Archive for February, 2010

Where Did That Computer Virus Come From?

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010


At NovaCPU, we clean and remove many virus infections from computers on a weekly basis.  It’s only natural for our customers to be curious how their computer became infected in the first place and how that virus got past their security software.  Unfortunately, the answer is rarely 100% clear.  There are thousands of different computer viruses and many different methods of how those viruses spread.

Where do Viruses come from?  The answer to that is simple.  A person with knowledge of computer programming writes a virus.  That person may design the virus to delete important files, disable internet access on the computer, or display a barrage of pop-ups on the computer to name a few things.

How are they spread?  That answer is tricky.  There are many different ways a computer virus can spread, and it’s up to the virus writer on which method he/she will use.  Nowadays, most viruses are spread by malicious websites.  What does that mean?  Generally, it’s a website designed to look like a legitimate business website.  The website will somehow entice the user to click on a download and BAM… The computer has a virus.  The website may prompt the user to install an ActiveX control, install an ‘update’ to a video player that is really the virus itself, or use a popup message hoping the user clicks on ANY button (even the ‘Cancel’ or ‘Close’ button can be programmed by the writer to install the virus).

But why didn’t my security software stop it?  That usually has to do with the delivery method.  In the case of a malicious website, when the computer user is successfully enticed into clicking or downloading the virus, then that action by the user told the security software that “This is OK to do”.  The user probably didn’t realize what was happening.  But behind the scenes the security software was ‘told’ by the user to let the virus through. At that point, the security software may or may not be able to successfully remove the virus.  Many viruses are designed to disable certain security software before they begin to do whatever it is they were initially designed to do.

How can I protect myself?  First, have quality security software, and keep it updated.  Second, don’t be ‘Click Happy’.  If the website looks like a phishing site or just a bit odd, don’t install any software from that site.  If you get pop-ups from the site, don’t click on any button.  Use ‘Alt+F4’ to close the pop-up or shut down your computer immediately.  Third, do not click on links in emails or open attachments from people (even companies) that you do not know.

For a few tips on computer security, read this blog.

 

Kyle Greenup | Vice President
NovaCPU
www.novacpu.com

Email: kyle@novacpu.com
Office: 615.822.5454  |  Cell:  615.498.5789
111 Hazel Path | Hendersonville, TN | 37075

Posted in Virus/Spyware | 2 Comments »

Improve your Computer’s Performance & Security – 10 simple steps

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010


Our Computers are valuable tools. I’m sure you agree that it is very worthwhile to keep them running smoothly. Like cars, computers need a bit of TLC every now and then. Here is a list of 10 steps that will keep your machine running smoothly.

These tips can work on any Windows PC, home or office.

1. Microsoft Updates. Any computer geek worth their salt will tell you to run the updates from Microsoft. These updates contain security fixes and performance enhancements. Why wouldn’t you want that? If you go without obtaining these updates, you put yourself more at risk of catching that new virus going around the internet. I’ve been asked to remove many viruses that could have been avoided by simply running the Microsoft Update Service. So please, do the Microsoft Updates and do them again… then again… then again… until there are no critical updates left. Then set your machine to automatically download and install them. The default time is 3 AM…. Is your computer on at 3 AM? Mine is not, so I changed that time to a more appropriate time.

2. Use a strong password. If you are using a computer with no password, it’s like leaving your car with the keys inside. It’s leaving an open invitation for anyone to use! Use a password that is difficult to guess and change it often (every 4-6 weeks is fairly standard). Need help creating a password? Read this great article.

3. Disk Cleanup. Simply put, it helps remove any unused files from your computer; files that are just taking up space. It’s the equivalent of taking out the trash. It’s good to do this monthly, right before step 4.

4. Defragment. All hard drives fragment. That basically means files get out of order on the disk. Defragmenting on a monthly basis is one way to ensure that your hard drive is reading/writing to its full potential.

5. Virus and Spyware Scans. You should do this regularly even if you don’t notice a problem. Use whatever scanning software you have and run a complete scan on all fixed hard disks.

6. Remove Unused Programs. Similar to the disk cleanup (#3 above), you should remove any programs that you don’t use. Open the Control Panel and then use the Add/Remove Programs (Pre-Vista) or the Programs & Features (Vista/7) applet to remove any program that you are not using.

7. Use a Firewall. You may be behind a firewall at work or even home via your router already. However, it is wise to use a software firewall directly on your computer. Windows XP, Vista, & 7 have them built in. Make sure they are on by looking at the Control Panel and then the Windows Firewall applet. Another great firewall program (it’s free!) is ZoneAlarm.

8. Don’t Click on That! Many WebPages have advertisements on them, enticing you to click on them and see what they are selling. Those advertisement’s respective WebPages may ask to install Active-X controls or perhaps some type of media player so they can “display the site correctly”. Ever wonder what really got installed? It could be tracking cookies, trojans, or spyware (Oh My!). If you don’t recognize the software or if the advertisement is not from a respected company, Don’t Click on That!

9. Wireless Security. If you are using wireless, you need to use encryption. If you are already using encryption, make sure you are NOT using WEP encryption. An experienced hacker can crack a 128-bit WEP Encryption Key in about 10 minutes. Use WPA-2 as your encryption algorithm. If your wireless router does not support WPA-2, then it’s time to get a new one.

10. Backup your stuff. All hard drives have one thing in common. They all have a 100% failure rate. It’s unavoidable. Your hard drive will fail – it’s just a matter of time. If your hard drive crashes for any reason, you will have one of two reactions. Either 1) you will be devastated that you lost all your files, pictures, music, emails, etc or 2) you will be relieved that you have a current backup. In my opinion, the best backup strategy for a home computer is an online backup service. They are cheaper than buying an external backup hard drive, easier to install, and offer more features as well. Two online backup service providers that I recommend are Carbonite and Mozy.

And there you have it! Following these simple steps will help keep your computer running smoothly, securely, and with a backup. If you have a network administrator or equivalent, you should consult them before performing any these steps on your work machine – they may already have things in place and set correctly.

 

Kyle Greenup | Vice President
NovaCPU
www.novacpu.com

Email: kyle@novacpu.com
Office: 615.822.5454  |  Cell:  615.498.5789
111 Hazel Path | Hendersonville, TN | 37075

Posted in Tips | 1 Comment »