when telsra site crashed last week lucky old me had not renewed my anti virus protection as i am in the process of upgrading my laptop cost me a lot of dollars to get my laptop cleaned up i had not backed up any files (it wont happen to me) and i needed all the info i had gathered for our trip next year so i have learned a costly lesson
Neil
jules47 said
03:20 AM Oct 14, 2013
Ouch! Anti virus is essential - I had a problem a while back, cost heaps - had to get a complete re-write!!!!!! That hurt!!!! He managed to save my photos though!
nallingtoon said
03:29 AM Oct 14, 2013
i was lucky jules they saved all my family photo's too had my new grandkids on would have been devastated if i lost those
Neil
Wombat 280 said
04:29 AM Oct 14, 2013
I still cut my family pics to CD's or a stick all the others if lost not big loss but family are another story
Cruising Cruze said
04:54 AM Oct 14, 2013
Get an external hard drive to backup everything
they are worth the money you have to spend on them
Get one big enough to do regular backups ( at least 500 gig I would recommend)
Also install anti virus ( AVG Free for example ) and a fire wall like zone alarm both are free
Good luck John
Baz421 said
05:00 AM Oct 14, 2013
nallingtoon wrote:
when telsra site crashed last week lucky old me had not renewed my anti virus protection as i am in the process of upgrading my laptop cost me a lot of dollars to get my laptop cleaned up i had not backed up any files (it wont happen to me) and i needed all the info i had gathered for our trip next year so i have learned a costly lesson
Neil
Neil,, what actually happenned,,, what was lost. What damage has been done, it may be recoverable.
nallingtoon said
05:08 AM Oct 14, 2013
baz when telstra was under attack so was i copped a load of viruses but luckily all my files were recovered
Neil
Baz421 said
05:15 AM Oct 14, 2013
nallingtoon wrote:
baz when telstra was under attack so was i copped a load of viruses but luckily all my files were recovered Neil
Ah OK so alls well thats good.
D and D said
05:57 AM Oct 14, 2013
This seems an opportune thread to ask what people are using to protect themselves from cyber attack? I use AVG free as a virus checker although I'm considering a shift to Avast. I have been using Zone Alarm as a firewall but some investigation indicates there maybe better options that I'm exploring. The I use Malwarebytes (paid version) and the Windows Malicious Software Removal tool to protect against malicious and intrusive software. I have automatic Windows updates switched on. Despite all of this one of my Outlook email accounts got infected and then cancelled by the ISP because my account was being used to access their server and infect files of other users - took me 4 weeks to sort that problem out.
Telstra have recently introduced new software that monitors activity on users accounts and flags accounts that are demonstrating unusual activity for further investigation - a good move I reckon.
johnno02 said
10:25 AM Oct 14, 2013
I have been using Avast,for some time now,have not had a problem since.
John
johnq said
01:33 PM Oct 14, 2013
Neil,
You have been given lots of good advice.
I only want to mention that your computer hard drive/s fail too. It is not unusual at all.
-Get a separate quality hard drive and have it programmed for back-ups.
DVD storage has problems too, which you will not know about until you encounter sudden reading failure.
blaze said
02:11 PM Oct 14, 2013
we have burnt lots of copies of photos to dvd and left with family and friends, have a mate with a complete works of 20 plus years of pics of mine and I have about 30 years of his at home and just keep adding to the pile on an annual basis, plus allthe other family and friends with partial collections. I don't and have never done a back up as such but I do uncompressed straight copy of files and store at varies locations, the more copies you have the better.
cheers
blaze
Dougwe said
02:41 PM Oct 14, 2013
I have been using "Bigpond Security" on my Laptop for a couple of years now and find it good. I use "Lookout" on my iPhone and iPad, seems to be ok, haven't had a problem yet anyway, don't know of anything else for the i's.
I like others have mentioned have all my documents and photo's backed up on a portable hard drive and I keep that hidden. While travelling I use a USB stick then transfer later. Works for me anyway.
I only realised while doing my Travel Diary yesterday that I do in word format that it may not be backed up so put a copy on a memory card and will copy that to the portable hard drive when I return home.
QueenKombi said
06:02 PM Oct 14, 2013
I use AGV free, however I did seem to have a problem after I "free trialled" their computer clean-up program. It was meant to make the computer run faster and it actually did seem to work, but after the trial period (24 hours) was over, it ran worse than ever. May have been psychosomatic suggestion, but I swear it ran much slower! It's had a big clean-up since then!
I did run Avast on this computer before one of the rebuilds. I can't remember what I didn't like about it, but I think it slowed down too many processes and invaded the system too much. Norton was even worse, but that was a bought program.
Out of the several I've trialled over the years, I still think AGV free is a reasonable product, but being free it certainly doesn't have all the bells and whistles.
Just remember, if you get an email from someone you don't know and it has an attachment, then don't open the attachment and delete the email.
I keep all my main files and folders under a folder called "A to Z" and twice a year I put the lot onto an external hard drive. It's not going to save all the programs I have in "my documents" but at least all those precious pictures are saved. I leave the external hard drive with my sister who lives elsewhere. I'm in a designated "fire-storm" area, so don't take the chance of loosing all my pictures. You can always buy new furniture, another house, little nic-nacks etc, but you only get one chance in life to take a particular picture. Store them somewhere safe and if possible, make more than one copy. The original hard drive I was using failed just before Christmas, but since it was only a back-up system anyway, I was able to buy a new hard drive and save everything from my computer before a disaster struck.
Cupie said
06:04 PM Oct 14, 2013
I have used Kaspersky Pure for several years since changing from Norton's.
Seems to work for me. Never had a malicious code infecting my system.
Photo's .. Generally keep the SD cards ... soo cheap. Saw class 10 8 gig at WW for $9 recently.
Also do regular backups to an external 1T HDD. Have a pile of DVDs that I copy all pics to every few months.
When I fill a SD card I copy it to DVDs.
So I've got tons of backups.
Much easier than copying my bloody video camera or VHS stuff. Have the original mini tapes & VHS copies but have had great difficulty in using a range of devices to convert them to DVDs or onto a HDD. After unsuccessfully spending great amounts of time I usually give up. The video camera now has an intermittent fault & the VHS players are had to find these days.
Woe is me.
spida said
07:21 PM Oct 14, 2013
Had to get a new hard drive in laptop last week - not a virus thank goodness but was told AVG not worth having, Norton always slow to release new protection etc and was given Kaspersky as well. Have since done back ups on to external hard drive, printed all my Outlook contacts, made a 'repair system' disc, and anything else I can think off. It is such a nuisance having to start again especially when you don't have all activation codes handy in the van.
milo said
03:15 AM Oct 15, 2013
for photos I suggest backing up to sites like photobucket.com
also I know you can also get companies online that auto back up your pc hard drive (paid services)
nallingtoon said
03:27 AM Oct 15, 2013
thanks everyone good advice as usual will be looking into some of the suggestions, my laptop has now updated itself to explorer 9 and i have lost my favorites toolbar anyone had this problem
Neil
Baz421 said
03:28 AM Oct 15, 2013
QueenKombi wrote:
I use AGV free, however I did seem to have a problem after I "free trialled" their computer clean-up program. It was meant to make the computer run faster and it actually did seem to work, but after the trial period (24 hours) was over, it ran worse than ever. May have been psychosomatic suggestion, but I swear it ran much slower! It's had a big clean-up since then!
Be carefull with AVG free. I was using this with windows XP, AVG got targetted and it turned off all security features and could't download any othe anti virus programs.
Played around with safe mode,, and turned back the clock,,, worked for hours to beat this one but about 2am I did it. But when I logged on again it reinstalled somehow,, so had to do it all again.
Have been advised (I wrote it all down as things happened) that it came in via AVG free.
Use McAfee now,, very happy,, $79 per annum and covers 3 laptops/pc's. Will never use Nortons again after purchasing I had installation issue (as did heaps of others in the late 90's) as a problem with installation CD - I had to pay AGIAN to fix their problem. Was NOT impressed.
A cousin who is not computer literate had heaps of viruses (about 46) and malware a few years ago. I purchased Bullguard and set it up and it saved his bacon as it was fully automatic and set up to do it for him.
Joe50 said
05:07 AM Oct 15, 2013
For off-site backup I use Carbonite (www.carbonite.com) which automatically backs up most of the files on your hard drive (and others, such as videos or really big files can be manually selected for backup) whenever you're on line. Backing up happens in the background, whenever the computer has free 'idle' time when it's not doing much. Storage is unlimited, and files can be retrieved from any other computer or internet-connected device. The first backup takes a while but from then on backups of new or changed files just trickle up to the 'cloud' when bandwidth is available with no discernable effect on downloads or other computer usage. The 'Home' plan costs $US60 per year - you can download a 15-day trial and, if you're lucky, get an extra two months free if you sign up for 12 months.
milo said
05:28 AM Oct 15, 2013
that was the one i was trying to remember jpw50..
can they back up externals too or is it just internal?
BriVee said
03:55 AM Oct 16, 2013
I use Kaspersky which has both internet and virus protection, it has saved my heaps of grief. Some sites have had nasties on them Kaspersky wont allow access and sends up a big red warning of what is wrong. Also is good for when I download a file it I save it and before opening I scan it. I also have a double fire wall to prevent any outside access. Kaspersky has sales on every now and then so it pays to keep a check on their website. Trend is another good checker which can be purchased at places like Harvey Norman or Dick Smith.
Seagate puts out a good external hard drive which works just like a usb stick for doing backups.
Hope this helps, and that you have recovered some of your precious photos and memories.
Joe50 said
05:11 AM Oct 16, 2013
milo wrote:
that was the one i was trying to remember jpw50..
can they back up externals too or is it just internal?
Looks like you need to go up a level to the Home Plus plan ($US100 per year) for extenal drives. I have two HDDs in my desktop PC and the basic Home plan backs up files from both.
Baz421 said
05:30 PM Oct 16, 2013
jpw50 wrote:
For off-site backup I use Carbonite (www.carbonite.com) which automatically backs up most of the files on your hard drive (and others, such as videos or really big files can be manually selected for backup) whenever you're on line. Backing up happens in the background, whenever the computer has free 'idle' time when it's not doing much. Storage is unlimited, and files can be retrieved from any other computer or internet-connected device. The first backup takes a while but from then on backups of new or changed files just trickle up to the 'cloud' when bandwidth is available with no discernable effect on downloads or other computer usage. The 'Home' plan costs $US60 per year - you can download a 15-day trial and, if you're lucky, get an extra two months free if you sign up for 12 months.
Hi Joe I read the Carbonite site info with Interest as I was keen to see why you would trust any extenal organisation to have access to your computer,,, and it is really free access to everything.
There has been much discussion as to security and our data protection etc etc.
From what I can see Carbonite is linked to many other organisations and they may even share the info they obtain from their customers,, they seems to have partners, affiliates etc that receive payments for "leads",,, and these partners seem to be linked to tracking where you shop, what internet sites you visit etc etc,, so are you opening the door to them all.
What if they become insolvent OR they sell their customer base to another company (a very real issue today as it happens on a daily basis with many companies) you could loose all your backup OR WORSE STILL control of it.
Dorian seems to be well versed in these issues, but I do know the business world is out there to MAKE MONEY, not necessarily help you forever.
I hope I'm not too alrmist here,, but I hope you have checked what you agreed to when you signed on.
when telsra site crashed last week lucky old me had not renewed my anti virus protection as i am in the process of upgrading my laptop cost me a lot of dollars to get my laptop cleaned up i had not backed up any files (it wont happen to me) and i needed all the info i had gathered for our trip next year so i have learned a costly lesson
Neil
Neil
Get an external hard drive to backup everything
they are worth the money you have to spend on them
Get one big enough to do regular backups ( at least 500 gig I would recommend)
Also install anti virus ( AVG Free for example ) and a fire wall like zone alarm both are free
Good luck John
Neil,, what actually happenned,,, what was lost. What damage has been done, it may be recoverable.
Neil
Ah OK so alls well thats good.
Telstra have recently introduced new software that monitors activity on users accounts and flags accounts that are demonstrating unusual activity for further investigation - a good move I reckon.
I have been using Avast,for some time now,have not had a problem since.
John
You have been given lots of good advice.
I only want to mention that your computer hard drive/s fail too. It is not unusual at all.
-Get a separate quality hard drive and have it programmed for back-ups.
DVD storage has problems too, which you will not know about until you encounter sudden reading failure.
cheers
blaze
I like others have mentioned have all my documents and photo's backed up on a portable hard drive and I keep that hidden. While travelling I use a USB stick then transfer later. Works for me anyway.
I only realised while doing my Travel Diary yesterday that I do in word format that it may not be backed up so put a copy on a memory card and will copy that to the portable hard drive when I return home.
I did run Avast on this computer before one of the rebuilds. I can't remember what I didn't like about it, but I think it slowed down too many processes and invaded the system too much. Norton was even worse, but that was a bought program.
Out of the several I've trialled over the years, I still think AGV free is a reasonable product, but being free it certainly doesn't have all the bells and whistles.
Just remember, if you get an email from someone you don't know and it has an attachment, then don't open the attachment and delete the email.
I keep all my main files and folders under a folder called "A to Z" and twice a year I put the lot onto an external hard drive. It's not going to save all the programs I have in "my documents" but at least all those precious pictures are saved. I leave the external hard drive with my sister who lives elsewhere. I'm in a designated "fire-storm" area, so don't take the chance of loosing all my pictures. You can always buy new furniture, another house, little nic-nacks etc, but you only get one chance in life to take a particular picture. Store them somewhere safe and if possible, make more than one copy. The original hard drive I was using failed just before Christmas, but since it was only a back-up system anyway, I was able to buy a new hard drive and save everything from my computer before a disaster struck.
I have used Kaspersky Pure for several years since changing from Norton's.
Seems to work for me. Never had a malicious code infecting my system.
Photo's .. Generally keep the SD cards ... soo cheap. Saw class 10 8 gig at WW for $9 recently.
Also do regular backups to an external 1T HDD. Have a pile of DVDs that I copy all pics to every few months.
When I fill a SD card I copy it to DVDs.
So I've got tons of backups.
Much easier than copying my bloody video camera or VHS stuff. Have the original mini tapes & VHS copies but have had great difficulty in using a range of devices to convert them to DVDs or onto a HDD. After unsuccessfully spending great amounts of time I usually give up. The video camera now has an intermittent fault & the VHS players are had to find these days.
Woe is me.
for photos I suggest backing up to sites like photobucket.com
or http://www.flickr.com/
also I know you can also get companies online that auto back up your pc hard drive (paid services)
Neil
Be carefull with AVG free. I was using this with windows XP, AVG got targetted and it turned off all security features and could't download any othe anti virus programs.
Played around with safe mode,, and turned back the clock,,, worked for hours to beat this one but about 2am I did it. But when I logged on again it reinstalled somehow,, so had to do it all again.
Have been advised (I wrote it all down as things happened) that it came in via AVG free.
Use McAfee now,, very happy,, $79 per annum and covers 3 laptops/pc's. Will never use Nortons again after purchasing I had installation issue (as did heaps of others in the late 90's) as a problem with installation CD - I had to pay AGIAN to fix their problem. Was NOT impressed.
A cousin who is not computer literate had heaps of viruses (about 46) and malware a few years ago. I purchased Bullguard and set it up and it saved his bacon as it was fully automatic and set up to do it for him.
For off-site backup I use Carbonite (www.carbonite.com) which automatically backs up most of the files on your hard drive (and others, such as videos or really big files can be manually selected for backup) whenever you're on line. Backing up happens in the background, whenever the computer has free 'idle' time when it's not doing much. Storage is unlimited, and files can be retrieved from any other computer or internet-connected device. The first backup takes a while but from then on backups of new or changed files just trickle up to the 'cloud' when bandwidth is available with no discernable effect on downloads or other computer usage. The 'Home' plan costs $US60 per year - you can download a 15-day trial and, if you're lucky, get an extra two months free if you sign up for 12 months.
can they back up externals too or is it just internal?
I use Kaspersky which has both internet and virus protection, it has saved my heaps of grief. Some sites have had nasties on them Kaspersky wont allow access and sends up a big red warning of what is wrong. Also is good for when I download a file it I save it and before opening I scan it. I also have a double fire wall to prevent any outside access. Kaspersky has sales on every now and then so it pays to keep a check on their website. Trend is another good checker which can be purchased at places like Harvey Norman or Dick Smith.
Seagate puts out a good external hard drive which works just like a usb stick for doing backups.
Hope this helps, and that you have recovered some of your precious photos and memories.
Looks like you need to go up a level to the Home Plus plan ($US100 per year) for extenal drives. I have two HDDs in my desktop PC and the basic Home plan backs up files from both.
Hi Joe I read the Carbonite site info with Interest as I was keen to see why you would trust any extenal organisation to have access to your computer,,, and it is really free access to everything.
There has been much discussion as to security and our data protection etc etc.
From what I can see Carbonite is linked to many other organisations and they may even share the info they obtain from their customers,, they seems to have partners, affiliates etc that receive payments for "leads",,, and these partners seem to be linked to tracking where you shop, what internet sites you visit etc etc,, so are you opening the door to them all.
What if they become insolvent OR they sell their customer base to another company (a very real issue today as it happens on a daily basis with many companies) you could loose all your backup OR WORSE STILL control of it.
Dorian seems to be well versed in these issues, but I do know the business world is out there to MAKE MONEY, not necessarily help you forever.
I hope I'm not too alrmist here,, but I hope you have checked what you agreed to when you signed on.