Virus Alert!!!! Think Point

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Old Oct 24, 2010 | 10:51 PM
  #1  
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Virus Alert!!!! Think Point

I got slammed by a virus that calls itself Microsoft Think Point. It comes complete with the Microsoft Icon and says you have a virus and need to run Think Point to clear it. Don't do it as that is when it installs itself into yer system. You will not be able to get any icons on the desktop, you'll have about 50% of the screen with the Think Point logo, it will not let you run any malware programs or anti-virus, it will not let you access Safe Mode as it loads instead of Safe Mode. It's a PIA to get rid of. If you get a screen that calls itself Microsoft Think Point- it's a virus.

And while I'm at it, I got this while on MSN looking at College football scores. It comes to you via secondary program updates like Java, in my case, or it can come via Adobe, etc. DO NOT ALLOW any automatic up dates except your anti-virus or expect to be hit. I went by Best Buy and chatted with their Geek Squad and they want $200.00 to fix it. So unless you're real computer literate I'd suggest doing all updates manually. After I researched the virus, it seems that Opera and Firefox have very few hits. I'm running Chrome now but will have Firefox in the AM.
 
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Old Oct 25, 2010 | 04:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Labnerd
...virus...Microsoft...
Not a problem here . . .

all the computers a Chez Kobi are Macs . . . with an iPad in the mix just for giggles. What is this "virus" thing you speak of?
 

Last edited by kobiashi; Oct 25, 2010 at 04:10 AM. Reason: typin is hard
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Old Oct 25, 2010 | 04:40 AM
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Originally Posted by kobiashi
Not a problem here . . .

all the computers a Chez Kobi are Macs . . . with an iPad in the mix just for giggles. What is this "virus" thing you speak of?
There are just some things in life it's nice not to have to worry about isn't it Kobi?
 
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Old Oct 25, 2010 | 06:56 AM
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"A false sense of security is the only kind there is."
— Michael Meade

==> http://www.reedcorner.net/thomas/guides/macvirus/

==> http://www.informationweek.com/news/...leID=212201455

==> http://www.informationweek.com/news/...leID=187200766

.... ad nauseum ... *yawn*







For Labnerd: http://deletemalware.blogspot.com/20...uninstall.html



MGD
 

Last edited by MGDfan; Oct 25, 2010 at 07:25 AM.
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Old Oct 25, 2010 | 11:56 AM
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Take it easy there bubba. I don't want this to turn into a fanboy pissing contest.

And let's put a stop to this argument before the fanboys hop on board.

Of course the Mac can get viruses. Any OS can. But the fact remains there is a massive magnitude less to deal with than on a Windows OS machine. If the market shares were reversed and the Mac was on 85% of all machines on the planet then the Mac would be OS with the most problems and Windows users would be the ones saying they have no virus problems.

(However, just an aside here . . . I have used the Mac OS for over twenty years now. I've never once had a virus or any other type of malicious software issues. And I have never used anti-virus apps.)

Do I think that the MacOS is without issues, is the great thing in all of the known universe, and that Jesus uses it?

Nope. (Although Jesus probably does use a Mac. How else do you explain Steve Job's almost messiah like following?)

It's a tool, just like any other. It works beautifully for the type of work I do.

So everyone choose the machine that suits them best and enjoy it.

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p.s.

Labnerd, you wouldn't have gotten this virus and had these problems if you had a Mac.

I kid.
 
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Old Oct 25, 2010 | 01:29 PM
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I have used the Mac OS for over twenty years now. I've never once had a virus or any other type of malicious software issues. And I have never used anti-virus apps.
If you've never used any apps, how do you know that you've never had an infection?
 
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Old Oct 25, 2010 | 07:12 PM
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Old Oct 25, 2010 | 09:40 PM
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No one has mentioned the alternative that comes in many distro's for all types of users?

...you know, that one that fellow from over in Finland started.

Free. Open Source. Minimal Virus issues. Oh, and no longer is it just for those of us who know how to navigate the terminal.

 
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Old Oct 25, 2010 | 10:24 PM
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From: Somewhere in the EU
Originally Posted by glc
If you've never used any apps, how do you know that you've never had an infection?
Not that I'm going to enter a philosophical disquisition about not being able to prove something does not exist . . . because I won't. Actually it's much easier than that.

I wrote:

"I have used the Mac OS for over twenty years now. I've never once had a virus or any other type of malicious software issues. And I have never used anti-virus apps."

And I think you misunderstood my intent (although I'll admit it wasn't the clearest sentence in the world)

Let's focus on this:

"…virus or any other type of malicious software issues" with emphasis on "issues". What I meant was I have never had issues with either viruses or malicious software.

Could I have or have had a "virus" on my computer? Sure, I suppose it's possible. Then again it's also possible that I haven't.

However, you bring up an interesting point. Your question implies that I couldn't be certain my machine was virus free without the anti-virus app. This is patently false. It's certainly possible that a virus could exist on a machine that an anti-virus app could miss. (absence of evidence is not evidence of absence) In which case I'd could be just as screwed with the anti-viral app. as without it.

Either way, the fact remains, I've never been screwed. I don't think that would be the case if I still had a windows machine.
 

Last edited by kobiashi; Oct 25, 2010 at 10:29 PM.
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Old Oct 25, 2010 | 10:33 PM
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From: Somewhere in the EU
Originally Posted by XtremeBawls
Nice bird. Do you think he'd like an Apple?

 
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Old Oct 25, 2010 | 10:37 PM
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Originally Posted by kobiashi
Nice bird. Do you think he'd like an Apple?

That was tastey.
 
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Old Oct 25, 2010 | 10:42 PM
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Originally Posted by XtremeBawls
That was tastey.
I LOVE that graphic.

Hey, they're both Unix, so it works.
 
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Old Oct 25, 2010 | 11:04 PM
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Originally Posted by kobiashi
I LOVE that graphic.

Hey, they're both Unix, so it works.
Yeah, and I'm all about diversifying.
 
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Old Oct 26, 2010 | 04:49 PM
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Originally Posted by b_gardner74
I used to get these popups which said I had a virus affecting my machine and I needed to visit a site to download the antivirus. I like a fool clicked on it and it made things even worse. I use Kaspersky Internet Security now and its worked out pretty well. No viruses for about a year now.
Kaspersky is a real good anti virus, much better than others out there. used it for severaL years
 
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Old Oct 26, 2010 | 06:03 PM
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If you're running windows 7, using the built in firewall, security essentials(which takes over windows defenders job) and a little common sense, you don't have a whole lot to worry about.

I ran windows operating systems with no firewall or virus software for 4 or more years straight back in my earlier days of computer use and I never once had a virus of any kind.(I would install and run reputable scan software occasionally) I have since become more security conscious and take multiple precautions to protect myself. I recommend a good password manager with an extremely tough password, the above mentioned virus and firewall setup, common sense when visiting sites, and full scans as often as you feel are appropriate.

Also if you do online purchases, I recommend using a credit card with a specific monthly purchase limit that is only used for online purchasing and using the added security of receiving calls from the card company whenever a purchase is made with the card.
 
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