[nfbcs] Accessible Windows Explorer Alternatives

Mon May 12 20:37:31 UTC 2014

Well, it’s possible  that you just got unlucky. Most viruses are written by folks called “script kitties”. Even that name gives them more credit than they deserve because most of them couldn’t script a for loop to count to ten. They take code that is already out there and use tools to tweak it. Why would someone with the brains to do more than that mess with your computer? Maybe they want to get on your computer but they don’t want you to know it. But more likely, they are spending their time trying to get into the credit card database of their favorite retailer. But maybe you just got unlucky. 

On May 12, 2014, at 12:20 PM, Peter Donahue <pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com> wrote:

> Hello John and everyone,
> 
>   There are only two people that use that computer Mary and myself. We've been using computers for many years and never had problems like this until January of this year. All of our machines have anty virus software on them that is active at all times. We have Avask on the Windows XP machines and Microsoft Security Essentials on the Windows 7 machine the one with the virus. Perhaps Avask does a better job of catching trogens and we should have the repair folks install Avask on that machine as well. Thanks.
> 
> Peter Donahue
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "John G. Heim" <jheim at math.wisc.edu>
> To: "NFB in Computer Science Mailing List" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, May 12, 2014 10:35 AM
> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Accessible Windows Explorer Alternatives
> 
> 
>> You know that this kind of thing is usually, not always, caused by poor internet hygene, right? How sure are you that everyone who uses that machine knows how to avoid viruses? No anti-birus package is going to keep you safe from viruses if the users are essentially choosing to install them.
>> 
>> Honestly, I don't even recall the last time I saw a Windows machine get a virus where I wasn't able to pin it down to a deliberate action by the end-user to install the virus. Of course, they didn't think they were installing a virus. We had several people get a virus a while ago because it came up saying it had detected a virus on their computer, and they should click this button to remove it. Of course, if they clicked the button it actually installed the virus.
>> 
>> Someone else on this list suggested you review your habits (or more likely those of the other users of the computer). My opinion is that that is the best suggestion you've gotten. Are they installing plugins from unreliable sources? Running programs off a borrowed thumb drive? There is no anti-virus program in the world that can protect you from that kind of thing.
>> 
>> I once put a link on a web page that said, "Click here to install a virus on your computer." Just to make sure people were appropriately scared, I put another link that said, "Click here and I'll show you the files on your C: drive." That was just a file link to their C: drive. But it should have scared anyone who didn't know how this stuff really works. Even so, plenty of people clicked the virus link. Most virusdevelopers aren't that obvious. It's possible you've just been unlucky and have come across some particularly sophisticated virus developers. But most likely, somebody who uses that computer isn't following good internet hygene habits.
>> 
>> On 05/12/14 07:34, Peter Donahue wrote:
>>> Hello Brian and everyone,
>>> 
>>>    We just reloaded windows on that machine 4 months ago. We will most
>>> likely need to reload it again but are not willing to put up with that
>>> machine being attacked and needing a complete system reload every time
>>> we turn around. This wasn't a problem until January of this year. We'll
>>> need both a system reload and whatever software or patch Microsoft will
>>> have available to prevent "Computer" from being knocked out by trogens
>>> in the future. We have far more important things to spend our money on
>>> besides having to hire someone to reload computers attacked by viruses
>>> and having to restore the data each time this happens. All the best.
>>> 
>>> Peter Donahue
>>> 
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bryan Schulz" <b.schulz at sbcglobal.net>
>>> To: "NFB in Computer Science Mailing List" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Friday, May 09, 2014 3:14 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Accessible Windows Explorer Alternatives
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> hi,
>>>> 
>>>> i have used a version of avg for years and never had an attack or virus.
>>>> it would be cheaper to hire a neighbor to read the screens and install
>>>> windows yourself.
>>>> you should be able to recognize a tech that wants to gouge you.
>>>> Bryan Schulz
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Donahue"
>>>> <pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com>
>>>> To: "NFB in Computer Science Mailing List" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Cc: <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Friday, May 09, 2014 6:36 AM
>>>> Subject: [nfbcs] Accessible Windows Explorer Alternatives
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> Good morning everyone,
>>>>> 
>>>>>   Before I head out of town for the weekend I want to find out which
>>>>> file management  alternatives to Windows Explorer/My
>>>>> Computer/Computer that are accessible with screen reading systems.
>>>>> Back in January Mary's computer which runs Windows 7 was infected by
>>>>> a trogen that took out "Computer." The infection was so bad that the
>>>>> entire machine needed to be reloaded. I find it hard to believe that
>>>>> Microsoft would not be a ware of this trogen vulnerability and would
>>>>> have released a patch to correct the problem. The company that
>>>>> reloaded the computer installed Microsoft Security Essentials on it
>>>>> I'm not sure if this package will scan and remove trogens.
>>>>> 
>>>>>   It has been four months since the last infection and it's
>>>>> happening again. It looks like we're in for another system reload to
>>>>> get rid of this one and will most likely be set back another $500.00.
>>>>> We can't keep going through this every so often. There are two
>>>>> questions we have for you all. 1. Which antivirus package is the best
>>>>> at protecting one's machine from trogen infections particularly those
>>>>> that attack the OS. 2. In the event this should happen again we want
>>>>> to know if there are file management alternatives to My
>>>>> Computer/Windows Explorer that will run under Windows 7 we could
>>>>> install as a backup program should another infection occur?
>>>>> 
>>>>>   Your suggestions for a permanent fix will be very much
>>>>> appreciated. I'll also be in touch with Microsoft next week so they
>>>>> can remote on to that machine to see for themselves what's going on
>>>>> in the hopes they can fix it without having to reload the entire
>>>>> thing again. As if we have tons of bucks to spend on computer repairs
>>>>> every time we turn around. Sorry for this tone but this is really
>>>>> annoying when you have other issues to address such as a guide dog
>>>>> being over-due for routine veterinary care and help isn't
>>>>> fourth-coming not even from the guide dog school. Otherwise Mary's
>>>>> computer is usable. We've discovered some work-arounds to deal with
>>>>> file management issues until this situation can be remedied hopefully
>>>>> permanently. Interestingly enough we have not had this trouble with
>>>>> our Windows XP machines. Go figure Microsoft!All the best. I'm off to
>>>>> Camp Tejas for the weekend.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Peter Donahue
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
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>>>> 
>>>> 
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>> 
>> -- 
>> ---
>> John G. Heim, 608-263-4189, jheim at math.wisc.edu
>> 
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> 
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