petecal :
Well, it looks like it was a virus or virus like program. I ran Malwarebytes and it found about 37 items to quarantine. When it finished everything was running fine.....Well except for getting back to the setup I had before.
Is one reason I said 'do the basics'.
petecal :
So, I am pondering how could a virus get on this tablet. I haven't had a virus on any of my computers in 10 or more years.
Malware is NOT a virus. Malware is a way to get YOU the user to do things your not supposed through the use of clever Social Engineering things that you just 'CLICK' without thinking. The most common example was the 'Windows 201_ (fill in the year) Antivirus ALERT!' that would pop up. By installing 'something' else (usually people either installing PIRATED stuff, Toolbars, or just 'clicking through' a install without reading it) they installed this piece of Malware which would then alert you to a few steps you need follow to 'remove' a virus. When instead being 'technically naive' they instead are helping to actually infecting the system (turning off firewalls, installing a web based 'plugin' etc all under the 'admin acct').
Because Malware acts like 'normal' software it can't be "see" by antivirus programs as they are looking for malicious code 'attacking' or altering the system in specific ways. The difference to understand is a Doctor looks for symptoms for your illness to diagnose your illness btu that has NOTHING to do with stopping all the Solicitor Phone calls / SPAM emails or Adverts sent to your physical mailbox right? Well that is the same difference between what Antivirus looks for and what Malware does.
I am sorry to say though "I haven't had a virus on any of my computers in 10 or more years." I hear from people is 100% of the time false. It has always been you just didn't realize you had viruses (people 'determine' they have a virus ONLY when the antivirus says they have one, which is a false assurance) and you just 'worked around' problems you ran into, which were caused by malware and viruses. Even though I have Masters degree, Certifications, and highly educated / experienced (20 years) in many all levels except Data Centers systems support, I can say I have had viruses come along on my systems in the last 10 years or more, and I am a professional whom knows how to look out for them.
Educating yourself is the key to understanding the difference, then a false sense of relying on 'automated' systems to tell you, which they can't. The computers are ALWAYS dumb... and they just make dumb happen 1000% faster and more complex then we can normally respond. So we need to be aware what the computers are doing and know what we expect them to do and realize the difference to 'fix' the computer from doing the wrong thing it doesn't understand it is doing.
petecal :
It was working fine. Every few days I would get a splash screen saying "Click here to update Windows 8.0 to Windows 8.1". Could this be a virus? I finally decided to do the upgrade and clicked on the splash screen. I thought it went through the Windows Store.
No this is NOT a virus, and NO you weren't getting updates, you can't Microsoft already said so (http://www.computerworld.com/article/2484495/microsoft-windows/microsoft-mandates-windows-8-1-upgrade.html) .
I would suggest the Idiot's Guide series (LOVE the books!) and get the Idiot's Guide to Windows 8, since Vista came out things are very different then they were 10 years (XP backwards) ago. There is ALOT of difference and depending on your knowledge you can understand how SERIOUS the differences are or not.
Either case, Microsoft was STUPID, you install Windows 8, then you have to go to Window Update to update to the point that Microsoft Store (where you get 'Windows APPS' like a cell phone) to get the Windows 8.1 update. Then your still not done, then you need to go back to Windows Update and update the update so you now at Windows 8.1 Update edition, then you need to add on ALL the fixes / patches / updates since then as well. That is how you get a 'currently supported' Windows, and is what I was saying in my basic steps post.
petecal :
One final thing. Should I start a new thread and include the Quarantine log from Malwarebytes? Maybe smarter minds then me can analysis it and provide some knowledge for others that may hit this problem. I hate to think they would find this thread and go through all this before finding the final post.
NOPE. No need to and no, no one can 'analyze' this log and tell you 'Just never go to this website, never download this program, etc.' do A prevents B steps. The problem is if you get one malware it integrates with others to pull them down based on many things (are they getting paid, is it a friend's software, does it get them more 'cred' with showing how AW3SUM# L33TZ they are, etc.) . So installing any malware will open the door to many others.
The WAY and ONLY WAY to protect yourself is: TREAT THE INTERNET LIKE REAL LIFE.
Whom do you trust when you 'visit' their 'store', the Sears in the Mall or 'Bob's Specials' as he sits hanging out of his van in the back alley? Well that is the same of the Internet, if you visit Internet places that you can't actually 'go to their physical store and SMACK them in the face / let your lawyer serve them papers' then they are NOT a place to trust with your computer.
Sears, Bank of America, etc. you can get up from your computer, get in your car, and go physically to them and punch them in the nose for messing up your computer right? Well where is Willy's Cool ALLFREE Software ? How can you visit Willy? Is that even a GUY? Or named Willy at all? See.. if you can't physically interact then most likely they aren't "trust worthy" just like tBob and his Van in the back alley offering a nice new Sony 60" TV for only $200 cash!
The TV is a LIE and the INTERNET is a LIE. Always recite that and you should keep yourself safe.
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