'Is the Lesbian Thing over?' 'No, the Lesbian Thing has just begun.' by Kara
Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 9:49 AM

So my work computer contracted a nasty virus. It is very unfortunate, and more than a bit embarrassing, to find out that a computer belonging to an Internet company is sending out Britney Spears porn e-mails. Yesterday apparently Cox informed us of what was going on, the e-mail of the guilty computer was disabled, and our IT guy tracked down the culprit when I complained that I couldn't send anything.

A good portion of the work day was spent shuffling between actual stuff that needed to get out the door and obsessive scanning by three separate programs. I have no idea if it's still trying to send out pictures of America's sweetheart in my absence, but that's not the big problem here.

The big problem is that my overnight scanning program has discovered a Trojan of the same name on my home computer.

I'm working as quickly as I can to make sure this computer doesn't go equally nuts. See, I thought we had Verizon at work, but it turns out that we, too, have Cox. As I do at home, as Co-Writer does (at least for now) at home. And one thing we've learned about Cox is that they are phenomenally overeager about cutting off people's 'net access if they don't like how something's going. So for work? A phone call. Something's up. Please fix it.

Here, I have no guarantee they'll do anything quite so polite, since I am not a business. I understand they're a bit crawly to businesses. Which is not surprising.

At least I've got one or two backups for 'net access if it comes to it. I just don't want it to. So, as at work, I'm doubling up on scanning. Wish me luck.

Incidentally, the threat shows up as Trojan horse Dropper.Agent.JOC in AVG ... and in other things. So if it comes up, welcome to my world. If you have been, show them!