I mean the computer kind, not the kind which afflicts living things. I am sure most people have had at least ONE!
It’s VERY hard not to, no matter what one does.
I have just recovered my computer from what looked like a trojan, which did it’s best to screw my whole computer up. I am just hoping it is not lurking somewhere that my antivirus scan and spyware program may have missed.
It all started when I got information from a friend that one could receive a free game through Hallmark and Big Fish Games. Both are reputable companies and you know me, I love games!
So, all eager, I fulfilled the requirements which involved sending an ecard from Hallmark to a friend and then receiving a bonus code for a free game at BigFish.
I got a mah jong game(I have about 4 already but they are all different, 
All was fine, and I installed the same game on H’s computer for him. Suddenly HIS antivirus threw a warning screen in front of us after we tried to run the game that I had installed. Yikes, it said that a TROJAN was found and what did I want to do with it. (Make sure that it wasn’t bearing gifts???) LOL)
We chose to have it quaranteened and the game was history. Poor H.
Well the same thing didn’t happen on my computer. Instead, my antivirus started saying that my Email program was totally infected. It showed over 90 pieces of infected files but MANY were associated with my spyware program!!! Huh?
So I quarantined the infected files(if they WERE infected. Then I restored them and they were not listed as being infected by either program. Strange.
I then tried to do a system restore. It wouldn’t work! It kept saying it couldn’t perform the requested task..
I then did a check of the whole system, downloaded Grisoft’s AVG and shut down the computer. I then rebooted, uninstalled the antivirus I had had(It was PC tools ) and installed AVG. Then I did a complete anti virus scan. It took almost 3 hours.
I came home after work(it was JUST finishing up) and found that IT had found viruses in my system restore, that the email program was fine. Oh yes, it also said that the Mah Jong game was infected(which PC tools did not even mention)
Phew.
I think all is well now, I did a system restore point of my own(as the computer is now back to normal) and may check it later in the week. I also have to email all my contacts and make sure their anti virus programs are up to date just in case something nasty comes from me…arg..
How harrowing.
