Scareware!

Today I want to talk about scareware. Scareware, similar to Malware (short for malicious software) is designed to scare you into thinking your computer is infected. These type of infections are no longer restricted to porn surfers or users that download pirated software.

Typically, scareware will pop up on your screen in the form of a realistic looking "scan" After a few moments you will be notified that you have 100's of infections. This is intended to scare the user into interacting with the program to "remove" the infections. If you click the remove button you will generally be shown a window that states that most of the "infections" have been removed but for the remaining few you will need to upgrade to the professional version of the program. The average user will get their credit card out and this is when the real problem starts. You give your credit card information to pay for the $29, $39 or $49 professional version.

Your computer has been infected with viruses, you have given out your credit card number and have payed a sum of money. Now that the attacker has your card info, they can go shopping. In return, the professional version of the software is actually more viruses. Nice huh?

Make yourself familiar with your anti virus software. Learn how it looks. If you see anything pop up that says it is scanning your computer and the message did not originate from your anti virus software, immediately click the X and close the program. Do not click anywhere else, interact with the program in any way or download any add-ons or plug ins without first searching for it on Google to see if it is legitimate.

If you already have a scareware or another virus issue that has gotten the best of you and your computer, give me a call to set up an appointment. 864 285-0881

Tips for keeping your computer virus free.

The first line of defense in keeping your computer running fast and healthy is a good anti-virus program. While having an anti-virus program installed will be a much greater help than having nothing at all, there really is no completely fail safe method for keeping viruses out.

There are many anti-virus programs to choose from. Some are paid programs and others are free. Many of the free programs do just as fine of a job as the paid programs do. Keep in mind however that some of the free programs do not scan for things such as root kits.

Here is a list of some anti-virus programs to consider. All of these can be researched on Google.

Avast! (my personal favorite)
AVG
Avira
BitDefender
Computer Associates
ESET NOD32
F-Secure
Kaspersky
McAfee
Norton Anti-Virus
Panda
Trend Micro
Windows Live Onecare

If you intend on purchasing an anti-virus program, it is best to research them a bit before committing to the purchase. By doing this you can better decide what is best for you and your computer. Free programs can be tested hands on since you don't have to worry about no being able to return the software if you don't like it.

There are many "rogue" programs that disguise themselves as anti-virus programs when they actually a virus themselves. Some to definitely keep away from are AntiVirus2008, Antivirus2009, AntiVirusPro and a new one making the rounds, AntiVirus2010. If you happen to find a program not on this list that you want to try, make sure to research it first to make sure it is a legitimate program.

It is important to completely remove anti-virus software before installing a new one. Having to anti-virus programs installed and running at once will only succeed in slowing your computer to a crawl while to two programs fight for supremacy.

Once you have chosen your anti-virus program, it is imperative that you keep it up to date. Many programs release updates weekly and in some cases, daily. Generally programs are set to automatically receive updates on their own. You should leave this option in place to prevent forgetting to manually update on your own. In addition, most programs are set by default to do a daily scan at a set time. It is ok to change this setting so that your computer will be scanned during a time that your computer is normally on.

Remember, even the best programs will not always keep you safe. If you already have a virus you can't get rid of, it may be time to call a professional before it gets worse.