TechKnow Solutions, Inc. 618-526-1600 - Breese, IL - Computer Sales, Service, and Web Design

Frequent Viruses We See in the Shop

Viruses, Trojans, Spyware, Malware and more

There are so many new viruses created everyday that cause problems with your computer. People rely more on more on computer use for school and work. We have been seeing a great trend of people who have these viruses, frequent social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and the like. Unfortunately, we are seeing a great number of business computers infected with these viruses as employees check personal email and Facebook web pages.

There is no good method for staying away from these viruses. Much like the flu, prevention is the best. Keeping your computer updated and protected with Internet Security programs helps keep it healthy!

Panda Security

If your computer has any of these viruses, they can spread rapidly and even cause your computer to become unusable from all the pop-ups. These viruses don't typically damage or destroy your files.

It is best to bring your computer tower in for cleanup and removal as soon as possible. Virus Removal is $75.00. Some of these viruses cannot be removed manually or with our tools and therefore a format and reinstall is needed.

Vista Antispyware 2012

Rogue Anti-Virus

Vista Antispyware 2012 is a variant of the 2012 name-changing rogue program that changes its name randomly depending on the version of Windows it is installed on. This guide will cover the variant of the 2012 name changing rogue called Vista Antispyware 2012. This rogue is promoted in two ways. The first is through the use of fake online antivirus scanners that state that your computer is infected and then prompt you to download a file that will install the infection. The other method are hacked web sites that attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in programs that you are running on your computer to install the infection without your knowledge or permission..

Win 7 Internet Security 2012

Win 7 Internet Security 2012 Rogue Antivirus

Win 7 Internet Security 2012 is a variant of the 2012 name-changing rogue program that changes its name randomly depending on the version of Windows it is installed on. This guide will cover the variant of the 2012 name changing rogue called Win 7 Internet Security 2012. This rogue is promoted in two ways. The first is through the use of fake online antivirus scanners that state that your computer is infected and then prompt you to download a file that will install the infection. The other method are hacked web sites that attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in programs that you are running on your computer to install the infection without your knowledge or permission..

Home Security Solutions

rogue anti-spyware program

Home Security Solutions is a rogue anti-spyware program from the Rogue.VirusDoctor family. This program is classified as a rogue as it displays false information in order to trick you into purchasing the program. This infection is spread via two methods. The first method is through web sites that state they are an online anti-malware scanner called Windows Web Security. When you visit these sites you will be presented with a page that pretends to scan your computer for infections. When it is done, it will state that your computer has numerous infections and that you need to download a program to clean your computer. It is important to remember that any time you encounter a web page that states that your computer is infected, you should not believe them as the majority of these pages are scams trying to get you to install the actual infection. The second method that can be used to install this rogue is through hacked web sites that install Home Security Solutions on to your computer without your knowledge by exploiting vulnerabilities in your outdated programs..

Win 7 Antispyware 2012, Vista Antivirus 2012, and XP Security 2012

Rouge Antivirus (Fake Antivirus)

Win 7 Antispyware 2012, Vista Antivirus 2012, and XP Security 2012 are all names for the same rogue anti-spyware program. This family of rogues is promoted in two ways. The first is through the use of fake online antivirus scanners that state that your computer is infected and then prompt you to download a file that will install the infection. The other method are hacked web sites that attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in programs that you are running on your computer to install the infection without your knowledge or permission. Regardless of how it is installed, once it is running on your computer it will install itself as a variety of different program names and graphical user interfaces depending on the version of Windows that is running. Regardless of the name, though, they are all ultimately the same program with just a different skin on it. .

Control Center

Rogue Anti-Virus

Control Center is a rogue computer optimization suite from the same family as Privacy Center. This program is promoted through the use of misleading web sites and fake online anti-malware scanners that state your computer has a problem. These sites will then prompt you to download and install Control Center to fix the problem on your computer. When the program is installed it will be configured to start automatically when Windows starts. Once running it will scan your computer and state that there are numerous problems with various components of Windows. If you try and see what these problems are, though, it will state that you need to purchase the program to see the results. In reality, the program is not finding any problems at all, but is just saying that they exist in order to trick you into purchasing the program..

Control Center

Rogue Anti-Virus

Antivirus System Pro

Rogue Anti-Spyware

Antivirus System Pro is a rogue anti-spyware that uses false scan results, fake security alerts, and Internet Explorer hijacking in order to have you purchase this program. It is because of these actions that we classify Antivirus System Pro as a rogue anti-spyware program. When installed, Antivirus System pro will be configured to start automatically when you log into Windows. Once running it will scan your computer and display numerous infections that do not actually exist. Furthermore, it will state it will not remove these infections unless you first purchase the program. This method of stating there are infections, but not removing it until you purchase it, is just another tactic to have you purchase the software.

Security Tool

Rogue Anti-Spyware

Security Tool Virus is a rogue anti-spyware program that's distributed through websites that simulate virus scans. The user is than prompted to download the software to clean the infected PC. The tool provides false alerts of legitimate files that are needed by your Windows PC. Do not remove these files!!! Doing so can seriously damage your computer.

Windows Defence Center

Fake Antispyware Program

Windows Defence Center is a fake rogue anti-spyware program that is part of the Fake Microsoft Security Essentials infection. When this infection is installed on your computer it will display a fake Microsoft Security Essentials alert that states that it has detected an Unknown Win32/Trojan on your computer. This alert will state:

“Microsoft Security Essentials Alert Potential Threat Details"

It will then prompt you to scan your computer, which will start a fake scan of your computer that ultimately states that a particular file is infected with Trojan.Horse.Win32.PAV.64.a. It will then prompt you to install Windows Defence Center to remove the virus. When you press OK, the infection will download and install Windows Defence Center and reboot your computer

Cyber Security

Rogue Security Application

Cyber Security is a rogue security application, also known as a fake antivirus program. Cyber Security is very similar to Antivirus 360 and Total Security, which are also both fake antivirus programs.

Cyber Security will tell the user that their computer is infected and will use tactics to convince the user to purchase it. It will also use other tactics, such as the use of pop ups to warn the user. However, the program itself doesn't work to remove viruses. It has a website which it uses to advertise the fake program.

Common symptoms and characteristics of Cyber Security and other rogue security programs include:
1. Cyber Security is generally installed without user permission through a trojan horse.
2. Cyber Security uses pop ups and fake virus scans to scare the user.
3. Cyber Security website is unprofessional, with fake testimonials and fake awards.
4. The payment website for Cyber Security looks suspicious.
5. Various antivirus and system programs on the user's computer will stop functioning.

Antivirus Pro 2010 (and other years)

Fake Anti-virus Program

Antivirus Pro 2010, also known as AntivirusPro2010, is a fake antivirus program. It is classified as a rogue security application since it is generally downloaded and installed through a trojan horse downloader without user permission. Antivirus Pro 2010 is one of many different fake antivirus programs on the web, which include Total Security, Windows Police Pro, and many more. Antivirus Pro 2010 is a direct clone of Home Antivirus 2010, another fake antivirus program. Antivirus Pro 2010 hopes to trick the user into thinking that it is a real program. The program will use a variety of tactics in order to trick the user into thinking Antivirus Pro 2010 is a real program. The program hopes to scare the user into purchasing the program. The program is fake and doesn't work.

Antivirus Pro 2010 may stop antivirus programs from running, therefore making automatic removal difficult. Antivirus Pro 2010 may also cause the computer to not be able to connect to the internet. It is important to check your internet settings to make sure Antivirus Pro 2010 hasn't changed them. Antivirus Pro 2010 may cause pop ups from specific malware websites, including AntivirusPro2010.com. This website is used to market the fake program.

Overall, Antivirus Pro 2010 has nothing to do with anti virus or with being a pro. The program is fake and is a scam. Antivirus Pro 2010 should be removed.

Windows Police Pro

Rogue Security Application

Windows Police Pro is a rogue security application, also known as a fake antivirus program. Windows Police Pro is one of many different fake antivirus programs on the web and is a clone of Windows Antivirus Pro. Windows Police Pro hopes to trick the user into thinking that it is a real program. The program hopes to scare the user into purchasing the program by displaying fake virus scan results. The program is fake and doesn't work.

Windows Police Pro will tell the user that their computer is infected and will use tactics to convince the user to purchase it. However, the program itself doesn't work to remove viruses. The program generally comes with a fake windows security center, a svchost.exe error message, a halflemon warning message, and many more error messages. Each one is used to scare the user into purchasing Windows Police Pro.

Windows Police Pro may stop antivirus programs from running. Windows Police Pro may also cause the computer to not be able to connect to the internet. It is important to check your internet settings to make sure Windows Police Pro hasn't changed them. Windows Police Pro may also cause pop ups from specific malware websites.

Safe Fighter

Fake Security Program

Safe Fighter (alias SafeFighter Virus) is a harmful fake security program brought about by an infectious Trojan. It can disable installed antivirus programs on the victims computer. Internet access can also be blocked and avoid access on security websites. Once settle on computer, Safe Fighter will flood computer screen with scary alert messages and nonstop task bar pop-up alerts. These activities intend to persuade computer owners to purchase the registered version of the rubbish software

Antivirus 360

Rogue Antivirus Application

Antivirus 360 is a rogue antivirus application which attempts to convince buyers to purchase their fake software by showing fake results to scare the user. Most of the viruses reported by the software are non-existent in your computer. The software is completely fake and will not remove any viruses. It is recommended that you remove it quickly. The software is downloaded onto your computer by a trojan and will install itself without asking you to.

Antivirus 2009 (and other years)

Fake Antivirus Application

Antivirus 2009 is one of the many fake programs you will find on the web which wants you to purchase their software to remove viruses and spyware. However, this program will show you false positives, or in other words, viruses and spyware that may not even exist on your pc. Purchasing the software will not remove any spyware in your computer. The software has been cloned into Antivirus Pro 2009 and any many others.

Pro Antispyware 2009

Fake Antispyware Program

Pro Antispyware 2009 is a fake antispyware program. It will create fake scans to make you think that you have spyware in your computer. However, you may not. The program itself is non-functional and completely worthless.

MS Antispyware 2009

Fake Antispyware Program

MS Antispyware 2009 is a fake antispyware program. It uses fake scans to convince the user that they have spyware on their computer when in fact they may not have any. The computer will use malicious tools to slow your system down and create pop-ups to make you feel that you have spyware on your computer. The program is a clone of Antispyware Pro XP

Virus information:

There are soo many viruses out now that we can hardly keep up with them!
We have been seeing a great increase in viruses in that last few months and it is only getting worse.
Some things you need to do immediately to avoid these viruses from completely destroying your computer or files is:

**BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP! I don't know how many times I say this or how many time I have to tell people that all of their family pictures, important documents and favorite music has been damaged or destroyed by viruses or hardware failure. There's an easy fix for this! Back the important stuff up! Even if it is just copying it to a CD. External Hard Drives are really cheap - copy everything to that. It will take a few hours but at least everything will be safe!

**RUN WINDOWS UPDATES - Keep your computer updated! Microsoft doesn't just make updates for the heck of it. There is a usually a hole in their program and they are plugging up the hole. Some updates require a restart and some updates have to be done before others can be installed. Keep updating it until there are no more updates available. Do it now!

**UPGRADE TO INTERNET EXPLORER 8 - Go to Microsoft.com or Google Search "Internet Explorer 8 download" and download the newest browser. This will help protect you from Conflicker.

**GET AN INTERNET SECURITY PROGRAM & RUN IT! - We get a ton of customers who come in singing the praises of AVG Free only to find out the reason their computer isn't working right is because it is FULL of malware and such. Free is as good as free gets. So why protect your computer with a free program? We use Panda and according to various sites it is ranked at one of the best for blocking viruses. It is $59.95 for 1 year. I'm not just saying this so you buy the protection from me but get something - Trend Micro, Norton Internet Security are good - not McAfee.

**CHANGE COMPUTER PASSWORD TO SOMETHING MORE SECURE! - This virus is supposed to be able to bypass your computers password to sneak into your computer and steal various information. Change your password from something easy to something more difficult. The most secure passwords have a combination of capital letters, lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Yeah, they are tough to remember but can save you a lot of problems. Good Examples are AG00ddPa$$word, r3aLLyG00d!@!2

**GET A CLEANUP! - Clean up your computer. Get rid of Temporary files, Cookies, programs you don't need, excess toolbars. If you don't know how - call us, we can do it for you.

**DISABLE AUTORUN - This is the main way some of these viruses are spread is thru flash drives and CD's that automatically start up when they are plugged in to your computer. We have a vaccine that will disable all of these autorun's for you. This is an excerpt from PC Magazine:
"the worm infects removable devices and network shares with an autorun file that executes as soon as a USB drive or other infected device is connected to a victim PC.
Conficker and other worms are typically of most concern to businesses that don't regularly update the desktops and servers in their networks. Once one computer in a network is infected, it often has ready access to other vulnerable computers in that network and can spread rapidly.
Home computers, on the other hand, are usually protected by a firewall and are less at risk. However, a home network can suffer as well. For example, a laptop might pick up the worm from a company network and launch attacks at home. "

NOTE: See our website's home page for a link to download Panda's Vaccine!

**DON'T OPEN EMAIL ATTACHMENTS! - I know I am sucking all of the fun out of your computer use but you know all of those funny jokes and cute pictures that get forwarded to you by your friends and family? Well it is reported that about 65% of them are created by virus makers that embed a virus into the joke, stationary or picture and what better way to spread a virus than thru email? They send it off to a group of people and the rest of the world does the work of spreading it around for them!

**GET RID OF LIMEWIRE, BEARSHARE, IMESH, KAZAA, ETC! - So many viruses come through a computer from FREE music and video downloads. I personally would love for you all to continue using these programs because removing viruses from your machines supports over half of my business! BUT I try to be informative and help you out. When we get computers in with viruses - most of the times they are attached to music or videos. Sorry! You can buy alot of music for the $75 I will be charging you to remove the virus brought in by one little song!

Most virus removals are difficult and most cannot be removed manually anymore. There are very few tools left out there that will just clear everything up. Most virus infections require a Format & Reinstall. This is where we have to erase your computer completely and then reinstall the Windows Operating System and drivers and programs. This tends to be a real hassle for our clients because you have to basically start all over with your computer. The computer comes back to you like when you first got it. Clean and with no emails, files or programs on it. Sometimes that it a good thing. We can usually save files and pictures and music and emails and we scan these before putting them back on your computer. But if you can avoid it - it's much better.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call our office.
If you would like to bring your computer in for a clean up, check up and vaccination, just call or drop it by. We can typically have this done same day or next day.
It's a whole lot easier to prevent a virus than to remove it.

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Adware Explained

Adware is any type of software which shows advertisements to the user of a computer. Some types of adware can come bundled with spyware.

Trojan Horse Explained

Trojan horses (computer) is a program which creates malicious activities on your computer. It can be a trojan virus or a trojan worm in the fact that these two types of trojans create malicious activities on your computer.

There are many different type of activities trojan horses can perform. They include

1. Downloading other forms of malware on your computer
2. Accessing a server from the web
3. Creating a backdoor to your computer

One of the most widely spread trojans is the trojan.vundo virus, which is used to download advertisements onto your computer.

Trojan.Vundo is generally cured with most antivirus scanners. However, there are many different variants of the trojan, making it harder to remove.

What a Computer Worm Is

Computer Worms are self replication applications which will replicate from computer to computer. They are different from viruses in that they replicate.

Computer worms tend to spread through the use of email, in which the worm sends a email to every contact in your email box. This is done so that it can replicate across computers.

What is a Rogue Antivirus Program?

A rogue antivirus program is a program which installs itself on a userâ€™s computer, many times without the users knowledge, and uses malicious tools to slow their computer down and convince the user that they have spyware, viruses, and adware in their computer. The software will continue to show popups to the user in hopes that they will purchase the software. It also uses exaggerated results to scare the user into purchasing the software. However, the software will not remove any spyware or viruses at all.

Generally, the software is downloaded through a trojan and then installed on your computer.

According to Panda Security, these attackers have a 3.4 percent success rate and are making around 14 million in revenue per month.

The three biggest rogue antivirus programs currently out in October 2008 are VirusResponse Lab 2009, Antivirus 2009, and XP Antispyware 2009. Most have been cloned into new threats, which include Virus Trigger, Antivirus Pro 2009, and XP Protection Center.