A week ago, I got a message from Avast (Free antivirus protection) and Tunnel Bear (Free VPN protection) that my modem had been compromised and my computer camera were at risk. It looked like a different model of a Canon printer was connected to my computer. And I had a notification that someone was using my location. That is why I ran an extra Avast scan and turned on Tunnel Bear. (It protects me on public WIFI. It isn’t needed on private WIFI.)

My computer has been running slowly and I am unable to back up to my external hard drive for several weeks. I was sure there was something horribly wrong.

After reading about the wise woman of Abel Beth-maacah yesterday, I decided to find the source of the problems and “cut its head off,” see 2 Samuel 20:14-22.

I made a list of things I knew how to do. I started by reading about the difference between a modem and a router. (When I got the message, I shut off our router, which I thought was a modem, and we used mobile data all week.)

The router is ours but the modem comes from your ISP. I called them. It turns out, our internet is completely wireless and we don’t have a modem. (Sigh). The message was an attempt to get us to upgrade to a monthly plan at Avast.

When I turned on Tunnel Bear, the message from Avast changed to “Your location is exposed – Chicago.”

Wrong state!

I don’t worry about the camera because I put a small piece of black, electrical tape over it. I only remove it when I need to use it. (I did the same with my tablet.)

I clicked on the unfamiliar printer notification and at the Canon website, I saw this “new” printer tries to connect to computers looking to see if you have this model.

Wait. What?

Avast also said I had broken registry files. I ran “Clean disk” which scans the hard drive and ran “Defragment.” It is set to run weekly but I thought an extra time wouldn’t hurt.

I got out my computer folder to see where I could check my registry files. No luck.

In the same folder was my book on the external hard drive dock. I was missing a cord! We moved it from the kitchen to the office a couple of times and misplaced one of the cords. That is why I cannot back up the computer.

The good news is this cord is white. The bad news is I haven’t found it yet. (I did find the antennae booster that I was looking for on Saturday!)

I know that God was looking out for me through all of this.

2 Samuel 22:2-3, “He said, ‘The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; 3) My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence.’ “

New American Standard Bible

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