Tips to Protect Against Spammers, Phishing and Viruses …

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A friend of ours recently passed along these tips to help protect ourselves and each other from spammers, phishing and viruses.   We thought this list was worth sharing, with our friend’s permission (she wishes to remain anonymous…but she is not a spammer!) , so we’re sharing it here.  Although some of this is just common sense in today’s world, if you’re able to take away even one new idea that helps protect you and your information…then it’s a win.

Protect Yourself!

  • If you get an email, even from someone you know, with just a link and no text.. do not open it. Send the person an email or text message and ask if they sent it. Look at the time stamp on the email… was it sent at 4:00 am and you know your friend is not a night owl? Ask yourself some common sense questions and don’t get wrapped up in curiosity about where the link may take you.
  • Check your “sent mail” and “deleted mail” box frequently. If you see that, all of the sudden, you have “sent” out a bunch of emails that you don’t remember sending you may have picked up a virus that is spamming mail to your friends, family, etc.
  • If you do a variety of online banking with different accounts (ie. husband, wife, business or personal accounts), when possible, do not use the same computer for all of your banking needs. If that computer becomes infected than the virus can lift the passwords for all of your accounts. If you are using different computers you can limit the damage.
  • Social networking pages are one of the biggest ways to circulate viruses. Use updated virus protection when using them!
  • No computer or computer brand is excluded from being attacked by viruses.
  • Viruses are being created and circulates for smart phones. If you would not open it on your computer, don’t open it on your smart phone. Any operating system can become infected. Do not set your smart phone for “Auto Update”. When you get notified an update is due for your phone give it a few days before you do it. If an update is infected often it will hit the news to warn folks about it.
  • Your smart phone can pass a lot of information from the phone to your desktop and vice versa.. if you sync or tether your phone to your computer you could be exchanging virus information between the two. The same holds true for using jump drives between computers and phones.
  • If you are in a public place and connecting to WiFi.. know what network you should be looking for. For example, if you are in the ABC Airport find out the name of the airport service provider. If ABC Airport does not have a free wifi but you see “ABC Free WiFi” as a option.. STOP! What may be happening is someone is using their laptop as a service provider. Basically, that person has purchased the WiFi at ABC Airport but they are opening their computer up to be used as a login for the service. When you log in via their service they may have access to your computer. They can put a keystroke capture virus, spy ware, etc. on your computer. Even when you disconnect from the service your computer will still be infected. Be cautious of open WiFi networks.
  • Some websites will attempt to automatically access your computer when you visit them. They often install adware bugs that will cause a flurry of pop ups to appear on your screen. This adware will often allow for other programs with even more nefarious purposes to be installed and before you know it, your computer will be swamped. To stop these rogue websites, adjust the settings on your antivirus software and firewall so that no outside connections can be made and no programs can be installed without your express permission.
  • Be aware of instant messages. If you get a message from someone you don’t know.. or are not sure you know.. don’t click on the link offered. Also, do a little investigation… for example. If you get an IM from “John” and he says, “Hey, check out this link! You will love it.. too funny!” We just about all know someone named “John”. So first find out if this is the guy you know before clicking on the link. Send him and IM back asking him about something only he would know. .. ie: “I was just thinking about you.. wanted to ask you about the _____”
  • Use caution when looking for antivirus software. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to get antivirus software and finding out you went to what you thought was an anti virus web page for the latest and greatest software only to find out you just downloaded a virus.
  • If you sell something via the internet.. remember.. personal checks, bank checks, cashier checks, money orders, etc. can all be faked. Insure your package when you ship it, track it, and get a signature at time of delivery. Some forgeries are so good it takes the banks a lot of time and work to figure out they are fake. Once the bank finds out the funds are not legit.. the funds will be removed from you even though you sold and shipped the item in good faith. Wire transfer is not fool proof either.. but the bank will verify funds before the money is sent.
  • If you get an email that asks you to “refund the unused funds” delete it. That is a scam.
  • If you get an email from PayPal, banks, credit card companies, etc. do not click on any links. Scammers will create web pages that look just like the pages of a real company. They will ask you to go to that web page and ask you to verify info., re enter info., etc. What they will be doing is getting your info. to be used for their own purposes. They are not installing a virus on your computer that captures info.. you are giving them the info.
  • No matter how many times it says, “YOU WIN” you did not. Don’t click on the link.

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How to Save Your Computer

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The last thing that you want to happen to the important files that you saved on your computer is to lose them. This may happen if your computer acquired some sort of a computer virus. The virus might cause the corruption of the files. But these computer viruses can be kept at bay too. Installing an anti-virus is necessary. It is your computers defense against viruses that can come from various sources. And it is important to note that the anti-virus has to be updated regularly too. Some individuals who forgot to install an anti-virus or update this software might wonder what happened to their files and why is their computer acting weird. If ever you had forgotten to have the anti-virus installed and your computer got a virus, bring it to a computer technician. You should consider approaching dependable computer repair shops like the baltimore computer repair. This is to be confident that your computer will be handled proficiently. Most computer repair shops offer virus removal on an affordable rate.

Virus Protection Software ? – Straight Dope Message Board

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Computer Virus Security » Online Informatie

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Finding out how to utilize a personal computer is straightforward. Learning how to use a pc properly and safely, on the other hand, at times go on a lesson with unpleasant fact. If your laptop never dropped victim to some computer virus, think about oneself incredibly, incredibly fortunate. Take actions today to defend ignore the against injury or even damage.

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1 . Norton Trojan
Norton ‘s been around for quit some time which is respected just as one superb virus safeguard. Norton features successfully formulated their software package to match up using appearing trojans. It’s going to automatically check out and also eliminate infections through your personal computer, like instant meaning along with e-mail devices

2 . McAfee VirusScan
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1 . eTrust EZ Antivirus
It is a reliable deal by Computer system Associates that features a not hard screen and works for several pcs. A two-year subscription delivers unique protection at a bargain price. Your registration to eTrust EZ Anti-virus consists of up-to-date safety which can be automatically downloaded when your laptop or computer is definitely linked to the Web. Because the program supplies the newest data, you are lower the probability that to get contaminated.

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As with all solution, your pc needs a fair bit involving routine maintenance to operate successfully, AMRqwery58

along with safeguard to maintain the item by harm. It’s a large outlay, thus make the time free baby stuff and funds to get the trojan defense software free baby stuff you will need.

Malware Protection | Coin Challenge

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Understanding how to make use of a computer is easy. Learning utilizing your personal computer safely and securely and also solidly, nonetheless, from time to time have a session within severe reality. If your personal computer has not slipped sufferer to your disease, contemplate yourself really, really fortuitous. Take ways at this point to guard your investment versus deterioration and even deterioration.

All computer users, particularly those whom regularly make an online search, are usually revealing their own computers in order to worms. There exists a constant danger regarding cyber-terrorist, unsolicited mail, adware, phishing, ad ware, Trojans, con artists usually, and others damaging worms. Once anyone hook up to the world wide web, your laptop along with data files tend to be vulnerable possibly at serious danger. Without the right trojan defense, your pc could be taken almost worthless within a matter of moments.

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* Norton Computer virus
Norton has existed for a long time and is respectable as an exceptional malware safety. Norton has efficiently created its computer software join along with rising viruses. It will immediately have a look at in addition to remove worms from the computer system, such as instantaneous information as well as e-mail attachments

McAfee VirusScan
This system discovers, gets rid of along with hinders malware and spy ware that may lead to irrevocable destruction of your personal computer and resulted in decrease in the important documents, for example digital images, family members motion pictures, and also fiscal spreadsheets. These threats may also produce id theft and more slowly Personal computer efficiency. Many of the items you actually benefit and need nearly everyone is staying kept at the moment on your laptop. VirusScan shields the protection within your important data files as well as documents by simply automatically checking and also cleansing data files, downloading as well as e-mail information, and also instantaneous concept in addition to e-mail devices.

* eTrust EZ Malware
This is a solid package through Personal computer Acquaintances that has a not hard screen in addition to works for several pcs. A two-year subscription delivers unique protection at a bargain price. Your registration to eTrust EZ Anti-virus consists of up-to-date safety which can be automatically downloaded when your laptop or computer is definitely linked to the Web. Because the program offers the newest data, you are lower the probability that to get contaminated.

There are numerous various other trojan safety choices on the market industry. You need to find the particular provider perfect for you. Be thorough as part of your exploration; take time to learn the advantages and disadvantages of each one, and focus blogs as well as discussion boards to view merchandise ratings coming from preceding people.

As with all solution, your pc needs a fair bit involving routine maintenance to operate successfully, AMRqwery58

along with security to help keep the idea by harm. It’s a large outlay, thus take the time free baby stuff and funds to get the trojan safety software package free baby stuff you will need.

Computer Virus Security | United Tow Truck Operators

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Finding out how to utilize a personal computer is straightforward. Learning understanding a computer securely in addition to safely, on the other hand, occasionally please take a tutorial throughout unpleasant truth. If your laptop never dropped unwilling recipient to a computer virus, think about oneself quite, quite lucky. Take actions right now to defend ignore the against harm or maybe destruction.

Almost all people, in particular those who generally searching online, usually are subjecting his or her personal computers for you to infections. We have a continual hazard connected with cyberpunks, junk mail, spy ware, phishing, spyware, Trojan viruses, scammers, and many more detrimental infections. Once you get connected to the web, your pc and files are generally prone and at significant chance. Without the proper pc virus safeguard, your personal machine might be made virtually unproductive inside a few seconds.

There is no individual computer virus defense computer software that will promise entire or enduring defense. New malware in addition to hazards are continually appearing, so it’s crucial that you make a choice reputable, anti-virus computer software and have this up-to-date frequently and also hardwearing . computer resistant to new malware. It is critical you fortify your computer most abundant in recent first intelligent malware defense available, and update it frequently as possible.

There are a few straightforward ways to entry computer virus safeguard software program to defend your current documents and also your help to keep ones hardware shielded from damage. Anti-virus software program can be used very easily online. The majority of on-line pc virus defense gives integrated firewall program, anti-virus in addition to attack elimination towards known along with appearing risks. These packages be sure the safeguard of your respective essential data files, including crucial personalized documents as well as loved ones pics. Additionally, they recognize malware ahead of they could be your pc, and they clean up immediately clear worms and also trojan hazards.

It’s not easy to select the correct anti-virus software at a community computer system shop, nevertheless the World-wide-web remains to be the best option supplying the largest variety. You can discover the most beneficial computer software for the very best deals on the net. An uncomplicated seek is all it will take to get plenty of web-sites with total merchandise product descriptions. There is no greater position than the Web to shop for pc virus security.

Here are several of the very most strongly recommended anti-virus computer software suppliers that you can actually admittance on the web:

Norton Trojan
Norton ‘s been around for quit some time and is also well known as a possible excellent virus security. Norton provides productively designed the software package to match up using appearing trojans. It’s going to quickly scan as well as do away with infections through your pc, which include fast communication along with e-mail parts

2 . McAfee VirusScan
The offer picks up, cleans away and obstructs infections and also malware which could cause irreversible harm to your laptop and also result in the lack of ones irreplaceable files, like electronic digital photos, spouse and children shows, in addition to financial excel spreadsheets. These dangers could also result in identity fraud and also slow Computer system effectiveness. Many of the points a person importance and require most are being stashed at this time on your PC. VirusScan defends the security of the valuable files along with files by immediately encoding in addition to cleanup information, data along with e-mail communications, as well as fast meaning as well as e-mail attachments.

eTrust EZ Antivirus
It is a sound package deal via Computer system Associates with a not at all hard program in addition to works for numerous pcs. A two-year subscription delivers unique protection at a bargain price. Your registration to eTrust EZ Anti-virus consists of up-to-date safety that may be automatically downloadable when your laptop or computer is definitely linked to the Internet. Because the program offers the latest data, that you are unlikely to get infected.

There are countless some other computer virus protection choices on the market industry. You need to find the actual provider perfect for you. Be persistent with your analysis; take time to understand the advantages and disadvantages for each one, and study blogs as well as forums to find out merchandise reviews through past people.

As with every product or service, your computer needs a fair bit regarding preservation to operate effectively, AMRqwery58

along with security to help keep the idea by cause harm to. It’s a large outlay, therefore take the time free baby stuff and cash to get the trojan safety software package free baby stuff you will need.

What's a computer virus?

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This post follows up on the two-minute tech tip I recorded for Episode 251 of the Just the Books podcast.

Viruses differ from bugs because they can spread. They copy themselves and then move on to infect a new computer, while they once spread through physical media such as floppy disks, they now tend to piggy-back on emails and hide in website links.

There are a few more terms you should know:

  • Malware is the generic term for all malicious software.
  • A Trojan horse pretends to be a nice program while really it is malicious. Those popup ads that say “Your computer may be infected, click here to install our security check now!” are often Trojan horses.
  • A worm is different from a virus because it doesn’t need the user to do something to infect others, such as forward an email. Worms most often take advantage of known bugs in computers to spread.

There are more, but this is only an introduction!

The Flashback virus that recently infected lots of Macs came from WordPress sites that were themselves not updated. There are two layers to this problem:

  1. Self-hosted WordPress sites (not wordpress.com sites) were running out-dated versions of WordPress. There are many reasons why this happens that I’ll cover in future posts, but by not having the most secure and up-to-date installation it allowed the virus to pretend to be an Adobe software update (it was a Trojan).
  2. A vulnerability (a bug) in Java on Macs allowed the virus to run. Apple released a software update to fix Java.

Could this have been prevented? I think by keeping every computer, including those running wordpress up-to-date would have definitely reduced the reach of the infection. Learning about how to take care and use technology would have reduced it further. Is there a possible world without virus attacks causing widespread infection? Yes, but it requires time and education.

Three steps to keep your devices healthy:

  1. Keep your computer up-to-date.
  2. Install virus protection software. There are some small trades-offs to doing this. To be more secure the software has to run all the time and that will mean your computer will run just a tiny bit slower. Will you notice? Probably not. Keep this virus protect up-to-date. Do not schedule these updates monthly, do them daily.
    • Microsoft has Security Essentials.
    • Macs have their own Security tools.

      Can these be your only line of defense? Yes, but I like a two-layered approach.

    • Choose and install your software from a reputable source. Who is a reputable source? The big names such as Norton, McAfee (note: it only has one F!), and F-Secure. There are free options too, Avira, Avast, and AVG come to mind.
      Please do not click ads while you are web surfing that say “You’re computer is infected click here for a free security scan.” I’ll cover phishing soon.
      Does installing and keeping this software updated mean you definitely will not be infected? No, but they will reduce the likelihood by a significant amount.
  3. Be smart with what you do. Don’t click every link and open every attachment, especially if you aren’t expecting a file and the context doesn’t seem to indicate there should be an attachment. Do not install software from unknown sources. Who’s an unknown source? I’ll cover digital credibility and expand upon safe surfing in future posts.

    Here’s a bonus fourth step:

  4. Backup, Backup, Backup. How? Everyway you can. I will cover data organization/backup/archiving in the future but there is a concept called LOCKSS, Lots of Copies Keeps Stuff Safe. While this concept is generally geared toward large institutions, I’ve scaled it down for individuals for years. Of course this doesn’t work if the copies themselves are infected but there are a few ways around it. I’ll cover this in more detail in the future but my quick method is:
    • Copy/Duplicate the file. Paste it right in the same spot.
    • Convert it to another format, for example, it’s a word processing document, print it to PDF.
    • Email it to a spare email account or a trusted friend. I’ve been accepting friend’s final thesis papers and dissertations for years.
    • Make CD/DVD/USB key copies of the files.
    • If it is that critical and important to your future (or past) print it out! You can always scan it and while it might not be the perfect original (in the case of a photograph, for instance), wouldn’t you rather a paper copy and a later scan of that image instead of no copy?

You can read more at the following websites:

Musings from me: My Computer Has a Virus?

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The other morning I was wakened by the ‘hotel’ phone.

(Note:  This is not really a hotel – it is an upscale apartment building in which the owners of each apartment have the option of putting their unit in a rental pool when they are not using it)

Anyway, I was wakened by the phone that comes with the condo.

I answered rather groggilly.

The woman on the other end spoke with such poor grasp of the  English language that I had to keep asking her to repeat herself.  Finally, I just said “I cannot understand you”. 

Her response was “Hello?  Can you hear me?”

“I can hear you just fine, I cannot understand you” I sighed.

Eventually, I deduced from the few words that I could  decipher, that she was telling me their system was picking up that a virus was trying to be downloaded onto my computer.

Remember…..
1.  I had been sound asleep,
2.  the call came in on the phone I assumed was connected to the office that gave me the password to use their wireless internet
3.  I could not really understand what she was saying

By this time, Jim was awake so I passed the phone to him.

He is a bit better with accents than I am, but he also had to keep asking for her to repeat herself.  I heard him say “We have 3 computers up here” then he listened for a minute, gave a grunt of disgust, and hung up the phone.

Apparently, she had been telling him “I need you to go to your computer now”  (so she could ‘walk him through’ the ‘protection process’ or something)

Talk about brazen!

I was thankful that first of all, I did not understand what she was saying – long enough to wake up.  And secondly, I was thankful for my husband’s active “scam detector”.

When I went out to the living room to check on my computer, I discovered it was OFF – no way a virus could have been downloading.  Victoria’s computer was also off, as was Jim’s iPad.

So beware folks!  If you are staying in a hotel and get a call from the ‘front desk’ about a computer virus – just hang up.

Besides, I have a very good virus protection program on my machine.

How to repair a computer virus/malware | Cinch IT News

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If you’ve got a computer virus, it is not the end of the world. You don’t even have to feel bad! Even the most savvy computer users will probably get one at some point. Here is what you can do to save your data and fix that virus.

Step 1: Save the data!

If you can boot in to your computer and get some usability out of it you’re in decent shape. The first thing you want to do is copy your Documents, pictures, movies, music, and any other documents you need to keep. I don’t recommend backing up anything in the downloads folder, as you may accidentally copy the file that gave you the virus in the first place.

If you can’t get in to your computer, try accessing your drive via another computer. This would require removing your hard drive and plugging it into another computer as a secondary drive. You would then be able to access the files and copy them just like above.

Step 2: Remove that malicious software!

Depending on the virus/malware, you may be able to just remove it. We find that most of the time it is easier and sometimes faster to just wipe out the computer and reinstall windows. Instead of going that route, I am going to focus on helping you remove the malicious software.

The first thing you’ll want to do is to not do any sensitive activities on your computer. I would highly recommend not doing ANY banking, or even typing in your password to facebook or email. Some malware can record your keystrokes, and the last thing you want is a virus to compromise other aspects of your life.

The next thing you’ll want to do is create a rescue disk. AVG and Kaspersky labs make very good ones. These discs allow your computer to boot into a very safe operating system, where they can scan the computer safely and remove any malicious software without risk. You can get these from http://www.avg.com/us-en/avg-rescue-cd or from http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/rescuedisk. Remember to burn the CD as an ISO image.

Load the burned CD into your computer and follow the instructions. You’ll generally want to scan the whole disk and repair or delete the bad files (you can usually just follow the recommended option).

Once everything has been cleaned, run the scan again to be thorough. I generally scan with both AVG and Kaspersky.

Sometimes, after using a rescue CD, you will not be able to boot into windows. In this case, try booting into safe mode first by pressing f8 while the computer is booting. If you still cannot log in, you’re almost required to reinstall. The next thing you can try is to install that drive in another machine as a secondary drive and run check disk on it. Before you do that, scan the drive with an antivirus program to be even more thorough. To do run check disk, select the drive on the other computer, go to properties->tools->Error-Checking->check now, and let it run.

If it STILL doesn’t boot, you’re pretty much out of luck and have to reinstall. Hopefully you got the data that you needed off of your computer.

See you all next week!