Unfortunately, it seems like more and more malware is "rigged" to attempt to destroy your OS if you attempt to remove it.
Now, while a manufacturer might not sell something like that....well, personally I think that a re-seller operating under a false name would be more concerning.
I'm basing a little bit of this on guessing (mainly, whether or not these things can actually be reprogrammed by the end-user and how it affects the device functionality, if they can't; what happens when they're able to be?) so bear with me.
Obviously, device safety is tantamount; we want our devices to be safe, reliable, and ...well, we want them to work like they should.
I tried to write something to expand upon this, but it made everything look a little worse than it actually is.
I'll be attempting to truncate or completely remove rambling, but I can't guarantee I won't be throwing guesses out there towards the end of this post....
So, viruses; My old friends!
The source of so many people telling me "My computer is slow, can you fix it"? for nearly 20 years.
Unless it's out of pure necessity, I no longer fix computers.
----------------
Here we go:
An honorable mention for nasty viruses to remove: the Cryptolocker variants that started hitting a lot of websites around this time last year; infects the print spooler (allowing privilege elevation and pretty much total computer control by the attacker) and then encrypts your files and holds them for ransom. It also triggers a countdown timer that, (apparently) once expired, (yes, they expect you to pay them) the decryption key
Also, you cannot reverse this encryption, so unless you neutralize the virus when you first encounter it, you're going to be forced to reformat/reinstall to get functionality back, and your files will be....well, gone. If this computer is on a network when it gets infected, you guessed it; the domino effect. Kinda like the Sasser worm, but a lot, lot worse. This virus could easily destroy a business that wasn't prepared with off-site or offline backups....and there are multiple variants of this ...thing floating around out there.
The only two (technically 3, though I am only naming 2 because it's quite easy to break your OS with the third) things I can possibly think that would catch a funky, unidentified virus the first time it hit any PC; MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware & HitManPro's (by surflight) alert program/guard will be of some use in these instances.
Note that you would need to use a Pro trial for Malwarebytes to get the always-on protection running (which would help make sure the virus doesn't disable the AV), which would help if you're already infected with a virus, just not necessarily the CryptoLocker variants. I've actually witnessed HitManPro's free alert system block that specific virus on other computers, though.
I paid $10 for that pro M.B.A.M. license on Cyber Monday in 2011.
Still have no issues.
Crap, am I rambling? Hang on.
Proactively, you can use CryptoPrevent to modify a large number of system policies simultaneously, or you could do it manually with the group policy editor (do not 'guess or mess' with these settings: bad things will happen). This should prevent a lot of stuff from even being able to install itself in a lot of locations and restrict any harm it may do.
---------------------------------
In regards to viruses on/in PVs, I am not certain how the systems work, frankly.
If there's a way to make these things remember functions, calculations, settings, then there has to be some kind of NVRAM/ROM holding that information in place. As an example, when I take a battery of out a VAMO, it's going to remember the wattage & voltage as well as the fact I have the device set to RMS instead of Mean.
If this is the case, well.... I can't say I've heard of anyone that's bought a "Jailbroken VAMO", installed something complex enough to actually take over a windows system (either automatically or manually) and done something malicious after the fact.
In fact, typing "Jailbroken VAMO" makes me want to laugh, then I realize how this actually could become a serious problem in the future.
I don't want to have to put antivirus software on my PV 2-5 years down the line.
....while I'm thinking about it, wouldn't a charger (on a stick battery) that didn't stop reverse current flow potentially cause severe damage to a system if the battery suddenly failed or released too much current all at once?
But, for a moment, think about it: there are now computers that can directly access the BIOS from within the OS, and running a computer as an administrator gives that user nearly (if not fully) unrestricted access to the system. If that power can be used to brick a computer, it could certainly brick a PV.
I think we should be more concerned about malware showing up that infects the device through the computer, instead of the device itself infecting the computer. But who knows if or when that will even/ever happen? I'm certainly more concerned about removing my devices and/or batteries from chargers before going to sleep and as soon as they finish charging- versus a PV that may possibly be rigged so that it'll connect to the internet and send information about....my vaping habits?
Naw, actually I think that dropping your device would be a bigger threat, unless people are intentionally selling devices that can be remotely accessed automatically and remotely manipulated. That, my friends, would be very strange. Obviously, down the line, there are other things that we will need to be concerned with regarding PV software/hardware/specs/performance/battery cell technology. But in the end, I think it's going to all end up connected the way tech is sailing along: From dial-up to fiber. TV becoming not only miniaturized, but hand-held computers that also function as TVs, phones, alert systems, alarm clocks....
In the end....
I want my PV to make my vision go 3d (4d? lol) when I hold the button down.
I don't expect glasses or anything like that.
j/k.
But seriously, it would be kinda cool to press a button on your phone or tablet and have your PV just pop out of it, ready to vape. What's ironic is that we're going to need better liquid storage systems over smaller battery cell technology, unless someone integrates a PV into a backpack with a water reservoir built in
. No, I don't want to put e-liquid in the water reservoir; I just think that there's a lot of innovative ideas people haven't touched.I just want a skin for my iStick made out of those glow in the dark super-bouncy ball things. At least, then, I can knock it over and have it bounce back up-right.
Seriously, though. There's a lack of well-performing glowy things (luminescent items, in other words) in the vaping department. I propose this be rectified, because its sure easier to see a dimly-glowy thing at night than a completely non-glowy thing (obviously); you have to reach out in the dark and retrieve your nearly-invisible PV from the void of the infernal abyss.
I jest, but that makes it seem more dramatic, right?
I could just get some glow paint and do a simple pattern on it using masking tape.
One thing I like about PVs with displays is that they provide enough light for me to actually see in front of myself in total darkness...until the screen goes off.
Power outage =
+ the comfort of knowing there are 4 backup batteries for the temperamental VAMO....if you're really concerned about your PV interfacing with your PC for some reason, just don't plug your batteries into your computer. This rules out any possibility of there being a problem, if it ever does become one.
I did experience the old plug-in KGO being detected as a drive before, so.... there is that.
This was meant to be posted last night.
Last edited:
I think of everyone here very fondly too and likewise wish you all nothing but joy and great tobacco.
