Computer Protection

Or something like it, anyway. That's what I need.

For the second time (almost one year apart), I have "caught" a malware virus on my computer.

I know exactly how it happens. I get sloppy. I use Google to search for something, then go to untrustworthy websites one of which invariably has the malware. It happened to me in Jan 2010, and I was a good boy for 12 months. Then, I got sloppy last night and went to sites I shouldn't have. And got bit again.

The way I know I've caught something is several-fold:

- I keep getting the message "Windows can't find hard disk space. Hard drive error."

- I get error messages when I try to run virtually any application saying application failed.

- A phony "System Defragmenter" tries to run, and gives phony error messages (see FAKE illustration below)

- Strange sounds - odd clips of commercials, etc - come out of my speakers

Last year, I had success with Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware in getting rid of it. But, since the malware virus blocks running programs, Anti-Malware wouldn't run until I used something called "RKill" first. Once I ran RKill followed by Anti-Malware, I was virus free.





So this year, I decided to do the same thing. I got the latest RKill and Anti-Malware versions (from the Malwarebyte site, so I knew I wasn't being tricked into getting yet another virus) and ran them. Everything looked great.

Until I started doing Google search. For example, when I ran the search shown to the left and clicked on the first link (which looks like it would take me to the Malwarebyte site), I was being redirected to other sites that were very shady. Unfortunately, these sites were loading me back up with viruses again.

So I was back at square one. Using another uninfected computer, I searched around and found a few products that were said to get rid of the Google redirection problem. The problem is, they didn't get rid of it.

Out of sheer frustration, I decided I was going to reload my computer from scratch. I've been good and have all my data backed up, so it would simply be a matter of reinstalling the OS and the handful of programs I use. Not too painful, eh?

Normally, it isn't too painful. But with my computer infected, it was not straightforward. Then I made a discovery. Under Assessories -> System Tools -> System Restore, it asked me if I wanted to restore my system to an earlier date. Since I had never created a checkpoint, I figured this would not work but hey, it couldn't hurt to try. So I picked a day a couple of days before I got infected and did a restore. And guess what? It worked! I am now virus free! No more redirects either!

Thank you Microsoft!

So now I'm very happy. And I'm double checking my virus protection software to ensure it is up-to-date. Just so you know, no one product catches all viruses. It doesn't matter if you use Norton, McAfee, or Trend Micro, some things are going to get through. Some estimates are that these protection packages catch just 60% of the viruses active on the internet. Just make sure your backups are current and you have the CDs for any software you may have to reinstall...in case you have to reformat your drive.

I know this isn't a sexy topic, but it is a necessary one to keep your computer healthy.

Why I'm Happy To Be A SoCal Boy

Today, in Spokane, Washington:

Fun With PVC

My favorite part starts at 3:25

Right Before

Burning the Bomb House and the Publicist Murder

We've had a couple of brushes with current events recently that I've found intriguing. First up: George Jakubec in Escondido was found to be making highly explosive HMTD bombs in his rented home at 1954 Via Scott - he was found because his gardener brushed against some with his foot and it exploded. No, we don't know George, but the house is within a few blocks of where I drive on my way home sometimes.

If you've been watching the news, you know that the bomb squad decided the only way to safely get rid of the HMTD was to burn down George's home. Well, the burn happened at 10:55 today. Within 5 minutes, the home looked like the top photo. Within 15, the photo to the left.

I got home in the wee hours of the morning from a trip to Virginia, so I was just waking up when I flipped on the TV and took these shots of the news. As you can see, the house backs (backed?) up to the freeway, so they closed the freeway.

We only live about 4 miles from there, so I took this photo from our upstairs window. This photo was taken about the same time as the black plume photo above. It is amazing how different a plume can look from different angles.

The next current event that piqued my interest was the murder of Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen. No, I didn't know her either, but as you'll recall from prior posts we just did a Hollywood trip in September and had a great time. Ronni had attended the premiere of Burlesque on Nov 16, and went to the afterparty at the W Hotel shown on the left - which is about a block from Hollywood and Vine, one of the places we visited in Sept.

On her way home to Westwood, she was on Sunset Blvd waiting to turn left onto Whittier. A bicyclist rode up and attempted to rob her, but instead ended up firing 5 shots into the car. Ronni was able to drive hundreds of feet down Whittier before she crashed her car into this lamp pole and died. Very sad. We drove within about a block of this home. It is about 2 blocks from Michael Jackson's home, which we did drive by before droving around the area. The house in the photo, by the way, is 6500 square feet and valued at $4M.

When the police went to question the suspected murderer, they went to the Harvey Apartments where he lived. He shot himself as they approached. The gun he used was the same gun he shot Ronni with. When I looked up the Harvey Apartments, I found they are just 700 feet or so from the spot on La Mirada where we parked our car when we were on Let's Make a Deal in September.

So nothing earth shattering here. Just a few very intriguing stories that we were fairly close to. That is all.

The LA Auto Show

 The day after Thanksgiving, us menfolk in the family decided it was time for our annual trip to the Auto Show. Only this time, instead of going to the San Diego Auto Show (a big disappointment last year), we decided to try the Los Angeles Auto Show. So up I-5 we went.

 It was a very clear day, and there was not a sign of smog in the LA Basin. We could actually see the snow-capped mountains to the northeast.

I also discovered a few Drive By Shooting ops (see posts after the show), including this gentleman. As Judas Priest would say...'Breaking the Law, BREAKing the Law!" See you in the Auto Show...

Join us as we tour the LA Auto Show. True to my "too much is never enough" philosophy, there will be enough posts to choke a horse.

LA Auto Show: Honda

 The first thing we saw upon entering the show was this beautiful CR-Z. To tell you the truth, in photos it doesn't look that great, but in person it is super. A fine follow-up to the 1980s CRX (even though Honda claims it isn't).

 My youngest son David is a Honda fan and wasted no time sitting in a black CR-Z.

 It is apparently to his liking, as he never even noticed the camera.

 A Honda Clarity was also on display. It is being offered to a small select group of people for testing right now.

 The plaque for the Clarity.

 A Honda Civic coupe. This generation, Honda gave responsibility of the Civic back to the engineers who had much greater say. While some of the styling is definitely better (such as the rear view of the coupe), much of the rest of it falls flat. And the two-tiered dash, that's just weird.

Just released, the new Honda minivan is quite the looker, inside and out. Up until recently, the Chrysler minivans have been the best in my book. But I now give that title to Honda - I really really like this new generation.