Today I realized how much of a pain viruses are. My computer was attacked earlier by a virus known as SecurityTool. It is from the same people who created the similar program SecurityCenter. It basically gives a false virus scan and gives a list of thirty to forty virus afflictions and asks that you install the program to get rid of the viruses. At the time I had just gotten back home from classes, was tired and grouchy, and merely hit the 'Run' button with no thoughts on the consequences. Next thing I know, my screen turns purples, my desktop is unusable, and I'm staring at with a scowl on my face. Basically, the program 'hides' itself within your computer, and to someone with no real knowledge of the intimate details that makes a computer work, one can essentially make the problem worse instead of better.

To make the problem even worse, if you shutdown and restart, SecurityTool opens up immediately and does its false scan, and gives pop ups after pop ups of asking for you to purchase the full product. Essentially, if you do give in, which is completely understandable as the thing gets annoying as it asks every thirty seconds, (Yes, I timed it) you put in your credit card number, pay either eighty dollars for a year or fifty for three months, and allegedly, the program will clear the viruses and you get your computer back. Fortunately, I'm stubborn and decided that I could get rid of this program myself. Unfortunately, SecurityTool completely handicaps you as it has built in protection from programs like Task Manager from opening and being used. The only plus side to SecurityTool is the fact that you still have access to the Internet. So I opened my browser and started searching for a means to rid myself of the program.

I went to several websites, one of which gave a long list of different software programs to download in order to remove the program. I found that too difficult and decided to use a more practical approach.

Youtube.

I was actually surprised to see quite a bit of videos that gave accurate and helpful hints to getting rid of the virus. One individual in particular even gave his own computer the virus and showed everyone how to remove it step by step. I was mildly impressed with someone going through the time to do something like that for the benefit of other people.

However, in the end that was of no help either for whatever reason. It was at that time that I came down to the conclusion that either God hated me or thought it was funny to watch me squirm. So in an act of defiance to a higher power, I restarted on Safe Mode and logged on as Administrator and used System Restore. Cleared the problem right up and used McAfee to get rid of whatever traces were left. Now I'm tired and am going to bed.