TexasCHLforum.com

Just found out my computer guy couldn't get past it in order to run the scans. He is in the process of wiping the computer and resetting it up. Thank God for Carbonate, local backup drive, Dropbox and my cloud based agency management system. Looks like I'll be out $2-300 and about a weeks worth of productive work.

All I can say is be very weary and careful.

He also recommended AVG and Malwarebytes instead of me paying a premium for Trend Micro. Going to have to think in this more.

Google "Interpol Cybercrime Virus"

I'm not aware of the encryption but it does change your registry and disaes the ability to go to certain virus removal sites and prevents antivirus and malware software from running. It's pretty nasty.

About 25 times. It would show safe mode in the corners but the screen would be black other than that. No cursor. No windows usr interface/desk top. Nothing.

Unfortunately, it was so locked down I could not get in in safe mode nor even to a c: prompt. It was tight. Hoping the guy I took it to has much more success than I did. I will make sure to have malwarebytes on it in the future. Already loaded it and ran it on my other computers.

Thanks!

Well, my wife's laptop was infected with a ransomware virus that has her computer locked down pretty tight.

She received a popup yesterday asking saying Adobe Reader had downloaded an update and asked if she wanted to install it. She said it didn't look quite right so she clicked "NO". Well, things seemed to to ok for the rest of the day and this morning when she went to her computer, She had a full screen picture saying it was a message from Interpol and that she had been visiting illegal porn sites. It said her computer would be locked until she goes to a 7-11. CVS or Kmart and purchased some type of payment code for 100 euros.

I spent about 4 hours this morning researching this on the internet to see how to remove it. Wasn't able to get any of the methods to work. Dropped it off at a local repair shop to see if he can fix it. Said it would be around $100 if he doesn't have to reload or fix Windows. Pretty stinking frustrating. Especially when I spend money every year renewing my Trend Micro Antivirus software.

Therefore, as always and just like carrying, always be aware and never let your guard down whether you are on your computer or out and about.