Oh, joys!

[wiseheart]

My life is so full of joy it's hard to bear - not!

Norton told me yesterday that they can't protect my PC from a quickly spreading trojan virus. I went to the Symantech site and downloaded all the updates. Then I restarted the PC as a good little user is supposed to do. Guess what happened? Yep you're right. Norton told me that they can't protect my PC from the same virus.

I went to Live Update and clicked Immediate Protection. After several minutes of trying, it told me that if can't download the updated virus descriptions. I went back to the Symantech site and they found another update to Norton Antivirus. I downloaded the thing. Restarted the PC. Guess what happened? Yeah, you've won. Norton told me that they can't protect my PC from the same virus. I turned the PC off.

Am seriously worried now. Should I unplug my modem while working on my PC? Or what the heck am I supposed to do? I'm such an Internet illiterate, most things that come normal for other people remain a secret with seven seals for me. I'm afraid that my PC gets infected and all my stuff corrupted. But I need the frigging thing. I can't stay at school and work from here all the time.

Plus, my Live Update runs out next month. Must go to unfriendly neighbour freek for help again. Is very bad for my mental health, such as it is.

Comments

[cirdan-havens.livejournal.com]

o_O *goes to update virus software* Um, no advice over here. Maybe better safe than sorry?

[skyfiery.livejournal.com]

I just had my laptop infected by some spyware/trojans/viruses. What my boyfriend taught me is to start your PC in safe mode (safe mode with networking if you're using a laptop with wireless), then do virus scans like that. It's easier. He also recommended an online virus scan called "Housecall" by Trend Micro(I think).

I don't like Norton. For a paid-for anti-virus software, it's surprisingly lousy. Me, I prefer using AVG antivirus, and Kerio-Sunbelt firewall. Both free, and both surprisingly good. You might want to try both. Also, remember your anti-spyware software like Spybot and Ad-aware also.

Hope that helps.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I don'r have a laptop. I still have a good old PC that fills half my esk. And I don't dare to download anything without someone present who at least partially understands what to do.

I hate this helpless situation.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'd like to update virus software, too, if the stupid program wouldn't fail every time!

[skyfiery.livejournal.com]

If you don't want to download anything, just restart the PC in safe mode, go online, to the Housecall site, and do an online scan and quarantine.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sis. I still don't know what safe mode is, but Norton finally managed to download the new virus descriptions and declared my PC safe. *phew!*

Now I'm going to make a complete system check, just in case...

[cirdan-havens.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear it keeps failing. Actually, it did find the Trojan Horse on my comp.

[skyfiery.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear your PC is now safe. =) *hugs*

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you are once again practicing "safe computing." Good for you for getting it figured out!!!!

[carterhaugh.livejournal.com]

You're actually the third person (myself included) I heard of who got that message and had trouble. Nrton just froze on me twice while I tried to update. Apparently Norton sent out a wide alert for it after it suddenly appeared online the 19th, so people who hadn't updated to the latest virus definitions got that warning. It made me think something was wrong as well, initially; the whole alert was more like an indication you actually got infected rather than that you just had a chance of being infected. :S

If you need some help with "reinstalling" Norton, do let me know. ;)

[jilba.livejournal.com]

It did this to us for months some time ago, then one day just updated. I suspect a glitch in their system of some kind, truthfully.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Well, it's at least some comfort that I'm not the only one to panic. It recovered on itself since then, so all I need to do is to get myself a refresh of the LiveUpdate.

How are you doing, BTW?

[carterhaugh.livejournal.com]

I have no idea whether there's some evil way to refresh LiveUpdate on its own, I just know that uninstalling and reinstalling Norton gives you a fresh new year of LiveUpdate. Depending on what version you have, it's more or less difficult to do. 2005 and earlier are do-able, 2006 is tricky.

I'm waiting for my MA thesis supervisor to get back to me about my first draft. It'll need some more work, but I'm almost there. :D
Besides Norton, I hope you're doing well too?

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Same old, same old. Too many stories to write, too little time to do so, not enough strokes for the ego, malevolent little trolls at work, household machines ganging up to make my life miserable... other than that, I'm just peachy. *g*

So, you'll be finishing college, soon? Or is it just the next step? I'm sorry, but our school system is so different, I don't always understand what people are talking about. *blinks*

[carterhaugh.livejournal.com]

Aw, it doesn't help, but I do feel your pain. Screw the world and keep doing the things you enjoy, I say.

Yeees, it actually means different things in different countries too, I fear.
It's a Dutch Master of Arts degree at university level (best summed up here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master%27s_degree#Netherlands), I think). I could go on to get my PhD, but I think I might enjoy actually making some money after being the eternal student for all these years. So unless the university offers me a job, I'm probably out of there for the moment. ;)