Today, my roommate used my PC without asking. Long story short, it's now infected with ransomware. The dissertation I've been working on for months is now encrypted, along with all the backups on my second hard drive. Now I have to pay the hackers $1,500 to get the decryption key. FML
Collection
Halloween
A failed costume, stolen candy and a very real scare: Halloween, the one night when fear is allowed.
Today, my house was broken into and my computer was stolen. Fortunately, I have cloud backups of all my work; unfortunately, hardware prices have gone through the roof and I won't be able to replace that computer soon. FML
Today, I finally finished my 500 page manuscript and so went out to buy some paper to print it off. I get back home and find out my dad has infected my computer with a virus and the only way to save it was to wipe the hard drive, which he did. That script took me a year and I have no backup. FML
Today, my mom borrowed my computer without my permission and downloaded a virus. I came home to a blue screen of death. She refuses to admit fault and pay for a new computer. FML
Today, our computer system has irretrievably broken down due to viruses. My boss is the one who refused to get new antivirus software, but he’s still blaming me because I’m the computer guy and should be able to protect us from stupidly complicated viruses, "like the hackers in the movies." FML
Today, the new office IT guy figured the best way to get the virus off my computer was to wipe my entire hard drive. He was kind enough to back my data up and restore everything from the backups. Including the virus. FML
Today, my friend asked to borrow my new laptop to email his college professor. When he returned it, it had a virus on it, and I had to fish out two pubic hairs that were sticking out between the keys. FML
Today, my dad was sat on my laptop in the living room trying to learn how to do some rewiring around the house when he, and I quote, ”clicked on the thing.” My laptop is now riddled with so many viruses it’s basically a house brick. FML
Today, discovered that all the viruses I have gotten on my computer at work haven't been from anything I've done, but because my boss has secretly been using it after hours to download or watch porn so he wouldn't risk getting a virus on his own computer. I've lost 3 major projects due to this. FML
Today, my computer crashed and lost all of its data while I was making a back up. FML
Today, I let my friend use my computer to download some music. Now, my computer has 6 viruses and 4 songs, all of which I hate. FML
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Top comments
King0fgames 18
Have your roommate pay the ransom, that is incredibly stupid. Hopefully you can find a way to track down those assholes.
Kalver92 16
That really sucks for you, but there is password protection for a reason. To keep unauthorized people especially family and room mates from using your computer without asking.
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Comments (120)
Kalver92 16
That really sucks for you, but there is password protection for a reason. To keep unauthorized people especially family and room mates from using your computer without asking.
onlychildFTW 34
Who would leave their computer without a password in today's age? Like really, everyone should have a password. And not 123456, qwerty, etc. I feel bad for the OP, but if he had no password, or a very simple one I have to say both FYL and YDI simply because of a lack of computer smarts/security/safety.
petalbird 10
is it possible being a room mate that they watched op log in until they knew ops password??
thawny_fml 21
Or OP can just revert his computer to an auto save point that likely exists a day or two before his roommate got him "hacked". If you pay you're an idiot.
CasiusCorvus 10
@66 If you think this method always works, you're an idiot as well.
pokemonareugly 12
See that's the problem here, ransom ware is designed to lock down your computer so you can't revert or do anything except pay the hackers with it. Everything is locked down
False_Stupidity 42
Safe mode, or restore from the boot menu. Don't know if either of these options work, I've never been stupid enough to be infected with ransomware but its theoretically possible. There's no guarantees that the hackers will even give OP the encryption key if he does pay up.
King0fgames 18
Have your roommate pay the ransom, that is incredibly stupid. Hopefully you can find a way to track down those assholes.
R2Y2 22
If they're worth anything, they won't let others track them. Not trying to be a pessimist, just a realist
Comrox 19
When I read this FML to me it sounds like the hackers and the OP are already in contact, and the hackers want the money for them to fix what they did.
Mauskau 36
You don't pay anything to the ransomware, if you pay then they know they've won. There are ways around it, which is unfortunately a pain but much cheaper than paying a criminal. Certain IT companies can get through the encryption.
sorariku124 15
A lot of ransomware uses encryption too string to decrypt without the code, and IT companies can do nothing about that. Just like the iPhone encrypted by San Bernardino shooters that Apple cannot decrypt, there's ransomware that can encrypt with similar strength.
ligerzero459 24
27, sort of. It encrypts your stuff and then pops up a site that explains the situation with a Bitcoin address to send Bitcoins to. No direct contact to prevent discovery
tigerisabelle 31
What do people not understand about not touching other people's electronics?? That shit is like a modern day diary
may14th 26
Your roommate should be responsible for the costs. FYL.
xdafuze 12
Even if you pay it you probably won't get your files unlocked. Your best bet would be to take it to someone who knows more about that
aussiebloke4578 11
Actually, they have a pretty good record for releasing files. Otherwise there's no repeat business because no one will bother paying
tezza1965 8
It's a virus. It was used a lot a few years back. If you take the PC to a reputable repair shop they will fix it.
Scorpio1691 29
Unfortunately the only true way to wipe ransomware is a full wipe. The IT people I know either won't touch it or will do a wipe and reinstall. Repeat business?? It is nothing but plain blackmail. if they see you willing to pay something. they will just up it and up it because they can see you are desperate. That comment almost implies that they are doing an honest service????
pdunlap76 1
You can't fix it, you either pay, go to a backup, or you are out of luck. No other option.
Tigerscar 2
Had to make an account just to say this. I had ransomware a few months ago, idk how tf i got it, never open spam emails or visit sketchy websites, but i did a simple restore point thing and was back to normal (:
allykaymorris 24
Yikes. Hackers are terribly smart people. Use better passwords!!
Zanquis 22
Hackers yea, people behind randsomware are idiots praying on bigger idiots who think paying really helps. Also always have a remote backup, cloud or usb for important files
darshini_ii 24
Why wasn't it password protected exactly?
techieloot 8
ransomware is not from week password you can go to let's say google and get it if they got hacked
Soninuva 41
They're probably wondering why it didn't have a password to prevent people like OP's roommate from messing with it.
Nabexis 9
I think they were talking about the roomie getting on so easily.
CheekyRaccoon 27
Then you find out, that it's actually your roommate who's doing the ransom. I hope that you'll be able to get it all your data, without too much trouble.
Danne696 14
I also feel that either that or that the roommate knows the hackers is very likely. It's just quite the coincidece that the hackers happned to target OP at that specific time when the roommate was using it.
Soninuva 41
Not really; if people aren't careful with their browsing habits, or are gullible, it would be quite easy for them to unintentionally allow many types of malware to be loaded onto a device.
beautfldisasta 12
The hacker virus thing happened to me one time. If it's on safari try deleting the safari. And restarting your computer. Don't panic or pay them any money. Good luck fixing it
__Kaia__ 12
I don't think it's possible to not panic when a dissertation is involved
Mathalamus 25
That's a new one. Ransomware. Get your roommate to pay the cost, in a reasonable fashion.