Up until this point I've never really had any qualms with hackers. I've always known how to protect myself from them and sometimes I've been amused by the stunts pulled.

I've stopped being amused.

I work in internet tech support and dealing with the reporcussions of the msblaster virus has been a nightmare.

Has Microsoft been hurt by this? Annoyed, perhaps, but not any lasting damage.

Who HAS been hurt by this virus?

The elderly
The disabled
The inexperianced

People who just got a computer to e-mail their families
People who are trying to work but can't because they were unaware of the problem or unable to fix it.

I'm frustrated and angry at this point. Some people, arrorgant and spitful, thought to strike a blow at the hated Microsoft and instead pointlessly harmed innocent by-standers for what...to make a point?

I have to say, I don't understand the mentality of people that would do such a thing. What creates within someone such a desire that they can wantonly harm others and yet feel GOOD about what they've done.

Can someone explain this to me?

Seriously, I want just ONE of the people responsible to spend the day walking old ladies through the steps of cleaning out this virus. Or perhaps, the hearing impared who have to use a phone relay system to communicate with us...or even just a 30-something woman near tears because she gets back from vacation and can't fufill any of the orders in her small personal business because her computer won't stay online for more than 45 seconds at a time.

Just one day.

Very well said, Kat. I feel your frustration. Fortunately, I wasn't effected by the virus myself, but I know lots of people that were and you're right...the effects are devastating to people that know nothing about computers.

We are lucky to have the knowledge here at AnswerPool that we do. I know a lot of those computer wizzes helped lots of people throught that.

Sorry you're so frustrated, Kat.

Um well for an explaination, when people do things, any people doing anything, they very rarely think about specifics, all the situations and people that it affects don't come into mind. It's like when your driving down the road, to you all those people around you are all the same and all thinking just like you - a normal person. Hey I don't even understand how computer viruses could hurt an elderly, inexperienced, or disabled person.

People who hate Microsoft and try to hit them have the same mentality of someone wanting revenge. If someone is pissed off at something for some reason, they'll do all kinds of things if they really want to and can. Imagine someone comes over to your house saying your dog trampled his hard-earned garden, he's rightfully pissed and tells you that you should do something about it. You know it was a mistake because he found a hole in the fence and escaped and his garden had some attractive herbs. But your neighbor doesn't much care for pets and goes on a rant about how people should have pets because of reasons like this and you being a caring animal lover get mad. Some people would try to bring about a peaceful solution even though you are very mad, but other people would punch him. Then he would get up and punch back starting a fight of anger. There is no point in this. And I doubt there is real arrogance because I doubt they really think they're better than Microsoft, I think it's pretty much spitefulness.

Sometimes it might be just anarchist feelings. Ever want to mess up something that is nice and perfect(or powerful)(or at least seems that way from the outside)?

It would be nice to live in peace though.

Thank God for the AP computer experts, I had been infected with the virus and had no clue what to do until I logged on and found the instructions, I did as told and got rid of it!!!Thanks AP!!!!