Mopping Up

Four days later, I finally have control of my computer. I think. I hope. Fingers are crossed. Craig ended up spending a good chunk of Thursday in my office running anti virus programs, looking for documents, and tracking the hacker's path through my things. (How dare he or she read my emails and then answer as though they were me?  And then discard them so I never see them?)

I have a new browser, new email, and new passwords. I still can't get into everything, but I am confident that I will soon. Will I see my pictures and documents again? I fear not but am hoping so. Time will tell. My plan is to continue looking for things (my pictures!) and checking to be sure my passwords are all changed today and then start back with regular (and happier) blog posts tomorrow.

My left hand is still very weak and that may limit how much I can write, but I intend to continue as normally as possible. Really bad headaches like the one I had last Saturday affect that hand - but this is the longest it has ever gone on. It is hard to type accurately and I am making a LOT of errors as I type this. (I also volunteer as a transcriptionist once a week; I may transfer the voice-to-text application to Blogger and see if that helps.) 

It's been a rough week, but in the meantime, I am grateful that I have friends and family, like my dear sister-of-the-heart Lorna, who in their kindness and generosity, believed that I really do need all that money the hackers are asking for and are preparing bank transfers to help me out. Thanks, folks, but I am okay. (And y'all made me cry.)

I may have lost pictures, documents, and time, but I still have what's really important and am thankful for that.

What a Mess

Getting hacked stinks. My emotions have been running the gamut from dismay to frustration to anger. I've lost a lot of things that I can only hope to to recover. I can't find my pictures on my computer nor can I add them to a blog story until they are. The hackers even described themselves as though they were ME to friends concerned that I might be hacked by reassuring my friends that yes, they were me, and yes, "my" account was secure because they were wise and took precautions to protect it, and that "I" did send those emails asking for money so could you help me by sending some?

This is all that is left on my desktop - a photo Abby. All my files are missing, photos, things I was writing... Gone. It's like it was swept clean.

I mention on the blog that I go to Indy frequently but I don't talk about what I do there - I am in charge of a large group of volunteers who work every week - I make out their service schedules, find subs if they are ill or cannot come, orient and help train the volunteers, and then shut things down and help close up when our volunteer shift finishes. 

I can still make the schedule for this week, but I have no contact info for any of the volunteers so I cannot send it. That contact info was wiped right off my computer and out of my files. How on earth will I let them know when they are scheduled to volunteer this week? Many of them drive a long way to serve (one comes all the way from Michigan!) and I would feel awful if they drove all the way to Indy only to turn around and go home.

Local Son Curt may be able to clear some time and come help me. If not, I'm going to have to pay a professional to come help me find my things and recover them. 

What a mess.