Replace Old Hard Drives or Loose Data

Many PC users do not understand that hard drives fail. The hard drive is the only physically working part on the machine minus the data/electrons that are moved through the motherboard and other peripherals. These drives spin at average around 5200 revolutions per minute.

Drives are basically holding data like a record player in ways that:

1. The record needle on a record player is now like a head reader/writer on a hard drive
2. The record on a record player is now the platter in a hard drive

Years and years of a physical platter spinning at several thousands revolutions per second is bound to wear out. Is there any disagreement here?

PC Virus Doctors have so many people asking why we need to move or save data on drives that are over two years old after they have become infected with viruses or trojans. This is science readers. Parts wear out. Platters that hold data may start to become worn. The head writer becomes worn and may be hitting the platter.

Here becomes the real danger involving virus/trojan removals on older drives:

• Many times the hard drive must be pulled from the original machine because no programs will execute from the original PC
• Now the drive is pulled it must be slaved (in a variety of ways) to a healthy computer with the software and hardware designed to examine the drive and remove the malware.
• OK, once that is done and the drive is cleaned and repaired and placed properly back into the original machine....
• The data is now not available....GONE.

The absentee data is one I cannot explain except for the fact that the malware must have changed the physical settings on the hard drive.

So beware if you want to be cheap and inattentive to your data. It may be the last time you see pictures of your baby. Call Dallas Data Recovery for help in recovering information from old hard drives.

Redundant Firewalls

PC Virus Doctors' Dallas Computer Support cannot stress enough about extra firewall protection whether it is a software or hardware firewall solution.

A few good free firewalls:

1. ZoneAlarm Free Firewall
2. Comodo Firewall

Comodo Firewall can be used in conjuction with Windows Firewall. If you are using wireless on your PC or hardwired these can be critical in data protection and fighting off malware.
I busted my neighbor trying to access my wireless PCs using Comodo. It is easy to use and you can configure in an easy mode or more stealthy mode.

Timely Rogue Ware- Trojan Meredrop Revisited

PC Virus Doctors have never seen such a stubborn trojan to remove. The wait time for the removal tool was hours. The thought of removal was seemingly hopeless but with much patience virture did arrive. It is always amazing, but should not be with our experience, with the toughnest of the rogue programs that arrive this time every year. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

Users should always make sure they have the latest Windows updates.

• all Windows platforms/ operating systems should be using IE 8; Internet Explorer 8- NO Exceptions
• after upgrading to IE 8 then go to the "Safety" tab and at the bottom of the column go to "Windows Update" and down load all "Important Updates"; VERY IMPORTANT!
• More on Windows updates later.
  
  The rogue ware'z toughest stuff always arrives like Christmas and before Christmas.

Government Internal Response to WikiLeaks

PC Virus Doctors' have learned that the Government responses to the Wikileaks incident that is embarrassing many world governments is taking the information servers offline to some of those in the past that had access privileges. We should do the same as citizens and disconnect our information from the internet less it be compromised.

Some simple solutions:

• take USB drives out of computers while online;
• disconnect hard drives while online;
• and encrypting confidential data.

Always remember to keep your independent antivirus and antimalware scanners updated. The more legitimate antivirus, antimalware scanners the better but they are worthless without recent signature updates; get 'em they are free. Right? Hint.

Never doubt that there is someome out there or close by that wants your data!

Tech Terms Listed On PC Virus Doctors

PC Virus Doctors' Dallas Computer Support is launching and expanding a large tech terms list to help those understand what these ever new technical terms mean in the simplest of descriptions. The definitions will be brief and should hopefully be understood by those who are not to technological but would like a grasp, minimally on concepts of gadgets and the latest hardware and software for PCs.

The list will also be used by staff, sometimes the speeds of devices, capacity of devices, etc., can be overwhelming to retrieve from memory which proves what websites and web pages are for but to serve up useful information.

If anyone would like to see certain topics or terms explained, please do not hesitate to contact us or correct us if our term explanations are too simplified or outright wrong ;)

Bing Allows Reporting Rogue Websites

Tons of rogue antiviruses are unleashed daily it seems that Bing now has a form to report rogue websites that distribute malware. The programs that these web sites unleash is nothing but bribery to get users to buy this worthless malware from about $50-$100. Removing these pest programs is very difficult and often requires expertise to regain hold of the computer. PC Virus Doctors' Dallas Computer Support often works removing these bribery programs that have left users helpless whether in a home or work environment.

I just tried to click on a .pdf file of some names of rogue antiviruses and the Google entry just disappeared within a flash from the results page. Google is also taking aim at delisting rogue websites distributing bunk malware.

PC Virus Doctors have always noticed these fake antimalware programs start occurring around Thanksgiving and leading into Christmas. It seems the cyber criminals like to have their greedy Christmas and holiday season as they make millions yearly.

Internet Terms- Glossary

Sometimes the internet jargon can be so confusing so PC Virus Doctors have initiated a page(s) within our website to help lessen the confusion, even for the website author. So many new terms and acronyms come about on a seemingly daily basis so we have attempted to keep a very simple, if not to simple, approach to explaining the meanings of these internet terms so users can have a more understanding as this tech world evolves. We hope everyone will find something that will explain some mysteries or eliminate some confusion.

Come take a look and give us some feedback if you would like more areas of the internet jargon explained. The glossary will expand, please see Internet Terms. Enjoy.

Trojan:Win32/Meredrop Reappears

PC Virus Doctors' Dallas Computer Support has identified a recurrence of the trojan:win32/ Meredrop that camepacked in an rogue antivirus in a laptop and desktop this weekend.

The malware proved difficult in working with it while active and had to be slaved in order to gain control and scan and get rid of the trojans and other accompanying malware. The trojan Meredrop is a type generic trojan that drops and executes multiple malware that can install other trojans, malware, worms, backdoors and even worms.

Here You Have/Just For You Email Worm

PC Virus Doctors' Dallas PC Support are not surprised by a large number of emails pushed to organizations in order to install an email worm that immediately started sending emails in large fast numbers. The email worm also attempted to disable any security software allowing it to start an email server on its own from user's computers.

The subject line of the email read either "Here You Have" or "Just For You". This is a classic email worm attack. Security software such as anti-virus and anti-spyware programs have found the identification and worm removal method for this particular worm. Users should update all security software and do a check just to make sure their PC machines are not infected.

One Main Rule for Emails:

1. Never open emails that you do not know who personally sent them.

Rule Two for Emails:

1. Make sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware programs are updated with the latest signatures.

Dallas Computer Repair Does Not Wipe Drives for Virus Removals

Dallas Computer Repair's PC Virus Doctors rarely resort to formatting hard drives after malware removal attempts or attempts to remove viruses, trojans or much less spyware or adware. Dallas Computer Repair has an excellent record of removing the toughest of viruses and trojans including the rogue malware removers or fake anti-virus removers that prove to be the toughest of malware to remove.

Most other competitors give up and tell customers that it is impossible to ensure that their is no spyware that can be confidently deleted and with more cost to the consumer, [1] the data must be saved and [2] the drive must be formatted or securely erased with a fresh operating system installed. Their inconsistency is that it can be confidently removed for citizens not corporations where Billions of dollars are involved, but home computers and users can be confident that 99% of malware has and can be removed by PC Virus Doctors.

PC Virus Doctors' Dallas Computer Repair runs a sleuth of programs against any bad programs and data on customers computers that are also installed, updated and given to customers free of charge to prevent such attacks and competently ridding malware.

Do not succumb to such lines like, "We must format the drive", "It is impossible to get rid of your viruses, trojans, etc.".

Call PC Virus Doctors' Dallas PC Repair to take care of the malicious software wrecking havoc on your system.