Ball Python Game Destroyed my computer!

[mtolypetsupply]

Ok, that ball python breeding game installs malware on your computer. DO NOT PLAY IT. It's the second time it happened to me, and this time I couldn't even log onto the computer to fix it. I had to do a system restore thing, and lost a LOT of pics because of it. I am WAY BUMMED.

:mad::(:mad::(:mad::(

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks for the heads-up.

[infernalis]

Sorry to hear that.

2 Rules to always remember, Good anti-virus (NOT free crap) is a must and always keep important stuff backed up.

Huge thumb drives are cheap now, keep your pictures on them, or burn to a CD/DVD. (back those up over and over, CD/DVD burnables deteriorate with time.

Portable hard drives are very affordable now, and can hold millions of pictures.

[ssssnakeluvr]

wow! sorry to hear that!! :( we are looking at getting a 250 or 500 gb hard drive....hooks up thru usb port, save pics and music there, keeps the computer working fast, and is separate so you don't lose anything.....

[infernalis]

I use 6 hard drives.

One is only an 80 gig, that has windows and software on it.

All files are stored anywhere but on that one.

That way I can wipe the system at any time, no loss.

[reptile3]

Portable hard drives are very affordable now, and can hold millions of pictures.


I have an external hard drive with everything on it, just incase!!!

I never installed that game, thank goodness. I run 3 programs to make sure I have nothing like that on my computer.
I am sorry that it happened to you!!

[infernalis]

I have an external hard drive with everything on it, just incase!!!

I never installed that game, thank goodness. I run 3 programs to make sure I have nothing like that on my computer.
I am sorry that it happened to you!!


I only use one, had the same product for 10 years and NEVER had a virus or spyware get through.

Well worth the annual subscription fee, since it works.

Norton & Macafee are garbage, and the free stuff is a joke.

I'll even bet you I could find files on your drive that all 3 of those programs combined have missed;)

[reptile3]

I only use one, had the same product for 10 years and NEVER had a virus or spyware get through.

Well worth the annual subscription fee, since it works.

Norton & Macafee are garbage, and the free stuff is a joke.

I'll even bet you I could find files on your drive that all 3 of those programs combined have missed;)


probably!! Will bring my computer in July!!:rolleyes:

[Loren]

I got a 500 gb external hard drive for like 120 bucks and backed up my entire computor. I got a western digital, after asking several computor savvy friends which ones they thought were the most reliable.
I do run mcgafee, and have had very few problems. Just one time, i did get hit with the spyware stuff- pop ups coming up by themselves... a free downloaded program spyware- search and destroy took care of it no problem and installed updates to help guard it. No problems since (knock on wood).

[Stefan-A]

Norton & Macafee are garbage, and the free stuff is a joke.
Norton has a pretty good track record and the free stuff performs about as well as the ones you have to pay for. Provided of course that you don't download just any free program. Personally, I have two firewalls and AntiVir. Haven't failed me so far.

[infernalis]

I will admit Norton has gotten better, It used to destroy the windows registry when uninstalled.

I have utmost faith in panda, it has kept my equipment virus free for over a decade.

AND it sells for a few dollars less than Norton.

The free stuff, like AVG misses way too many malware files.

One thing about panda that is great, the low end of the scale (Cheapest solution) is a 3 PC license, so one purchase can cover your tower, a laptop and a friend.

Antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, firewall. Protect yourself with Panda Security (http://www.pandasecurity.com/usa/)

[Stefan-A]

I tried Panda for a while, but it was too heavy and it caused to many problems on my system.

[infernalis]

I tried Panda for a while, but it was too heavy and it caused to many problems on my system.

They lightened the footprint a lot with recent editions.

I always have run with tons of ram, so I really never noticed on my machines.

A few of my customers had to install additional 256 megs to get good performance, but in todays computing world, even low end boxes come with a gig of ram.

[Stefan-A]

I always have run with tons of ram, so I really never noticed on my machines.
I use tons of ram, so I definitely notice.

[anji1971]

We haven't had a single virus or screwup on our computer since we installed Ubuntu.(Linux)
Still running WindowsXP on a separate hard drive, for the kids' games, and in a virtual box in Ubuntu. And we back everything up on a regular basis.
I'm not really one to download much anyway, but I'll be sure to avoid this particular game!

[dashnu]

Avast is free (the home edition) works like a charm! Never had problems, however it is a bit heavy as it does real-time scanning.

*edit* you know what really works??? This thing called Linux ;)

[infernalis]

I'm not really one to download much anyway, but I'll be sure to avoid this particular game!


I'm not one who really cares to play PC games;)

I download and upload a lot, But since it is mostly from manufacturer and software developer sites, not much to worry about.

What makes me smile is when I click a link and my panda "growls" and blocks the script from coming in at all.

Different methods work for different folks, as long as people have something/anything to cover their arse.....

[mtolypetsupply]

I had a firewall, and McAfee running. It isn't a downloaded game though, it's a website. Since I had all the stuff running I figured I was safe. WRONG. :( In about 20 years of being an active internet user, this is the first time I've really gotten "gotten". :( The only other problems I've had was when ex's used the computer to look at dirty pics/vids, and I was able to fix those issues.

The biggest problem was I guess I didn't read the screen that popped up when I did the recovery. I clicked, and waited for them to ask for my restore point, and it never did.

I have a question, pm if you like with the answer, I still have some icons on my desktop from programs that I added later, but all the pics are gone. Does that mean my pics aren't "really" gone and possibly recoverable?

I do have an external hard drive, but, of course, I never backed anything up to that yet, just getting it the end of January. Now, all pics, financials, etc. will be saved directly to that drive and I'll have to look into that Panda that's been recommended!

Thanks for the support and sympathy!

:)

[reptile3]

so is the free AVG not good? that is what I have. My hubby is a cheap arse!:confused:

[NetBSD]

i dont use antivirus progs on my windows PC's. once and a while ill use housecall to scan my PC

Trend Micro HouseCall - Free Online Virus and Spyware Scan - Trend Micro USA (http://housecall.trendmicro.com/)

other then that i use only firefox and stay away from unknown sites. havent had a crash in years doing this

[drache]

having a mac, makes much of this a foreign language to me
and I don't remember ever getting a virus
of course there's tons of stuff the mac simply doesn't run, or not well
for those we use windows - now you've got me worried

[mtolypetsupply]

Good news! With help from Wayne, my pics are back! Now to figure out how to get this external hard drive to work, and I'm golden!

:)

[dashnu]

Good deal! "Will Trade IT work for Pinkys!!"

btw, just sent you some $$

[infernalis]

Good news! With help from Wayne, my pics are back! Now to figure out how to get this external hard drive to work, and I'm golden!

:)

Any tech questions, feel free to ask.

The first thing I do with a USB hard drive is run a complete format.

Most of them come with silly software on them, and it only makes it more confusing.

[NetBSD]

having a mac, makes much of this a foreign language to me
and I don't remember ever getting a virus
of course there's tons of stuff the mac simply doesn't run, or not well
for those we use windows - now you've got me worried


check this app out... MacOSX - The Official Wine Wiki (http://wiki.winehq.org/MacOSX)

i usually run linux and use wine (windows emulation) to run almost every windows app i ever need. over the years it just keeps getting better and better, i even found it to run most top end games better and faster then windows ever could

[infernalis]

Going to show my age, My favorite emulator is MAME32

It allows me to run old Z-80 applications, (the Roms from arcade games)

Just like 1982 all over again.:D

Gotta go pick it up, a friend gave me a broken down upright arcade game, I'm going to gut it and put a mini tower inside, and hook up all the controls.

Take out the picture tube and install a flat panel.

[NetBSD]

Going to show my age, My favorite emulator is MAME32

It allows me to run old Z-80 applications, (the Roms from arcade games)

Just like 1982 all over again.:D

Gotta go pick it up, a friend gave me a broken down upright arcade game, I'm going to gut it and put a mini tower inside, and hook up all the controls.

Take out the picture tube and install a flat panel.


ive used MAME32, nothing like the old time games.