I hate computers...I really really do...

[Andy_Stephenson]

Mine caught the worm or whatever the other day, and took out my computer. Several days before I was getting russian porn sites in Ie. Oh well...my system has been rebuilt bigger and better than before. But I lost 3 years worth of data...email addys...and files. Thank god the hard drive with my videos and works was unaffected and was recoverable. But I am bummed. I lost some addys I will not be able to recover unless yall reply here or send me an email if you have mine.

[Pert_UK]

1. Backups, my son, backups.....

Always worth backing up everything from time to time....

Not that I do it of course, I just thought I'd be wise after the event.

Sorry to hear your troubles.

P.

[FireHeart]

2. Look...

Hating a machine is rather...childish. It is YOUR responsibility to keep it safe, just like you would take care of your car, tools, etc. A good firewall, a constantly updated AV agent and checking for critical updates on a weekly basis will protect you.

I've been overwhelmed with requests from my family to help them with their viral problems, and each time I do, they IGNORE my advice on KEEPING them virus free.

I am truly sorry for your loss of data. But if you won't take care of your system--nobody will. It's in your court. Hell, I was aware of the security faults back in early July. I patched my system, updated all my security agents, and I am virus/worm free.

It's just common sense.

My apologies for sounding a bit harsh. But this kind of thing CAN be prevented if we just pay attention!

[catzies]

5. I've stayed up late with my boyfriend's laptop for TWO FREAKIN DAYS

He "doesn't believe in updates." There were 61 WindowsXP updates he didn't install. He never turned on the firewall, he never ran anti-virus and he had 43 spywares. He's also never defragged or run scandisk. But all I heard was "Is it done yet?" Yawn. :hangover:

[greatauntoftriplets]

3. In case mine are not committed to your memory....

:evilgrin:

Check you e-mail.

[dpbrown]

4. None of my Macs were affected

Again. It's so boring having a computer that works all the time.

[CBGLuthier]

6. And again, I will say

If more than 3% of the computer using population used them, they would be getting slammed by every virus and work that nasty little people could come up with.

Hey, I got a Mac in addition to my PC. I consider it a cute toy that has some major frustrations, gets patched as often as my PC and locks up more often than my PC. Plus the shoddy hardware, having to replace the cdrom on my imac in less than six months.

Give me something I can work on myself and maintain and upgrade at my convenience any day.

[dpbrown]

8. Actually, no, given the number of holes and macros in Windows

Those are what make the viruses possible. In fact, since Apple went the UNIX-y route, they are part of way more than 3% of the underlying system community. Yet you don't find the same vulnerabilities in UNIX, nor in Linux, nor in Mac OS X, so there's no place to put the virus.

It's too bad you've had a bad experience with your iMac. I've had six Macs over 14 years, seldom had to patch or fix them, and find the software available for the Mac, even that made by Microsoft, to be superior to anything I've ever used on Windows.

Plus the latest applications from Apple, including iTunes, Safari, iMovie, Final Cut Pro, and Keynote, are the best in the industry.

Plus the latest hardware from Apple, including iSight and the iPod, are the best in the industry.

The number of people who really want a '68 Camaro SS computer that they can tinker with and replace the cam-shaft themselves is an fraction even tinier than the 3% market share they scoff at Apple for having. Most people want a computer that conforms to them, not the other way around. One that just works. That's not a Windows computer.

But for the true computer geeks, Mac OS X has command line root access so they can tinker to their heart's content.

[ikojo]

7. AMEN!!!

I am a noob to the WONDERFUL world of the Mac.


I LOVE MY MAC!!!


:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Deja Q]

10. It's common sense, not banal brand loyalty that determines who gets hit

:eyes:

Even the highly hyped Linux can be broken into, and there's no such thing as a platform that isn't targeted by hackers and virus-writers.

I'm not defending Microsoft, not in the slightest. But I've NEVER been demolished with a virus on my Win boxes. Why? Firewall and antivirus protection. DUH!!! I use it on ANY platform I use. Everybody should regardless.

And yet the current market only pays PC specialists <$25k - people who have to szave their bacon from disaster... :eyes: Hell, corporate america deserves to be "virtually destroyed" if it tries to cheat hard working, intelligent workers.

Linux has great firewall support but I'd like to see an antivirus solution.

Trust me, if Macs ruled the world :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: then there'd be a million Mac viruses as well.

Stop the shovelling and get real. It happens to everybody.

DOS had viruses.

Amiga had viruses too, and that's about the most obscure OS ever to have been made!

If anybody cared, OS/2 and BeOS would have had viruses as well.

The thinking that "Linux is safe from viruses" or "The Mac is a godsend because it's safe from viruses" is pure, unfettered bull plop.

[newyawker99]

11. Congrats dpbrown!! 600 posts

:toast:

[Deja Q]

9. I use Windows (and Linux) and I've never been infected... oh, and...

And I'm not into "safe computing". I'll sluttily download anything! :D

Of course, having a decent firewall and antivirus package clears up any little diseases which try to squishle their way into my system... Not to name-drop, but I've personally found Norton Internet Security to be reliable (though Zone Alarm Pro, for a firewall, is pretty darn good too.)

There are freeware products like an older version of Zone Alarm (not PRO) and AVG for anti-virus, but I get the impression that pay-for software is better and kept up more regularly.

And make backups! I do all the time, I don't trust NTFS, which is supposedly a better file system than FAT32, note I'm trying to avoid FAT16 which is pure rubbish. Get a DVD+RW drive, they're as low as $150 per drive and RW discs cost roughly $2.50 each and can be re-used 1000 times. (eminently more cost-effective than the R discs which can be used only once... CD-RW is another story, but I'm speakin' DVD+RW... or even DVD-RW, but I've found that DVD+RW is a better technology - and works in my antiquated DVD player which won't read DVD-R or DVD-RW discs!)

Sorry about your loss though! I've had my share of unrecoverable losses as well.