Al Lustie's Tips and Tricks

Windows Secrets email newsletter mentions today that the "program cannot open" scam is roaring back.  The message wants you to download a program to clean the infection off your computer.  Instead, the downloaded program infects your computer.

During the install on Windows the computer will probably try to warn you.  You are in the habit of clicking an "OK" or "Yes" and Bam!  you get infected.

Again I warn you -- be very careful, and don't download when you get these kinds of messages.  It is best to SHUT YOUR COMPUTER OFF!  Yes, hold down the ON/OFF button for 5-10 seconds and shut it off.  Get away from that as quickly as possible.  When you turn the computer back on it may ask if you want to boot into Safe Mode.

Do it.

Then restart after it is fully booted.  You will be in regular mode and probably avoided an expensive situation and the corruption of your computer.

See the link to Windows Secrets and become a paying member.  Even $10 a year helps, and you get these warnings.  Even one is worth the price.  I usually charge about $185 to clean off a computer after backing up data, and leave reinstalling programs to the client.  If I install, I charge more.  And I am less expensive than most.

Leave a comment and let us know your experience or your opinion.