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Viruses are small computer programs that run on your computer that can spread from computer to computer and interfere with daily operation. A virus can slow down your system, collect personal information or cause the system to stop working completely.  There are thousands of different viruses out there.  There are also different types of variations as well.

Worms

A worm is a self-contained virus.  Meaning it is possible of replicating itself and sending copies to other computers, typically over a network. In the past, worms were mostly sent through emails. In the future, expect to see social networking as the main source for Worms.

Trojan Horse

A Trojan Horse masquerades itself as another program attempting to trick users into running the program.  Trojans can open backdoors to a computer, upload or download other viruses, collect sensitive information and much more.

Rootkit

A Rootkit is a type of virus that modifies or replaces existing programs on a computer to hide its presence in your system. Removing a rootkit can be damaging, as they are often attached to important system files and removal can cause data loss or the operating system to no longer function. Rootkits are the newest variant of viruses and can be the most difficult to detect.

Spyware

Spyware is a type of virus that collects personal information to sell or use for identity theft.

Adware

Adware is not technically a type of virus, but can be just as annoying and dangerous. Adware is often installed on a user’s computer when they agree to the Terms of certain programs, most commonly toolbars. MyWebSearch is a very popular toolbar that puts files in nearly every directory of your computer and can slow down you web browsing.

Sometimes it is very obvious when you have a virus. If you receive a popup at system startup claiming you have a number of infections needing immediate removal, you have a virus. Trojans are known for mimicking legitimate products and often cannot be closed. Often referred as scareware, this Trojan is trying to scare the user into purchasing an illegitimate product. If the user does this they may be victim to identity theft and fraudulent charges.

An example of an illegitimate program:

The “system recovery virus” attempts to trick users into thinking they have many errors on their computer, however all of these errors are false.

You will never be one 100%t protected from viruses. In just the time you have been reading this, hundreds of new viruses have been created and there is a constant back and forth battle going on between virus programmers and the anti-virus companies. However, there are steps you can take to minimize the risk of getting infected. These are some general guidelines that mix an aggressive and casual style of defense, as different people have different needs.

Have an anti-virus program

• Midwest recommends using Kaspersky and we will even install it for you to maximize effectiveness. Licensed antivirus programs are typically better than the free antivirus programs out there. However, having a free antivirus is better than not having one at all.
• Keeping your antivirus definitions updated is important to maintaining security. It is best to have an antivirus program capable of performing auto-updates or scheduled updates.
• You should never have more than one anti-virus program installed on your computer.

Have an anti-spyware program

• Anti-spyware programs, such as Malwarebytes or SpybotSD, protect your system from malware and adware. They should never be used as stand-alone protection, but instead complement antivirus programs. Often these programs require the user to manually perform updates and initiate scans.

Enable real-time scanning

• If you have an antivirus installed but it is not actively running, the program cannot protect your computer. Real-time scanning does exactly that, scans your system in real time as you are using it.

Update software regularly

• Adobe Reader, Flash, and Java are programs that need constant updating to be ahead of the latest vulnerabilities. Office software and windows updates are important as well. Microsoft latest service packs fix many security issues that have been found in Microsoft operating systems. Make sure to keep your operating system and software up to date!
• If you don’t need Adobe Reader (used to view .pdf files), Adobe Flash (used for website games and videos such as YouTube), or Java (used for many web based applications) uninstall the program. However, most people find these programs a necessity to browse the web.

Use a browser other than Internet Explorer

• Internet Explorer is great, however it Is also one of the most used web browsers today making it a high profile target for virus writers. Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are both great free web browsers that can replace internet explorer.

Don’t open emails with attachments from unknown sources or that were unexpected.

• Worms often spread by infecting a user’s email address book and forwarding an attachment onto everyone in the list. When the next person opens the file, the process is repeated. If an email has an attachment and you do not know the sender, do not open the file. If you do know the sender but it seems suspicious, give them a call and ask about the email.
• This is also a good reason not to spread chainmail as well. Users who become familiar and accustomed to opening chainmail emails are more likely to open an email that is illegitimate.

Social Networking Scams

• Stay away from user groups, “liking”, “plusing”, or reposting items on your social networking site (Myspace, Facebook, Google Plus, etc.) that contain mentioning of “join this group to get a free xyz”. The most current example was a facebook post that involved a spider being underneath someone’s skin, if you clicked to view the “video” it would repost the link on your facebook news feed. No video actually existed.

Have your computer regularly checked by a professional.

• Midwest Design Computers offers free diagnostics, which includes professional virus checking.

Midwest virus removal is composed of several steps. First, we use multiple software applications with the latest updates and definitions to thoroughly scan your computer for the latest threats. Our well-trained staff is also capable of identifying numerous viruses simply by what they show on the monitor.

Depending on the severity of infection, our technicians will either recommend a simple virus removal or advanced virus removal.  Our simple virus removal involves using several software applications, and manually making changes to registry files or take further action if needed.

The advanced virus removal involves backing up the clients data to our networks and performing a fresh windows install. Then we transfer the data back and install any software packages our client has licenses for. Advanced virus removal is rare, and we will always call first if the advanced option is needed.

Myth #1

"I have a Mac and Mac’s do not get viruses."

• Macintosh (Apple) viruses are not as common as PC viruses because Mac’s are not as common. Virus programs want to reach as large an audience as possible and tend to program their viruses more for Windows operating systems. However, plenty of Mac viruses exist
• Here’s a list of the currently known Mac viruses : http://www.iantivirus.com/threats/

Myth #2

My iPhone/Android/Blackberry/Windows 7 phone and other smart devices can’t get a virus.

• Any operating system that uses other applications can become infected. The security firm F-Secure has a top ten list of current phone based viruses. http://www.f-secure.com/en_US/security/security-center/mobile-security-threats/

The most common virus currently seen in the Ohio area by Midwest Design Computers is the windows recovery virus. This virus makes all of the files on your computer hidden so that when the user logs in they only see a black desktop, no programs in the start menu, and a popup claiming serious errors have been found on the user’s pc. It is important NOT to fix this virus with an antivirus program because the virus moves your desktop, start menu, and quick start items. When the virus is removed, these files are deleted as well. This virus also modifies registry files and should be corrected by a professional. If you think this virus is present on your computer, bring it in to Midwest Design Computers for a FREE Diagnostic.