Monday, August 16, 2010

ScareWare- Rogue Anti-Virus Utmost Protection and Removal Techniques

Preface
PC Virus Doctors' Dallas Computer Support has been involved with malware removal for a decade now. That is how this company was originally formed but now takes on comprehensive software and hardware solutions for desktops and laptops. Like we explain to our customers, the best offense is a good defense.
Let's all be honest here, nothing like honesty when dealing with criminals. That's right, these guys that see to it malware is installed on your system are there to take your money, either through bribery in order to leave your machine alone (which will be a short-lived relief), or install adware that serves up advertisements on your machine where they get paid for each ad served to you.

How Machines Become Infected

PC Virus Doctors are often asked, 'how did I become infected'? The answer is always unknown as to each individuals infection, unless porn links are prominent upon drive cleaning which is really not that often. These malware programs come in from many ways in which the cyber criminals continue to get more crafty and crafty to keep their lucrative business thriving.
  1. Emails- the oldest infection carrier ever and it still works.
  2. Injecting Legitimate Websites with Invisible Code- PCVirusDoctors.com website has had many visitors from unscrupulous, suspicious locations trying to visit for "computer or ipod repairs". Highly suspicious and rightly so. See what PC Virus Doctors wrote about 'search results resulting in infections'. PC Virus Doctors often research for particular infections and cures and we can be bit in the backside just like the common household PC user by stumbling upon websites that are tainted with malware.
  3. Legitimate websites are also tricked/duped themselves upon serving up Malvertisement which is revolving advertisements injected with malicious script and maybe with not all revolving advertisements, just that one Malvertisement.
Do not feel as though this is out of control. I can control it as an individual and so can my company, stated here, P.C.V.D.s, through a proper defense and offense.

Defense First

One cannot take any action unless proper security software is installed and I do not mean one piece of software. There must be a multiple lines of defense in order to take on the best cyber criminals in the industry trying to take your cash or take down your PC and these tools MUST be updated constantly.

Never, ever believe that paid software is going to make you safer, it can but it depends on how it is used and the quality of this "Paid/Professional" software. I personally work on a shoe string budget because I have to but I can stave off these cyber criminals through due diligence.

Warning

DO NOT research "free anti-virus, anti-malware or anti-spyware programs" to attempt to use them as defense. These searches will get uneducated users into quick problems. This was one of my personal learning experiences ten years ago. This was a learning lesson that taught me a lot, however, if you need your computer tomorrow, I would refrain from my failed attempts and the lessons I learned. Some lessons were good but many others were costly as far as downtime.

Watch your other search terms, especially popular search times at the moment, "trending searches". Be extra cautious.

Downtime is lost time which generally means lost cash or at least lost pleasure from the internet and even the computer may shut-down and not reboot.

Now On the Offense
  1. Case Scenerio: Ok, let's now assume we stumbled upon an affected website, injected with malware because we get the "WARNING: Your Computer is infected with 666 trojans, 666 adware, 666 spyware and uncountable registry issues!!!" ***Please note that there are often misspellings and the English language syntax is improper.
  2. Action Step [1]: You should immediatley try to hit the back button to back the page to the previous page. If that is not possible then immediately try to "X" the page and close it in the upper right of the webpage, the red "X".
  3. Action Step [2]: If you cannot accomplish Step 1, then hit the power button and immediately power down, sacrificing anything that has not been saved.
Now if you hit the back button successfully you should be OK.

If you had to power down which is often time the best and only choice, users should run their anti-virus and anti-spyware programs, all of them, upon reboot, the entire tool box (hint: users need a complete toolbox). Here are two hints: Always have Spybot S&D downloaded and updated and a current favorite free anti-virus updated always, Avira.

These are some powerful tools and hints to the utmost toolbox in cyber defense as practiced and proved today.
Disclaimer: Search engines, legitimate websites and legitimate advertisers are NOT involved in these schemes with cyber criminals which always results in the criminals being overseas and undetected. These legitimate entities are always trying to be on guard against such fraud but is just a daunting task that will result in the technique of cyber criminals being stopped, every time. Call PC Virus Doctors' Dallas Virus Removal for help against scareware.

No comments: