When we find news about recent viruses we’ll post a blog about them to let our readers know.
The term “malware” can be the combination from the words “malicious” and “software”. When it comes down to it, the term “malware” actually gets its definition from the intent of the creator and not in the function from the software itself. This is because an item of software can not be termed “malicious” unless it’s used for malicious purposes. As we all know, the objective of a tool for example software is dependent upon the creator.
Here are a couple of types of malware that you should be aware of: Continue reading
Rogue security software, also known as “scareware,” is software that appears to be beneficial from a security perspective but provides limited or no security, generates erroneous or misleading alerts, or attempts to lure users into participating in fraudulent transactions.
Rogue security software designers create legitimate looking pop-up windows that advertise security update software. These windows might appear on your screen while you surf the web.
The “updates” or “alerts” in the pop-up windows call for you to take some sort of action, such as clicking to install the software, accept recommended updates, or remove unwanted viruses or spyware. When you click, the rogue security software downloads to your computer.
Rogue security software might also appear in the list of search results when you are searching for trustworthy antispyware software, so it is important to protect your computer.
Rogue security software might report a virus, even though your computer is actually clean. The software might also fail to report viruses when your computer is infected. Inversely, sometimes, when you download rogue security software, it will install a virus or other malicious software on your computer so that the software has something to detect.
Some rogue security software might also:
Rogue security software might also attempt to spoof the Microsoft security update process. Here’s an example of rogue security software that’s disguised as a Microsoft alert but that doesn’t come from Microsoft.
[amazon_enhanced asin=”B003JZNCFS” /][amazon_enhanced asin=”B005TJIDL0″ /]
The term computer virus represents a computer program which can replicate itself once installed on a computer. Most people will use the term “Virus” for most types of malware found on a computer. Some of these other types of software are called adware and spyware. Typically these are not viruses as they do not replicate themselves.
The 30-year-old prank that became the first computer virus
Register, on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 03:03:03 -0800
To the author of Elk Cloner, the first computer virus to be released outside of the lab, it’s sad that, 30 years after the self-replicating code’s appearance, the industry has yet to come up with a secure operating system.
The fake Microsoft Security Essentials Alert is a Trojan that attempts to trick you into thinking you are infected so that you will then install and purchase one of 5 rogue anti-virus programs that it is distributing. When the Trojan is run it will masquerade as an alert from the legitimate Windows Microsoft Security Essentials Program anti-virus program. This alert will be titled Microsoft Security Essentials Alert and states that a Trojan was detected on your computer. It will list this Trojan as Unknown Win32/Trojan and state that it is a severe infection. It will then prompt you to clean your computer using the program in order to remove it. When you click on the Clean Computer or Apply actions button, it will state that it was unable to remove it and then prompt you to scan online.
If you click on the Scan Online button it will distributing rogue programs The Trojan Will then Install one of the below fake antivirus programs Windows Risk Eliminator Windows Utility Tool Windows Shield Center Windows Universal Tool Windows Health Center Windows Problems Remover Windows Problems Protector Windows Antispyware Solution Windows Security & Control Windows Optimization & Security Windows System Optimizator Red Cross Antivirus Peak Protection 2010 Pest Detector 4.1 Major Defense Kit AntiSpySafeguard or AntiSpy Safeguard Red Cross Antivirus Peak Protection 2010 Pest Detector 4.1 Major Defense Kit ThinkPoint AntiSpySafeguard or AntiSpy Safeguard.
Question by Franklyn: My McAfee anti virus has disabled suddenly and i fear it might be a computer virus?
I’ve recently received a “windows security alert” (red shield with an X icon) saying my anti virus has been disabled. I fear that it is a computer virus and that if i take action (clicking on the anti virus) I might cause more harm to my computer. Do any of you know what I’m talking about.
PC Pros 2 Go answer:
We’ve never been a fan of McAfee and for good reason. But the first thing you might want to do is attempt to scan your computer with another software. For this purpose we’d recommend the free version of Super Antispyware or Malwarebytes. Once the scan is finished and you remove what ever the scan finds, then uninstall McAfee. Download and run the McAfee Removal Tool. And finally install your choice of anti virus program. After you install a new virus scanner be sure to update the definitions and run a full scan of your system.
[amazon_enhanced asin=”B008MR2I8U” /][amazon_enhanced asin=”B008SCNF1S” /][amazon_enhanced asin=”B005EIZ77O” /][amazon_enhanced asin=”B008V4SFWW” /][amazon_enhanced asin=”B008MR2YYI” /]
Add your own answer in the comments!
Stumbled upon this on Youtube, thought it would be nice to break up the real virus alerts with this. Enjoy!
Press F8 to enter safe mode at first boot if you cant work in normal mode. These are methods you can use to remove or prevent computer virus. Caution when visiting websites you do not trust and always try to backup because its not always this easy to remove an infection.
Just a little while ago I received a Facebook message from a friend of mine. The message read: “hey, go to album90 dot com and search for “Pc Pros To Go” then click on the first photo.. I bet you didn’t remember that, eh?”
Seemed harmless enough. So I go to album90.com and you’re presented with a Facebook login screen.
I’m thinking, I’m already logged in to Facebook so why am I getting this message. So I entered in a bogus email address and a fake password and it let me on through. And this was the following page.
Just an image of apparently someone’s graduating class.
Album90 dot com appears to be a phishing site. What’s a phishing site? It’s a site that is set up to resemble a trusted site, where you would normally have to log in to. Only when you enter in your personal information it gets recorded. Then at some point in time, the person who set up the site now has your login information for whichever site they tried to make it look like.
Change your passwords immediately! In this case, go and change your Facebook password. And since a lot of people like to use the same password for everything, if you used the same password for your email address that you use for Facebook, then you probably should change that as well.
The other thing you should do is report the site. To report the site to Google visit Report Phishing Page.
It appears as those both the about90 dot com site as well as the redirect link http://www.facebook.com.login.php-profile-signin-qhwfpxzy.htisp.com/index.php?s=dot have been taken down. So if you happened to get snagged by these people, please make sure to changes your passwords as soon as possible. Otherwise, you should hopefully not get any Facebook messages asking you go to about90 dot com.