On Saturday, I needed to download a help file from Microsoft for Visual Basic 2005. I downloaded the file, and then tried to open the file, but was told that I needed a certain Windows Update on my machine.
It has been my policy NOT to load any Windows Updates or Security patches, since installing WindowsXP.
However, I really needed this help file.
I downloaded the Windows Update file, and when I tried to install it, I was told that I needed a Security Patch, before I could open the Update.
Hmmph! I still need the help file …
I then downloaded the Secuirty Patch, and while it was downloading I got a message that a file called VirusBurster was being installed, and after downloading the Security Patch, my machine rebooted and the first thing that happened when I got back to the desktop was VirusBurster started and told me that I had multiple infections.
[I use CA eTrust Internet security Suite 2006, so I ran this, and it did not pick up any viruses on my machine – NOT HAPPY. I then ran Pest Patrol and this showed the same result – DEFINITELY NOT HAPPY.]
I tried to download MSDefender from Microsoft but this wouldn’t start because I didn’t have the prerequisite Windows Updates on my machine – BY NOW EXTREMELY NOT HAPPY!!!]
All of sudden I hear copious quantities of Hard Drive noise but no indication from the hard drive LED, and thinking that it is my SATA hard drive doing something, I check CPU activity and it is running at 100%.
I turn the machine off at the wall!
Since then, something has destoyed all of my backup files, and Cloned backups on my SATA drive, including the Read-Only partitions, and then wiped the whole SATA drive …
A few new swear words have been introduced into the English language.
Finally I tried to restart XP but it won’t.
I have been using, building and repairing computers for over twenty years, and I have never seen this sort of voracious virus.trojan/worm effect.
I am now using Ubuntu, and Apple only for browsing etc, and will never trust Microsoft again!
Be alert!
Robert More
