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  • My Dad

    Unsupportable: My Dad

    There are so many stories I could tell about my dad's computer illiteracy, I could write a book (hey, there's an idea), but for now I will stick to the most recent one.

    To start with, my dad is a CPA. He does people's taxes, among a great many other things. He used to keep all of his client's information as hard copy, storing it all in gigantic file cabinets. Then he discovered computers, and how he can save a lot of overhead if he kept those files in digital form. Here's where I come in. I have always been proficient with computers (and am now gainfully employed working with them), so when he has a problem, he usually calls me first, because I am free. Well, this one was a whopper. When he calls me, he tells me that Symantec <shudder> is putting messages all over his screen. I figure it's just pestering him to renew his subscription, so I say I'll come over and take a look at it. Well, when I get there, imagine my surprise when I see that Symantec has covered every available inch of the screen with warning messages, saying that it has blocked a program from sending email out. I ask him how long this has been going on, and he says since the last update. This disturbs me, because it means that this virus (I forget which one specifically, but a particularly rare one) has been operating for an unknown amount of time. It also bothered me what it was sending out. through some research, I found out that this particular data miner goes through and sends out the entire contents of the user's profile, as well as any files with specific extensions (I forget which). My dad's computer was pretty much the fileserver for his firm, and had a good 90% of all the files in his my documents folder. These files were full of client info, like SSN's, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and pretty much everything an identity thief might want. I tell him about what was going on, and how serious this could be. He just kind of shrugs it off like it doesn't matter. I read him the riot act about safe surfing, and not opening email attachments, the works. I clean the virus out, and tell him not to open executable files of any kind, and not to open attachments with extensions that he doesn't recognize. After all is said and done, (10 hours later) I walk out of his office and go home. He calls me 3 days later, saying it's doing it again. I told him to call his tech guy. I figure that if he has to pay for the guy to be there, he'll at least listen to him.

  • #2
    I'm afraid that your dad is just the very sort that identity thieves are looking for! Especially with his "so what" attitude. I'm sorry to say this, but I'm glad he isn't my cpa! Imagine what would happen if his clients found out what happened -- I don't think he'd have a penny left to his name after the lawsuits! (And, with what has happened, he really should notify his clients that their private information has been compromised.)

    I hope those "so what" genes aren't passed on to future generations!
    I will not be pushed, stamped, filed, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered. My life is my own. --#6

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    • #3
      People like that are *exactly* why I don't let anyone do my taxes. I'm an accountant (not CPA though), so doing my own isn't such a big deal.

      What is it about fathers and their computers? My dad's PC is a virtual spyware zoo--he refuses to update his antivirus and Spybot defs, nor does he keep Windows XP updated. Then he whines about how "slow" his computer is and all the viruses he seems to get. Apparently, simply *having* the software is enough. In his mind, you *never* need to update anything...

      After getting screamed at the last time while trying to help him, I told him to STFU and listen. I got the viruses and other crap killed....only for it to happen again

      He started screaming about it, and I refused to help him. Sorry, I don't get paid for that--you want my help, you're going to pay for it. My going rate is currently $50 per hour with a minimum of 3 hours At least now I don't live there anymore so it's not my problem
      Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines. --Enzo Ferrari

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      • #4
        Quoth protege View Post
        What is it about fathers and their computers? My dad's PC is a virtual spyware zoo--he refuses to update his antivirus and Spybot defs, nor does he keep Windows XP updated. Then he whines about how "slow" his computer is and all the viruses he seems to get. Apparently, simply *having* the software is enough. In his mind, you *never* need to update anything...
        One of DFIL's virtues is that this isn't a major issue for him. He has a Mac.

        One kinda funny story about him: for a few years there, annual routine was for DH's kid brother (DH is the eldest of three siblings, with a sister as middle child) to come home for Christmas and screw up something on his parents' computer, which DH (then a professional geek) would fix. One year, DBIL failed to commit his annual computer damage. That year, DFIL's tax software wreaked utter havoc on that poor machine, to the point that DFIL drove up to our place (50 miles away) to do his taxes on DH's Mac. DH had a MAJOR chore getting that computer working again. I told the in-laws they should have just let DBIL do his usual routine, since he'd never done anything THAT bad. For some reason, they didn't think that was as funny as I did.

        [I'm the family oddball. I have a Windows system. Everyone else in DH's family is a MacPerson. ]
        Last edited by Seanette; 12-05-2006, 05:15 PM. Reason: minor layout tweaks
        "Crazy may always be open for business, but on the full moon, it has buy one get one free specials." - WishfulSpirit

        "Sometimes customers remind me of zombies, but I'm pretty sure that zombies are smarter." - MelindaJoy77

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        • #5
          Quoth protege View Post
          Apparently, simply *having* the software is enough. In his mind, you *never* need to update anything...

          My ex's parents used to be the same way. One time, they got this really nasty virus -- I forget its name -- that would just randomly alter files left and right. Some of the results were... interesting, to say the least. One side effect was that the device manager would show all kinds of devices that weren't actually there, like a tape drive. How many people actually have a tape drive these days?

          When I informed him he had a virus, his response was, "I thought that virus program was supposed to stop that from happening!" I explained that they don't work very well when you don't keep them updated. I ended up wiping the whole machine, since I really had no way to tell just how many or which files had been corrupted.

          A few years later, shortly they had bought a new XP machine, they caught the Blaster virus. I didn't even have to look at it, I knew what it was by what he described. Once again, "I thought that virus program was supposed to stop that from happening!" I explained to him, again, that you have to keep it updated. At least I was able to find the proper removal tools, and kill the bug without having to nuke the whole machine that time.

          I don't think they ever actually learned, but it's easier now, since most antivirus programs can self-update now. My son says that when he goes over there, he makes sure everything is up to date. It's been awhile since any more problems like that have happened.
          Sometimes life is altered.
          Break from the ropes your hands are tied.
          Uneasy with confrontation.
          Won't turn out right. Can't turn out right

          Comment


          • #6
            Quoth protege View Post
            What is it about fathers and their computers? My dad's PC is a virtual spyware zoo--he refuses to update his antivirus and Spybot defs, nor does he keep Windows XP updated. Then he whines about how "slow" his computer is and all the viruses he seems to get. Apparently, simply *having* the software is enough. In his mind, you *never* need to update anything...
            For me it's my mom and her computer. My bro and I both, as a pre-emptive strike on her brand spanking new compy (the old one was riddled with viruses and spyware up the wazoo) told her MUST update virus and spy blocker programs. Which she does. That's the thing about her. She's slow to learn, but once she does it sticks.

            :: laughter:: I remembered this incident with her iTunes. She couldn't understand why a music video she downloaded wasn't playing, saying she needed to update. She swore she updated it every time it asked her to. After two seconds of looking, can you guess what happened?

            Yup, or you were close. She downloded the updates, but never actually updated the program. We had a good laugh, then I gave a small lecture, and now no more problems.
            "I live in Los Angeles, and I was on the walk of fame. I was drunk, and I got a henna tattoo that says, 'Forever.'" -Zack Galifianakis

            Call Sophia Moore or Kent E. Ryder for a good time!

            Comment


            • #7
              On campus, the students have to connect through a program that verifies they have all their window updates and virus defintions.

              For some reason, all the kiddies think this program will somehow protect them from all spyware and adware.

              I don't know how they decided that, but yeah.

              Why do I have spyware? Why do I have popups? WAHHAA!!!!

              Jenni
              SC: “Yeah, Bob’s Company. I'm Bob. It's my company.” - GK
              SuperHotelWorker made my Avi!!

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              • #8
                A conversation with my mother (my end)

                What wasn't funny?

                What porn site?

                No, I did not send you to a porn site.

                Gay porn?

                - that sounds like an interesting camera angle!

                No, I did NOT send you to a porn site, but yes, this is very funny.

                Wavs.com? I never... Ohhhh! No, I told you that .wav files enable you to change event sounds on your computer.

                That's dot w a v - files with a .wav extension. Not a website called wavs.com.

                No, I have no idea what the term "wav" means outside of the context of sound files.

                root@darkstar: mount -t iso9660 /dev/hdc /cdrom
                root@darkstar: cp -r /cdrom/lib/* /lib/*
                root@darkstar: crap
                -bash crap: command not found
                root@darkstar: man -k undo

                Comment


                • #9
                  The same goes for my dad. He's the reason I can be found sitting in front of the computer reading a book while the defrag is going or the virus software is uploading.

                  Him: "Are you using the computer?"
                  Me: "Yes."
                  Him: "...what are you doing?"
                  Me: "Our virus scanner is updating itself. It needs to finish. Give it about fifteen minutes."
                  Him: "Can I turn it off to-?"
                  Me: "No. When I get up and leave in fifteen minutes, you can have the computer as long as you want."
                  Him: "Can't you just restart it later?"
                  Me: "No." (I'm not telling him I can. If he thinks I can, I'll never get him to go away.)
                  Him: "Oh. Okay." *shuffles off*

                  That stems from one of our old computers that was teetering on a thread before he killed it.

                  Me: "Okay, Daddy, it's starting in Safe Mode. That'll take a while to do. DON'T touch it until it's finished." *stupidly leaves the computer unattended to get something to drink*
                  Him: *leans down an inch from the screen, watching the monitor for 30 seconds, then reaches out and hits the power button*
                  Me: *screaming* "WHY DID YOU TURN IT OFF?!"
                  Him: "It was taking too long."

                  It had been a minor miracle for me to get it into Safe Mode. Needless to say, the computer lived no more. Hence, I don't leave the computer alone anymore when I'm fixing things on it and he's in the vicinity.
                  "Maybe the problem just went away...maybe it was the magical sniper fairy that comes and gives silenced hollow point rounds to people who don't eat their vegetables."

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    I think we have all wanted/needed to do this before.



                    /Hates having to reinstall OS because someone pulled a stupid.
                    "Magic sometimes sounds like tape." - The Amazing Johnathan

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      You know, I'm feeling lucky that my dad has worked for years with techies who know everything anyone needs to know about computer and internet security. Not to mention that he's still got AOL, which, bloated and stupid as it is, does give a good degree of security in addition to the normal anti-virus & anti-spyware software.

                      Also, I would like to mention that the auto-updating, auto-scanning anti-whatever software on my computer has made me really lazy. Though all things considered, you could call it the good kind of lazy.

                      Here's to hoping the coming VM revolution will blow the internet stupidity out the door. Though I'm not too confident; PLIBCAK errors have been known to make the most secure machines explode.
                      Last edited by cpux; 12-14-2006, 08:58 AM.
                      Desk-On: Apply directly to the forehead.
                      Desk-On: Apply directly to the forehead.
                      Desk-On: Apply directly to the forehead.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        My dad is like that but with Macs. He is however a PC wizard and is a genius at them but set him up with a Mac and he's hopeless. I don't even trust him with my Mac because of one hilarious incident. On a Mac laptop there is this nifty little feature that is very useful and great. On the mousepad, if you put 2 fingers on it, hold 1 finger still and make the other go in a walking motion the screen scrolls for you. Very convenient as you don't have to click the arrows at all and it's very useful at times.

                        My dad being used to the way PC laptops are configured did not know this. While our virus software was updating my dad wanted to use my laptop for internet browsing. I let him use it when this happens:

                        Dad: "Ihate, could you come here your laptop's freaking out!''
                        Me: (Sees the screen moving up and down instantly knows what it is) "Uh, dad it's the mousepad (Shows him how to use it) it happened to me also when I started using it."

                        He thankfully grew to like the feature and often finds himself doing that with his laptop.
                        The Grand Galactic Inquisitor hears all and sees all.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Quoth ArenaBoy View Post
                          On a Mac laptop there is this nifty little feature that is very useful and great. On the mousepad, if you put 2 fingers on it, hold 1 finger still and make the other go in a walking motion the screen scrolls for you. Very convenient as you don't have to click the arrows at all and it's very useful at times.
                          It works even better if you move the two fingers together
                          Now the trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            My Dad has come a long way since he bought his first computer 12 years ago. But sometimes the simple stuff still gets the best of him. For example, he was going to THROW AWAY a one year old computer because it would not turn on...even though I told him it was probably just the power source...but he said well I already ordered a new one(no, he does not have a ton of extra $$ for new computers each year) because it was having too many "issues" before the power issue anyway. I told him well fine, let me have it then..and guess what? $25.00 and 10 minutes of my time later I got it working. Yup, loaded with spyware. So it took me a couple more hours to clean everything out, but now I have a nice *almost* new computer. Which is good cause my thinkpad is on its last legs.

                            What irratates me to no end is when I see people from my generation and younger (I am 28) clicking on Pop-up ads and "free" offers! Makes me want to go all 3 Stooges on their a$$!! We have grown up with computers/internet/email! You should be able to tell what is a fake ad! And, what a chain letter is! Common Sense People!
                            ~Know I was probably preaching to the chior on that, but ohh it feels so good~
                            If watermelons are made up of water, what are kumquats made up of?
                            www.myspace.com/rentalracer

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                            • #15
                              Quoth RentalRacer View Post
                              For example, he was going to THROW AWAY a one year old computer because it would not turn on...even though I told him it was probably just the power source...
                              I've found out that actually happens a lot. People throw away computers that have nothing wrong with them that a simple reformat won't fix. My son has found quite a few of them out with the trash, and most of the time, all he has to do is reformat it, and it's as good as new. Then he sells them. Except in the few cases where it might need a part or two replaced, it's pure profit for him. Not bad for a 12-year-old.

                              Of course, he found this one that he could not fix, so he took out all the useable parts, took the rest of it outside, and beat the hell out of it. That's my boy!
                              Sometimes life is altered.
                              Break from the ropes your hands are tied.
                              Uneasy with confrontation.
                              Won't turn out right. Can't turn out right

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