Maleware, Spyware, and Viruses OH MY!

This is probably the single most confusing subject for most computer users. What are the differences, how are they the same, what do I need to protect myself and how do I get them are the most common questions I get regarding these three computer bad guys. My next three installments will be about each type. Where they may come from, what to look for and what to do if you find yourself infected.

The first on the list is going to be Malware. Which today really is the most prevalent of the three. It is also the easiest to become infected by and can be the hardest to get ride of. Malware is defined by Wikipedia as such;

Malware, is a relatively new word formed from the words malicious and software, is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent.

Malware is also often transmitted along with viruses and trojan horses. They work together to infect your system, to spread to other systems and to elude detection from your security software. It is transmitted almost exclusively through websites and files you may or may not know that you are downloading from websites. It's rare for you to get maleware from a disk, or through an email. One of the worst and currently one of the most prevalant types of maleware is called Smitfraud. Though it may also be known by any one of nearly 100 names as Smitfraud is the underlying nardowell, while what you may see on the surface appears to actually be a legitimate program.... confused? Perhaps it would be simpliar if I walked you through a potential infection. Where you may have gotten it and what it will come across looking like.

Imagine yourself browsing through the wide web looking for funny and interesting videos. You end up at a site you may be familiar with, and while trying to get the video to play you're instructed to install a program so that you can watch it. The program is called Adobe Flash which you've heard is a safe program. You click the link offered to you, install the program and your video plays.

The next day you get on your computer and there is a little shield that may look like either of these.

It's accompanied by a pop up warning that you've been infected, that you're in danger, that you must act quickly to save your computer from damage. You may see a box come up showing you that your computer has been scanned and it's infected with dozens or even hundreds of viruses or spyware. Then once you're good and scared a very official program will come up telling you that your Antivirus program needs to be activated, renewed or in some way paid for to protect you from this assult.

And this is when you run and grab your credit card, type the number in as quick as you can and before you know it you've just paid the person who infected your system in the first place. Granted the pop-ups and scary notices may go away, but you have in effect just paid a ransom.

The best thing you can do at this point is call your credit card company and dispute the charge. Most companies will remove it as nobody will dispute your charge back. The second thing you should do is make sure your antivirus software is up to date and run a full system scan. I'll be honest with you here, that probably won't fix it, but depending on the varient you have it just might. You can also try running a system restore to several days before the problem started. This also has limited effectiveness but again it can't hurt, and it might save you further costs.

If your Antivirus is expired, many years old or you just don't know, it's time to call a professional. Unfortunatly with the broad variety of malware out there, repairs can be as simple as a 30 minute visit, or as complex as requiring that your entire system be backed up and wiped clean to banish every trace. There really isn't any way to know the answer to that question until the simple fixes have been exhausted.

The best way to protect yourself is to pay attention. Here are a few ways to be proactive in protecting your computer.

1. Don't install programs from websites you don't know. If www.flashmoviesforfun.com wants you to install Adobe Flash, go to Adobe's webiste and install it there. Don't trust a site you aren't familiar with to download safe products.
   
2. When you're surfing the internet and a box pops up don't just click yes because it's there. Read the pop up and try using the X in the upper right hand corner if you aren't comfortable with the pop ups legitimacy.
3. If it's too good to be true, it probably is. There is a lot of good free software out there on the net, but if you know Microsoft charges $400 for it's Office 2007 program, and you find it for free somewhere else, there's probably something not right there.
4. Keep your antivirus updated! Too many people let their antivirus program expire. If you can't afford a great paid software program like Norton's latest Internet Security 2009, try a good free program like AVG, or Avast. They may be slower, or not as customizable but they're better than a paid program 2 years out of date!

With these thoughts in mind and a little common sense you should be able to stay maleware free! Stay tuned next time for information on spyware.

Computer Mechanix, Inc. would be proud to help you with any computer related problems or services. Simply call us at 828-281-4379 or make an appointment online.

If you think you might have any of the Smitfraud varients, check this list for some of the more common ones:
Advanced Antivirus, AdwarePunisher, AdwareSheriff, AlphaCleaner, AntiSpyCheck, AntiSpyware Expert, Antispyware Soldier, AntiVermeans, AntiVermins, AntiVerminser, AntiVirGear, Antivirus 2009, Antivirus 2010, Antivirus 360, AntiVirus Lab 2009, Antivirus Master, Antivirus Sentry, Antivirus XP 2008, AntivirusGolden, AVGold, Awola, BraveSentry, IE Defender, IE-Security, Internet Antivirus, MalwareCrush, MalwareWipe, MalwareWiped, MalwaresWipeds, MalwareWipePro, MalwareWiper, Micro Antivirus 2009, MS Antivirus, PC Protection Center 2008, Personal Defender 2009, PestCapture, PestTrap, Power Antivirus, Power-Antivirus-2009, PSGuard, quicknavigate.com, Registry Cleaner, Security iGuard, Smart Antivirus 2009, Smitfraud, Spy Protector, SpyAxe, SpyCrush, SpyDown, SpyFalcon, SpyGuard, SpyHeal, SpyHeals, SpyLocked, SpyMarshal, SpySheriff, SpySoldier, Spyware Guard 2008, Spyware Vanisher, Spyware Soft Stop, SpywareLocked, SpywareQuake, SpywareKnight, SpywareRemover, SpywareSheriff, SpywareStrike, Startsearches.net, System Antivirus 2008, TheSpyBot, TitanShield Antispyware, Total Protect 2009, Total Secure 2009, Trust Cleaner, Ultimate Antivirus 2008, UpdateSearches.com, Virtual Maid, Virus Heat, Virus Protect, Virus Protect Pro, VirusBlast, VirusBurst, VirusRay, Virus Remover 2008, VirusResponse Lab 2009, VirusTrigger, Win32.puper, WinHound, Vista Antivirus 2008, WinDefender 2009, XLG Security Center, XP Security Center, XPert Antivirus, XP Police Antivirus, Brain Codec, ChristmasPorn, DirectAccess, DirectVideo, EliteCodec, eMedia Codec, EZVideo, FreeVideo, Gold Codec, HQ Codec, iCodecPack, IECodec, iMediaCodec, Image ActiveX Object, Image Add-on, IntCodec, iVideoCodec, JPEG Encoder, Key Generator, LookForPorn, Media-Codec, MediaCodec, MMediaCodec, MovieCommander, MPCODEC, My Pass Generator, NetProject, Online Image Add-on, Online Video Add-on, PCODEC, Perfect Codec, PowerCodec, PornPass Manager, PornMag Pass, Pornovid, PrivateVideo, QualityCodec, Silver Codec, SearchPorn, SexVid, SiteEntry, SiteTicket, SoftCodec, strCodec, Super Codec, TrueCodec, VideoAccess, VideoBox, VidCodecs, Video Access ActiveX Object, Video ActiveX Object, Video Add-on, VideoCompressionCodec, VideoKeyCodec, VideosCodec, WinAntiSpyPro, WinMediaCodec, X Password Generator, X Password Manager, ZipCodec