I am from the Boston area and when I was a young girl, Eastern Massachusetts was still a major player in the shoe-making industry. This meant there was a booming business for shoe repairs...and while it is a dying craft today, there were many cobblers around at the time. So the saying emerged "The cobbler has no shoes", meaning the cobbler was so busy fixing other people's shoes he didn't have time to tend to his own feet.
When my PC computer crashed yesterday, I felt like that cobbler! I am so busy helping my clients (and preach to my clients to back up their files), yet often I don't have the time (or make the time) to tend the same details on my own computers!
To my defense though, on Sunday I entered into my Outlook Task List a task to back up my files this week, really I did and can prove it because I printed my Task List before the crash :) Ugh, but ironically I didn't get to do it. I must have had a foreboding of this tragic event since I had a thought enter my mind the day before to add it to my task list.
How did this happen? I do a weekly update and scan with my McAffee virus protection application. I even performed another full system scan on Saturday, and no viruses on my computer - all was great. Somehow a Trojan worm got on my computer - I suspect through an email from a known contact- he had no idea he had he trojan on his computer. I am not too happy that McAfee allowed it past the wall since it was a known virus since 2005.... but that is another story.
The result is this trojan doesn't allow me to log on to my PC.
I am working with Dell tech support to restore the operating system.
What about all my files? I love to teach users how to use applications, but the real computer geek stuff, I leave to computer geeks.....fortunately I know a good one! He took my tower under his wing and thinks he can save my files. Holding my breath until I know for sure.
So, what are things you should consider to keep your computer in good health and to prevent going through similar stress?:
- Back up your important files - schedule a weekly backup in your Calendar to remind you
- Make sure you have an anti-virus software installed on your computer
- Schedule weekly full system scans and updates for that anti-virus software
- Delete temporary Internet files and Cookies
- Never click links that seem suspicious
If you don't have an antivirus software on your computer - this site offers a free program which was recommended by my computer geek contact:
http://www.superantispyware.com/
Back up your files today!
Maureen Cody
maureen@codyonsitetraining.com
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