Somebody Is Messing W/ Me!

“Okay, what is the deal here. I'm trying to work on some major accounting probs. at work today. Just before I started working on them I was browsing around on TT. Then I get off-line and go to work on QuickBooks. All the sudden I get a message that there is some kind of error. I couldn't get out of the message or do anything, so I hit ctrl, alt, delete. I get a message that says "This system is running dangerously low on resources. thebackpacker.com - trailtalk - let's stir up some controversy." I never clicked on that controversy thread when I was browsing earlier. Plus, I have the newgirl troll posting things that I did not write. Then I go to clean-up the computer really quick and I find some program called NetWatcher, which we never installed to my knowledge. Techies what the hell is going on? This is my f#$%ing work computer and I don't need this kinda' #&%!$. I've been working hard for days and I don't need something to crash and ruin everything!”

“I need some info. now! Matt, do you see this? I'm going to have to leave this site if this is the kinda' crap that's going to go down. I'm not saying that like, "oh, everyone will be heart broken." I'm saying it like I don't want to have cyber stalkers latch on to me and ruin my computers, just so I can be a part of the site.”

“Come on! Where are the Techies?”

“You didn't click on one of Violin's links did you? My computer's been acting wierd too. There was a big internet server attack yesterday, so maybe it's related. Or Violin!”

“http://www.moonlight-software.com/netwatcher.htm

I don’t think the problem come from thebackpacker.com but I am no techie.”

“Mtngal, I already looked at the NetWatcher info. It is apparently something to protect us, but I was just bizarred out that I didn't install it. I know no one else in office could have either. Aero, I did not click on any of Violin's links, I don't click on any links posted on TT when I'm at work.”

“What is that controversy thread even about? I haven't even clicked on it all day.”

“Alright, I need to try and get back to work. If anyone knows more about this crap then me (which is pretty much everyone), then reply. I want to know what's up.”

“somthin' about Daniel Inouya in a Monte Python movie...”

“I, also, don't think your problem came from thebackpacker.com site.

The controversy thread, maybe you clicked on it unintentionally; in any case, it didn't do anything to your PC.

Is it possible your employer hired someone to install netwatcher on all the PC's in the office?”

“Newgirl, you need to remind people that you work with scary guys with chainsaws.”

“yeah, that's weird. NetWatcher is installed to protect your system... Ask whoever else uses your computer if they know anything. Somebody may have downloaded the demo version when you weren't there.

The 'low resources' thing sounds like you had more applications running than you usually do and you were low on memory.

How you got an error msg about a thread on TrailTalk... that's just spooky!”

“i started that thread and i wouldn't know how to do anything to your computer even if i wanted to.”

“Seee? Ductape did it!”

“A firewall might help. Stops unauthorized access to your computer. A good free firewall is available at www.zonelabs.com.”

“We downloaded a program at my other job that detects SPYWARE on your computer. It's handy to have. Will look at up when I'm there tomorrow.

Noogie, please don't be paranoid.”

“NG, here's the scoop:

Internet explorer hung on you, leaving its memory allocated. That's probably why you got the resource message. Save your work in quickbooks, reboot, and you should be fine.

Your troll doesn't have anything to do with it, and nothing on the website would be able to affect your work there, unless you are downloading things and installing them.

Relax, it should be okay.”

“I installed a firewall on my computer, and about once a month I get a message that someone tried to mess with my computer but they were stopped!”

“Phaedrus did it!”

“Why does my name always come up in connection with these things?

I'm no techno geek but if you were off-line it had nothing to do with TT. Consider it a computer hiccup.

Its never a good idea to have days of work you haven't backed-up.”

“Welcome to the insane world of your PC!

8)”

“I get messages several times a day. You'd be surprised how often someone tries to access your computer. Probably marketing companies (e.g., spammers) using computer driven programs, not necessarily malicious hackers.”

“It's a vast, Trail Talk conspiracy!”

“Violin - don't take it personally. You have demonstrated what most on this board consider to be "mysterious powers," and that tends to make people a little nervous.

I don't think anyone really believes you are malicious.”

“You may also be getting the resource message if you have too many applications open. If you have a bunch of programs open, try closing some of them.

This may be a good time to ask the boss for more RAM on your PC. :)”

“I finally sent your belt buckle! you should get it in a few days! So, uh, keep your pants on! :)”

“Fritz - I guess I should learn to use those stupid emoticons and expressions like 'lol' more often.”

“You might just have yourself one of those new age door stops or a hi-tech boat anchor.

Maybe somebody at work was checking out something they should have check out at home on a more personal CPU.

Have you look thru the history file?

I've heard closing down programs that aren't in use will help. Also clearing the memory and disk cache might help. I really don't know. I'm just waiting for the day when I take mine for a ride and give it the old mafia push out the door while heading thru a turn at about 60.”

“Here's my favorite- Ronald Reagan!

7:^)”

“As Liz mentioned, this is a great program to run on your machine from time to time ( I am assuming this is what she was talking about) it's called AD-Aware
I recommend you get the RefUpdate add-on as well, it makes updating the ref file a breeze.

If you install and remove a lot of programs, you may be surprised at how many nasty things are still hiding in your computer, even after removing the program....even if you don't you will probably find at least a couple spyware references...some are harmless, some not.”

“Violin...OK, cool.

newgirl, Phaedus nailed it. Do you reboot your PC on a regular basis?”

“I agree with those that indicated you need more memory for your computer. Upgrade the RAM.”

“HOLD EVERYTHING!!!!


Violin is not a techno geek?

Okay, okay, how about "techno expert"

Don't tell me that you clean teeth for a living, or something.”

“Oh yea....some programs, like GoZilla, will stop working when you remove the Adware/Spyware/Scumware...luckily AD-Aware has a back up you can do to restore the file if you find the program fails to work and you want the program anyway.

And of coures you can never have TOO MUCH POWER....more RAM!”

“Getting more RAM is like getting more GEAR!!!!!”

“Newgirl:

Dave the Computer Technician here. You are being paranoid in regards to cyberstalkers. It is highly unlikely that someone here would have the ability to wreak havor on your work PC. Not impossible, but highly improbable.

Now, keep in mind that even though you didn't click on that particular thread, the topic itself was still in your browser cache. Every page you view is stored on your hard drive in what's called 'browser cache'. All of the images and text from each and every page you view are stored in the cache. Now, all cache sizes have limits or policies causing the files to eventually be removed or replaced by newer ones, but you can bet that any page you viewed today is sitting on your hard drive.

As for the error coming up while in Quickbooks; Quickbooks runs an instance of Internet Explorer, so whenever Quickbooks is running so is Internet Explorer. You may not see 'Internet Explorer' down in the taskbar, but you can bet that the Internet Explorer program files are loaded into memory. If Quickbooks crashes, or that instance of IE crashes, it's possible an error could come up related to items in Internet Explorer's cache (i.e. the Trail Talk web page).

There are several other possibilities, such as corrupt cache in IE or a corrupted temporary file in Windows causing Quickbooks and/or IE to crash. You can clear the cache in IE by right-clicking on the Internet Explorer desktop icon, choosing properties, clicking on 'Delete Files' (check the 'Delete all Offline content' box too), and then clicking OK.

Just remember that computers do crash and strange messages do come up. There's TONS of stuff on your computer that you don't know about. That doesn't mean someone is stalking you! :)

-Blah”

“It's blahchool!

Quick - everyone turn off your computers! He's hacking you!”

“Oh yeah.

;) , lol and all that.”

“geesh, CMB last night and now newgirl today...who is next to go off”

“Never listen to anyone named "Dave" when it comes to computers.

My friend Hal told me so.”

“Blah, Blah, Blah.....

Blah-CHOO!

(Bless you.)”

“We don't believe Your ";), lol".


It's a ruse! Don't fall for it! He's really thinking ">:[, ESAD"!”

“Hal?


Daisy, Daisy...”

“Sorry to ramble.

The whole Win9x platform (Windows 95, 98, and Millenium) are just downright horrible platforms in terms of stability. Perhaps the only worse OS was Windows 3.0 and 3.1. Sure, plenty of people can run them for years without problems (and I have no doubt I'll get such a response in this thread), but those people aren't power or heavy users. They aren't installing or uninstalling a lot of programs, doing a lot of multitasking, etc. The 9x platform was built on DOS, which caused loads of problems. Consider yourself lucky if this is the first time your computer has crashed with strange errors. 9x computers like to...no, make that NEED to...be rebooted on a daily basis.

NT, 2000, and XP are much, much more stable. Sure, they're resource pigs (i.e. requires lots of memory and CPU), but at least they have stability. And yes, they are sensitive with older programs and older drivers (which is where 99% of the complaints for NT, 2000, and XP stem from), but that's the price you pay for a stable system.

</RANT>”

“Hal, LOL! and speaking of which, i think "LOL" and emoticons are slightly stupid also...we really need a sarcastic font, and a "that was funny" font or something. i live in fear that someone would take things i say seriously...
=:-0”

“I know where you all live.”

“Yeah Ewker, this was major paranoia. Shades of when newgirl didn't want to post her picture here. YIKES!!!!!”

“You snorked my line!!!!”

“blow me.

LOL

”

“Thanks for all the technical info. people. I think I get it. Sorry, I was just worried. The troll attacks have been fierce lately (ask CMB) and I . . . hell . . . I don't know about this computer stuff.”