OMG have you heard of the 'ransom virus' ?
 

Saw this on the news the other night .. about a dreadful computer virus, called ransom virus cuz it literally takes your computer hostage and wants ransom $ to return it back to you ... really scary! A lesson NOT to click on links that could be dangerous ... the link below is fine, LOL

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?se...mer&id=9457520

Yes, as a matter of fact! My Son-in-law is a network admin for our local school system and they were infected last week. He was working on finding a solution that did not require paying the ransom, do not know how it came out.
The crooks get more clever, and so hard to stop.

I've gotten to where I'll text someone and ask if they've sent me an email. I also inform them I have not recently sent them an email. For example an email from "Kathy Soso", subj Kathy Soso. I won't open it I send to my spam. I do check my junk often in case something has been blocked that I do need to update.

one reason I don't click on youtube links when everyone says "look at this". nope.

I got the "FBI" ransomware virus last Fall, then in January picked up the "Homeland Security" ransomware virus -- actually it's the same virus with different screens to lock up your computer. If you get it, DO NOT pay the ransom. That won't get rid of it. I was able to get rid of it myself by following the instructions on the web. Just be sure to have a bootable disk available as you can't always get into Safe Mode when infected.
Just do a search for "FBI ransom virus" and get the instructions. It helps to have another computer available if you don't print out the instructions ahead of time. It's a nasty one for sure.

I wonder: Do people actually PAY a ransom?? and all those other bugs that get put out there, why in the world do those people do that? What do they get out of it? CrAzY world1

I don't either go to the youtubes or internet addresses that are posted on this site. If you got infected, did you have any virus protection?? Just curious if the major anti virus software really does protect me.

I'm not sure the one I got is the same one, but the one I had offered to fix it for you, of course for a price. It got me when I tried to download photo software from reputable site. They inserted a request for permission using a facsimile of the legit company's logo. Naturally, thinking I knew the source, I okayed their invasion.

Thank you for the useful information. Unfortunately, I have been clicking on the youtube links in emails I receive. I won't anymore. I will type in the address instead. I too, just heard something on my local news about this happening to an organization that helps runaway youth in our area. It was causing a lot of problems because it also affected their phone lines so the kids couldn't call in.

Yes, my mother got this twice on her computer, and she freaked out! After a few hours and following instructions on Major Geeks on how to get malware off the computer, I fixed it for her. Viruses can come from the most unlikely web sites. One time I was looking up vaccination time tables and our computer got infected. But never, never, never click on a pop up box that says your computer is infected and they have software for you - it's a virus. Yes, mom got one from that too.