[nfbcs] Accessible Windows Explorer Alternatives

Mon May 12 15:35:51 UTC 2014

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