Category: Malware-Virus Prevention

Malware-Virus Prevention, Tech Advice

Stop Falling For This & Do Not Call The Number

Adelaide Techguy

 

Fake Microsoft Pop upStop falling for the ” popup ” scam that asks you to call a number and a “Microsoft “support technician will walk you through the fix.

You have been to a webpage that has caused this popup so if you reboot your computer in most cases it will go away. You should also ‘ clear the cache ” of your internet browser.

The real danger comes when you dial that number and you let someone log onto your computer as you will have no idea what they install on your computer.

You will be bullied and harassed to pay some sort of money for the ‘ fix” – do not do this , in fact once again – do not let them logon to your computer.

If you did let someone logon , you have undoubtedly been infected from anything to malware to keystroke loggers and you will need to get your computer checked, your antivirus will be of little help doing this as it did not help you with the original issue , did it !

Computer Security, Malware-Virus Prevention

So You Decide To Change – Uninstall Your Antivirus

Adelaide Techguy

Antivirus program.png

So You Decide To Change – Uninstall Your Antivirus – how do you do it the correct way ?

You do not want any part of the old antivirus left

First you do not do it through the Control Panel with add remove programs as that can lead to remnants left and will stop your new antivirus from working.

You need to download the uninstaller from the company that made it.

I have included some links below for popular anti virus solutions.

Norton Removal Tool

McAfee Removal Tool

Kaspersky Removal Tool

AVG Removal Tool

Trend Removal Tool

Avast Removal Tool

Avira Removal Tool

Then start your computer in safe mode

Run the uninstaller – let it run – it can take time

Reboot your computer – then set it to reboot normally – not in safe mode

If you want to know whether it has been uninstalled properly in Windows 10 – see if Defender is now active.

If it is you can install another one or do my preferred option – leave it with Defender

If Defender says it is not managing your antivirus – you will have to run the uninstaller again in both safe and normal mode and try again .

Computer Repair Adelaide, Computer Security, Malware-Virus Prevention

10 Steps To Follow For A Malware – Virus Free Computer

Adelaide Techguy

How much time and money have you spent in having your computer repaired because you have become infected with viruses and malware ?

Infection from virus’s , malware can be avoided if you follow some simple BEHAVIOURAL rules.

Remember if you get infected it is YOUR fault not your computer’s.

The first point to remember is that running antivirus software will not prevent you getting a virus.

Antivirus software is only there in the hope that once you have a virus on your computer it maybe able to remove it.

Here are 10 points to follow that should mean an infection free computer.

NUMBER 1 – Update 

  • Update your operating system regularly.
  • Turn on Automatic Updates on Windows and apply all critical updates immediately
  • Check optional updates on a regular basis , they can in some cases trigger off critical updates.
  • Microsoft issue updates throughout the month so check on the third week – you can find Windows update in the control panel for pre-Windows 10 computers or in settings on Windows 10
  • Windows 10 will ensure that updates are done – updates not working , you maybe infected

NUMBER 2 – Software

  • Update your software
  • PDF readers , Office , Adobe Flash & Adobe Reader and Java are responsible for numerous infections unless patched
  • If you can uninstall , Java and Adobe

NUMBER 3 – Email 

  • Don’t open email attachments unless you know that the person sending it to you , really sent it.
  • Viruses and Malware will more often than not come from someone you know.
  • Email attachments are the number one way that viruses , trojan horses and malware can get onto your computer
  • Beware of zip files – do not open them unless you are 100% certain they have been sent from a known reliable source – these can spread cryptolocker
  • Don’t click links in e-mails.
  • You could be taken to a phishing site and this may lead you to install malicious software.You should copy and paste the link into your browser or type the link into your browser.
  • Make sure HTML in e-mail is turned off in Outlook as just by previewing these e-mails you can be infected especially if your computer is not fully patched.
  • HTML e-mail can hide the actual destination of that link so this is another reason to turn off HTML in your email.
  • Switch to a web based e-mail program such as G Mail / Outlook.com which will scan your emails before they arrive on your computer.
  • Gmail is probably the best solution on grabbing spam if you are having spam issues with your current email provider

NUMBER 4 – Browsing The Internet

  • You should browse the Internet with the latest editions of browsers Google Chrome , Internet Explorer or Firefox
  • Check that the updates for these browsers are being installed and learn how to check that you have the latest editions
  • I recommend Google Chrome

NUMBER 5 – Ads On Websites

  • Block ads when browsing the internet
  • Install Adblock from the Google Chrome store
  • Ads on websites have been known to infect visitors to those sites

NUMBER 6 – Downloading Files 

  • You should only download files from places you know are absolutely safe.
  • The use of file sharing software often means you will download Malware and Trojans without knowing.
  • If you download files you should quarantine them in a folder and then scan them a few days later with an updated antivirus software.
  • Beware of downloading ” Free ” software as most sites that host ” free ” software are a hotbed for malware infections

NUMBER 7 – Firewall 

  • Have a firewall , your broadband router is the best firewall and there is a built in firewall with Windows which is turned on by default – There is no need to buy an additional firewall solution

NUMBER 8 – The Antivirus 

  • Have an antivirus solution , the FREE one I recommend is Defender for Windows 10 which comes with Windows 10 and the PAID one I recommend is NOD32
  • However Norton , Kaspersky , Trend are just fine to use but you really do need to run one of the above.

Number 9 – What You Can Do 

  • Limit User Privileges
  • Many malware threats need full access to your PC to run properly.
  • Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7,  use User Account Control to limit what a program can do without your permission.
  • This means you will be notified if any software or application tries to make any changes to your system. It can also help stop malware and unwanted software from installing themselves or changing the way your PC works.

How Do You Do This ?

Change User Account Control

Number 10 – Behaviour

  • Look at what you are doing and when in doubt – think before you click
  • Remember if you get infected it really is your fault.

Malware-Virus Prevention, Tech Advice, Uncategorized

Beware Of Origin Energy Fake Email Bill

Adelaide Techguy

During the last 24 hours many have received ” fake ” emails which purportedly have come from Origin Energy but are in fact fake designed to get you to click the links in them.

The  email uses Origin Energy branding, and uses the subject line ‘Your Origin electricity bill’, with a due date of May 16.”

If you do click the link you will go to a fake Origin Energy Site but that is not the major issue.

It will link to a ” JavaScript dropper” that can install additional malware such as keyloggers that can steal passwords and other information.

The email has originated from servers in France using the domain originenergysolar.net which was registered in China just days ago.

So What Should You Do ?

The approach should be to treat a billing email just as a reminder to visit the company’s website directly (do not click links in the email) in order to download the a genuine bill.

Look at the from address – Origins address is https://www.originenergy.com.au not originenergysolar.net

If you have clicked the link , you maybe infected and you need to be certain that you are not – if concerned Contact Me

Audio From FIVEaa – 11th May

Malware-Virus Prevention

Thoughts On Antivirus Software – Think Before You Click

Adelaide Techguy

The first question I hear from people is ” Which Antivirus Should I Use “

So let me state software is not the only solution because people still need to engage the area between their ears before clicking or tapping on their devices.

Think before you click 

When we combine the two elements of thinking about what we are doing and software this can make for a marked improvement in device security.

There is no one solution that fixes and protects all.

I protect and use all of my Windows 10 devices with Defender and before that Security Essentials so between that and some good common-sense computing habits , such as using Google Chrome with an Adblocker , I have been well protected.

Computer Repair Adelaide, Malware-Virus Prevention, Tech Advice

Dangerous Dridex Malware – Can Steal Your Banking Details

Adelaide Techguy

Users of Microsoft Word should check for updates this morning as there is a vulnerability that when opening a certain email that your banking details could be stolen and your computer infected with malware / virus.

This has started to appear in Australia and once again let me remind you not to open emails that you are not certain of and do not open and run attachments – especially of the word – Office variety.

Further details can be found here 

Dridex Campaigns Hitting Millions of Recipients Using Unpatched Microsoft Zero-Day

Microsoft Word 0-day used to push dangerous Dridex malware on millions