The Cyber War: Do Not Be a Casualty

America is at war.

No, not just the war in Afghanistan.

There is a war underway that uses computers and software instead of guns and bullets, a "cyber war".

Last week the Washington Post (9/21/12) reported that Iran has been engaged in cyber-attacks against major US banks including JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America. The attacks include efforts to disrupt their networks and bring down their web sites through Denial of Service (DOS) attacks that flood their networks with messages.

Senator Joe Lieberman (I) is quoted as saying that he feels this was not independent hackers but a sophisticated effort by the Iranian military to disrupt key components of the American economy.

Iran has denied they caused the attack, but it is widely believed that the Iranians have stepped up the cyber capabilities since they were the victim of a computer virus that attacked their nuclear facilities, known as the Stutznet Virus. Just today, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard asserted that they are prepared for a "Cyber War" that he believes could cause more destruction than a "physical confrontation". (Reuters 9/25/12)

This is not a new phenomenon and it is growing. Gen Keith B. Alexander, head of the US National Security Agency asserted that cyber-attacks against US Infrastructure increased by a multiple of 17 between 2009 and 2011 (NY Times 7/26/12). These attacks have targeted infrastructure such the electrical grid, water supply, computer and cell phone networks.

The Iranians are certainly not the only foreign attacker. The Chinese are believed to be heavily engaged in hacking into American corporate and governmental networks. Although they seem more intent on stealing technology and gaining intelligence for economic gain, there has also been an ominous focus on oil and energy related infrastructure (CBSNews.com 9/20/12).

Should this matter to the average computer user or web site operator to do?

Well, besides the fallout from disrupting infrastructure and the economy the average person can be directly affected.

First, viruses intended for one target may hit other targets. There are some nasty viruses floating around that appear to have been intended for Mideast targets that have made their way to Europe and the US. Anytime you visit a web site and download a file you could be at risk. How do you know who really operates that site with those Kate Middleton pics?

Second, a common technique of these attacks is to enlist unwitting computer users into participating. This is called creating a network of bots, aka "zombie" computers by infecting and controlling a user's computer for nefarious purposes. Such "bonnets" are the number one source for sending spam email and Denial of Service attacks. The use of these computers makes it difficult to trace the original source and the computer owners may not even be aware that they are being used.

Zombies may be popular today in film and fiction but you do not want your computer to become one. You may "only" experience performance issues, but you could also be open to further infection.

What can you do?

First, all computer users should make sure they have the best available Firewall and Antivirus protection. That's true whether you are a home user, operating a corporate network or a web host. Home users should never be without protection because there are some very good free firewall and scanner systems available.

In managing corporate networks, it is helpful if you use "end point security management" systems that help you ensure that every computer on your network has the latest antivirus and firewall software that your company is using. A computer network is only as strong as its weakest link and most malware are unknown at the time they are unleashed.

That is why I believe the best antivirus software and firewalls use a whitelist system and sandbox technology. The way this works is the scanner only permits software to operate within your system if it is on a list of valid programs. If it suspects that any software has a problem, it will allow the program to run in an isolated system area called a sandbox. Based on its behavior in the sandbox, the AV software will determine if it is OK or should be deleted.

If you are the operator of a web site that exchanges personal information, such as an e-Commerce site, you probably know to use the Secured Socket Layer (SSL) that creates a secured encrypted connection between the web server and the browser. This will prevent you from unwittingly supplying malware to your site users.

However, this requires that you obtain and SSL Certificate and not all Certificates are the same. Beware of free certificates that are "self-signed". That means there is no verification that the web site the user is attempting to connect to is in fact the one it is purported to be. That means your users could be supply information to a hacker who will use it for nefarious and even criminal uses.

In addition, there are various levels of verification with SSL Certificates. Basic certificates just verify that the correct ownership of the web site, not that they are reputable. More advanced, enhanced certificates provide a higher degree of verification and protection.

If you do not want to be a casualty of the cyber war you need to make sure that you have best firewall and antivirus protection. Web operators who want to stay out of the line of fire need to use Enhanced SSL Certificates as well.

There is a cyber war underway and every computer user needs to be involved in the fight. by using the best antivirus software. Every web operator must keep their sites clean of infections and, if they exchange information with their visitors, use Enhanced SSL Certificates.

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Computer Virus Removal Expectations When Choosing a PC Technician

Computer viruses are so common these days that I don't know anyone with a computer that hasn't either gotten a computer virus on their own computer or at least know someone who has. But what is the quickest and wisest way to recover from a malware infection, such as viruses and spyware, without costing too much, losing your data, or having any headaches from hiring an inexperienced technician?

If attempting it yourself, prepare for some frustrations. I would add that the average person cannot truly know if their computer is clean, because they just don't have the training. There are many reasons why your security software may say your computer is clean when it really isn't, but I won't get into that here. I always say to save yourself a headache and call an independent, experienced technician. Just know that we aren't all the same, just like with Doctors, we all don't specialize in the same areas. Not to forget that there are good Doctors and bad Doctors.

But how a PC Technician approaches a virus removal job depends on what you explain your expectations and desires are, how difficult the job is, as well as how experienced the technician is.

Virus Removal Expectations

Some people think that a virus is the end of their computer, that they will have to buy a new one and all they want now is their data.

It's true that a virus infection can render your computer so useless that buying a new computer seems like the only option, but most viruses only affect your software which can either be cleaned or reinstalled.

The mystery for the consumer seems to be where to start, because in many cases, the computer is so unresponsive that the keyboard and mouse do not work. Just know that a good PC Technician should have the resources and training to resurrect computers with even the worst infections.

But some infections are so bad that the Windows Operating System may need to be reinstalled. In these cases, you will get your computer back working just fine, but most likely without all of the same programs and customizations you had before, meaning you will have some follow-up work to do. Hopefully, you still have the original software so you can build your computer back up yourself.

PC Technician Experience

It has always been my preference to maintain the original Windows installation so that the customer can get their computer back with all of the same programs and customizations they had before.

But not all PC Technicians can achieve this while maintaining good performance and stability in a timely manner. An inexperienced technician will almost always opt to run a System Recovery before they get in over their head trying to remove the infection while trying to maintain a stable Operating System.

Hopefully they'll back up your data first. There is nothing inherently wrong with running a System Recovery, but this is a feature that the computer manufacturers built in as a "User" feature you can do yourself. I admit, sometimes it is all you can do, but in my experience, maybe only 20% of the time. But for inexperienced technicians, they seem to use it 80% of the time.

So when you get your newly repaired computer home, you may find out that your printer is no longer setup, your network settings have changed, your email isn't setup, your wallpaper has changed, you don't have all the same programs you had before, and you may even be missing some or all of your data... but your computer works. I certainly wouldn't like getting all the phone calls about these problems. I call these types of technicians "reformatters".

How to Spot Reformatters

Anyway, the best way to spot "reformatters" is that they will skip straight to the explanation that they will have to perform a System Recovery.

A shop can turn around a lot of computers by doing it this way, but so can my 12 year old daughter. But take this into consideration when you are comparing services. Don't ever think for a moment that we PC Technicians are all the same. Don't think that just because someone charges more or less means that you are getting the same, best or worst service.
But be careful about someone who charges the least. I say this because anyone who knows how good they are will want to be properly compensated for it. They might not be greedy and charge the most, but they certainly won't want to charge the least. Besides, computer repair involves time consuming labor, and you can only repair so many computers a day.

Question the PC Technician's Experience Level

If you don't have any positive referrals to go by, I would question the experience of anyone that charges on the low end. I wouldn't get too detailed and lengthy like you might with a major purchase though. Just do some quick mental math for your local economy and try to estimate their overhead to see if he or she would be able to make a reasonable living repairing only a few computers a day at that rate. It is an unsustainable business model you will see come and go on Craigslist everyday, and by the way, I am not knocking all Craigslist PC Techs, just the obvious ones.

In some cases, maybe the customer doesn't care about their data, and all they use their computer for is to surf the internet and check webmail. In these few cases, running a System Recovery may be a good option.

The bottom line is that you should think about your expectations about how well you want to fare when recovering from a computer virus. Choosing the right shop or independent technician may make all the difference. And don't try to compare us all just by price, we aren't like a bag of Potato Chips where you can surely find a store that sells the exact same item for less, because when it comes to skills and experience, professionalism and work ethic, we are not all the same, and you will certainly pay for that difference.

Dale Powell is an independent PC Technician with ComputerAfterCare and Web Design operating out of Richmond, TX. If you would like to learn more about our virus removal services, visit us at:

ComputerAfterCare and Web Design
19840 FM 1093 Rd, Suite G6
Richmond, TX 77407
(832) 278-2721
http://richmondmobilecomputerrepair.com/

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Common Fixes for Virus Damaged Files

Most of us have experienced a virus attack that resulted in some damaged files. Usually, the files that are damaged the most are the.exe files and its affiliates. And when this happens, icons that are typically needed to start programs stop working and pop up appears inquiring what software or application you're choosing to make the program you're trying to run work. Instances like these can be solved fairly easily.

• During a virus attack, the "exe file association" is damaged so a registry file fix should be run to fix it. One quick and direct method of doing this is to use Google's "exe file association registry fix," and to attempt to look for the actual .reg files on the landing pages that you can utilize to fix the .exe dilemma. When you have downloaded and run the files, it will inquire if you want to "import into registry." Click "yes" and the problem's solved.

• Sometimes programs in the start menu as well as certain files disappear after a virus infestation. This makes some computer users think that their files are gone, so they reformat their computer in order to remove the virus. But in some cases, the files are still in the computer's system and are just hidden. Do some research or Google "unhide.exe." This is a file that can go through your system and attempt to recover the paths to your files and the missing programs.

• The Internet is still the best place to get information on how to repair files damaged by viruses. There are numerous websites that were developed specifically to counter this threat and where you can discover methods on how to get rid of viruses from your computer and how to fix the damaged files.

Taking precautions like using the best antivirus software you can find and knowing what to be aware of is still the best way to prevent, or at least minimize, the risk of virus attacks. And some of these ways are easy to remember and understand.

• One of your best defense against computer viruses or malware is just to be conscious of what you're clicking on. Not even the most trusted or effective programs like Kaspersky can stop each and every virus, especially with the rise of rootkits and other embedding malware. So the best protection is to be aware of what the red flags are.

• Remember that no program that asks you to do a computer scan is safe. In all likelihood, that's not a reliable or the best antivirus program, it's a website that will unleash a malware on your computer system.

• Don't trust all the emails that you receive, even if it's from a friend. Check it carefully, especially if your friends don't normally send you emails with links or without a subject heading. Email your friend first to make sure that they really did send it, before opening it.

• Social media is also a minefield of viruses. Twitter and Facebook profiles are compromised daily, so be wary of posts or messages asking you to click on a link. These are traps and you'll end up on a landing page that's full of malicious software.

The bottom line is there's no need or reason for computer users to be vulnerable. Armed with the right information and tools, you can protect your information and bring back damaged files to their original state.

You can check out websites like http://www.best-antivirus.co/ for more information. And don't forget that the best defense, aside from a good antivirus software, is your own common sense.

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Getting Redirected From Google

All hacking is not dangerous. Some hackers simply do it because they can. They do not want to cause major disruption to your system, they do it because to their way of thinking its fun.

In a recent poll carried out involving those in the age group of 19 and under; the most common type of hacking activity was attempting to crack passwords of known acquaintances.

In general this type of hacking was done for harmless pleasure although extremely annoying for the victim, financial damage, was not the aim.

Rootkit viruses are a different animal. In general these are extremely malicious hackers, trying to cause as much damage to your system as possible. The criminal fraternity are using online fraud in a greater degree than ever before.

The reason for this is plain to see; home PCs are now being used for all types of online money transactions, the internet is used by plenty of people who really have little idea about online security.

As such, criminals will try to exploit the vulnerable. They are mainly doing this with rootkit Trojans.

Anti virus is of course hugely important, but in the case of rootkits; once you have unwittingly installed them on your system, anti-virus simply does not pick up them up.

In using rootkit Trojans, plenty of options are available to these criminals. The reason that rootkits are used is that not only do they hide Trojan activity, but the attacker has a right of passage into your system and can return at will.

The Trojan activity can involve a great number of annoying features:- browser redirection to malicious and fake sites. But the danger lies in the data that is in your private files such as passwords or private documents that can be read or altered by the attacker.

Keystroke logging is also a danger; imagine logging into your bank account, typing in your bank details and passwords, only to find that this information has been sent directly to the attacker, who could be anywhere in the world.

One of the main sources of redirect viruses is pirated software.

Looking at a company such as Microsoft they continually provide patches in updates, these are available for their licensed users.

On a smaller scale when downloading software from a legitimate source, the same thing happens; if any vulnerability is found in their software, patches and updates are provided.

In the case of pirated software these vulnerabilities are seized on by hackers and exploited.

The bottom line is when you download free software, that you should be paying for, you could be giving away a key into your system; perhaps the provider is under the impression that everyone should have free software, or maybe it's the start of an attack of your system. This is one of the risks that you take with illegal software. In general these criminals give you the software for free, with the intent of gaining your personal information; it really is not worth it. If you really want the software I suggest you go and buy it, as it could actually work out to be a much safer option.

Luke Clayhill is a writer who specializes in redirect viruses
Click here for more information on manual removal http://www.googleredirectvirus.net/manually.html

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Computer Threats and Security Solutions

The privacy of our personal information and authenticity of all data communicated is an important fact today. Antivirus is used to prevent computer viruses, adware, spyware etc. and can identify new viruses or variants of existing viruses. Antivirus software companies offer computer security which has many security suits such as Norton, Comodo, Kaspersky, Avira and AVG etc. Signature based detection and file emulation are the most common methods in virus detection. Many security antivirus provides protection against all existing viruses. Thus it acts as a powerful tool which increases the storage of flash memory devices. It has the defensive property against all existing viruses through its high-speed scanning mechanism. It gives the update of new threats in every hour.

Many free antivirus versions which assures a powerful real-time protection of your system. We have other free antivirus programs which include MoonSecure AV, DriveSentry, Microsoft security essentials etc. CalmWin is a free antivirus program for Microsoft windows 7/Vista/xp etc. We can use free antivirus download options through which it is possible to protect our PC from thousands of potential spyware, key logger and tracking threats etc. Malicious software or malware is described as cyber vandalism and the goal of viruses is to spread as much as possible. To protect our computer from crime ware it is essential to install security patches for operating system and applications.

Today each website has its own privacy policies. Web bugs are typically small images placed within the source code of the web pages of a site. It is used to measure the traffic of users who visit a web page. Similarly cookies are the small amount of information which can identify you as specific user. It allows you to save your personal and technical information just like the pages you have visited. If we do not wish to receive cookies we can configure the browser to get that effect. For system security it is necessary to reject cookies from certain domains.

Generacion 4.0 is a new antisparm version which has special features like collective intelligence engine, motors using signatures and engine heuristicos etc. Engine heuristicos is the automatic defense mechanism which acts against new malicious codes. It identifies viruses, worms and trojans that are not present in the database. A virus signature can copy a portion of the executable code to reproduce the infected host applications. There are pleomorphic viruses which are not detected easily so that the heuristic method is used for this purpose. Collective intelligence engine is also help to detect and disinfect viruses.

To protect your computer from cyber threats it is essential to update your security software regularly. You will get free version of security antivirus for one year.

Welcome to Neo antivirus gratis, here we provide Free antivirus protection for your system. You can enjoy the browsing safely by using our neo security antivirus. Want to know more information about Antivirus Gratis and descarga antivirus gratis feel free to browse our website.

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