Cryptowall virus

[Airspeed]

Hi DaveB,
Yes, I agree that Andy will need to buy Spyhunter.
What I'm quoting is that Spyhunter claims that it will fix his WINDOWS problem, but not his FILES.
His pictures, documents etc will need to be restored from his EXTERNAL BACKUPS.
If he doesn't have such backups, he may have a working system with no data.
I'm just suggesting that he be mentally prepared for this situation, so that he's not totally shocked.

If all of his data is gone anyway, maybe he might consider replacing the HD, installing Windows, and starting from scratch.
I know that I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but this is the way I'm reading it. If I'm wrong, apologies to all.

EDIT: Andy,
Just re-read your initial post. You say that you have no idea how you copped this virus. My previous post may have your answer-a fake update popped up and you accepted it.

[DaveB]

Hi Mike

Having read that quote again, I'd tend to agree with you. While SpyHunter says it will recover your system.. it is at pains to say you recover your files from your external backup. That's how I read it with your highlighting anyway So.. all is not lost.. just most of it

ATB
DaveB

[ajb]

Hi Guys,

Ben, I do operate a dual boot system. It makes fixing certain problems easier. The virus did come in to the Win7 side of the system as I haven't been using XP for quite a while. I know from the buggered up files that the problem happened yesterday morning - modification dates give that away. I wish that I had used Private Firewall on Win7 not just on XP. It really does intervene when anything unknown tries to execute even if the narrative is a bit techy.

I was in looking for GU10 LED light bulbs and I also was in Yahoo when the infection happened. I know that Yahoo has had some hosted ads causing problems with viruses and somewhere along the way I copped for the big one. I don't think that Spyhunter will fix the encrypted files sadly and for what I lost it ain't worth £29. Happily EXE, ZIP and RAR files are unaffected.

Although I don't have a backup for all of the lost files I do have quite a lot. I was an IT professional for 30+ years so I'm used to fixing nasty problems even if it means doing certain things the hard, laborious way. I also know the mistake I made in not keeping regular backups, something that was drummed into me in the days of reel to reel tape backup. So this episode serves me right! I got FS9 going this morning from a backup that was from August. FSX is OK with certain aircraft but has strange black dots in the sky all over the UK. I might have to re-install but that is no real problem as I run a fairly basic system with just a few addon aircraft and sceneries.

Thanks for all of your help and advice. It's much appreciated.

Andy

[Vancouver]

This fellow is very knowledgeable at ridding malware & viruses. I have a sub on YT to him. He also has a FB page.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_M-iW ... rK1YfewI5w

https://www.facebook.com/briteccomputers

He sounds a bit "Lor' Lummy mate" but I believe him to be reliable and safe.

[GHD]

Hi Andy,

I get my LED GU10 light bulbs from www.bltdirect.com

George

[ajb]

Hi George,

Thanks for that. I will add the site to my list. I ended up this time buying from LED Hut. I'm not a great fan of theirs as the last lot I ordered claimed to be brighter than the ones they sent me (advertised as 450 lumen bulbs but delivered 350 lumen bulbs). Maybe this time they'll get it right. Next time I'll try bltdirect.

Now back to figuring out how to get rid of the black dots in my FSX sky

Andy