech TV.

These are as follows (some were mentioned in the above post by Karaokemeister):

AVG Antivirus (Make sure you have it set for automatic update as the virus files update every few days and sometimes days in a row.)

He mentioned Ad Aware, but in addition you should have Spybot Search & Destroy (As whatever one doesn't get the other one will and vice versa. You should run both periodically.)

Popup Stopper

I no longer use Popup Stopper but only because I use a different browser that is a combo of Internet Explorer and Mozilla features, that has a built-in blocker in it.

Lastly, a good free firewall is ZoneAlarm.

All of these have worked fine for me and I tend to trust the people on Tech TV as they test the products first.

By the way, Karaokemeister, good information. Thanks.

This tread is turning into a tech support thread.

_________________
Simply Celtic
(Glenn)

okay, chill out guys.

the "Thank You" virus is actually the "sobig.f"

Many virii (that's plural for multiple viruseseseses ) come across as SPOOFed... that is, they bounce into a domain, and spoof the email addys that it sees there, despite the firewall protection. it gets in JUST enough to see the addys.

I've been hit with two virii that majorly screwed up my pc. one was the happy99 virus, and another I have no idea what it was... it just formatted my c drive!!

It's easy to say that someone you knew did it. But in reality, if they did, it's only cause they were infected too!

as with all things in the pc. world, you MUST scan every attachment, even pictures!! They've got tunneling virii in those now too!

I use McAfee and it automatically updates, and stuff STILL can punch through. It's also a good idea to get Spybot: Search and Destroy as well as "SpySweeper" and "Adware 6"... I routinely clean my system once a week, and you'd be surprised how much junk is in there.

By the way, if you get a pop up when you go to urls, chances are you've now got some "spyware" on your pc.

Matt

info from symantec security's website, please do not delete the url!

www . sarc . com / avcenter / venc / data / w32 . sobig.f @ mm . removal . too l.html

If this gets edited, just go to yahoo and do a search (and include the quotes) for "sobig.f virus removal"... and it takes you to the symantec security site!

what lead me to believe this:

livejournal .com/users/pne/125749.html

Thank you, virus

Hm, about 700 new messages. Not much spam, but tons f "undeliverable" messages or virus warnings due to a virus using one of my email addresses as From.

(Though I realise there are quite likely people who will see much more than that from this virus.)

Edit: I make it about 350 bounces or virus warnings in one week. Apparently the culprit is Sobig.F.

In additions to knightshow's links..

www. viruslist. com/eng/viruslist.html?id=65735


This explains the process of the "virus" quite well:)

Man I am sure sorry to hear that BT! But I echo other's here about how the person who's address it came from is not aware of it! I had the same thing happen a couple times a few months back when this "thank you" virus was going around... someone I knew had sent me an infected e-mail and my virus protection wouldn't allow me to open it.... I know for a FACT that it was not sent from this person intentionally! Sorry though to hear of your set back.... I hope you are up and running soon!