Comments on: Computer Repair – To Get or Not to Get Infected with Spyware http://gakidooscomputerrepair.com/infected-with-spyware-part-1-of-2/ On-site and In-shop Computer Repair for Oahu, Hawaii Call (808) 676-1900 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:42:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: dpowell http://gakidooscomputerrepair.com/infected-with-spyware-part-1-of-2/comment-page-1/#comment-120 dpowell Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:36:03 +0000 http://gakidooscomputerrepair.com/?p=53#comment-120 I hear you. I heavily recommend that they get ESET Nod32 Antivirus and run either the paid version of MalwareBytes or SUPERAntiSpyware which I'm sure you heard about. Most will go for the antivirus, but stop short of the antispyware protection which they really need. I usually do "NOT" warrant virus and spyware removal at all, but have been known to remove it free anyway on a case-by-case basis. I will check their Event Viewer, Cookies, and Temp files to check the dates and internet activity to decide if I will charge again. Also, I recommend I install at least a 30 Day Trial of ESET Nod32 if they have expired or no antivirus. If a computer leaves my shop unprotected because they wanted to take care of it, I will NOT warrant a re-infection. I also strongly discourage the free antivirus programs because they offer only basic protection. I probably won't do it for free if that is all they have. The customer has got to know that they can't go CHEAP on their protection. When they come back 6 months later or so, I thank them for their business, and give them another invoice for their collection. I have a website similar to this one dedicated to spyware prevention that I tell them to checkout, but they never learn. I admit I have grown tough on this issue because I know they can beat the problem if they were willing to do the work...but they won't. I also recommend for the repeat offenders to try our remote service affiliate where they can pay a small monthly subscription for unlimited remote repairs, but most won't. The fact is that most people will never learn and will just continue to run their computers into the ground. Someday, I will get out of this business because of the frustration. I suppose one thing you could try is to get them to subscribe to an email list where you can follow-up with everybody at the same time, but again, they have to do the work. I even made a recent post about my feeling at: <a href="http://gakidooscomputerrepair.com/fake-antivirus-programs-how-bad-can-it-get/" rel="nofollow">http://gakidooscomputerrepair.com/fake-antivirus-programs-how-bad-can-it-get/ </a> I also liken this whole thing to an alcoholic who gets a new liver, if he keeps drinking, who's fault is it when his new liver starts failing again? And since it means their "life", they better follow the doctor's instructions precisely! And just like a car dealer, they will sell you a car, but they don't teach you how to drive. You can probably see how I feel about this whole fake antivirus problem. The government and credit card merchant account people don't seem to be doing anything, and it certainly is NOT my fault. I have grown weary about the issue to the point that I just charge them again if they get reinfected. I hear you. I heavily recommend that they get ESET Nod32 Antivirus and run either the paid version of MalwareBytes or SUPERAntiSpyware which I’m sure you heard about. Most will go for the antivirus, but stop short of the antispyware protection which they really need. I usually do “NOT” warrant virus and spyware removal at all, but have been known to remove it free anyway on a case-by-case basis. I will check their Event Viewer, Cookies, and Temp files to check the dates and internet activity to decide if I will charge again. Also, I recommend I install at least a 30 Day Trial of ESET Nod32 if they have expired or no antivirus. If a computer leaves my shop unprotected because they wanted to take care of it, I will NOT warrant a re-infection. I also strongly discourage the free antivirus programs because they offer only basic protection. I probably won’t do it for free if that is all they have. The customer has got to know that they can’t go CHEAP on their protection.

When they come back 6 months later or so, I thank them for their business, and give them another invoice for their collection. I have a website similar to this one dedicated to spyware prevention that I tell them to checkout, but they never learn. I admit I have grown tough on this issue because I know they can beat the problem if they were willing to do the work…but they won’t. I also recommend for the repeat offenders to try our remote service affiliate where they can pay a small monthly subscription for unlimited remote repairs, but most won’t. The fact is that most people will never learn and will just continue to run their computers into the ground. Someday, I will get out of this business because of the frustration. I suppose one thing you could try is to get them to subscribe to an email list where you can follow-up with everybody at the same time, but again, they have to do the work. I even made a recent post about my feeling at: http://gakidooscomputerrepair.com/fake-antivirus-programs-how-bad-can-it-get/

I also liken this whole thing to an alcoholic who gets a new liver, if he keeps drinking, who’s fault is it when his new liver starts failing again? And since it means their “life”, they better follow the doctor’s instructions precisely!

And just like a car dealer, they will sell you a car, but they don’t teach you how to drive.

You can probably see how I feel about this whole fake antivirus problem. The government and credit card merchant account people don’t seem to be doing anything, and it certainly is NOT my fault. I have grown weary about the issue to the point that I just charge them again if they get reinfected.

]]> By: John http://gakidooscomputerrepair.com/infected-with-spyware-part-1-of-2/comment-page-1/#comment-116 John Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:43:07 +0000 http://gakidooscomputerrepair.com/?p=53#comment-116 What do you tell your customers when they get reinfected? Do you still charge them a fee for the removal? I have tried ever damn scanner out there and they all got infected with the fake alert. I have started to tell my customers to buy a mac cause im tired of hearing them bitch. I tell them what i do to not get infected (and it works been virus free for 3 yrs) but they somehow get infected. 1 out of 10 pcs that i clean will come back reinfected. If they come back within a week ill clean it free but i need to figure something out for the ones that comeback a month or more later. What do you tell your customers when they get reinfected? Do you still charge them a fee for the removal? I have tried ever damn scanner out there and they all got infected with the fake alert. I have started to tell my customers to buy a mac cause im tired of hearing them bitch. I tell them what i do to not get infected (and it works been virus free for 3 yrs) but they somehow get infected. 1 out of 10 pcs that i clean will come back reinfected. If they come back within a week ill clean it free but i need to figure something out for the ones that comeback a month or more later.

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