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Fuzzy Logic
Fuzzy Logic
Join Date 05/2002
+493

First virus in years...

August 13, 2009 12:12:50 AM from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I've just had a brush with numerous viruses, the first I've had in years. I was browsing some free software sites (can't remember which, I was just following links), when I got a warning about a dodgy web page. Next thing I know AVG is popping up with all sorts of messages about trojans and viruses. At this point my pc is locked solid, so, rather than repair the damage, I decide to restore from backup...

Shutdown Windows: seconds - I pressed the off button!

Search for Drive Image 7 disc: 2 minutes - it was buried under some papers...

Boot into Drive Image: 4 minutes

Restore image: 5 mins 55 secs

Boot into Windows: 50 secs

So, up and running again in next to no time. Shows the value of good backups

As the backup is a few days old, I've lost some game saves - but that is only because of Microsofts insistance that programmers store program info locally instead of with the game (I have my games on a seperate partition). Everything else is as it was.

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Fuzzy Logic
psychoak
Join Date 07/2007
+225
Reply #1 August 13, 2009 12:22:44 AM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

Now see?  If you didn't have an anti-virus, you'd have been just fine!

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Fuzzy Logic
crashmatusow
Join Date 02/2009
+5
Reply #2 August 13, 2009 12:23:13 AM
from Demigod ForumsDemigod Forums

As the backup is a few days old, I've lost some game saves - but that is only because of Microsofts insistance that programmers store program info locally instead of with the game (I have my games on a seperate partition). Everything else is as it was.

its a damage mitigation issue- the idea is that everything in program files never gets modified during normal use, and as such that any unapproved modifications there are immediately suspect.

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Fuzzy Logic
tazgecko
Join Date 05/2008
+177
Reply #3 August 13, 2009 12:55:57 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Always a good idea to do backups, I try to do one once a week.

Fuzzy 1 , dumb ass virus sites 0

 

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Fuzzy Logic
twifightDG
Join Date 05/2009
+18
Reply #4 August 13, 2009 12:56:34 AM
from Demigod ForumsDemigod Forums

Yes actually MS' idea is a good one, as crashmatusow said installed data normally doesn't change, and if it does it could indicate malware. Also, having multiple users on the same PC doesn't make saving user specific files in the data folder a pretty solution. Hence they opt for everyone storing their files in the profile folder, which is a decent solution if you ask me, Linux does it the same way (sorta).

The problem is that above method does not take partitions into consideration. I too use a different partition for all my games (I got a fast hard drive for them). Non OS partitions are usually quite save from malware, so they could easily store your saves on there too. Combine above problem with the problem that most game studios don't offer a choice where to store your saved files - the user profile as default is fine but I'd love a choice to select an alternative folder - and you are screwed in this case.

Is this a bad thing, is it Microsoft's fault? Not really. Microsoft does quite a lot to keep malware out the door and above solution is one of them. Nowadays you have to do some pretty dodgy stuff to get a virus to begin with. Backing up your profile folder is pretty simple, you'll have all the stuff you need to keep stored in a central place. Also if your hard drive crashes you may lose all your profile data but if saved games are stored in the game folder and that hard drive crashes you'd have the same problem.

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Fuzzy Logic
psychoak
Join Date 07/2007
+225
Reply #5 August 13, 2009 1:12:28 AM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

It would make perfect sense, if we didn't all turn off the nag screen that pops up when someone alters the program files...

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Fuzzy Logic
kona0197
Join Date 02/2003
+82
Reply #6 August 13, 2009 4:01:33 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

If you were running Linux or a Mac it never would have happend. Just saying...

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Fuzzy Logic
Kitkun
Join Date 06/2008
+175
Reply #7 August 13, 2009 4:29:48 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

If you were running Linux or a Mac it never would have happend. Just saying...
I've killed many a Mac in my day. (Not on purpose.)

 

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Fuzzy Logic
Lughsan
Join Date 04/2006
+2
Reply #8 August 13, 2009 4:40:27 AM
from Demigod ForumsDemigod Forums

Quoting kona0197,
reply 6
If you were running Linux or a Mac it never would have happend. Just saying...

If you think there are no virii in those worlds you are incredibly naive...

 

 

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Fuzzy Logic
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
+816
Reply #9 August 13, 2009 4:48:21 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

If you were running Linux or a Mac it never would have happend. Just saying...

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Fuzzy Logic
tazgecko
Join Date 05/2008
+177
Reply #10 August 13, 2009 4:57:38 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I you think there are no virii in those worlds you are incredibly naive...

There were over 900 for Linux about 3 years back, would hate to think what its up to now.

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Fuzzy Logic
Fuzzy Logic
Join Date 05/2002
+493
Reply #11 August 13, 2009 6:08:37 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

...and if trolls were banned, threads wouldn't get derailled...

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Fuzzy Logic
kona0197
Join Date 02/2003
+82
Reply #12 August 13, 2009 6:40:42 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I'm NO troll.

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Fuzzy Logic
Fuzzy Logic
Join Date 05/2002
+493
Reply #13 August 13, 2009 6:55:21 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Really? This was a thread about a virus I had, backups, games etc. That is until you came along, again with your Linux/Mac shit and hijacked the thread.

GO AWAY

 

 

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Fuzzy Logic
kona0197
Join Date 02/2003
+82
Reply #14 August 13, 2009 7:12:09 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Hey I'm sorry OK? I added a smiley. I thought you would take it as a joke. I admit I am a broken record with the Linux and Mac stuff so I'll quit talking about those subjects on WC. Fair enough?

I don't like being called a troll.

The funny thing is I run Windows on both my machines.

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Fuzzy Logic
gmc2
Join Date 11/2003
+296
Reply #15 August 13, 2009 7:26:25 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I was browsing some free software sites (can't remember which, I was just following links),

I'm surprised fuzzy, an open invitation to disaster. the only none affliated site that I venture into is cnet.

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Fuzzy Logic
Lantec
Join Date 07/2003
+346
Reply #16 August 13, 2009 8:22:41 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I've been using the WOT (Web Of Trust) add-on in FF3.5+ and I've found it helpful to avoid sites like that.

http://www.mywot.com/

Of course it doesn't hurt that I have a full Acronis image from Sunday and a couple incrementals since.....

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Fuzzy Logic
ZubaZ
Join Date 11/2001
+917
Reply #17 August 13, 2009 8:33:46 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting kona0197,
reply 6
If you were running Linux or a Mac it never would have happend. Just saying...
Of course . . if he were running Linux or Mac he'd hae limited choice in games too.  [Sorry . . i couldn't help it. Back on topic now.]

Congrats on having a good back-up plan.

In all honesty, the most critical data on my PC are teh many photos of my family.  On extended family birthdays I'll often make DVDs of "this year in our life in pictures" to give as gifts.  It's a nice thought and a pretty great off-site storage plan. 

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Fuzzy Logic
mrkingpest@gmail.com
Join Date 03/2006
+1
Reply #18 August 13, 2009 8:47:30 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

Good for you-- as far as the game saves go though, can't you point your My docs folder to the other partition as well? I believe the games are saved within the my docs folder and if that entire directory points to the other partition (or drive) the the next time this happens, your saved games will be, well, saved as well.

 

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Fuzzy Logic
twifightDG
Join Date 05/2009
+18
Reply #19 August 13, 2009 9:32:58 AM
from Demigod ForumsDemigod Forums

Quoting Kingpest,
reply 18
Good for you-- as far as the game saves go though, can't you point your My docs folder to the other partition as well? I believe the games are saved within the my docs folder and if that entire directory points to the other partition (or drive) the the next time this happens, your saved games will be, well, saved as well.

Yep that should work too. Some programs still mess up when they hard code to your c:\ drive but to be honest those programmers should be whacked with a morning star. A lot.

I prefer an external hard drive as the backup plan. It's easy and quick to connect and you have fast transfer speeds. Store it in a safe place though, having it next to your laptop/pc doesn't help you when a burglar comes in. He'll take the external hard drive too It will not help you if your house burns down though. There are online alternatives but they cost money and I'm not quite sure on privacy with the lesser knows companies. Still that might be the best option if the data is worth some money to you and you got a decent internet connection. You could even automate the process to make a backup every night at 12 pm.

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Fuzzy Logic
Jafo
Join Date 03/2001
+1752 sdemployee
Reply #20 August 13, 2009 9:50:17 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Good for you-- as far as the game saves go though, can't you point your My docs folder to the other partition as well? I believe the games are saved within the my docs folder and if that entire directory points to the other partition (or drive) the the next time this happens, your saved games will be, well, saved as well.

I'm still coming to terms with where Windows 7 likes to put stuff.

Bloody pain in the arse, really...

Remember, Fuzzy...there are only 2 types of computer users...[ignoring Linux trolls]...

Those who backup

and

Those who cry...

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Fuzzy Logic
GenBlood
Join Date 04/2006
0
Reply #21 August 13, 2009 9:55:56 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

I've not had a virus issue for the last 2 or 3 years. The only issues I've had

was faulty hard drives. I had 2 seagate 500 GB sata2 drives just die on me.

The only thing the drives did was make clicking noises. I rma'ed the drives

and got replacements. I also, have a Western Digital 250 GB seating on

my work bench. Its dead ... the system had a HD issue, myfriend call me saying

the system wouldn't boot up. I went to their home and the drive was making

clicking noises. So, I had to replace the drive and restored from a backup

on the system. I'm a big believer in having 2 hard drives in systems. One

for the OS and apps ... the second for backups,drivers and OS files ...

 

Basically .. knock on wood ... I still have 3 more of those 500 GB drives

in my main system. I hope I don't need to replace them ...

 

FYI ... Do backups ....

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Fuzzy Logic
Fuzzy Logic
Join Date 05/2002
+493
Reply #22 August 13, 2009 10:15:38 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Those who backup

and

Those who cry...

Indeed. I found that out ten years ago when I lost all my photos, a few of which I can never get back. Since then I've used various incarnations of Drive Image and SyncBack + at least 4 drives.

I'm surprised fuzzy, an open invitation to disaster

I know, but I was looking for something...

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Fuzzy Logic
Jafo
Join Date 03/2001
+1752 sdemployee
Reply #23 August 13, 2009 10:25:12 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Since then I've used various incarnations of Drive Image and SyncBack + at least 4 drives.

Ditto...

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Fuzzy Logic
CarGuy1
Join Date 03/2007
+548
Reply #24 August 13, 2009 10:27:18 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Have you concidered using a Virtual PC session to surf the web? It's nice to have the ability to close out the session and not save the changes, which greatly minimizes your chance of becoming infected.

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Fuzzy Logic
Fuzzy Logic
Join Date 05/2002
+493
Reply #25 August 13, 2009 10:51:25 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Good for you-- as far as the game saves go though, can't you point your My docs folder to the other partition as well? I believe the games are saved within the my docs folder and if that entire directory points to the other partition (or drive) the the next time this happens, your saved games will be, well, saved as well.

I have MyDocuments on another drive. The games, however, are stored in Documents and Settings > username > Local Settings > Application Data, which cannot be moved.

It's also a pain for anyone who doesn't know how to manage folders and doesn't know how to put custom maps in there...

Have you concidered using a Virtual PC session to surf the web? It's nice to have the ability to close out the session and not save the changes, which greatly minimizes your chance of becoming infected.

Bit too much for something which is once in a blue moon. My browsing is usually safe as is. Besides, the backup option is favourite.

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