 What
Viruses and Spyware Can Do:
They can:
-
Take over your computer
and send emails on your behalf.
- Log your keystrokes which means the sender
of the virus will know your every move on your computer including finding out
what your user names and passwords are for your banking and credit card
accounts, emails, twitter and facebook accounts; your social security number;
and your bank account numbers, etc.
- Hide or delete your files and programs.
- Erase everything in your computer..
- Make your computer impossible to use.
- Trick you into purchasing fake security or
computer fix programs which are actually viruses in and of themselves.
- Attack your security programs
rendering them useless.
- Prevent Windows programs from working that
can help remove infections.
- Redirect Internet searches to nefarious Web
sites.
- Stop Windows updates from being installed.
- Download adult material into your computer.
- Send compromised emails from your computer
that will look like you sent them.
I'm asked time and again why do people write
viruses. The answer is because there's a lot of money to be made in stealing
people's information. Another answer is that some people sometimes do it just for kicks
and do it just because they can.
You can become infected any number of ways,
for example:
- Opening up an attachment in a forwarded
email or an email from someone you don't know.
- Opening up and clicking on links embedded
in an email that seems to be from a legitimate company. These are called
phishing emails.
- Copying an infected file from someone
else's computer.
- Or simply by logging on to a Web site.
- Not having a firewall running.
- Not having your wireless Internet
connection encrypted.
It is crucial that your computer be protected
from attacks. To do this you need 3 vital components: a firewall (only 1), an
anti-virus program (only 1 if you're not using Windows 10), and several anti-spyware programs. And if you have
a wireless network, it must encrypted and the user name and password to access
your wireless router needs to be changed.
But, no matter how well protected your
computer may be, it will get infected. No Internet security program can
protect your computer 100% of the time. I don't care what those TV ads claim.
Why? Because hundreds of new viruses and spyware programs are issued every
month. And until your Internet security software is made aware of these new
threats via being updated, these new threats can get into your computer. The
means that there is a lag between
the time a threat is issued and the time your Internet security programs receives an update.
During this lag your computer could become infected. That's why it's vital that
you keep your security programs up to date and that you run scans regularly.
So, if you suspect that your computer is
infected give me a call. I will
thoroughly scan your hard drive and remove all infections found. If the
infections have damaged your computer in any way, I will make recommendations on
how to rectify the problem. I will also evaluate whatever security protection
that you have and recommend adjustments if necessary.
|
5 Star Personal Computer
Services, LLC
