Win32 Virus Removal

For the second weekend in a row, several thousand Facebook users have downloaded a virus masquerading as a “Distracting Beach Babes” video.

It’s an application that instructs users to download adware to their computer that, in turn, forwards the video – in their name – to everyone on their Facebook friend list.

Whether you’re a Facebook user or not, this is a prime example of how even the savviest of ‘Net surfers throw caution to the wind if they receive a link, photo or app from someone they know.

Facebook users learned the hard way that even if the message appears to have come from Mom, cousin Joe or their best friend, it may be a cyber criminal in sheep’s clothing.

Here are some basic tips to keep you and your personal information protected in the age of the Internet:

1. Facebook is NOT safe. Just because Facebook has become a worldwide phenomenon doesn’t mean that you can’t get infected from it. In fact, most malware infections I encounter are because of accessing Facebook. This does not mean you shouldn’t use it, but be very aware of where you go and what you’re clicking on the site.

2. No anti-virus program is foolproof. Most infections floating around these days are not detected by common anti-virus programs, such as Norton and McAfee. Odds are that if you use the Internet, at some point you will become infected. It’s an unfortunate inevitability.

3. If a program appears on your computer that says you’re infected (and you didn’t install the program yourself), it’s a virus. The most common type of infection is what is called a “rogue anti-virus program.” This is not considered a virus, and falls under the malware category. It’s a fake anti-virus program that will falsely alert you of an infection and run false scans on your computer. This type of infection will cripple your computer and render it useless unless it is removed very quickly.

4. Be wary of email. If your buddy e-mails you a link, don’t click it. If he or she emails you an attachment, don’t download it. Always verify with the original source to see if that link is legitimate. Many viruses and malware programs can gain access to e-mail accounts and send infected e-mails to everyone on the infected host’s address book.

5. If you are infected, the problem won’t just go away. Like any virus that infects the body, computer viruses need to be taken care of immediately or the infection will spread and get much worse. No one wants a $1,000 door stop. If you think you might be infected, turn off your computer and call a repair service immediately. The faster you catch it, the less money you’ll spend in the long run.

Adam Patterson is a Dell Certified Systems Expert and owner of Jumpstart Technologies, a Tallahassee-based computer repair, installation and virus-removal company. Contact him at adam@learn2jump.com.

For the second weekend in a row, several thousand Facebook users have downloaded a virus masquerading as a “Distracting Beach Babes” video.

It’s an application that instructs users to download adware to their computer that, in turn, forwards the video – in their name – to everyone on their Facebook friend list.

Whether you’re a Facebook user or not, this is a prime example of how even the savviest of ‘Net surfers throw caution to the wind if they receive a link, photo or app from someone they know.

Facebook users learned the hard way that even if the message appears to have come from Mom, cousin Joe or their best friend, it may be a cyber criminal in sheep’s clothing.

Here are some basic tips to keep you and your personal information protected in the age of the Internet:

1. Facebook is NOT safe. Just because Facebook has become a worldwide phenomenon doesn’t mean that you can’t get infected from it. In fact, most malware infections I encounter are because of accessing Facebook. This does not mean you shouldn’t use it, but be very aware of where you go and what you’re clicking on the site.

2. No anti-virus program is foolproof. Most infections floating around these days are not detected by common anti-virus programs, such as Norton and McAfee. Odds are that if you use the Internet, at some point you will become infected. It’s an unfortunate inevitability.

3. If a program appears on your computer that says you’re infected (and you didn’t install the program yourself), it’s a virus. The most common type of infection is what is called a “rogue anti-virus program.” This is not considered a virus, and falls under the malware category. It’s a fake anti-virus program that will falsely alert you of an infection and run false scans on your computer. This type of infection will cripple your computer and render it useless unless it is removed very quickly.

4. Be wary of email. If your buddy e-mails you a link, don’t click it. If he or she emails you an attachment, don’t download it. Always verify with the original source to see if that link is legitimate. Many viruses and malware programs can gain access to e-mail accounts and send infected e-mails to everyone on the infected host’s address book.

5. If you are infected, the problem won’t just go away. Like any virus that infects the body, computer viruses need to be taken care of immediately or the infection will spread and get much worse. No one wants a $1,000 door stop. If you think you might be infected, turn off your computer and call a repair service immediately. The faster you catch it, the less money you’ll spend in the long run.

Adam Patterson is a Dell Certified Systems Expert and owner of Jumpstart Technologies, a Tallahassee-based computer repair, installation and virus-removal company. Contact him at adam@learn2jump.com.