Easy Computer Repair

New Email Scams to Avoid

admin — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:01:03 +0000

The email scamsters are at it again, with clever new ways to entice you to install malicious software and steal your precious information. Here are a few of the most common scam messages that you may currently find in your Inbox.

1. Delta Airline Ticket Scam – Email states that your ticket confirmation is enclosed in the attached file. When you click on the attachment, it loads spyware onto your computer and attempts to steal your information.

2. Economic Stimulus Scam – Although everyone could use a little economic stimulus right now, it’s not going to arrive via an email message. The email with photos of our President and VP, along with the IRS logo directs you to a web site requesting your personal info to claim your stimulus check. If you fill out the form, the only thing you will get is stolen information.

3. Cox Communications Customer Scam – Cox customers have received emails stating that they must verify their information within 24 hours or their accounts will be terminated. This is, of course, not true and no reputable company will ever request sensitive customer information via email. In fact, most companies will not even request such information via phone.

4. Military Vehicle Scams – Persons searching for vehicles on the Internet may find very low priced military vehicles for sale. When they attempt to contact the seller, they are contacted by a third-party “escrow company” who states that they will act on their behalf, to ensure a safe and smooth transaction. When the buyer sends the money to the escrow company, the money is gone, because the whole thing was a scam.

If you believe that your computer may have been compromised by an email scam or malicious web site, the techs at iNeedTech.com can help. Call 1-800-238-1553 for a FREE initial consultation with a highly skilled tech. You have nothing to lose.

Steer Clear of File Sharing Programs

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:51:27 +0000

Do you or your children use file sharing programs to swap music, videos and software over the Internet? If so, then the security of your personal information is being placed at a high risk of being stolen.

Many people use popular P2P file sharing programs, such as Limewire and Kazaa. P2P stands for Peer-to-Peer (computer to computer). Using one of these programs allows you to access files stored on many other computers. The program also allows the files on your hard drive to be viewed or downloaded by others. And that is where the problem arises. Security flaws in the file sharing software can permit anyone to access sensitive information stored on your computer, such as banking records and tax returns. Additionally, the P2P programs can allow other malicious software to infect your computer, further compromising your information security.

The Today show on NBC recently did a good story on just how vulnerable the information stored on your computer can be, when using a P2P program. Visit their web site to watch the story online. It’s eye-opening.

What can you do to minimize the risk? The best answer is to avoid using such programs. If you currently have these programs installed on your computer, remove them. If you must use such programs, run them on a separate computer that contains no other personal information. Remember to keep all of your security software (anti-virus, anti-spyware, Windows patches) up-to-date. Also use a hardware or software firewall.

If you require help in removing P2P programs, installing security software or dealing with the adverse effects of a virus or spyware infection, then call 1-800-238-1553. The friendly techs at iNeedTech.com are well versed in dealing with these issues and many others. They are standing by to lend a hand anytime you need help.

How do Computer Viruses Spread? Part 2

admin — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:38:05 +0000

So why isn’t your virus software protecting you and what can you do to minimize the risk? First, you need to realize that anti-virus software can only protect you from known viruses. Once a virus is identified, the anti-virus publishers must create a method to detect and remove the virus, update their software and distribute the update to all of their anti-virus users. That means there is a lag between the time a virus is identified and the point where your computer is protected. This lag can range from several hours to as long as a week, depending on the resources and expertise of the anti-virus publisher.

You can drastically reduce the chance of your computer becoming infected with a virus or spyware by adhering to a few simple rules. 1: Do not open email from unknown senders. Just delete it. 2: Do not open unexpected email attachments. Contact the sender and confirm the contents of the attachment. 3: Do not open email greeting cards (eCards). They are too risky. 4: Do not click on links or buttons in popup windows that advertise a product or service. Use the Close (X) button on the title bar to close the window. 5: Set your anti-virus program to update automatically, instead of trying to remember to do it manually. Some publishers update their anti-virus programs several times a day, to keep up with emerging threats.

If you believe that your computer is infected or if you just want help in ensuring that your computer is properly protected, let iNeedTech.com assist you. One of their USA-based techs can help verify that your computer is ready to battle the many threats found on the Internet. Call 1-800-238-1553 to be instantly connected with a skilled computer professional.

How do Computer Viruses Spread? Part 1

admin — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:42:07 +0000

Computer techs are often asked to explain how a computer becomes infected with a computer virus. Many times, a person with a virus infected computer will declare that all they do is access the Internet and read email. They never download programs and they regularly update their anti-virus software. But even the most cautious user can fall victim to a computer virus and here’s how.

Most computer viruses are spread through email. For example, you get an email from Aunt Betsy, with an attachment that you think is a family photo. But, when you click to open the photo, you have just infected your computer with a virus. It may be that Aunt Betsy’s computer is also infected with a virus. Her computer is spewing out virus-packed emails to everyone in her address book. Another common email infection method is by clicking on a link that the recipient believes will display a greeting card sent by a friend. Beware; these links can infect your computer with a virus or at the very least, spyware. Additionally, clicking on those popup ads that tell you that they will speed up your computer or cure baldness with just one click, can cause a whole lot of trouble to the unsuspecting clicker.

So why isn’t your virus software protecting you and what can you do to limit the threat from computer viruses? We’ll cover that in part II, coming soon. In the meantime, if you believe that your computer is infected with a virus or some other nasty problem, give the friendly folks at iNeedTech.com a call at 1-800-238-1553. They will help you rid your computer of viruses and spyware and get that machine working like new again.

Conficker Worm Poised to Strike?

admin — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:16:17 +0000

Over the next several days, you will undoubtedly hear an increasing drone of media hype surrounding the Conficker worm (computer virus). The latest variant of the worm, which is much less prevalent then earlier variants, is set to begin looking for its marching orders on April 1^st. At this point, it is not known just what these orders will be and how they will impact infected computers or the Internet in general. This worm has only been detected on Microsoft Windows computers, bypassing systems running the Apple Mac OS or Linux.

While the hype may end up being much ado about nothing, this is the perfect time to ensure that your computer is protected—just in case. Take these steps to make sure your computer is secure: 1. Make sure all Windows updates are installed. 2. Install a good antivirus program and keep it updated regularly. 3. Run a full antivirus scan at least once a week. 4. Enable the Windows firewall. 5. Install a router (wireless or wired) between your computer and your high-speed Internet modem. 6. Whenever possible, do not open email attachments. 7. Do not click on popup windows advertising products and services, especially those for antivirus or spyware programs.

Anyone using their computer to exchange email or access the web must take computer security seriously. Don’t put it off until next week or next month. You need to do it today. If you don’t feel confident in securing your computer, then a highly trained tech at iNeedTech.com can help. For one low, flat fee, one of our techs will walk you through the steps to secure your computer and avoid the problems caused by the Conficker worm and the many other threats lurking out on the Internet. Call 1-800-238-1553 today.

Tigger Trojan targets financial information

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:22:23 +0000

The cunning crafters of malicious software (malware) have created a highly sophisticated Trojan-horse program that directly targets the theft of financial information. This malicious program seeks to steal sensitive account information from customers of TD Ameritrade, e-Trade, ING Direct ShareBuilder, Options XPress, Scottrade and Vanguard. The Trojan takes advantage of a security flaw in Microsoft Windows, which was patched in October, 2008. Some interesting behaviors of this Trojan include: installing itself as a rootkit, making it difficult to detect; disables some two dozen other malware programs, in an effort to lessen the chance the computer user will suspect a problem with their system; disables antivirus and anti-malware software; disables Windows Defender and firewall. The Trojan then waits until the computer is used to access one of the targeted financial sites. It then springs into action, recording all keystrokes and taking screen shots. At some future point, the Trojan relays the captured information to third-party criminals, who will use the captured information for who knows what purpose.

Are you getting that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach? Don’t procrastinate! Take the following steps to help minimize your risk: 1. Keep up-to-date with Windows patches; 2. Enable the Windows firewall or a hardware firewall (router). 3. Use a limited account, instead of an Admin account, for routine tasks (email, browsing, word processing, games); 4. Install reliable antivirus and anti-malware software and keep it updated. 5. Run regular virus/malware scans. 6. Make regular backups of all important data files, photos and email. It is now clear that malware such as the Tigger Trojan have become very sophisticated. We can assume that this trend will continue, putting our sensitive information even more at risk. Let one of the highly skilled techs at iNeedTech.com assist you in securing your computer. Call 1-800-238-1553 and lock the bad guys out of your computer.

PDF Software under Attack

admin — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:20:02 +0000

We recently made our Blog readers aware of a vulnerability in the Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader software that posed a security risk. Adobe has released the patch for version 9 and all users are urged to install this update as soon as possible.

In our prior post, we mentioned that there is an alternative PDF VIEWER available from Foxit Software. While not as popular as the Adobe products, it is installed on some 50 million computers. We have now learned that the Foxit PDF VIEWER also has some security vulnerabilities. The identified vulnerabilities, while different from those affecting the Adobe software, can also put your computer at risk. Foxit has already patched their software. You should visit their site and download the latest version of their PDF viewer, to avoid becoming a victim of these vulnerabilities.

The task of keeping your computer free from malicious software and protecting your information is becoming more and more difficult everyday. But with the right tools and some help from a knowledgeable computer support professional, the effort required to accomplish that task can be significantly reduced. At iNeedTech.com, we specialize in both recovering a compromised computer as well as equipping a computer FOR MAXIMUM SECURITY. Let one of our USA-based techs begin helping you today by calling 1-800-238-1553.

Beware of Fake Antivirus Programs

admin — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:50:53 +0000

Since the evolution of the Internet, people have gone wild about “Technology”, but with every great thing comes some type of problem. Viruses over the last few years have become more frequent to the point that it becomes overwhelming to IT personnel such as Desktop Technicians and Network Administrators. The viruses have been known to shut down entire companies due to their very aggressive nature of wiping data files, etc. One of the most common types that more frequently attack home users is what we call “Rogue Software”. This software will use false positives to convince a user that their computer has been infected with a virus and then demands money in order to remove it. In some extreme cases, the threats are the very Trojans that advertise or directly install the rogue. This typ of Trojan is called a Zob Trojan. Here are just a few of the Rogue type software installs that your computer may suffer from: Antivirus 2007-2009, Antivirus 360, Virus Trigger, Spyware Guard 2008, WinDefender 2009, Personal Defender 2009, Antivirus Sentry just to name a few.

Please be aware to not install any of the above programs and if your system is already infected with this type of software please call iNeedTech at 800-238-1553 and let one of our highly trained technicians help you to solve this issue. Call before it may be too late and if you do think you have one of these viruses we can help with that too!

Adobe Acrobat and Reader pose Security Risk

admin — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:27:32 +0000

One of the most popular formats on the Internet to access documents, newsletters and forms is PDF (Portable Document Format). And the largest supplier of software to create and view these PDF documents is Adobe Systems. On 2/19/2009, Adobe Systems announced that two of their most popular products, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader, contain a critical security flaw. According to Adobe, this security flaw is currently being exploited and can permit an unprotected computer to be taken over. This security flaw is found in Acrobat and Acrobat Reader version 9 and below. Adobe plans to release patches to resolve this security flaw for version 9 on 3/11 and for versions 7 and 8 on 3/18. Until the software is patched, users can minimize their risk by: 1) Keep your anti-virus software updated. 2) Disable JavaScript support in Acrobat and Acrobat Reader 3) Only view PDF files from trusted sources 4) Consider using an alternative PDF viewer, such as CutePDF or FoxIt.5) Update your Acrobat software as soon as Adobe releases the security patches. If you need help with your Acrobat software, or have another computer problem zapping your productivity, give iNeedTech.com a call. A simple call to 1-800-238-1553 will have your computer problem solved in a flash. And our “Fix it or it’s Free” guarantee lets you use our service with confidence.

Windows Update May Cause Problems

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:41:13 +0000

By now, all Windows users should be aware of the importance of installing the many Windows security updates issued by Microsoft on a regular basis. Sometimes, however, these security updates can have unintended consequences. Most recently, the security update KB960715 issued on 02/10/2009. This update disables some controls used by applications that are written or enhanced using Visual BASIC. This includes MS Access database applications and the ACT! Contact Manager/CRM application by Sage software. If you begin to encounter problems with any of your application programs after the above mentioned update is installed on your computer, a friendly, USA based tech at iNeedTech.com is ready to help you resolve these problems. Call toll-free 1-800-238-1553. Our techs can also help you ensure that your computer is properly configured to automatically receive all future critical Windows updates.