On Wednesday evening, Windows would not load in my computer. The symptoms were similar to a bad hard-drive, but there had been no advance warning of such a problem. Thursday I was too busy to address the problem. Friday morning. I used a friend’s computer to reach my email-box at daveklepper@yahoo.com. On signing in, my friend’s computer went blank, with a red signal indicating a virus. My friend’s computer and mine are at a lab for repairs.
I am asking readers to contact Yahoo and describe the problem in the words above. Ask Yahoo to contact you when it is safe for me to reach my mailbox, and then report back to me on this thread. Thank you.
My alternative mailbox may have been attacked, and I dare not try it until the Yahoo problem is solved. Thanks.
The SAFEST way to ensure that your box is clean, if you suspect a virus is to reload the operating system. This will wipe out all daaon your box and put a clean operating system on your box. I know thatit is a pain, but it is the best way to clean out any suspected, or nown viruses from your box.
You have the best intentions, but that advice I do not need. My friend’s computer was also wiped-out. I am writing from the repair shop, and the expert told me:
Do Not Visit Your Mailbox.
If you want to help, do what I ask you to do. Thanks!
There are versions of linux that can be booted from a cd-rom disc, one that comes to mind is called knoppix. The beauty of this is that the cd is not corruptable by a virus. You boot through your machine’s bios direct to the CD, so there is no chance for the virus to write it’s hijinks.
You could use that along with the resident browser that is on the CD to access Yahoo yourself with zero risk to your (or our) machine(s)
Go through your in box at Yahoo and see what has changed since the last time you used it with no probem, there will be your problem
Convicted one, your advice makes sense. But, the Linex CD does not seem to be available in any Jerusalem store, and a trip to Tel Aviv, enjoyable by train now, has to fit in with my Jerusalem reponsibilities. Even if Yahoo has or will solve the problem, the Linex CD will be a good security investment. Has anyone contacted Yahoo on my behalf?
There are also Linux (note sp., it’s important) builds that can be copied onto a ‘flash drive’ (which plugs into a USB port on the computer and then acts as a secure boot drive) instead of a CD; it should not be difficult to have one of the computer service stores make one of these for you, or find a trustable source on eBay if you’re not comfortable with anyone local.
You will probably need to make some small (they can be temporary) changes in your computer’s BIOS setup to make these work properly, but again this is easily done and explained depending on your brand of machine.
The versions I used years ago contained a fairly large number of “useful” utilities in addition to the operating system and browser, and you may find, as I have, that a flavor of Linux is a reasonable substitute for MS Windows for the sort of thing you’re wanting a computer to do.
It is available free for download from many sources on the web. Try running a search for “knoppix bootable CD” and you’ll have a variety of sources.
Regarding other verions of Linux, they are all good, some require considerably more computer expertise than others…I think some are created to be intentionally difficult to use, just for the Geek factor.
I’ve installed most of the major distributions at one time or another, all are rock solid onc you get everything tweaked.
Knoppix, due to it’s superb automatic hardware detection, is probably the most user friendly of the bunch. First time I put in a bootable Knoppix CD, and the sound card worked right off the bat…network card ditto…video card at full resolution and color depth…I was in awe…made me think “So why do all these other versions of Linux make these things painful to get just right?”
It’s well worth having a copy ready and in your bag just for when you need it most.
And, while you’re familiarizing yourself with it’s use, be sure to check out the included graphics program called “Gimp”…probably the most full-featured software program you’ll ever get for free. It’s amazing what you can do with that once you’ve become accustomed to working with transparency and layers.
One last thing that I will mention concerning the desirability of using Linux to probe into uncertain waters (such as your potentially infected e-mail account), the vast lions share of malware that you are likely to come into contact with on the web, is created to target the MS-windows platform. Much of that stuff will just be stillborn in a non-windows environment.
The problem with changing e-mails is all the places that have the old e-mail have to be updateda and that can be a big chore… and you may miss a few that were important but unused recently and so forgotten. Of course, forgetting and losing some of them is probably a good thing!
I have 2 e-mail addresses I actually conduct communications with, they are only shared with close friends and family as well as legitmate business concerns.
I also have a Yahoo and Gmail addresses that I use for actions that require a e-mail address but you know going in they will be distributing it to the Spam purveyors! When I access the Yahoo & Gmail accounts I delete 99.9% of everything I see. Occasionally I will see something I actually want to read before deleting, but that is a rare happening.