starkers starkers

The Last Few Days Have Been Bloody Awful.

▼

The Last Few Days Have Been Bloody Awful.

and tomorrow will be no better

from WinCustomize Forums

Without all the drama and etc, my PC got hacked on Saturday [29.01.2022] and all my personal information was stolen.  I wondered why the internet service was running so slowly.... it was because the hackers were emptying my documents folder.  When I went to the folder to check on something it was completely empty.

They also hacked into my email account, meaning I had to go to Microsoft to close it down and eventually delete it, along with the associated Windows account.  They somehow got control of Windows, so I wiped the drive and did a full reinstall, keeping absolutely nothing just in case it was compromised.  I'm now using totally different credentials, user name and password so as not to be linked with previous accounts or identities.

Worse still, they have access to our internet service and changed the Wi-Fi password so we can't stop them using it, and the ISP is taking its time in resolving the issue.  With all the precautions and changes I've made, now there is nothing here they can get access to, and with a VPN in full-time use, now it will be much more difficult to gain unauthorised access to our machines.  Sadly, before I got hacked, I did stop my VPN to access a site that didn't like it, and I believe that's what may have opened the door to the hackers.

I've contacted my bank and other important entities to notify them of the breach and to change all my passwords and login details.  As far as I can tell, I've taken the necessary steps to prevent further incursion and I now hope that the ISP prevents further use of our service.

As for tomorrow, I have to appear in court after the woman we tried to help falsely had me charged with assault.  Due to a number of issues I do not have legal representation so I'm hoping the magistrate will allow me to adjourn it.

Assault?   Be fucked, I couldn't knock the skin off a rice pudding these days.

wincustomize talk
33,974 views 33 replies
Reply #26 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Paul, I've personally never used it and that warning, to me, meant it might not give the protection one might expect, as well as not functioning correctly (harming the machine it's on). I'd hate for that to happen to Mark after what's just happened to him...

BUT, after reading what you wrote in you prior comment, I decided to research  Cybereason (the company). It's quite active, so I'm not sure why Filehorse gave that warning, but maybe they went on to bigger and better stuff.

Cybereason's CEO is an Israeli as are many of the leaders of the company. I'd bet they're graduates of Unit 8200 which is the cyber unit of Israeli Military Intelligence. He (Lior Div, the CEO) was highly decorated in the past, and last year Cybereason (in the civilian sector) uncovered an Iranian spy network (https://www.maariv.co.il/business/tech/Article-868963) 

Also, the date on the last release of the program is: October, 5th 2021...not ancient by any means. So, I'm not sure why they gave that warning at all.

As such,  thanks, and I think I might give the program a whirl... :thumbsup:  

* edit: Filehorse says the latest version is 2.4.2.0 as if that is the version available for download, however, the version on Filehorse is 2.3.0.0. Perhaps THAT was the reason for the warning.

Not wishing to leave it at that, I went looking for 2.4.2.0 and found it at Major Geeks (a highly trustworthy site). I installed it from there, and the program updates any prior versions you might have on your machine. 

Download link: https://m.majorgeeks.com/files/details/cybereason_ransomfree.html

Reply #27 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I suggested Avast Free, not because it is considered the best, but due to how it's Shields Work. I am sure we have all come upon False Positives before, even Jafo has mentioned them, some protection just deletes the files or sends them to quarantine not allowing you to use them, Avast in the right hands can be alongside other Security programs, very flexible allowing the dropping of shields for false positives you trust very easy also allowing you to restore those files and add an exception with 2 clicks. I know other software can do this but i find Avast easier to handle than others i have used. The Firewall will not work with windows firewall but replaces it and when set to learning mode will allow you for a short time to see all in and out activity so you know what program is doing what and when. Zone Alarm Free Firewall also has a Ransomware Module.

Many years ago i was a Nod 32 Anti Virus all the way, but there was a compatibility issue with Windowblinds or another Stardock product, can not remember so far back, just that i had to find an alternative.

 

Security Programs on the net are many and numerous, all have pros and cons, and should be decided on , not by what is thought of as best (as we all have different views and needs)but how they work matching how and what kind of places you visit, for me, Overall Control and understanding how it works is best for me, based on how i use the net.

You now have all you need based on these responses to beef up your security, now it boils down to what you need from them and what you prefer in how they work for you.

Siege of Centauri
Reply #28 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Doc...thanks for that link too...tho on Major Geeks the file date listed is 2017....unless that's a place holder that was since updated.

Yes, they are the gang you mentioned...and my thinking was they'd gone back to military only ...and the 'domestic' version was left to languish...;)

Reply #29 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting naroon1, reply 27

I suggested Avast Free, not because it is considered the best, but due to how it's Shields Work. I am sure we have all come upon False Positives before, even Jafo has mentioned them, some protection just deletes the files or sends them to quarantine not allowing you to use them, Avast in the right hands can be alongside other Security programs, very flexible allowing the dropping of shields for false positives you trust very easy also allowing you to restore those files and add an exception with 2 clicks. I know other software can do this but i find Avast easier to handle than others i have used. The Firewall will not work with windows firewall but replaces it and when set to learning mode will allow you for a short time to see all in and out activity so you know what program is doing what and when. Zone Alarm Free Firewall also has a Ransomware Module.

Many years ago i was a Nod 32 Anti Virus all the way, but there was a compatibility issue with Windowblinds or another Stardock product, can not remember so far back, just that i had to find an alternative.

 

Security Programs on the net are many and numerous, all have pros and cons, and should be decided on , not by what is thought of as best (as we all have different views and needs)but how they work matching how and what kind of places you visit, for me, Overall Control and understanding how it works is best for me, based on how i use the net.

You now have all you need based on these responses to beef up your security, now it boils down to what you need from them and what you prefer in how they work for you.
End of naroon1's quote

About 20 years ago I vowed never to let anything with the name 'Norton' in it anywhere near a computer.

When your AV program disables BITS and you have to download and reinstall service packs manually to get back to a functioning BITS it's simply one step too far....and no, there was no other way to get BITS functioning again.

I still had 8 months of the sub left...but enough was enough...and went to Bitdefender instead.

False positives are mostly just the compression algorithm that's a recognized signature for a known 'pest'.... and it's primarily the common/cheap/nasty AV programs that hit them.  Avast Free is one of those.  KIS is not...and in the dozen or more years has only hit 'Kjofol' on the head wrongly [I assume wrongly as it's been around forever]...;)

Reply #30 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Paul, I sent Cybereason an email asking if they're continuing to update the program. If they answer, I'll update everyone.

 

Reply #31 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 30

Paul, I sent Cybereason an email asking if they're continuing to update the program. If they answer, I'll update everyone.

 
End of DrJBHL's quote

Thanks, mate....sounds like a plan....;)

Reply #32 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 31

Thanks, mate....sounds like a plan....
End of Jafo's quote

They didn't answer my email, so I called their Tel Aviv office. They stopped updating the program more than two years ago, so I'm uninstalling it and going with something being maintained.