The virus was the RIG Exploit Kit. Since May it has been showing up on legitimate sites and what it does is put a script into your computer that encrypts all your files so they are inaccessible without the decryption key. It is called ransomware because then it gives you a screen saying if you want your files decrypted you have to send money, and if you don't pay within a certain time you will lose everything, and the threat is real. You actually will lose all your documents, photos, downloads, etc., there is no available way to decrypt the files...no program you can buy, no computer repair expert who can fix it. Apparently it is not hard to remove the virus itself, but your files are all still encrypted, the damage is done.
I was ***SO*** fortunate Norton caught it. I actually was backed up fairly well already, but needless to say, I went out and bought a large flash drive and made a newer backup the same night. ALL documents and ALL of the desktop and ALL of my useful programs I downloaded. My photos were already backed up. (And did a full system scan and ran Norton Power Eraser for good measure, and deleted Silverlight and Java.)
So anyway, if your antivirus software is not up to date, you really need it! Christine, I know you have Carbonite. I wish I did, I just hate to pay that much. I am going to look at their site.
I guess what I'm saying is, if you guys have already heard of the RIG exploit kit, or ransomware, through the media but it seemed far away, maybe it will seem more real knowing it almost happened to someone you know. I was a little freaked when I got the warnings, but it takes a couple of days to really sink in...what could have happened. You'd be saying, well I used to have that photo, but I don't now. I had that expensive software program, but I don't now. I had the documents on the house inspection, but I don't now. It would be giving you repeated pains and regrets during daily life for years, don't let it happen to you!
for the warning.