Quemado (Maverick County) Volksmarch – 01/16/2015

I had more pictures from this walk but they got hijacked by a nasty virus/malware program. I got this message.

What happened to your files?
All of your files were protected by a strong encryption with RSA-2048 using CryptoWall 3.0.

What does this mean?
This means that the structure and data within your files have been irrevocably changed, you will not be able to work  with them, read them or see them, it is the same thing as losing them forever, but with our help, you can restore them.

How did this happen?
Especially for you, on our server was generated the secret key pair RSA-2048. Decrypting of your files is only possible with the help of the private key and decrypt program, which is on our secret server.

What do I do?
Alas, if you do not take the necessary measures for the specified time then the conditions for obtaining the private key will be changed. If you really value your data, then we suggest you do not waste valuable time searching for other solutions because they do not exist.

So I ran the virus scan of my computer (which was connected to the internet via LaQuinta’s server). Nothing came back on it. But the pictures which were on a thumb drive are unviewable. I am going to count the pictures as a loss rather than download the software that their instructions contained. It is probably a worse virus/malware.

These are the few pictures I have of the event that didn’t get hijacked.

Walk registration was at the Community Center.

Mural on the wall of the Community Center.

Carol and Ed talking to Clay.

Pecan Groves.

Creek crossing.

View of the roads we walked.

Path along the canal.

Passing the elementary school.

That’s all the pictures that the malware didn’t destroy.  I’m glad I escaped with a few pictures.

Wish I knew how I got the virus/malware.  I don’t remember clicking on anything.  I’m guess I won’t be connecting to the internet via hotels in the future, but why didn’t my virus protection protect the thumb drive as well as the computer itself?