Today, a couple of breakthroughs. I don’t think I’ve actually told our blog readership about my recent travails at work. Three weeks ago a catastrophic virus infestation was discovered in our computer network. It appears it all probably entered through my own office computer, because through some oversight I didn’t have antivirus protection. (I should have noticed that and asked questions. Noticing and asking questions aren’t things I’m good at.) So they took my box away physically, and our IT lady has been struggling to scrub it clean and save whatever files she can ever since.
She was so busy she never got around to telling me what was happening, or why I couldn’t have it back. So I’ve been twisting in the wind, trying to find things to do other than the things I ought to have been doing this summer.
On Monday somebody finally showed me how to access my work e-mail, so I was able to get my messages. Unfortunately one of them said I’d sold some used books through Amazon, and the order was now well overdue for shipment. I’ve apologized profusely to the buyer, but haven’t heard back whether he still wants the books or not.
Today, though, I got a substitute laptop to tide me over, which makes things much better. Sometime in August I get a new desktop.
In other news, I told you last Friday about the Miller Analogies Test I took, and how the laptop they assigned me shut down, and we weren’t sure whether my answers registered or not. Today I learned they hadn’t. But they’ve offered me a re-test, at no charge, so I’m going in again this Friday.
Although it’s a small inconvenience (especially with Highway 694 torn up), this is actually a good thing all in all. I’ve had the chance to preview the test for free, and I’ve gained some insight into the (diabolical) way it’s designed. A second try can’t hurt.
The proctor lady was very appreciative of my patience and good attitude. I’m always kind of surprised that anybody chooses to get shirty about things like this. She certainly didn’t cause the problem herself. There might be some momentary satisfaction in chewing someone out and putting them in their place, but in my experience that satisfaction lasts about twenty seconds, after which remorse and guilt set in. Who lives long enough for that?
I suppose some people walk away from scenes they’ve made with the warm satisfaction that comes of time well spent.
I do not understand those people.
keep us posted on your results! and what diabolical insights have you gleaned exactly? haha
Chiefly that I’m not as bright as I like to think.
I think I’m in the same boat, thinking myself much brighter than I am. Humility, friends, humility.
This may seem to be too little and too late, but sharing information can be helpful if you are not too narrow and closed minded. It almost seems hard to believe now that I have been using PCs over the internet now for the past fifteen years. However, I have only owned a PC notebook for the past ten years and I am on my second one(Dell and now HP). I learned a lot the hard way from using my first PC notebook. First, those who think their Apple PCs are immune to viruses/spyware are blissfully unaware and Apple perpetuates this by insisting they’re handling it with their updates. So, why are my Apple user friends telling me about their infection problems? Back to PCs using Windows. I have learned the hard way to not just rely on Microsoft’s standard protection for Windows. It does filter a lot out, but there are too many hackers who have perfected ways to get around it. So, I do two more layers of security protection. There are freeware security software that is available that are helpful, but they require manual updates and manual scans. The idea is to get you to upgrade to a premium paying service that does a lot of updating for you automatically. Besides manual operation there is the problem of compatibility with other software and that alone discourages people from using it. The oldest security freeware that has been around the longest and is reliable (so computer techs tell me)is Spybot. Since it does not sell a premium service(it asks for donations)it updates every Wednesday, but you have to be patient with the manual process checking for updates, downloading the updates, immunizing with the downloaded updates and occasionally doing a security scan. I also subscribe to a premium service Norton Internet Security. It does everything very thoroughly. Norton doesn’t like the Microsoft Windows virus protection so it automatically disables it and replaces it with its own. I think it is doing the same thing with the firewall as well. Two weeks ago I did an infrequent scan with Spybot and found two infections that bypassed Windows and Norton. Apparently hackers have perfected ways to get around them. Spybot quarantined the infections and asked me to fix (delete them) which I did. Spybot is designed for Windows PCs and not for Apple PCs/tablets/mobile smartphones. All tablets and smartphones require special security software designed for them.
Why am I always leery of advice that begins by informing me that the only reason for rejecting it is that I’m narrow and closed minded?