Security, Viruses and Malware

There have been a lot of bad things going on on the Internet lately and I thought it would be a good time to review some basics about managing your computers.

One attack in specific seems to be causing trouble.

Some people are getting emails from package shipping companies claiming to be UPS, etc with a tracking number in a ZIP or RAR compressed file. Once the user opens this attachment, it starts to lay the roots to download and install an application that has one of many names. Windows Anti-virus 2008 or Windows Anti-virus 2008 for XP. First of all, Microsoft does not currently make a product like this. Although it appears to be legitimate and installs itself as a program in the ADD/REMOVE programs toolbar, it is bogus. Secondly it needs to be removed.

What this program does is send out SPAM to other people and tries to get them to open attachments and infect other computers.

It is a little bit difficult to uninstall and requires someone like Ace Internet or your local PC company to remove the infection.

The first hint that something is wrong is that you will see a new icon on the desktop and/or a new toolbar as part of Internet Explorer.

You need to take action quickly at this moment. Call and get help or at a minimum unplug the PC or laptop from the network so it is isolated.


These kinds of things seem to come in waves and I am concerned that a new wave might be moving through.

#1 - always make sure your anti-virus program is running when you computer is turned on. It only needs to scan occasionally but it ALWAYS must be turned on when the system is on.

#2 - be vary wary of attachments...even from people you know. Try as hard as you can to make sure it is legitimate before opening the attachment. In most cases it is OK to preview the body of the message to ascertain that this is something you are supposed to open.

#3 - if strange things are happening, call your IT person. Catching this problem quickly really helps. In a few cases recently, part of the repair was to remove the infected hard drive and install a new disk and reload Windows. Often if the problem is caught early, it can be cleaned up.

So with this new information, be careful out there.

Ace Internet Services, Inc
PO Box 50686
Bellevue,WA 98015
P:206-551-7000
w: www.ace2100.com
e: james@ace2100.com