Today I was working, but then had a down moment. To kill the time until another job came through, for curiosity I wanted to look up the color wheel on Google.
What I got instead was a warning that my computer is under attack that looked like it was from Microsoft Security Center. It fooled me at first - long enough for me to download that damn thing. I could kick the shit out of myself because I heard about about malware masquerading as antivirus software; still, I clicked the download box before I thought. So now it is installed on my PC. One non-idiot thing I did do was write down the name of the file before I finally called tech support.
The good news I got was that I probably didn't infect everyone else in my workgroup (though they are scanning to be sure). The bad news is the only place they could find any info about this particular file was at a website for Prevx. McAfee doesn't know this bugger exists and IT can't help me remotely. I was advised to take it to Geek Squad.
That's bad enough, but here's the big problem: I just dropped $$$$$ for a McAfee upgrade (excuse me while I experience a moment of bitter irony) and a new expensive foot pedal required for job compatibility. I have about 500 dollars to my name and only about 60 bucks limit left on my credit card. I have a 100 dollar phone bill laying right here and an almost 200 dollar truck payment and 200 insurance payment in my near future. I am not yet getting enough transcription work to be making even enough money to eat, much less buy more software.
The damn evil file is packupdate_build206_231.exe with a zillion aliases. Look for aliases on the Prevx software site.
Has anyone else been hit with this thing? Were you able to get it off without taking it to Geek Squad or buying more software? Geek Squad charges out the ass to look at you funny; they have done good work for me in that past and I am not against them, but I just don't have the bucks right now.
Please, don't tell me to get a mac. I'm typing this on my personal mac, but not very damn many places of employment are mac based. PC's as far as the eye can see...
But I know that if you want to know something, just about anything, ask here at Dkos. So, does anybody have any advice?
EDIT: Thank you everybody from the bottom of my heart! There's more information than my tired brain can process yet, but you have given me good starting places and a sense of hope. I also want to thank the people who voted "medium level stupid" and "dumber than pie" in the poll. I need a laugh and an ass kicking right about now.
EDIT #2: I found out you can't DL Malwarebytes onto a mac!