install anti-virus programs on each and every workstation. With the proliferation of viruses out there, you're far too vulnerable without it. I think that's what happened to your system. I think you picked up a virus somewhere, probably in an e-mail attachment from someone, the kind that sics itself onto your hard drive, and then begins eating your files." She sipped her warm soft drink, wishing for a hot sandwich and a colder drink.
She shrugged her slender shoulders. "That's the only thing I can figure out right now. It's the only explanation I can find. I've checked and rechecked everything else." And she had the headache to prove it.
He leaned forward in his chair, his concentration total. "Do you mean that perhaps someone has done this deliberately?" Concern etched his words and she sought to soothe his worry.
"Deliberately?" She considered. "No. Not necessarily. Certain software is particularly vulnerable to this type of virus. Hackers think it's cute to send viruses out that disrupt businesses and destroy data."
"This type of thing is done for fun?" He looked so shocked, she laughed.
"Believe it or not, yes." She cocked her head. "Guess you're not in Kansas anymore." At his frown, she realized he didn't have a clue what she was referring to. She laughed. "Never mind, it's just an expression."
"An expression?" He continued to frown. "What does Kansas have to do with my computer system in California?"
Amused, Faith realized she was going to have to give him a crash-course in American pop culture. "Did you ever see the movie The Wizard of Oz? "
He looked both suspicious and skeptical. "No. Should I?"
"Yeah." She smiled and leaned her arms on the table. "It's a great flick. Anyway, 'you're not in Kansas anymore' is merely an expression, a takeoff on the movie's theme. It just means someone's being particularly naive about something."
"And am I being naive?" he asked carefully, wondering if she was once again making fun of him.
Uh-oh, she had a feeling she was about to put her foot in her mouth again.
She chose her words carefully, not wanting to insult him further. She rather liked having her head where it sat.
"Ali, I know it's hard to believe, but some people do deliberately try to disrupt businesses and destroy data merely for their own pleasure."
"That is a very sad state of affairs."
"I agree."
"But because of them, you have a job, correct? Then perhaps you should show some appreciation?" The amusement glinting in his eyes made her realize that he was teasing her. It took her by surprise.
"You've got a point there," she admitted with a smile.
"But if you think or even suspect this was deliberately done to disrupt my business, I shall need to get my security people on it."
The way he said it made her think he was about ready to call out the royal national guard.
"Now wait a minute, Ali, don't get your shorts in a crimp. I don't think this was deliberate. I think someone was just careless." She held up her hand before he could speak. "Not necessarily one of your employees." She didn't even want to go there, fearing his reaction. She certainly didn't want to be the cause of someone losing his job. "Sometimes you pick up a virus and you don't even realize it until your system is affected. So for the time being, I think you'll need to be very, very careful. I'd instruct all of your employees not to open any e-mails from anyone who is not known to them."
"Okay." He nodded slowly as if deep in thought. "I shall have Kadid attend to it immediately."
"Good." At least the man was taking her advice, something she was certain he had difficulty doing normally. She wasn't certain if it was because she was a woman, or simply because he was a royal. In either case, she had a feeling Ali was more accustomed to issuing orders than to taking them.
"Now, once I install the anti-virus software, it will run automatically every time the system is booted up, and every time one of the workstations is turned on. It's not
She shrugged her slender shoulders. "That's the only thing I can figure out right now. It's the only explanation I can find. I've checked and rechecked everything else." And she had the headache to prove it.
He leaned forward in his chair, his concentration total. "Do you mean that perhaps someone has done this deliberately?" Concern etched his words and she sought to soothe his worry.
"Deliberately?" She considered. "No. Not necessarily. Certain software is particularly vulnerable to this type of virus. Hackers think it's cute to send viruses out that disrupt businesses and destroy data."
"This type of thing is done for fun?" He looked so shocked, she laughed.
"Believe it or not, yes." She cocked her head. "Guess you're not in Kansas anymore." At his frown, she realized he didn't have a clue what she was referring to. She laughed. "Never mind, it's just an expression."
"An expression?" He continued to frown. "What does Kansas have to do with my computer system in California?"
Amused, Faith realized she was going to have to give him a crash-course in American pop culture. "Did you ever see the movie The Wizard of Oz? "
He looked both suspicious and skeptical. "No. Should I?"
"Yeah." She smiled and leaned her arms on the table. "It's a great flick. Anyway, 'you're not in Kansas anymore' is merely an expression, a takeoff on the movie's theme. It just means someone's being particularly naive about something."
"And am I being naive?" he asked carefully, wondering if she was once again making fun of him.
Uh-oh, she had a feeling she was about to put her foot in her mouth again.
She chose her words carefully, not wanting to insult him further. She rather liked having her head where it sat.
"Ali, I know it's hard to believe, but some people do deliberately try to disrupt businesses and destroy data merely for their own pleasure."
"That is a very sad state of affairs."
"I agree."
"But because of them, you have a job, correct? Then perhaps you should show some appreciation?" The amusement glinting in his eyes made her realize that he was teasing her. It took her by surprise.
"You've got a point there," she admitted with a smile.
"But if you think or even suspect this was deliberately done to disrupt my business, I shall need to get my security people on it."
The way he said it made her think he was about ready to call out the royal national guard.
"Now wait a minute, Ali, don't get your shorts in a crimp. I don't think this was deliberate. I think someone was just careless." She held up her hand before he could speak. "Not necessarily one of your employees." She didn't even want to go there, fearing his reaction. She certainly didn't want to be the cause of someone losing his job. "Sometimes you pick up a virus and you don't even realize it until your system is affected. So for the time being, I think you'll need to be very, very careful. I'd instruct all of your employees not to open any e-mails from anyone who is not known to them."
"Okay." He nodded slowly as if deep in thought. "I shall have Kadid attend to it immediately."
"Good." At least the man was taking her advice, something she was certain he had difficulty doing normally. She wasn't certain if it was because she was a woman, or simply because he was a royal. In either case, she had a feeling Ali was more accustomed to issuing orders than to taking them.
"Now, once I install the anti-virus software, it will run automatically every time the system is booted up, and every time one of the workstations is turned on. It's not
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