Virus scare

The other day, I did something stupid. I knew better, I had been told enough, warned my son not to do it, but I blundered in and did it myself without thought. I clicked a link on facebook that was not a known site. It looked harmless enough.
All of a sudden all hell broke loose! My computer was blaring BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP and at the same time a man's voice was telling me that I had a malicious virus. "Don't shut your computer off," he said, "Call the number shown for instructions how to stop damage. If you don't do this, we will have to shut your computer down from here before the virus gets our system!" Meanwhile, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP. I was going nuts. Windows defender was displayed on the screen.
I shut the computer off. When I turned it back on - BEEP, BEEP ...
I called my son in a total panic.
He answered the phone, and I hollered, "Help!" as BEEP, BEEP, BEEP continued in the background.
He had me shut the sound off and walked me through getting rid of it, after I explained. I had scared the bejesus out of him. He was in busy town traffic on his way home from work. He was sure I was dying.
I apologized all over the place and we talked after he was home, off the road. 
I scanned the computer, it took over an hour. No virus. Probably would have if i would have called that number. 

Then there was this thing on the news about Yahoo being hacked TWO YEARS AGO! So I had to change my password - I have no idea if that will take care of it or not. I don't trust the things they can send over the internet anymore. More garbage to worry about. 

On another thought, I ordered a movie for DH and I to have a date night. (Yes, we do live daringly) I ordered "The Revenant." When I told him what we were going to do, he said he wanted to see "The Revenant" before he saw anything else. Do great minds think alike or has he hacked into my computer himself? You have to admit that's pretty strange. (I figured I would shut my eyes or go to the bathroom for the bear scene.)

Have a great weekend y'all!

Security, no place to hide.

How many of you remember when a security question for an online account was, "What is your mother's maiden name?" I was looking for something the other day and did a search of my name. The info popped up and literally scared me. 

I blame this whole mess on Ancestry dot com. (almost kidding) It started an avalanche of familial information for everyone to find their roots. Lots of free sites out there - yep. I found my first marriage license - and thankfully they don't have my age right, but I'm sure another site has it. My life and yours is now being broadcast to whoever wants to know where we've been and what we've done and who we did it with. It would seem that our family members are unwittingly adding to our outbreak of information on the www.

The thing is - this information is open to anyone, no matter where they live and what they do for a living. It isn't any wonder why our accounts get hacked. How much of your familial and financial information is out there - if you look, you will be surprised and disgusted.

One more time

Not much to say today. I finally got one of my plastic money problems squared away and just one more to go next week.

You see, I have had my debit card through my bank for almost ten years and the bank in all its wisdom sent me the newest one - with my 'J.' one it. The places I use that card has me without the 'J.' and they refused it. It's not in their data, so I must be trying to hack the card.

Talking to the people at the bank was like talking to the toilet for their understanding. My big drug company said "Declined." I was quite put out. The ones I talked to said it shouldn't make a difference, tell that to the big drug company ... After DH got on the phone with them again, they finally sent me a new card and number. I am in business again. 

Why, after so long, somebody decided to screw with my name is beyond me. Now, on Monday, I get to talk to the other bank - to have them send me a new pin for their new card. I never used the pin because it was only used online and I, um, forgot it. After trying what I thought the number was, well ... the ATM locked it out.

Yep, gotta love plastic ...

Have a good weekend!