Malware & Virus Info
Malware & Virus Information Page
Malware & Virus Information Page
Virus Information Page
What Is a Virus
Virus Information
A computer virus is a type of computer program that can replicate itself on your computer and spread to other devices.
A computer virus is a type of computer program that can replicate itself on your computer and spread to other devices.
You might be infected with a virus if your computer suddenly starts running more slowly, crashes a lot, or does things like running unusual programs without your permission. Here's a few things you need to know about viruses, including some major types, signs you're infected, and how to avoid them. In more technical terms, a computer virus is a type of malicious code or program written to alter the way a computer operates and is designed to spread from your PC to another. A virus operates by inserting or attaching itself to a legitimate program for example email or even a file or document that supports macros in order to execute its code.
Malware Information
These days, the term malware refers to a large variety of software which all has one thing in common: it is unwanted software which someone else wants to run on your computer. This software infects your computer, making it behave in a way which you have not approved of. Malware can sometimes include traditional viruses and worms, which are usually destructive in some way - these can delete files, wreck the operating system and change the behaviour of your computer. Spyware has often been referred to as a virus, but this is not wholly accurate. Often the software does not duplicate itself like a virus, which is why it is almost never detected when a simple anti-virus program like the commonly used McAfee, Norton, Kaspersky, AVG, AVAST, ESET, Panda, FSecure and Bitdefender anti virus scans are run. Some modern trojan viruses and worms can give control of your computer to an attacker. Once hacked in they can then use your computer to send spam emails of themselves to all of the people in your address book or launch attacks on other computers. One of the newest types of Viral infection has been dubbed ransomware and can literally hold your personal data to ransom.
Ransomware
A common type of Ransomware is CryptoLocker this trojan targeted computers running Windows Operating Systems although more recently ransomware has been found on Mac OS X. it it is believed to have first been posted to the Internet in late 2013. CryptoLocker propagated via infected email attachments, often claiming missed parcel deliveries etc. When activated, the ransomware encrypts certain types of files stored on local and mounted network drives (including all types of office documents emails pictures websites and accounting files etc) using RSA public-key cryptography, with the private key stored only on the malware's control servers. The malware then displays a message which offers to decrypt the data if a payment (through either Bitcoin or a pre-paid cash voucher) is made by a stated deadline, and threatened to delete the private key if the deadline passes. If the deadline is not met, the malware offered to decrypt data via an online service provided by the malware's operators, for a significantly higher price in Bitcoin.
Although CryptoLocker itself is easily removed with anti-malware tools, the affected files remained encrypted in a way which some virus researchers considered infeasible to break. Many said that the ransom should not be paid, but did not offer any other way to recover the encrypted files; others said that paying the ransom was the only way to recover files that had not been backed up. Most victims claimed that paying the ransom did not lead to the files being decrypted in any case, and on top of the deleted data now lost a significant sum of money. The virus has changed significantly in the last seven years and although some reports from 2020 say that certain files can now be decrypted from the FireEye, virtually all newer variants of the virus cannot.
Some of the above information is updated from a cryptolocker Wikipedia article.
Although CryptoLocker itself is easily removed with anti-malware tools, the affected files remained encrypted in a way which some virus researchers considered infeasible to break. Many said that the ransom should not be paid, but did not offer any other way to recover the encrypted files; others said that paying the ransom was the only way to recover files that had not been backed up. Most victims claimed that paying the ransom did not lead to the files being decrypted in any case, and on top of the deleted data now lost a significant sum of money. The virus has changed significantly in the last seven years and although some reports from 2020 say that certain files can now be decrypted from the FireEye, virtually all newer variants of the virus cannot.
Some of the above information is updated from a cryptolocker Wikipedia article.
Adware Information
What is Adware
Adware can show you unwanted advertising, this typically shows up as pop-up ads or an unwanted homepage or a combination of the above. You will sometimes find that you are directed to a website that you did not intend to visit this is known as a browser hijack.
There used to be clear differences between the groups above, but lately they can use similar infection methods to arrive on your PC. Therefore it is no longer useful to make a distinction between Spyware Adware Malware and Viruses.
How Does this nasty software get onto my computer in the first place?
Adware can worm its way into your computer even if you are careful while surfing the Internet. Nowadays, it may invade your system if you simply visit a certain web site. Applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from media-supported sites. Many Viral programs pretend to be Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware or Anti-Spam so be extra careful when searching for these programs use PCFixShop recommended downloads here
for safe use of the best crop of current programs.
MP3 and Movie Torrent File sharing
PCFixShop recommend you do not use any MP3 File sharing networks like Imesh, Limewire, Frostwire ,UTorrent, Kazaa, Bearshare, Shareza and various media heavy Bit Torrent clients and torrent search engines like Pirate Bay All these sites are infamous for carrying spyware and virus infections or linking to sites that contain the infections. Many Free software applications appeal to teenagers and children and they simply cannot resist loading up the latest software gadgets for messenger and the like notorious offenders are Facebook and Messenger chat Plugins- Adware is sometimes disclosed, but buried, at the end of a License Agreement or Privacy Statement that the criminals know will almost never be read and almost certainly not understood.
Spyware
Spyware can monitor what you do on your computer it can log all of your keystrokes on your keyboard and all of your mouse-clicks on screen. At worst this can lead to credit card fraud or identity theft. Spyware can monitor your activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to the criminals. It has been discovered that on occasion, spyware authors will pay certain shareware program creators to distribute the latest spyware hidden with their software. Spyware is becoming ever more sophisticated and many applications are designed to spread themselves out through your PC's other Users and through your PC Backup and Restore points, and on through all the other computers on your home network, making it even more difficult to wipe them out completely. You can find lots of further information on the various kinds of spyware/adware/malware at
Doxdesk
or simply Google the term for malware tons of useful forum information. Removing spyware and other trojan malware from a computer can be difficult, even for some experts. It is highly recommended that you contact PCFixShop if you suspect that your computer has been compromised in any way PCFixShop will give your computer a thorough clean up and provide you with all the tools you need to prevent your computer being re-infected in the future.
What To Do Now
The best protection for your computer is a three-tiered approach: anti-spyware software, anti-virus software, and a firewall PCFixShop can provide all of these tools and they are all included at no extra charge
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or call PCFixShop now on 01204 883136.
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